I recently learned that, post Civil War, the Runaways were captured and given up to the enemy to be tortured by Joss Wheadon. Pity, they deserved better. Which means I'll just have to enjoy these trades for as long as they last.

At any rate, this time around Vaughan puts together a plot that lets our kids visit the place where (before Civil War) all the cool heroes hang out--New York!

As we open this volume, as with the first of the re-start, our heroes are out battling the latest villain to think that maybe it would be better to get away from New York, Swarm. Swarm's a lame-o Spidey villain with bees for brains--and everything else. He's soon dispatched so we can get to more trouble--a skrull wants one of the runaways as his bride-to-be! If she refuses, Earth may be destroyed! What's a young girl to do when proposed to by a super-skrull? (Okay, perhaps a little issue with the idea of there being more than one super-skrull, but Vaughan is pretty good about making me okay with little changes as we go along. I can see there being more than one, especially given how much the skrulls crave power.)

We're just barely through that idea when out pops Cloak, claiming he's been framed. There's only one thing for the Runaways to do--ROAD TRIP! Soon they're in New York, clashing with the Avengers, having sushi with Spider-Man, and finding out that sometimes the truth is cloaked right below your nose. In the end, they save the day, but we're left with a teaser that more bad stuff is right on the horizon.

It's fun to see Vaughan play with the New Avengers, especially watching them try to "rescue" Molly and the scenes with Spidey are classic. He plays Cloak a little too softly, though, for my money. Cloak is borderline psychotic (part of why he'd be easily framed) most' of the other times we've seen him, but not so much here. I do like the idea of the fact that the drug dealers are still using things to give people superpowers, an idea that's been lost a bit in modern Marvel.

Again, I love Runaways, and you should, too. (Library, 07/07) ( )

http://youresometa.blogspot.com/2008/... ( )

As the title suggests, the bulk of this volume features the Runaways going to New York. Before that happens, though, the team encounters Xavin, a super-Skrull who had been betrothed to Karolina (by her parents) in order to prevent a way between Karolina's people and the Skrulls. This story includes a conclusion to Karolina's infatuation with Nico, as she comes out to the team and reveals her love for her fellow teammate. The whole thing was handled rather nicely, I think.
The main story, though, is the Escape To New York. Cloak (last seen in Runaways vol 2), has been framed for the attempted murder of his partner, Dagger. He enlists the help of the Runaways, who end up meeting Captain America, Spider-Man, Iron Man, and Wolverine along the way. Aside from a few nice moments (especially one bit with Molly and Wolverine), the whole thing seemed kind of forced. I've said it before, but I'll say it again - tying this series close to the rest of the Marvel U only cheapens the entire series. (Of course, I say that realizing that this closer connection was probably the result of editorial decision-making) ( )

As the title suggests, the Runaways are sometimes off their home turf here, as they encounter the dark hero, Cloak. He is on the run after others suspect him of attacking his partner, Dagger. The kids, not being stupid and obtuse adults of the type found in books focusing on teenage supehero teams, realise this is not too likely.

http://graphicsf.blogspot.com/2006/11... ( )

http://interactivereader.blogspot.com... ( )