Cannonball Read V: Runaways Volume 1: Pride & Joy by Brian K. Vaughan

By Ashlie | Books | May 1, 2013 |

By Ashlie | Books | May 1, 2013 |

I haven’t read many comics or graphic novels, just a few here and there including Watchmen, Y the Last Man, and all of Lord Whedon’s “Season 8/Season 9″ series. This came to me as the suggestion of a fellow nerd who has similar taste to myself. I was eager to start it, and cannot wait to read the next volume.

Runaways Volume 1: Pride & Joy follows six youngsters who learn that their parents are a part of a secret organization in service to creatures determined to destroy the earth. The parents are evil-ish, depending on your take on their motives and actions. That is left up to the reader. The story is set in the Marvel universe and I get a particular thrill from references to Captain America, Cloak and Dagger, and Stark Industries, to name drop a few.

The illustrations are great, the dialogue witty and true to that of kids/teenagers and how they would react to such a drastic altering of their reality. “How is it possible that our parents lied to us? Lets see: Santa, the Tooth Fairy,the Easter bunny,um, God. You’re the prettiest kid in school. This wont hurt a bit. Your face will freeze like that…”

Great read and an abrupt “coming of age” for six kids/teens who have to decide what to do when everything they thought they knew about the world, and their parents, is wrong. I highly recommend this series to fellow nerds comic enthusiasts, and people that wish deep down that their parents were evil-ish masterminds.

(Oh, and Mr. Whedon himself recommends it, if you take stock in such things. Like I do.)

This review is part of the volunteer Cannonball Read V. Read all about it , and find more of Ashlie’s reviews on the group blog.

(Note: Any revenue generated from purchases made through the amazon.com affiliate links in this review will be donated in entirety to the American Cancer Society.)