Booklist Reviews
An all-star author joins an all-star comics team to revive Runaways in this fresh and accessible new series. Everyone gets caught up with the story from the start: a bunch of kids, most of whom have powers, found out their parents were supervillains, and they wanted out. This story arc opens with familiar characters Nico and Chase, a magician and a time traveler, working together to prevent an old friend from dying. They successfully heal Gert, but she is dismayed to find that while she's simply lived to see another day as her teenage self, (almost) everyone else has aged two years and drifted apart. It's sad, though not overly dramatic or without humorous beats, and the even pacing gives the characters plenty of room for exposition and development, all in beautiful color and dynamic layouts with plenty of two-page spreads. Anka's character designs and Wilson's bright, poppy colors really shine here, and it's obvious to anyone that Rowell is dedicated to the story. A win for fans old and new. Grades 8-11. Copyright 2018 Booklist Reviews.
School Library Journal Reviews
Gr 7 Up—The popular Marvel series about a group of teens who discover their parents are supervillains returns, picking up approximately two years after the events of the last issue. When readers last saw the Runaways, the ragtag bunch lost the lovable Gert in their final battle to defeat their evil progenitors. Fast-forward two years in this installment, the friends have gone their separate ways—some are using their abilities to join other superhero teams, others have tried to establish a "normal" life, but many have lost a sense of purpose. The bereft and aimless Chase decides to jump-start the group by traveling to the past to save Gert. This triggers a chain of events that unite the misfits, but also brings into focus how far apart they've grown. The snarky dialogue and pitch-perfect characterization are as nuanced as ever. Coming-of-age themes of identity, "found family," and love are showcased through the dynamic storytelling. As with most time travel tales, the back-and-forth between time lines is sometimes confusing, but Anka's warm and expressive, appropriately moody, and sleek art helps orient readers. Rowell's entry is welcoming to those meeting these characters and universe for the first time. Back matter includes the author's original outline, sketches, and variant covers. VERDICT Give this to young people looking to read teen-centric comics with complex characters and lots of heart. A must-have.—Shelley M. Diaz, School Library Journal
Copyright 2018 School Library Journal.