I really hope I don't get down voted for asking this, so I'll just try to be as civilized as I possibly can and hope for the best.

I got into the Runaways a touch later than others, I know I have a bad habit of doing that, I found the original run at my library and fell in love with the series pretty quickly, the story, characters, designs, it's all so cool and so needless to say after finishing the first run, I was pretty hooked and wanted to read the others.

Upon looking up the Runaways and what they've been in, I heard a lot of good things about the latest run by Rainbow Rowell, people praising it and saying maybe just skip straight to it, I didn't because I didn't want to miss anything, which means it took me even longer to get caught up, but hey, I like to be thorough with comics.

Anyway, so I read through the other runs and the solo appearances, glad I did because there's a lot of cool moments even in the weaker stories, and finally got to the latest run, needless to say I was excited, people hyped it hard and I was ready, then reading it I felt....meh.

It was a good run I'd say, certainly better than some of the others but not really on the originals level, then again what is? but people were talking about how great it was, how Rowell captured the essence of the characters and brought back the feelings of the original, yet, I didn't really feel that, I could certainly recognize them but it really didn't feel anywhere near the original to me.

I don't know if this is because I let so many people hype me that my expectations were just too high or if it's just that my personal tastes tend to differ from the average, it's hardly the first time, but I just didn't find it to be that great a run, I'm wondering if anybody else had this experience.

I wanna make it clear, if you like the run, that's great, I'm glad, you deserve a great run for these guys, I'm not trying to hate or start discourse, I really just want to know if anybody feels the same way I do or if I'm basically Peter Griffin talking about the Godfather.

So, if anybody shares how I feel, I hope you won't be afraid to speak up, there's no reason we can't have a civilized discussion on the subject, we're not children here, well, I trust we're not, but if you didn't particularly like Rainbow Rowell's Runaways run (try saying that five times fast), I'd be happy to hear you out, you'll make me feel less self conscious.

A big theme in the Runaways is distrusting adults, mainly in the main runs, but the Runaways have all had their fair share of interactions with other heroes, which gave me an interesting idea, what if they had mentors?

Like what if each had a specific hero or antihero take them under their wing? what adventures would they go on? how would their teach the young hero about life? would it end well for all involved? how would their journey's change?

What do you all think? if you were to pick older heroes to act as mentors for specific members of the team, who would it be? who do you think is best suited to train and mentor them? speaking on more of an individual level, like instead of one mentor for the whole team I'm thinking like a different mentor for each member, let them each grow in their own ways.

Huge fan of the comics, read a decent amount of the Rowell run and the first six issues of the original run. I thought it was really good but really different from the comics. Was sad the parents didn’t have comic accurate suits too, but overall loved it and the character they gave to the parents which I think is better than in the comics. Nico was my favourite character (she is in the comics too) and my favourite parent would be a tie between Tina and Geoffrey. 9/10 show personally

Runaways 2017 (Rainbow Rowell)

1-6: Find Your Way Home: Nico is attempting to live a normal life when Chase appears in her apartment in a time machine, carrying the injured Gert who he saved from Geoffrey Wilder two years ago, but she is still injured, utilizing her magic and aide from others, she is able to save her, as she recovers, they choose to reunite the Runaways, meeting Karolina at her college dorm, who initially does not want to join but later on agrees, Molly is currently with her grandmother who seems nice, but is secretly using her for her personal experiments, Victor is currently a disembodied head following events of vision, while Molly initially wants to stay, upon discovering the truth, they take Molly by force, having to battle an army of psychically controlled cats, but making it out and once more joining together as the Runaways.

7-12: Best Friends Forever: The team attempts to support themselves to the best of their abilities, Chase and Nico both get jobs and legally adopt Molly using magic, meanwhile Molly's best fried Abigail reveals that she is actually an eternally young woman due to a gift originally given to her by Enchantress, she offers it to Molly as well, a cupcake that once eaten, will make someone 13 forever, Molly is hesitant and does not eat it. Julie Powers comes to visit and help her girlfriend Karolina, while Karolina is happy to see Julie, she feels out of place among her friends and finds Karolina seems to have less and less time for her, in a moment of stress, Julie eats the cupcake and is turned into a child, the Runaways quickly find Abigail and forcefully take the cure, returning Julie to normal, though she is cured, she chooses to break up with Karolina. Karolina and Nico attend the Dean foundation, while there, Nico confesses her feelings for Karolina, the two kiss and become a couple, at the same time Gert and Victor also become a couple, as they return home, they are shocked when they are met by a resurrected Alex Wilder.

13-18: That Was Yesterday: Alex Wilder returns and is soon followed by a group of three powerful beings called the Seed of the Giborrim, the children of the original gods, they demand the Runaways honor the deal their parents made and provide them with souls so they can carry out cleansing the world, they give the Runaways one week to prepare, in that time, Nico's staff is revealed to be a powerful being called "the One" who Nico makes a deal with, rather than shedding blood, each spell she casts will take a bit of the One's soul into her, slowly changing her from within, the rest of the Runaways begin bonding with Geb, one of the Seed of the Giborrim, who soon return for their sacrifice, a battle ensures, Geb attempts to help the Runaways but is overwhelmed, in a last ditch effort, Gert uses the time machine to send them far into the future, saving them and humanity, Alex leaves them and Molly asks to come with him, the two spend a short time together before the rest of the team comes for her, leaving Alex alone once more.

19-24: But You Can't Hide: Karolina has been experiencing emotional and mental stress due to events that have been occurring, causing her to miss classes and other responsibilities, her therapist recommended taking a break and trying to focus on what makes her sane, after saving a child, she decides to attempt to act as a superhero, Nico soon finds out and chooses to help her by making her a costume and joining her on patrols, while they at first have a slow night, they soon attempt to stop a group of villains, and are soon joined by a new costumed individual who goes by the name of Doc Justice.

25-31: Cannon Fodder: Doc Justice invites the Runaways to work with him, at first they are hesitant, except for Victor who is a big fan of him, but soon decide to join out of necessity, while there, they receive new costumes, codenames, and even training, they soon become more adept at actual hero work, learning the ropes and succeeding in taking on villains, however, it is soon revealed Doc Justice is not as noble as he pretends, planning to sacrifice Karolina, tricking her into attacking an ally of his who absorbs her energy, leaving her drained, Gert shows up and reveals the truth, much to Doc's dismay, a battle ensues, Doc is defeated and Geb absorbs his soul, the Runaways leave and later Doc's helmet is picked up by Alex.

32-38: Come Away With Me: Following the events of the last arc, Karolina is still recovering from the injuries she suffered, having difficulty absorbing energy as she used to, the others become worried, Nico is using more and more spells, the One's influence growing fast, she comes clean about her deal and Karolina is naturally upset, the two however work through it, at the same time, Chase has entered into a relationship with a future timeline Gert, which present Gert and Victor, but soon they are all met by the return of the Majesdane, while expecting conflict, it is revealed Karolina called them to help her heal, which requires taking her off world, she asks Nico to come with her, but Nico refuses, saying the team needs her, but does give Karolina her staff, asking her to get rid of it, the series ends with Xavin awaiting Karolina's arrival and Alex having joined the J team.

Skipability: Low, while technically since it's the latest run, all that is left after it are the latest solo appearances, certain events do occur that will most likely carry over to the next series.

Personal rating: 4/10

I've recently embarked on a reread of the *Runaways* series, aiming to cover all of their appearances. As I progress, I've put together a guide not only detailing the different runs but also providing key insights for new readers. The goal is to help you decide which parts of the series to dive into and which you might want to skip, depending on your interests.

Let’s face it: not every *Runaways* story is the most enjoyable, this guide is designed to make it easier for readers to navigate the series, offering a suggested reading order and highlighting the essential information needed to enjoy the later runs. I'll focus primarily on the stories that contribute significantly to the *Runaways* universe, so alternate timelines and inconsequential stories won’t be emphasized.

Here’s how I’ve structured the guide:

Recap: a general recap of everything that happens

Skipability: how much it would affect you to skip it

Personal rating: my own personal rating of the run from 1-10, purely my own opinion

So let's get on with it, if you're new to this, brace yourself, things get wild and you're about to get spoiled hard, and if you're not new, well know I did the best I could and do be civil.

Runaways Vol. 1 (Brian K. Vaughan)

1-6: Pride and Joy

Nico, Gert, Chase, Karolina, Molly, and Alex discover that their parents are part of a secret criminal organization known as "The Pride" after witnessing them perform a ritual sacrifice. Determined to stop their parents' evil plans, the teens steal powerful items and abilities: Nico takes her mother's mystical Staff of One which allows her to cast any spell she says, but only once each, Chase finds fire-manipulating gauntlets and x-ray goggles, Karolina learns she's an alien with solar energy-based powers that can fly and project said energy, Molly discovers she's a mutant with super strength, and Gert inherits a genetically engineered dinosaur. Framed for murder by their parents, the group retreats to an underground hideout, "The Hostel," and vows to make up for their parents’ crimes.

7-11: Teenage Wasteland

While stopping a robbery, the Runaways encounter Topher, a boy who claims his parents forced him into a life of crime. The group takes him in, only to discover he's actually a vampire intent on turning Nico. Alex manages to rescue her, but not before Topher attempts to drink Karolina's blood, the plan backfires as the solar energy burns him, leading to his demise.

12-13: Lost and Found

Former runaways Cloak and Dagger, mistakenly believing the teenagers kidnapped Molly, confront the group. A battle ensues, during which the truth is revealed. Cloak and Dagger agree to contact the Avengers for help, but a mole in the Runaways tips off the Pride, who erase Cloak and Dagger's memories of the encounter.

14-17: The Good Die Young

The origin of the Pride is unveiled, including the betrayal within the group and their connection to the Gibborim, ancient giants who promise paradise to the Pride's children in exchange for souls. The Runaways confront their parents in a final battle, where Alex reveals himself as a traitor, having planned to save his parents and Nico’s family. However, his plan fails, the souls of the sacrificed girls are released, the gibborim are enraged, leading to Alex's death and the destruction of the Pride. The Runaways escape, but not before Captain America arrives to apprehend them.

18: Eighteen

With their parents dead, the Runaways are separated by Social Services. Three months later, Karolina reunites the group, and they decide to remain together, distrusting adults and choosing their own path. Although this issue was intended to conclude the series, it hinted at future stories to come.

Skipability: This is the first story. Why would you skip it?

Personal Rating: 9/10

Runaways Vol. 2 (same author)

1-6: True Believers

After a five-month hiatus, the Runaways fight the villains of Los Angeles attempting to fill the Pride's void. A future version of Gert travels back in time to warn the group that a boy named Victor Mancha will grow up to become "Victorious", the greatest villain of all time; before she dies, she warns them to kill Victor before he becomes to powerful. At the same time, a group of former teenage superheroes (called "Excelsior") are promised a $1,000,000 grant from a mysterious benefactor if they successfully detain the Runaways. The Runaways subdue Victor Mancha, and are later shocked to discover that Victor is a cyborg created by the killing machine, Ultron. With the help of Excelsior, the Runaways defeat Ultron, and Victor joins them, having nowhere else to go after the death of his mother. After the battle with Ultron, Excelsior discovers its benefactor is Rick Jones. The story arc ends with a vivid shock: Chamber of Excelsior turns out to be a fraud, and is implied to be a resurrected Alex Wilder.

7-8: Star-Crossed

Karolina reveals she harbors romantic feelings for Nico, but Nico turns down Karolina's advances. As Karolina attempts to cope with the rejection, a Skrull named Xavin lands in Los Angeles and tells Karolina that he is her fiancée, due to an agreement between both their parents. Xavin informs Karolina of the fifteen-year-long war between their races, and insists that their marriage is the only way to enforce peace. Although Karolina initially declines due to the fact that she is not attracted to Xavin as a man, Xavin shape-shifts into a female form. Karolina, finally agreeing, leaves her friends behind and departs with Xavin, much to the displeasure of her friends who struggle without her.

9-12: East Coast/West Coast

Cloak, whose memories of the Runaways are restored, convinces the Runaways to travel with him to New York City and help solve a crime: someone posing as Cloak has used Mutant Growth Hormone to attack Dagger. When Chase and Nico end up in a dangerous situation with a drug dealer, Chase bluffs his way out. A relieved Nico kisses Chase - who outright rejects her by saying Gert is his girlfriend, and the only thing keeping him "good". Gert and Victor run into Spider-Man, but Nico knocks him out because Spider-Man is an adult and an Avenger. Meanwhile, after Wolverine scares Molly she punches him through a building. In the end, the Runaways defeat Dagger's attacker, and they return home. Meanwhile, someone (implied to be a resurrected Alex) says that one of them is about to die.

13: Dead Ringers

During a super-human fight with "a dragon lady", young Molly Hayes is knocked unconscious, and washes up down into a sewer system. After waking, she finds that she has been "recruited" by the Provost, who runs a crime ring that uses children to commit thefts. With much strategics, Molly leads her classmates into a defeat of the Provost. Although Molly invites them to join the team, all disagree - saying they would all go to their families. After going home, Molly has a dream that shows her deepest desire: to go home with her parents.

14-18: Parental Guidance

As it turns out, it was not a resurrected Alex Wilder - it was a much younger version of Geoffrey Wilder, Alex's late father. After Victor has a nightmare about killing his friends under Ultron's influence, Chase confesses to being jealous of Victor, someone his parents would have loved. Nico tells Gert she wishes that Gert will become the leader, if something happens. The teenagers go to stop a crime in the middle of the night, but discover the younger Geoffrey Wilder and a new version of the Pride. In a twisted turn of events, the New Pride takes control of Victor, Gert finds out that Nico kissed Chase, and the New Pride kidnaps Molly. Before they can rescue Molly, they have to repair the Leapfrog - in this period, the Runaways' personal issues begin to get to them: Molly's absence, Gert breaks up with Chase, and Nico learns that the New Pride is getting their information through Victor (much to his shock). Just as the group breaks into a full-blown explosion, Karolina Dean returns to stop the fight.

After telling the team why she and Xavin have returned to Earth, Victor finds out that the new Pride has been using him as a spy cam, and finds that the broadcast was coming from the Minoru Summer Home. Xavin asks the team if she can help. The team goes arrives at the Minoru Summer Home and finds the new Pride have moved out and the weapons cabinet is empty. The Runaways find the New Pride at the Griffith Observatory and a fight starts, but instead of the killing Molly, in the end, Geoffrey Wilder kills Gert. The New Pride, who'd been tricked by Wilder the entire time learn the truth about his intentions. Nico Minoru uses the Staff of One spell "Forget" to send Wilder back to his time, with his memory lost. In the present day, Chase runs away.

19-21: Dead Means Dead

As the Runaways deal with the aftermath of Gert's death, an elderly shopkeeper manages to obtain a magic talisman belonging to Nico's parents. After claiming he just wants things to "go back to the way they used to be", transforms into a giant rampaging monster and attacks Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Chase "hires" Lotus (from "the New Pride") to help him resurrect Gert, by exchanging her soul to the Gibborim for Gert's - in the end, he pulls back. The Runaways learn of the shopkeeper's past; how he could not get over the death of his wife and was letting his pain out on the city. As the battle goes out of control, Xavin takes the appearance of the old man's dead wife, and Nico casts a spell to give Xavin her voice. Together, the two are able to calm the monster and return him to his human form. Chase reunites with the other Runaways at the hostel and looks at Gert's portrait longingly, thinking of the deal he let go.

22-24: Live Fast

In this final arc by the creative team of Brian K. Vaughan and Adrian Alphona, the story takes a deeper dive into the characters' emotional struggles. Xavin grapples with her identity, and Chase learns from the Gibborim that he has a limited window to resurrect Gert. In his desperation, Chase confides in Nico about his intent to sacrifice himself for Gert's return, then takes the Staff of One and leaves. Molly, hearing a mysterious voice she believes to be Gert’s, alerts the rest of the team. They track Chase using a urine trail left by Old Lace.

The trail leads them behind a donut shop, where Karolina, Nico (now without the Staff), and Xavin confront the Gibborim in their realm. However, the Gibborim reject Chase’s sacrifice, deeming it not "innocent," and instead target Nico. Just when all seems lost, Victor and Molly arrive to rescue her. Without the sacrifice, the Gibborim begin to fade away, ultimately meeting their end. Returning to the Hostel, the Runaways find their security compromised, and Iron Man, accompanied by a squad of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, greets them. In a parallel reality, it is revealed that Alex Wilder was the one who guided Molly to Chase’s plan.

Skipability: Low—several key events make this arc important.

Personal Rating: 7/10

The Joss Whedon Era

When Brian K. Vaughan decided to step away from *Runaways*, editor Nick Lowe tried to convince him to stay, but Vaughan was committed to leaving while the series was still strong. Lowe then turned to Joss Whedon, a longtime fan of the series, to take over. Initially hesitant, Whedon reconsidered after discussing the series with Vaughan over a weekend. Vaughan had a hand in selecting Whedon as his successor, further solidifying the transition.

25-30: Dead End Kids

Following their escape from Iron Man and S.H.I.E.L.D., the Runaways—Nico, Victor, Chase, Molly, Karolina, and Xavin—find themselves in New York City. After a brief encounter with Wilson Fisk and the Punisher, they steal an artifact belonging to Gertrude Yorkes's parents. A twist of fate sends them back to 1907 New York, where they discover that the Yorkes were leaders of a super-powered group known as the Sinners.

As the team splits up across the city in search of a way back to the present, Molly befriends Klara Prast, an abused girl with the ability to control plants. Nico is kidnapped by her great-grandmother, the Witchbreaker, while Chase steals a time machine and disappears. Victor falls for a free-spirited girl named Lillie, who ultimately chooses to stay in 1907 despite his invitation to join them in the present. A full-scale battle erupts in the streets between the Runaways and the Sinners, with Nico returning stronger than ever after training with the Witchbreaker. Just before they return to the present, Lillie declines Victor’s offer, but Klara Prast decides to join the team.

Skipability: High—while it’s an interesting arc, its events have minimal impact on the broader *Runaways* story.

Personal Rating: 3/10

Civil War – Civil War: Young Avengers & Runaways (2006) #1-4

The Runaways get involved in a conflict between the Flag-Smasher and S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Cape-Killers, leading to damage to Victor. The Young Avengers, seeing the incident on TV, track down the Runaways, leading to a tense confrontation. The two teams eventually join forces when S.H.I.E.L.D. sends Noh-Varr to capture them. After a series of battles and narrow escapes, the Vision and Victor manage to break Noh-Varr’s brainwashing, leading to a temporary alliance before the teams part ways.

Secret Invasion - Secret Invasion: Runaways/Young Avengers (2008) #1-3

Following their return from 1907, the Runaways have a new member, Klara Prast. While exploring New York, they become entangled in the Skrull invasion. Xavin quickly realizes the threat and tries to lead her friends to safety, but a confrontation with the Skrull Commander Chrell forces the Runaways into a desperate battle. As the Runaways and Young Avengers unite against the Skrulls, Xavin’s past as Chrell's student comes into play. The battle culminates in a dramatic showdown, with Xavin containing Chrell’s explosion, saving her friends, and ending the immediate Skrull threat.

Volume 3 (Terry Moore)

1-6: Dead Wrong

Returning to Los Angeles, the Runaways find themselves targeted by the remaining Majesdanians, who seek revenge on Karolina. As tensions rise within the group, Xavin ultimately sacrifices herself by assuming Karolina's identity and leaving with the Majesdanians to protect the team. This arc marks a significant turning point for the group, particularly for Karolina and Xavin.

7-9: Rock Zombies

In this bizarre arc, the Runaways face off against a zombie outbreak in Los Angeles caused by a spell-infused CD. The storyline is an odd mix of horror and comedy, with Nico's magical abilities pushed to their limits as she battles the undead, while also dealing with side effects from Nico's previously used scatter spell, causing them to separate from each other emotionally, they are able to resolve this and put a stop to the outbreak.

10: Mollifest Destiny / Truth or Dare

In "Mollifest Destiny," Molly receives a psychic invitation from Emma Frost, leading the team to San Francisco, where they encounter several X-Men and face off against a foe from Molly's past. "Truth or Dare" is a lighter, comedic story in which the team plays a game of truth or dare which unfortunatley leads to a battle with giant cobras.

11-14: Homeschooling

This arc sees the Runaways struggling to maintain their family dynamic while dealing with the fallout from recent events. After a UAV attack on their Malibu home, Old Lace sacrifices herself to protect Klara, leading to Chase's emotional downward spiral, the run ending with him being hit by a car and hospitalized, though it is mentioned in later appearances, the results are never specifically explained

Skipability: Medium. While the events are impactful, they do not drastically alter the team's overall trajectory, the most significant event is Xavin's departure.

Personal rating: 3/10

Avengers Academy (2010) #27-28

In this brief crossover with Avengers Academy, the Runaways seek help from Dr. Hank Pym to rescue Old Lace when Chase senses that she is still alive, the group is successful in saving her, but soon run into problems as Pym and the others plan behind their backs to separate them under the grounds of assisting Molly and Klara to find stable homes, leading to further conflict between them, though it is resolved, this also marks the beginning of Karolina's relationship with Julie Powers.

Skipability: High. The events have little impact on the main Runaways narrative outside of Karolina and Julie.

Personal rating: 2/10

Avengers Arena #1-18

Nico and Chase, along with fourteen other super-powered teenagers, were captured and brought to Murderworld by Arcade, who forced them into a deadly game where survival required them to kill one another. Nico initially stayed close to Chase and later attempted to form an alliance with the Avengers. However, when Chase was quickly accused of attacking and burning Reptil, the Runaways were rejected. Nico, still reeling from the destruction of her magical tree by Hazmat, distanced herself from Chase.

Despite the tension, the Runaways remained together, eventually teaming up with Cammi. Their group later rejoined the Braddock Academy, where they witnessed a vengeful assault led by Juston and Death Locket, accompanied by X-23 and Tim Bashir, the merged twin brother of Apex. During this confrontation, Chase revealed his Darkhawk powers.

The situation escalated into a duel between Juston and Darkhawk, which was interrupted by Tim's technopathy. After tensions subsided, the group was forced to vote on Tim's fate. While Nico voted to spare Tim's life, Chase advocated for his death. When the majority chose to keep Tim alive, Chase attempted to carry out the kill himself but was expelled from the group by Nico using her Staff of One.

Later that night, Nico took a watch, giving Tim and Death Locket a chance for a romantic moment. Unbeknownst to her, Tim reverted to his Apex persona, killed Juston, and disappeared with the remains of Juston's Sentinel and Death Locket.

The following morning, Nico was unable to prevent X-23 from pursuing Apex. After explaining the situation to her awakening teammates, she was designated as the group's fighter due to her powers. Apex, manipulating Juston's Sentinel and Death Locket, soon attacked, bringing back the nearly lifeless X-23. Nico fought valiantly, using her magic to teleport Nara, Aiden, Cammi, and Cullen to safety, though she could not save herself.

Nico then faced off against Apex and was attacked by Chase, who was under Apex's control in his Darkhawk form. In the ensuing battle, Chase severed Nico's left arm and pushed her off a cliff. Gravely wounded, Nico cast a final spell ("Help") before succumbing to her injuries.

However, the Staff of One revived Nico, using her last spell and her blood as a sacrifice. Her body was fully restored, and the staff transformed, with half becoming a gauntlet on her new arm. Now wielding both the staff and the gauntlet, Nico rejoined the fight against Apex, Death Locket, and Chase, ultimately destroying the Sentinel and defeating Chase. She then cast a spell that buried Death Locket and Apex, believing she had killed them.

These traumatic events left Nico deeply shaken. After subduing Cullen's monster form, she attempted to kill him and ordered Chase to hold off Cammi, convinced that her participation in the deadly game would only lead to her early death. Cammi confronted Nico in the Darkhawk Armor, having taken it from Chase, and tried to reason with her. However, when Nico realized that Cammi possessed the Darkhawk amulet, she suspected Cammi had harmed Chase, leading to a battle between the two. Their fight was interrupted by Hazmat's powers going out of control.

Once the situation with Hazmat was under control, Nico and several other contestants ceased fighting and agreed to work together. They recognized the difficulty of killing one another, especially as Apex began unleashing various creatures to attack them. In the end, Death Locket saved Nico and the others by killing Apex and disabling Arcade's machinery. Shortly thereafter, several adult superhero teams arrived at Murderworld, rescuing Nico and the surviving teenagers, who vowed never to speak of the harrowing events they had endured.

Skipability: medium, while certain events are touched on in later issues, it's not significant in the actual Runaways comics outside of a mention here and there, though it is still one of Nico's coolest moments.

Personal rating: 7/10

Avengers Undercover (Nico and Chase) (2014) #1-10

Three months after leaving Murderworld, Nico confronted Chase during his interviewed on a TV show. Chase commented that she missed Molly's birthday as Nico became distant after the events of Murderworld. Nico and Chase teleported to join Aiden, Cammi, and Death Locket at Cullen's house. They went to Bagalia to find Cullen, who had gone in search of Arcade.

Entering into the town of villains there was a brief scuffle where she called Chase's loyalty into question. She met Daimon Hellstrom, who offered to teach her about black magic. She was teleported with the rest to confront Arcade. Nico, Cullen, and Death Locket shut down Arcade's control center and re-joined Chase, Aiden, Cammi, and Hazmat to fight Arcade. They stopped short of killing him, when Hazmat finished him off.

Baron Zemo invited the seven Murderworld survivors to stay in Bagalia and join the Masters of Evil. Nico and Cullen fought demons at Mephisticuffs, a fight club in Bagalia. Daimon Hellstrom told her that she needed a friend to help her find a middle ground between being a hero and being a killer like her parents, and a resurrected Alex Wilder appeared before her.

Alex trained Nico to use her new powers. At first, Nico got mad at Alex for flirting with her. After a while, Nico decided that being good kept turning out wrong, so she was going to do the bad thing, and kissed Alex. Daimon mind-controlled Cullen into attacking Aiden, so Nico battled Daimon. The Avengers arrived to rescue Nico and the others, and a fight with the Masters of Evil ensued. The Masters suddenly disappeared, and Alex told Nico that it was all a trap by Baron Zemo. Alex said goodbyes and returned to hell.

Skipability: medium, events are mainly only mentioned in one issue of the 2017 run, but this is when Nico begins to distance herself from the other Runaways.

Personal rating: 7/10

Avengers A.I. (Victor) (2013) #1-12

Months after Ultron was destroyed, the virus that Pym used to defeat him evolved into a new form of A.I., which called itself Dimitrios. S.H.I.E.L.D. A.I. Department Head Monica Chang was given the task to stop it, for which she created a new team of Avengers lead by Pym. Victor was recruited into the team by his older brother, the Vision, during his time on the team, he became friends with Doombot as well.

Skipability: high

Personal rating: 4/10

Secret Wars: A-Force (Nico) (2015) #1-5

A-Force, the defenders of the matriarchal Battleworld nation of Arcadia, respond to a megalodon attack during a routine patrol. During the attack, America Chavez hurls the shark across the Shield, the wall that separates their borders, thereby violating the laws of God Emperor Doom. As a result, she is arrested by Doom's enforcers, the Thor Corps. Despite Baroness She-Hulk's appeals, Chavez is sentenced to spend the rest of her life on the Shield. In response, She-Hulk assigns the Sub-Mariners—Namor, Namorita, and Namora—to investigate the source of the megalodon attack. Meanwhile, Nico Minoru, grieving the loss of Chavez, encounters a mysterious figure that has fallen from the sky.

The Sub-Mariners discover a strange portal in the ocean's depths, but it implodes as they approach. Later, at the urging of the female Loki, Minoru introduces her new friend to She-Hulk. When Medusa accuses the stranger—a sentient pocket universe—of creating the portal, a Sentinel emerges from another portal and attacks the team. During the battle, the newcomer saves Dazzler, convincing She-Hulk that she is not responsible for the attack. After destroying the Sentinel, She-Hulk decides to investigate the source of the portal herself.

She-Hulk travels to the Sentinel Territories, where, after a brief encounter with more Sentinels, she is chased back to Arcadia by the Thor Corps. The Thor Corps pursue her, but Medusa manages to repel them back through the portal, sacrificing herself in the process. When the Thor Corps return, She-Hulk warns the citizens of Arcadia that a traitor is spreading discontent among them and vows to bring the culprit to justice as she and the other A-Force members go into hiding inside the newcomer.

The newcomer helps A-Force escape the city. Outside, She-Hulk realizes that the portals' energy is of Asgardian origin, leading them to deduce that Loki is the traitor. With A-Force now outlawed, Loki is set to be crowned the new baroness of Arcadia. However, A-Force strikes preemptively, attacking Loki. After Loki is defeated, she releases a final blast of energy that breaches the Shield, allowing the zombie horde on the other side to invade.

As the horde advances, She-Hulk rallies A-Force, the Thor Corps, and other heroes of Arcadia to defend the city. During the battle, the zombies begin to overwhelm Arcadia, but the newcomer—now named Singularity—absorbs the entire horde, sacrificing herself to save the city. In the aftermath, the Thor Corps arrest Loki, and A-Force begins the reconstruction of Arcadia. Meanwhile, She-Hulk comforts Minoru, who is mourning the loss of her friends, expressing her belief that Singularity still lives on.

Skipability: high, only mentioned in one issue of the later comic, but Nico's bonding with the other heroes is quite sweet

Personal rating: 6/10

A-Force (Nico) (2016) #1-10

Following the conclusion of "Secret Wars," Singularity awakens in the primary Earth-616 universe and quickly encounters Carol Danvers, who does not recognize her. Unbeknownst to Singularity, she is being pursued by a similar entity named Antimatter. While Danvers confronts Antimatter, Singularity flees to New York City. Still pursued by Antimatter, Singularity seeks help from She-Hulk, who also has no memory of her. As they battle Antimatter, Medusa arrives with reinforcements and takes Singularity into custody.

After Antimatter kills one of Medusa's soldiers, she releases Singularity and teleports Antimatter to the moon. Realizing that physical attacks are ineffective against Antimatter, Singularity transports She-Hulk, Medusa, and herself to Japan to enlist the help of Nico Minoru. When Antimatter returns, Minoru casts a spell that temporarily uncreates him, buying the team some time. During this respite, Danvers suggests that Antimatter might be vulnerable to intense levels of light particles. They then travel to Miami to recruit Dazzler, just as Antimatter reappears.

Dazzler attacks Antimatter with all her power, but it proves ineffective. However, it provides Danvers with enough time to activate a containment device she designed. When Antimatter overloads the device, Singularity has Minoru disable Antimatter's tracking ability and transports the team to The Peak. As Antimatter eventually reaches The Peak, She-Hulk orders Singularity to stay behind while the rest of the team attempts to negotiate with Antimatter. When the talks fail, Antimatter fatally wounds Dazzler, prompting She-Hulk to decapitate him. Angered by Dazzler's death, Singularity confronts a recovered Antimatter in a one-on-one battle.

As Singularity fights Antimatter, Dr. Tempest Bell, The Peak's lead scientist, develops a bomb capable of destroying Antimatter, but detonating it will also kill Singularity. She-Hulk, Minoru, and Danvers rush to reinforce Singularity, while Medusa plants the bomb inside Antimatter. Just as the bomb explodes, a revived Dazzler arrives with a dimensional teleporter and rescues Singularity from the blast. With Antimatter destroyed, the team celebrates at a diner, but Singularity senses a disturbance as remnants of Antimatter begin tearing open portals to other worlds.

In Astoria, Oregon, A-Force tracks a dragon from Battleworld named Countess and discovers that she is being pursued by an alternate version of Dazzler from the Thor Corps. A-Force joins Dazzler Thor in battle, causing Countess to retreat. As they await Countess's return, Dazzler confides to Dazzler Thor that she has been infected by the Terrigen Mist and is dying. When Countess reappears, she takes control of Minoru, who incapacitates the team.

She-Hulk, Medusa, Dazzler, Dazzler Thor, and Danvers awaken in a jail cell in Astoria, discovering that their powers have been stripped and the populace is under Countess's control. After She-Hulk taunts Countess, Minoru is compelled to turn She-Hulk against the others. As the battle with She-Hulk leads them away from the city, their powers return, but Countess has Minoru encase their feet in cement and drag them underwater.

As the team is on the verge of drowning, Minoru commands them to breathe. Once they escape the water, She-Hulk splits the team—sending half to distract Countess while the others rescue Minoru. After being rescued, Minoru reveals the true nature of Countess's powers and returns with Dazzler and Dazzler Thor to confront her. Minoru persuades Countess to have a change of heart, but Dazzler Thor succumbs to the compounded effects of the Terrigen Mist on her otherworldly system. After Dazzler Thor's body vanishes, Dazzler warns her teammates that she may face a similar fate.

During the "Civil War II" storyline, She-Hulk is gravely wounded in a battle with Thanos. Carol Danvers informs Minoru that the Inhuman Ulysses Cain had a vision of her killing a woman named Alice. Refusing to be arrested for a crime she has yet to commit, Minoru flees to a safehouse in Ouray, Colorado. Unbeknownst to her, the town is under attack by a swarm of giant bugs. There, she encounters Elsa Bloodstone, who informs her that the attack is the result of an infection turning the populace into insects. Bloodstone takes Minoru to meet Janine, whose daughter Alice has gone missing during the chaos. Meanwhile, Danvers and Medusa race to find Minoru before Dazzler and Singularity, who disagree with their methods.

Danvers and Medusa locate Minoru and Bloodstone just before Dazzler and Singularity arrive. After a brief confrontation, they agree to split into two teams: one to find Alice and the other to protect the civilians. While searching for Alice in an abandoned mine, Danvers, Minoru, and Bloodstone are attacked by a giant bug. The bug incapacitates Danvers and Bloodstone before telepathically communicating to Minoru that it is Alice, who has inadvertently been infecting the townspeople after her transformation. Alice tells Minoru that killing her is the only way to save the people. When Minoru refuses, an infected Bloodstone threatens to kill Danvers.

Medusa, Singularity, and an infected Dazzler are overrun by bugs and regroup with the others just as Bloodstone infects Danvers. After Dazzler infects Medusa, Minoru casts a spell to transform Alice back into a human, but it does not cure the rest of the populace. Alice explains that she must be killed, and Minoru reluctantly casts a death spell on Alice, which restores the infected to their human forms. Alice then reemerges in her final form, assuring A-Force that she is no longer a threat, as she now has greater control over her powers. After the ordeal, Danvers and Minoru continue to disagree over each other's actions but agree to visit She-Hulk together in the hospital.

Skipability: high, while it is mentioned in later issues, it's only done so briefly, but this does lead to Nico's beginning in the 2017 Runaways run.

Personal rating: 6/10

The Vision (2016) (Victor) #1-12

When the Avengers were informed by Agatha Harkness that the Vision's attempt at creating a family would eventually end in tragedy, Victor was sent to infiltrate the Vision's everyday life, using an internship in the Capitol Hill as a pretext to spend winter at their house in Arlington, Virginia, and investigate Vision's activities.

Victor accidentally killed the Vision's son, Vin, when he stumbled upon Victor reporting to the Avengers. Victor used his electro-magnetic powers to contain Vin and prevent him from outing his operations, but a miscalculation caused him to damage Vin's nerve systems beyond repair. Mancha was subsequently imprisoned. Victor was later confronted by the Vision in his cell. Victor, filled with guilt, was ready to let the Vision kill him, but instead, he was killed by Vision's wife Virginia by removing his heart to avenge her son Vin. As he lay dying, Victor was at peace as he realized that he managed to beat destiny and wouldn't become his evil future self, Victorious.

Skipability: low, Victor's death is quite significant for the 2017 run

Personal rating: 4/10

Luke Cage & Iron Fist Vol 3 (2017) (Alex) #9-15

Alex Wilder next resurfaced in Harlem in order to continue his father's business. After dealing with two of his subordinates, Preemptive Strike members Isadore Dudley and Artie Sigmund, Wilder subsequently recruited two former criminals, Cockroach Hamilton and Disco Devil, as well as retrieved the Agnitus from Señor Mágico and his crew.

er the breakout at Ryker's Island, Hamilton introduced Black Mariah to Wilder, who explained that he intended to form his criminal empire by establishing a group known as the New Pride. After recruiting the likes of Gamecock and Cottonmouth, Alex Wilder teleported to Tombstone's headquarters, where he banished Mr. Fish to Hell and successfully defeated Tombstone. While announcing the hostile takeover, Wilder revealed his intentions were to assume control of the entire criminal underground of New York. Following this incident, Gadget managed to dismantle Wilder's software, prompting the New Pride to move to their contingency plan, involving violence. Mobilizing the New Pride to the Greenlee Housing Projects, the team was placed into conflict with both Black Cat's Gang and the Heroes for Hire; however, as a form of retaliation, Tombstone bombed the projects, killing many members of both gangs and discouraging Alex Wilder.

Regrouping at his apartment, Black Mariah coaxed Alex into strengthening his magical prowess, much to White Jennie's chagrin. In response, Wilder visited Pawn Mágico to steal some magical trinkets, including the Supersoul Stone amongst other items. Upon returning to his place of residence, he revealed that he was in fact possessed by a demon named Chadoe, whom Doctor Voodoo devised he had previously agreed to be the host of while in Hell, in exchange for magical powers.

With the knowledge that there were forces attempting to locate him, Alex Wilder moved his base of operations and began to peddle a drug known as Redemption. The effects of this drug appeared similar to demon possession, as one of the main components of the product was blood drawn from a Daemonium de Redemptionem. After a discussion with Chadoe, Wilder's source for the product was stolen by Jennie Royce with the goal of showing it to the Heroes for Hire. During the ensuing battle, Alex fell into the clutches of the Daemonium de Redemptionem and was abandoned by Chadoe, who sought to use Luke Cage as his new host. Iron Fist sprung into action and saved Alex from the Daemonium de Redemptionem, so it took Chadoe instead, and drug the twisted Grandmaster of Street Magic back to Hell.

Skipability: High

Personal rating: 3/10

I originally intended for this to be a single post but turns out reddit has limits on characters for posts, so I'll continued on a second post.

Hi all, throughout this year I've found myself enjoying some of the lesser known Marvel content; basically anything not Disney produced or mainline MCU since I'm essentially a Marvel tourist.

I just finished watching all three seasons of the Hulu series and found myself really enjoying it! However I've frequently struggled with reading things, likely due to issues with my attention span. To a point quite a bit of the manga I've bought has gone unread.

I just wanted to ask, I know there's changes between the series and the comics, but is there a recommended point of entry to transition from the end of the series and into the comics?

I initially started watching due to really liking Nico in Midnight Suns and I'd love to read more of the remaining Runaways as I've grown to like them all as well.

Ok so we know Peter and Nico are gonna be friends in the new upcoming series, and we also know Nico isn't just fashionable, she makes her own clothes, and not just with magic, the girl is a talented seamstress, so I thought, is she gonna help Peter make his Spider-man suit? I don't know if Nico will actually find out he's Spider-man and help him directly or if she'll be teaching him how to sew so he can do it himself, but that could be a fun little detail.

Hello everybody, so after an earlier post about possible what if scenarios for the runaways led to an interesting discussion, I decided "hey, why not write a little fanfiction about the idea you talked about?" and I went with it, so here you have "what if...Karolina never left earth" it's short and simple, but it's fanfiction, feel free to share your own ideas.

Nico and Karolina stood only a few feet from each other, Nico looked over at Xavin, a look of distrust in her eyes, and who could blame her? a stranger from another world appears to take away one of the few loved ones she has left in this world? hardly anything she was going to tolerate, yet then she looked at Karolina, she saw pain and uncertainty, not just from Xavin, but from the fact that only moments ago, Nico rejected her advances, and she could see the amount of pain that inflicted on her, something she never wanted.

"Karolina, are you sure about this? this guy comes here and suddenly says your his fiance? how do we know this isn't just another trick?" Nico asked, even she wasn't sure what kind of trick could be behind this, but the last few months had taught her how little she really knows, and the less you know, the less secure you feel in trusting someone.

"I know that, the last thing I want is to have to suffer another betrayal, but Xavin....I feel a sincerity in his voice, like he really means what he says, I'm not saying I trust him, but....I want to at least give him an honest answer" Karolina was not in the best place at the moment, none of them were, and Karolina was hardly looking to get engaged at the moment, for multiple reasons, but she did feel a certain kinship with Xavin, like he knew what they were going through in his own way.

Nico sulked in response, right now she wanted nothing more than to kick Xavin off the planet, but she didn't want to hurt Karolina any more than she already had, so she nodded, but as Karolina was about to turn away, Nico grabbed her wrist, firmly but gently, having one more thing to say "Karolina I....I didn't mean to hurt you, I just...." Nico was unsure of what to say, what could she say that would ease the burden and make things better?

Karolina placed a hand on her cheek, a gently touch as she looked at Nico with the warmest smile "it's ok Nico, I'm still here, we all are, nobody's leaving" Karolina said in such a warm tone, Nico smiled in response as she felt the guilt fading from her heart, the two then walked back over to the group, currently eyeing Xavin like they were just waiting for an excuse.

"must you continue to look at me with such aggression? I told you, I am only here for Karolina" Xavin explained like it was the most simplistic thing in the world, the others did not agree, Old Lace stood claws and fangs out, just waiting to tear into Xavin, Victor was letting off sparks, ready to throw every piece of metal in the surrounding area at him, as for Molly, well she hardly needed any prep to just hurl the heaviest object she could get her hands on.

Everyone please...there's no need for this anymore" Karolina exclaimed as she got between her friends and Xavin, signaling them to stand down, they did not want to, but they couldn't exactly take a risk at hurting Karolina, and reluctantly chose to stand down, Karolina turned to Xavin, who stood before her on one knee, looking up at her with a smile "Karolina, betrothed, does this mean you have accepted?" he asked, a bit of joy in his voice, but in Karolina's, only sympathy.

"I'm sorry Xavin, I don't, I don't accept the engagement" Karolina explains, this gives Xavin a shock on his face, while giving her fellow Runaways smiles and looks of relief "but Karolina please, you don't understand, this wedding was meant to happen, we must if we ever hope to achieve peace between our people's" Xavin tried to convince Karolina of the need for this marriage, the certainty was clear in his voice, but not in hers.

"Xavin, I'm sorry, but I can't accept, it's not possible between us....I like girls" Karolina said with a nervous smile, the others soon reacted in their own typical manner, Chase was dumbstruck, Gert had a look that just screamed "knew it", Victor and Molly didn't seem too shocked, they mainly were still watching Xavin closely for any hostility.

Upon hearing this, Xavin simply raised an eyebrow and smiled "is that all, Karolina, I am a skrull, for us, changing our forms is no different than changing clothing" Xavin explained as he proceeded to do just that, changing from a young human male form to a human female form.

Karolina was surprised by this, but her stance remained the same as before "Xavin, it's not that simple, I don't love you, I don't even know you, you can't expect someone to agree to marry you when they've never known you, that's not how love works" Karolina went on to explain, this clearly confused Xavin, not the reaction he expected or hoped for.

"But...Karolina, please, I may not know you now but I will, we will know each other, I promise you, just come with me and I will show..." Xavin's speech was cut off by Nico pointing the staff of one at him, all it would take is a single word, and they would be gone, but Karolina was quick to stop her.

"I'm sorry Xavin, but this....this is my home, and this is my family, I won't leave them" Karolina proclaimed, smiles forming on the faces of the others, a mix of joy and pride in their friend and teammate.

Xavin was shocked, he had no idea what he could do or say, he felt defeated, yet he could do nothing to change it "as you wish, if that is truly what you desire, I will leave, farewell.....Karolina" Xavin says in a depressed tone as he steps away from them, stepping back onto his ship, he took one last look at his betrothed, the woman he expected to spend a lifetime with, seeing all her friends hugging her in support, something he did not have, Xavin left, accepting the fact that he and Karolina can never be more than Star-crossed.

I just finished the original 2003 run and loved it but I've never seen much about the subsequent runs are they worth reading?

Runaways is my favorite Marvel series, as such, I've read the whole story and almost everything in which they appear, and thus, I've had ideas or opinions here and there. Also, first post on here! Here it goes:

What if... Cassie Lang did, in fact, join the runaways and not the Young Avengers like she initially intended?

What if... not just Cassie, but ALL the potential inductees to the runaways actually happened? (Topher turning out to be a good guy, Shovel Guy choosing to join them instead of staying with the Wrecking Crew, and Lilly choosing to travel to the present with the group instead of staying in the past.)

What if... Nico chose to keep the One inside her staff, instead of freeing him little by little? (I feel like this gives way for her to eventually lose all her magic altogether, or him turning against her.)

What if... Klara chose to rejoin with the group instead of staying with her adoptive parents?

What if... Klara had a better control of her powers? (By training with the X-Men for a bit, for example.)

What if... Xavin came back?

What if... they didn't start to call themselves "The Runaways"? (I liked when they didn't self-identify as such.)

What if... Gert and Chase actually, fully got back together? (I really liked them as a couple.)

AND MY FAVORITE: What if... we actually got to see how Gertrude goes on to lead the Avengers?

I'm curious, since the Runaways have had their fair share of looks over the years, what's your personal favorite look for any and/or all of them? what did you think looked the best overall? I'm accepting superhero outfits, casual outfits, and even one time outfits, just wanna know what you thought was the best look.

Personally I've always liked Nico's look in the Whedon run, she's always been quite fashionable, but I think the old school style really suited her, though I've always been a fan of retro fashion, she really rocked it.

So, funny story. I know nothing about the Runaways comics, but my friend and I are cosplaying as the pair and I’m going as Old Lace. I don’t have a dinosaur costume, so I want to do a sort of Scooby Doo mystery island sort of deal where she’s dressing up as a human to avoid suspicion. So uh…… what kind of clothes do yall think she’d wear? I’m going to try to pull them out of my closet. 😂

It was pretty awesome, we went to a movie, talked a lot, it was fun, wasn't a date, no kissing or anything like that, just fun, and at the end we exchanged numbers, one of the best dreams I've ever had.

I know this is a nerdy thing to share, but I'm a nerd and I wanted to share, so here you go.

I’ve been wanting to cosplay future gert from vol 5 and dye a strip of my hair purple but I was wondering if I even look like her? My girlfriend thinks I do but she’s probably just being nice lol

I'm just curious, as fans of both series, what's something you believe was handled better in the show than the comics? and of course what's something that was handled better in the comics than the show? no judgements, just wanna hear some opinions from some fellow fans.

So I've been rereading Rainbow's run of Runaways recently, and I'm noticing something, it doesn't really seem like any of the other team members reacted to Nico and Karolina getting together, which seems odd to me.

I know that when they got together, the team had other things to deal with, story as old as time, but still, I was expecting some kind of comment or reaction, maybe a snarky "it's about time" from Gert or a a congrats from Chase, but the only reaction we seemed to get was Old Lace's smile in that bonus chapter.

I don't know if it's just me, but this feels a little odd, I mean Deanoru becoming canon was like the biggest thing the run was known for, and no one seemed to really even acknowledge it, and it's not like they were hiding it, they cuddled in the open, they kissed in the open, hell Nico sat in Karolina's lap in one panel, I know they probably had suspicions about it and of course would support them, but the fact none of them seemed to really react to it puzzles me.

The trailer looks fantastic and has me excited! My wishful thinking is that the person with the lighter at 1:39 is Nico.

https://preview.redd.it/8p4nrmb1icbd1.png?width=847&format=png&auto=webp&s=1c2223bb410b24868ef0b04f825f451794fe54a2

I really can't wait to see what Ultimate Nico's abilities are

Was anybody else put off at first by the substandard IMDB rating? I realise that comic book adaptions can be harshly rated as their fanbase are brutal at times but as a person new to the entire Runaways universe I'm finding the series to be really entertaining.

Albeit some of the acting is hit & miss but I rate it as high as Daredevil and Jessica Jones so far.

Coming up to season two now which I hear is even better.

The cw app has commercials but it is free.

For now I noticed it under the recently added but it is just a summary entry without episodes yet.

The single arm warmer too 😩