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Runaways
7
Teenage Wasteland: Chapter One
7/DEC/2003
Publisher: Tsunami/Marvel Comics
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan
Pencils: Adrian Alphona
Inks: Craig Yeung
Colors: Brian Reber
Letters: Randy Gentile
Price: $2.99 US/R28.50 SA
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With Bill Jemas leaving the head office at Marvel
the New Marvel/Tsunami books on the shelves have been falling faster
than ACME anvils in a Road Runner cartoon. As I write this I have
just heard the news that the Tsunami title Sentinel has
been cancelled after issue #12 and with no trade paperback
collections in sight for the remaining books in the line could this
also spell impending doom for Runaways?
The kids have officially runaway and set up shop in a cave in the
hills. They don secret ‘Superhero’ names and try to
hide the fact that their parents are evil and get on with their
lives. But when accused of murder and with only nineteen dollars
to survive, just how much chance do you have at a normal life?
Brian K. Vaughan [Y-The Last Man,
Mystique] continues to pen a thoroughly enjoyable
comic for all ages. There is nothing else like this currently on
the shelves and so it shines as a completely original and fresh
take on the superhero genre. The relationships and in-fighting amongst
both groups of parents and children make for an entertaining and
believable read. Add in some original powers and a few hooks and
you’ll be reading this one as soon as possible in order to
move onto the next issue.
The artistic feel of the book has been vital to its success and
the pencilling of Adrian Alphona mixed together
with the pencil-thin inking of Craig Yeung and
the gentile pastel tones of colourist Brian Reber
have made it stand out as one of the more original artistic
finds in mainstream comics so far this year.
Alphona really ups his game to produce an issue
which stands out as his best yet. It didn’t seem rushed, like
previous issues have, and each panel seems to work well and flow
beautifully into the next. The body language and poses of his characters
are spot on and his fun and free style aid this book greatly.
*One special note that I’d like to make about
this book which really frustrated me was the production values on
its cover art. The cover I have on my copy is totally blurred and
ruined by a very bad ‘out of registration’ print job.
This is totally unacceptable, in normal book stores covers like
this on novels would be sent back or not even make it into the store
in the first place. It’s amazing how publishers in
comics just sell a crappy production job regardless. This
cover was to be sold as a ‘special ink’ cover by Marvel,
a kind of collectors piece, well I guess a blurry image with pink
blotches is collectable, if you’re blind and stupid or alternatively
are looking for something to line your hamsters cage with, come
on Marvel step up the production levels or drop the price!
A series deserving of your support. I really hope this doesn’t
go the way of the Dodo as it is truly original in scope and has
a lot to add to the mainstream comics world.
Score 8/10
Reviewed By:Iain Duncan
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Comic Reviews
