Saga, volume 3(13-18), by Brian K Vaughan, ill by Fiona Staples, 144 pages

 Saga, volume 3(13-18), by Brian K Vaughan, ill by Fiona Staples, 144 pages

I have a feeling that this is one of those series where as soon as you get attached to or interested in a character, they will probably die.  Sheesh.  In this installment, Marko, Alana, baby Hazel and family are settling into a lighthouse on the planet Quietus- but their suitors are close behind.  There are some major action scenes, some new journalist characters, and a possible relationship in the works between Gwen and The Will?  That is, if The Will survives.  Whaaaaa?  You've just got to read it.  A good series for fans of space soap operas. 

Saga, v 2, by Brian K Vaughan

 Saga, v 2, by Brian K Vaughan, 144 pages
The action continues- Marko, Alana, and little baby Hazel are flying through the universe in a tree-spaceship, trying to avoid the bounty-hunters out to get them and trying to live with distrustful in-laws.  They have more background in this volume and the characters are getting more depth.  This is definitely going to be a big deal in the comic world.

Saga, v 1, by Brian K Vaughan

 Saga, v 1, by Brian K Vaughan, 160 pages

I read this once before, but since the second volume came out, I realized I forgot everything and had to revisit.  This is a story of star-crossed lovers, but in space and at war and bringing a baby into the universe.  This is definitely for adults, but there is humor and tenderness and reminded me a bit (in the writing) of Firefly.

Saga, volume 1, by Brian K Vaughan

Saga, volume 1, by Brian K Vaughan, 160 pages

We are thrown right into the middle of the action at the beginning of this book- so much so, that I thought I had not picked up the first volume. But it is a hip, outerspace/fantasy sort of comic.  Alana and Marko should be fighting on opposite sides in an intergalactic war.  Instead, they're running from both of their armies, getting married and delivering their baby together.  It is a very adult series.  Fans of Vaughan's Y: the Last Man series might like this (different type of story, same sort of voice).  

Runaways 7: Live Fast, by Brian K Vaughan

Runaways 7: Live Fast, by Brian K Vaughan 144 pages

The runaways are all trying to deal with the death of one of their own, each in their own way.  Chase takes things to extremes, however, by offering the Gibborim a human sacrifice in exchange for bringing back Gertrude.  It’s up to the runaways to convince him that his life is just as precious.  This one was a bit of a tearjerker.  

Runaways 6: Parental Guidance, by Brian K Vaughan

Runaways 6: Parental Guidance, by Brian K Vaughan 144 pages

This is a pivotal book in the series, and I will never forgive my husband for telling me which of the key members of the runaways is killed before I read it.  The Pride is back… sort of… with one of the key members back and more evil than ever.  The runaways are out to stop him, which they do, but not before losing one of their own.  This one is really sad.

Runaways 5: Escape to New York, by Brian K Vaughan

Runaways 5: Escape to New York, by Brian K Vaughan 144 pages

Cloak and Dagger are back! Cloak has been accused of brutally attacking Dagger, and all of New York’s superheroes are trying to catch him.  Cloak needs the helps of fellow runaways to prove his innocence and help Dagger regain consciousness.  There are a few cameos by the New Avengers, including Spiderman and Wolverine, personal favorites. 

Runaways 4: True Believers, by Brian K Vaughan

Runaways 4: True Believers, by Brian K Vaughan, 144 pages

So you rid the West Coast of an evil supervillain crime syndicate, in the process killing all of your parents, and go on run from the foster homes Captain America tries to keep you in- what next?  For the runaways, their next mission is to deal with the influx of criminals trying to take the place of the Pride, and basically righting the wrongs of their parents.  This issue introduces a new member to the group, Victor, who might be evil in 20 years, and a superhero support group that is trying its best to "help" the runaways.

Runaways 3: The Good Die Young, by Brian K Vaughan

Runaways 3, The Good Die Young, by Brian K Vaughan, 144 pages

I guess this was originally supposed to be the last issue, because it has a huge plot twist (no spoilers here).  Let’s just say that one of the runaways has been working for the Pride all along, and over half of the characters die.  The runaways discover what motivated their parents to turn evil, and it turns out that they were just like any other parents: they did it for the children.  Action-packed and featuring a cameo from Captain America, this volume would have been a good ending, but I’m glad it’s going to be just the beginning. 

Runaways, 2: Teenage Wasteland, by Brian K Vaughan

Runaways, 2: Teenage Wasteland, by Brian K Vaughan, 144 pages

Six teens with super powers and their pet dinosaur, on the run from their super villain parents, find themselves foiling a gas station robbery and gaining another partner.  His parents are evil, too, he says.  But there’s more to the story than it seems, and teen hormones are in the air, too.  This volume also features an appearance by Cloak and Dagger, whom bigger Marvel fans than me would recognize as the original teen runaway superheroes.  

Runaways, 1: Pride & Joy, by Brian K Vaughan

Runaways, 1: Pride & Joy, by Brian K Vaughan, 144 pages

This story is about six teenagers who are brought together every year while their parents attend to secret philanthropic affairs. But this year, they spy on the meeting, and find out that their parents are actually super villains who annually sacrifice a victim.  The fun is just beginning as the teens find themselves on the run, discovering their own secret powers and attempting to end their parents’ evil ways.  Appropriate for teens, and appealing to adults, too. 

(Sidenote: this landed on my desk because the binding completely fell apart after a few checkouts.  That is so frustrating with these graphic novels, because I found the same situation with books 2 and 3, too.  But I digress. )