That's How You Wrap Up a Storyline: A Review of Runaways #6 (mild spoilers)

written by Rainbow Rowell
drawn by Kris Anka
colored by Matt Wilson

Having determined that Molly Hayes needs to be freed from her grandmother who, while initially benevolent, has shown her dark side, the rest of the Runaways, Nico Minoru, Chase Stein, Karolina Dean and Victor Mancha's head storm Dr. Hayes' house, where Molly, Gert Yorkes and Old Lace have been staying, and a frenetic fracas involving telepathic cats and a surprise blast from the team's past ensues.

As obvious as it was where this story was heading, I really have to give kudos to Rainbow Rowell and Kris Anka for sticking the proverbial landing. It has happened in the past that such promising arcs falter, either in terms of the writing or in the art, but here the two of them went from strength to strength and basically saved the very best they had for last.

Sure, there are some intriguing threads leading to further stories that are peppered throughout the last six issues but, in stark contrast to the unconscionably anti-climactic sixth issue of "Astonishing X-Men" this particular story ends quite definitively and on a very satisfying note. It does get prosaic at times with Molly's grandma basically acting like the misguided bad guy we all knew she was from the moment she showed her face, and with lines like "this ends now!" punctuating the action, but considering that Rowell is new to this genre of storytelling I'm more than willing to cut her some slack. This book was a superb read and even though it may have stalled a little bit out of the gate, Rowell really finished her maiden story arc on this book very strongly.

I gotta say that, as much as I've enjoyed his work throughout most of this new series, Kris Anka really takes things up a notch here and delivers a really special finale. As someone who's read every issue of Brian K. Vaughn's original series, I can say without reservation that this is the best the book has ever looked.

Rowell's script is remarkable in how it really captures the essence of this "non-superhero" team, which I find remarkable because of how very idiosyncratic this particular group of characters is. Marvel could not have hoped for a better pair of creators to bring the Runaways back to the printed page.



9/10