Runaways #20 Review

Writer: Rainbow Rowell / Artist: Andrés Genolet / Marvel I’ve been wondering where Rainbow Rowell would go with this book. By issue #20 of Runaways, I have to say the direction she chose is equal parts expected and wildly surprising. Andrés Genolet seamlessly took over art duties last issue, and continues to do the Lawds work by finessing on the panels. On the expected side of the Runaways fence, we see our family of misfits return (or try to return) to their mundane lives. Rowell is such a pro at detailing the intricacies of young people’s lives. She possesses the uncanny ability to keep you engaged in a Marvel title about kids of all ages with these wild-ass powers, without really needing to flex the fantasy elements that so many writers rely on.

But she can still flex the fantasy when needed. Nico out here dropping jaws by jamming to Carly Rae Jepsen while putting on a disgustingly LA. pink floral shirt. I was so confused until she mentioned she was on her way to work. Molly, the educational enthusiast, simply isn’t herself and refuses to go to school. We don’t find out if this is fallout from her attempted secession from the group, or just typical teenage angst. Karolina’s college life has been upended. Chase is annoyed by everything and everyone as he has to put all the handyman work on the back burner until he gets back from work. Speaking of back burner, the fact that “fixing Doombot” is a simple bullet point on his To Do list is mind boggling yet kind of hilarious….