Runaways #31 Review

by Charles Martin on March 18, 2020

Runaways #31 Review
Writer: Rainbow Rowell
Artist: Andrés Genolet
Colourist: Dee Cunniffe
Letterer: Joe Sabino
Publisher: Marvel Comics

I'm gonna try to keep this brief, positive, and spoiler-free. If you're already a Runaways fan, #31 is a must-read. If you're an avowed anti-fan, this issue won't change your mind. And if you haven't tried this volume on for size yet, Lordy, why would you start at #31?!

This issue is The Big One. The Runaways finally settle their hash with Doc Justice in an action-heavy climax.

The threats are wide-ranging; the previous issue put Karolina in hot water and this one's cover should rightly get you concerned for Chase's health.

I'm tempted to say the big fight/resolution gives everybody an important role to play, but that's not quite true. Some of the Runaways are passive here, for reasons logical (Gib) and not-so-logical (Molly). 

But the characters that do step up do so in a big way; this is a magnificent outing for Gert, Nico, Chase, Victor, arc characters Doc J and Matthew, and most of all, Old Lace.

I've already written odes in praise of artist Andrés Genolet's adroit handling of the team's deinonychus pal. In this issue he has truly outdone himself; Fightin' Mad Old Lace is the greatest Old Lace yet.

She's not the only impressive combatant here, though. Some comics geeks assume that artists with a spare, "indie" style are inherently less talented at action scenes when compared to the sort of pencillers who majored in serratus muscles at the Kubert School.

This issue is a powerful argument against that prejudice. Mr. Genolet's fight panels are amazing. They throb with captive motion; each pose is exquisitely tweaked to convey both action and mood.

It helps that Rainbow Rowell's action script is surprisingly brutal. Punches are not pulled, metaphorically or literally. Runaways fans would demand nothing less. 

This entire arc has been about a manipulative adult, a parental figure, abusing the Runaways. The abuse was insidious and psychological and deniable in past issues. The creators take things over the top in a perfect way for the climax, making the abuse literal and physical and painful. 

This issue of the Runaways lets the blood flow and refuses to look away.

That is why this is an entirely satisfying conclusion to the arc, despite there being a few pickable nits lodged in the corners of the plot. (Brief, hopefully not too spoiler-y example: The family connections aren't as convincing/meaningful as they could be.)

I can't conclude a discussion of this comic without kicking some acclaim toward Dee Cunniffe's colours. He handles zappy fight scenes in a night-time setting just fine. But at the end, he tackles the challenge of a plot-significant sunrise and simply blows it out of the water. It's a gorgeous moment because the colours are perfect. The very first arc of this volume closed with a similarly significant sunrise (thematic consistency ahoy!), but I would argue this one beats that one by miles.

Runaways #31 draws a curtain over the title's current arc, but before it does so (complete with some tempting foreshadowing), it goes all-out in its brutal depiction of the deadly conflict between the team and the manipulative Doc Justice. This'll put you through the wringer, emotionally speaking, but you'll like where you end up.

Our Score:


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Holy carp, is that a Little Nemo homage?!