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Civil War: Young Avengers & Runaways (Marvel Comics, 2006; #1-4)

  • This is a book with “Civil War” in the title, everyone in it decides to communicate with their fists instead of their words.
  • That’s okay, though, because while they do it they complain about the adult superheroes just punching each other instead of being heroic.
  • Also, while the Runaways usually bicker lovingly, here they’re just mean.
  • On the bright side, Stefano Caselli art: it’s pretty great.
  • I’m less wild about the dark, desaturated colors—they fit tonally with the grimness and punching, and they’re well-executed, but they’re a pretty stark departure from what Runaways has been so far.

Do you like it when heroes punch each other?  Then go ahead and read this.  Are you making a conscious effort to read the entire Runaways back catalog while you quixotically read a trade every day?  Then go ahead and read this.  But if you don’t fall into one of those groups, you might want to pass.

Collected in

  • Civil War: Runaways & Young Avengers (#1-4)
  • Runaways: The Complete Collection, Vol. 3 (Runaways #19-30; Civil War: Young Avengers & Runaways #1-4; Secret Invasion: Runaways/Young Avengers #1-3)

Credits

Writer: Zeb Wells | Artist: Stefano Caselli | Colorist: Daniele Rudoni | Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit | Covers: Jim Cheung, John Dell, Justin Ponsor | Assistant Editors: Molly Lazer & Aubrey Sitterson | Editor: Tom Brevoort

The Authority: The Nativity (Wildstorm, 1999; #13-16)

Roche Limit: Clandestiny (Image Comics, 2014; #1-5)