Review for Runaways Books 2 and 3 (spoilers for Runaways 1)

If you haven't read Runaways 1, skip this and read my review of that book here.  I'm going to do my best to avoid spoilers for books 2 and 3 until after the cut (for those of you reading from clients I'll throw in a *SPOILERS* tag)

Runaways 2 shows the series has potential beyond the first book and Runaways 3 is simply outstanding and is easily among the best trade paperbacks I've read.

Books 2 and 3 pick up the story of our super-powered gang as they seek to stay together and fight crime that's filling the power vacuum left by the Pride.  Book 2 has three main plot-lines, a new character that's a potential threat, a Super-Heroics Anonymous type group of young adults seeking to find out more about the Runaways, and a trip to New York involving the return of Cloak and Dagger. 

Assuming you like well-executed cross-overs, I think the New York plot-line is the strongest.  The run-ins with prominent members of the Marvel line are fun, particularly the one with Spiderman who is still fairly young in this incarnation.  All three plot-lines do some nice character development and have interesting setup that will be largely paid off in book 3.  The book ends by setting up a mysterious nemesis and revealing an ominous omen. I think the book's worth it in its own right if you like the Runaways premise and definitely worth it because it sets up book 3.

So by early in Book 3 the Runaways cast has expanded by two over the original group in Runaways 1.  I think both new additions are good, and one of them manages to be pretty unique and have a great deal of depth.  Book 2 demonstrated the Runaways's flaws and they come into sharp relief in Book 3 as they face down old enemies, survive more episodic challenges, and handle life and death choices.

I'm not a fan of overwrought drama.  Runaways avoids that by sticking to believable problems and having characters that actually try to face them, even if they aren't always successful.  The stories show the strength of the cast, both as individuals and as people playing off one another.  Perhaps more importantly, the characters don't just try to face their problems and their enemies, they actively manage to be smart about it.  Happily, Brain K. Vaughn is quite smart too and knows how to play with a readers expectations.

The only relative weakpoint are some of the supporting antagonists.  Most of the main villains and some of the super-heroes anonymous group standout, but otherwise these are more episodic enemies than a deeply memorably rogues gallery.  I don't think this is particularly a problem.  The main villains are interesting enough to drive the plot well and the story is much more about developing the characters who are still quite new.

Finally, these books don't pull punches.  If you don't want genuine sadness and sense of loss these aren't the stories for you.  However, I tend to think that's a good thing so long as its managed well.

Also props for managing to maintain a nice diverse cast.  Racial diversity hit dropped a bit with the end of Book 1 but jumps up by book 3.  In fact, book 3s actively emphasizing, so we get some change in speech patterns and official confirmation that Nico does not just have an Asian name.

Finally the ending is surprisingly effective at leaving me wanting more even though so much is resolved in Book 3.

*SPOILERS*

First, poor Gert and poor Chase.  They were such a fun couple.  I didn't see Gert's death coming, I had figured Chase or Nico would be the most likely ones to bite it.  Vaughn obviously new that and setup both deaths only to avoid both. Chase's attempt to bring Gert back played quite well with dark sacrifices and avoided cop-outs completely in my view.  (For the record, I don't think Gert's death counted as a sacrifice for the giants because she effectively suicided). 

I like Victor alright but I'm a big fan of Xavin.  He really sold me after the scene where he tried to seduce Karolina as Nico.  That could have easily been a tired trope but instead it shows his issues with identity and his discomfort in his assumed skins.  In some ways he reminds me of Odo, but his ability to do perfect replication gives him a rather different set of issues.  Also, I was particularly impressed with the way he handled the retro-zilla, although some credit should go to Nico since it was her plan.

Nico's increasingly dark streak and dating travails were a fun part of Book 2 and in Book 3 she pulls back from it some.  That said, her comment about the possibility of killing Chase make me continue to think she's probably the most morally ambiguous of the group still.  The promiscuity plot-line was fun, but I think it's probably for the best that she's settled some by the end of Book 3.  I've got no problem if she's single or sexually aggressive again later, but I don't want to see her using kissing as a way of acting out ad infinitum.