Runaways #28 Review
Writer: Rainbow Rowell
Artist: Andrés Genolet
Colourist: Dee Cunniffe
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Publisher: Marvel Comics
The Runaways' story moves forward fast and smooth. Los Angeles has a J-Team again, with weeks turning into months (maybe?) as the kids fight alongside Doc Justice.
And as Gert angrily reminds Victor, "This was supposed to be a one-night stand!"
Gert remains close to the center of the story, but unlike the last issue, this one draws back a little from her point of view. Rainbow Rowell nudges the script more into her teammates' heads, particularly Victor's and Nico's.
We also get more red flags flying over Doc Justice's leathery, botoxed face. He confirms explicitly (but not to the kids, yet) that Gert doesn't fit his idea of a superhero -- or his plans for turning the team into a commodity.
At Victor's urging, Gert takes part in a training exercise to see if she and Old Lace are ready to take the field with the J-Team. It doesn't turn into a disaster, quite, but the results do a lot more to support Doc's opinion than Victor's.
Between the training test and an earlier scene where Nico takes martial arts instruction from Doc, this issue gets two solid action moments. Andrés Genolet does a great job with them, combining bold poses and smart layouts to create a dynamic visual story.
Colourist Dee Cunniffe delivers another excellent California palette. There's an excellent display of the passage of time from start to finish. Even though the issue takes place over more than one day, Mr. Cunniffe takes the story smoothly from pre-dawn blues into the balmy gold of another gorgeous, sunny So-Cal day.
This issue is a pleasure to read, but it is, unfortunately, a brief one. I may be giving the impression that this issue is long on action and short on conversation. That's not actually the case, but that is how it feels. Rainbow Rowell's dialogue flows out in such a smooth, naturalistic cascade that it begs you to gobble the words down quickly rather than savouring each line.
Mr. Genolet's art for the conversational scenes is another factor rushing you through the issue. This is not to say the visuals aren't also worthy of savouring. But they are so perfectly suited to the script and so in tune with the characters that the reading experience is blissfully harmonious -- and therefore brief.
I believe Runaways #28 is a little short on plot. Things progress from where #27 left them, but just by a few baby steps. It's a great deal of fun and it looks fantastic as ever, but this issue may run the risk of blurring together with those around it once the arc is complete.
Artist: Andrés Genolet
Colourist: Dee Cunniffe
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Publisher: Marvel Comics
The Runaways' story moves forward fast and smooth. Los Angeles has a J-Team again, with weeks turning into months (maybe?) as the kids fight alongside Doc Justice.
And as Gert angrily reminds Victor, "This was supposed to be a one-night stand!"
Gert remains close to the center of the story, but unlike the last issue, this one draws back a little from her point of view. Rainbow Rowell nudges the script more into her teammates' heads, particularly Victor's and Nico's.
We also get more red flags flying over Doc Justice's leathery, botoxed face. He confirms explicitly (but not to the kids, yet) that Gert doesn't fit his idea of a superhero -- or his plans for turning the team into a commodity.
At Victor's urging, Gert takes part in a training exercise to see if she and Old Lace are ready to take the field with the J-Team. It doesn't turn into a disaster, quite, but the results do a lot more to support Doc's opinion than Victor's.
Between the training test and an earlier scene where Nico takes martial arts instruction from Doc, this issue gets two solid action moments. Andrés Genolet does a great job with them, combining bold poses and smart layouts to create a dynamic visual story.
Colourist Dee Cunniffe delivers another excellent California palette. There's an excellent display of the passage of time from start to finish. Even though the issue takes place over more than one day, Mr. Cunniffe takes the story smoothly from pre-dawn blues into the balmy gold of another gorgeous, sunny So-Cal day.
This issue is a pleasure to read, but it is, unfortunately, a brief one. I may be giving the impression that this issue is long on action and short on conversation. That's not actually the case, but that is how it feels. Rainbow Rowell's dialogue flows out in such a smooth, naturalistic cascade that it begs you to gobble the words down quickly rather than savouring each line.
Mr. Genolet's art for the conversational scenes is another factor rushing you through the issue. This is not to say the visuals aren't also worthy of savouring. But they are so perfectly suited to the script and so in tune with the characters that the reading experience is blissfully harmonious -- and therefore brief.
I believe Runaways #28 is a little short on plot. Things progress from where #27 left them, but just by a few baby steps. It's a great deal of fun and it looks fantastic as ever, but this issue may run the risk of blurring together with those around it once the arc is complete.
A Look Inside
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