Runaways # 14 - Homeschooling, Part Four: Advanced History
is a comic book published by Marvel Publishing & released on 11 / / 2009User Rating - 9 votes, 4.1 avg.
Plot Summary
The unbelievable conclusion to “Homeschooling” is here. And someone comes back.
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User Reviews
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I'll take Edward Cullen, Thanks ever so.
Reviewed by Niesa on Oct. 14, 2009. Niesa has written 3 reviews. His/her last review was for Homeschooling, Part Four: Advanced History. 1 out of 1 users recommend his reviews. |
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Spoilers. Always spoilers. A very comprehensive review of Runaways Volume 3 follows:
**********
I suppose I should also take this time to apologise for what is not going to be a straight up review. This is a literary review, a review of themes and construction as well as my many fangirlisms. Further more, I'll be touching on points such as changing demographic, intended cultural impact and criticisms based on the perspective of a young, female reader. If you're looking for a review that tells you exactly what happens and what this means in the grand scale of things, then read the next one up.
2:2 Powers, Activate!
Let's start at the top. Oh, dear. When I saw this cover my first reaction was to be straight on phone and the tinternets to my various comic friends around various places to ask what they thought. The general consensus was an obvious one. Why now? Why bring Gert back now at the end of such a mishap of an arc? I can't see any other reason beyond failing sales and an attempt to get back to a heyday that we're simply not going to return to. The original creative team were one hundred percent wonderful and the art...Just wow. It's not about simply returning to convention because there was a chemistry between source matter and it's portrayal that simply won't be re-achieved. This is a title aimed at teenage readers and while the vast majority of the readers are older then the intended demographic, the fact remains that this is meant to be a welcoming point.
In comparison let's look at the bigger of the tween and teen fascinations at the moment: Socially driven drama like Gossip Girl, 90210 etc. and Supernatural romance like well, Supernatural (Or it’s working title “Buffy the hardcore steroids user”) and most importantly Twilight. I've read Twilight. I can tell you now that I am not a fan. I'm not, I thought they were terrible awful books with very little storyline but the fact remains THESE THINGS ARE HUGE! And the film (believe it or believe it now) was excellently executed. Why? Because there is a
chemistry between source matter and it's portrayal that simply won't be re-achieved. (Female director, I'd like to point out.) It's dark, it's sexual in its undertones, great teen-centric soundtrack and it's simply beautiful to look at.
What is with the endless running dialogue?
Now I know that dialogue driven writing can be wonderful. It can be sharp and it can be funny. I think the ultimate example of this is Kevin Smith's various works; all his films are dialogue driven and that's what makes them so special but we've all seen that this can go wrong (Jersey Girl? That aside, Chasing Amy while an interesting commentary on sexuality, was shit. Zac and Miri was funny but still…meh.) This issue of Runaways is just pages and pages of edgy banter on interesting backdrops. I understand that it's a wrap up but the wrap up could have been handled in three pages at the back of the last issue. It's such a down point on which to end what was advertised as 'Runaways most exciting and dangerous arc yet!' Apart from Old Lace dying, I don't even really remember the why's and hows.
Teen genre works like GG and Twilight are dialogue driven, too. More then any comic book should be because one is about a regular group of people who regardless of crazy amounts of cash, deal with every day problems. Twilight is a first person book, but that aside when it makes it to the big screen so much of this pointless dialogue is removed and it becomes story driven. Yes, there are endless cut to and travelling montage all with that lovely back voice over to catch us up. How is it that a film achieves comic book rhythm and timing but a comic book cannot? Least of all a comic that is meant to be one of the most sophisticated portrayals of the modern teenager and their relationships? It was written by a Mormon!
Excessive sexuality.
I touched on this in my last review but not in the manner I would have liked. I understand that it is not as prominent in this issue as it was in the last issue and every issue for the entirety of this volume. Every action seems to have a sexual overtone in Runaways that doesn't sit well with me considering this is meant to be a welcoming point for new readers. There is no bridge for that gap between having just learned to read and enjoy comics AKA Power Pack and the mainstream such as X-Men. Ultimate Spider-Man used to be this comic, it used to be the welcome mat but with that now completely…well, near enough gone Runaways is about the closest thing I can think of. I know the older ones are growing up but I can’t help but feel that this bed hopping mentality distracts from the initial point of the comic where sex was a very awkward thing. When it was handled as a matter of fact it was stepped over clever in a way that meant those that would understand would see it and those that were not looking for it would just read on. A great example of this is the quiet acknowledgement that Gert and Chase used to share a bed.
Through works like Twilight you can see that it is possible to communicate love, fear, stress, sexual tension…even sex without making it so bare faced, without making it the most prominent theme in the book. I know sex is EVERYTHING when you’re a teenager, but only in it being private and terrifying. And even then, when you’ve done is as these characters seem to have (All have been in long term sexual relationships) then it doesn’t become the same anymore. It doesn’t become the frightening and awkward theme as it appears in the early comics.
This is rambling, but my point is essentially this:
There are very, very few writers able to communicate adolescence so well. Don’t get me wrong, I can think of three wonderful ones right off the top of my head (Yes, the same ones as you.) but the vast majority of it make it hammy or worse Skins-Lite. Skins being Edgy teen drama. American’s look it up because a US remake is on its way. It’s wonderful, don’t get me wrong but it doesn’t fit in with Dinosaurs and Lesbian Aliens.
I think with comics like this that are trying to be the rough side of teen drama, this whole thing sometimes comes off as patronizing, eye-rollingly bad in places. I know I’m a little older then a teenager but I had my time at it and I had my supernatural teen drama. I had Buffy and Buffy was a whole lot better then this without being patronzing or OOT.
This is for a certain group of people and the new readers are going to be a certain kind of people. Nerd or geek are old fashioned words now because this is all becoming so mainstream…through the movies. The movies make this a wider audience and that’s good news but if a person likes science fiction or character stories or amazing art or a new trying new mediums for stories then they will eventually come by a comic. Some will read it and like it and some will not. Having a story about fashion isn’t going to make some girl pick up a comic, let alone the epic stories of the moment but something other will grab their attention because it is possible to have multiple hobbies and it is possible to enjoy a number of things at once. I am a girl, I like buying clothes but buying clothes isn’t the only thing to do. I am a girl, I enjoy angsting my way through excessive sexual tension but angsting my way through excessive sexual tension isn’t all I do because I also really, really like stories about people who have their own dinosaur! And murderers for parents! Aliens! Magicians! And especially super famous character cameos!
Combine all this in with real, sweet and melancholy characters, hilarious in jokes and beautiful art and then you had the original run of Runaways and you’re going to have something that attracts people.
And so my point is this is not what I think teenage readers are looking for. I know my 16 year old brother who liked the original run doesn’t care for it now. I believe that the kind of people who will come to comics, young and otherwise, are going to be attracted by quality story writing and incredible art. Now stop publishing sh*t and get the talent on the good stuff…and this, Runaways is the good stuff. It is the eternal hopping point after Ultimate Spiderman. Go, go, go!
This isn’t what it’s about and this is meant to be one of my favourite titles. Infact, my favourite. When Runaway’s comes out it’s always the first thing I read, the only comic I have kept for me under the counter more then anything because it will sell out. Everyone loved Runaways but check the boards because my feeling is consensus. It’s already moving slower and soon I won’t need to have it kept back.
The Be All and End All: 2 Stars, you gits.
Oh. And P.S.
Gert’s not back, you liars. Liars! Well, she is but we have to spend months guessing for a poor reveal. I was hoping for more.
Also, who else noticed the dinosaur down the alleyway? And is it just me or was that Chase who hit Chase with his old white van? Even the clothing, yellow t-shirt and red cap are a match for one of his outfits.
**********
I suppose I should also take this time to apologise for what is not going to be a straight up review. This is a literary review, a review of themes and construction as well as my many fangirlisms. Further more, I'll be touching on points such as changing demographic, intended cultural impact and criticisms based on the perspective of a young, female reader. If you're looking for a review that tells you exactly what happens and what this means in the grand scale of things, then read the next one up.
2:2 Powers, Activate!
Let's start at the top. Oh, dear. When I saw this cover my first reaction was to be straight on phone and the tinternets to my various comic friends around various places to ask what they thought. The general consensus was an obvious one. Why now? Why bring Gert back now at the end of such a mishap of an arc? I can't see any other reason beyond failing sales and an attempt to get back to a heyday that we're simply not going to return to. The original creative team were one hundred percent wonderful and the art...Just wow. It's not about simply returning to convention because there was a chemistry between source matter and it's portrayal that simply won't be re-achieved. This is a title aimed at teenage readers and while the vast majority of the readers are older then the intended demographic, the fact remains that this is meant to be a welcoming point.
In comparison let's look at the bigger of the tween and teen fascinations at the moment: Socially driven drama like Gossip Girl, 90210 etc. and Supernatural romance like well, Supernatural (Or it’s working title “Buffy the hardcore steroids user”) and most importantly Twilight. I've read Twilight. I can tell you now that I am not a fan. I'm not, I thought they were terrible awful books with very little storyline but the fact remains THESE THINGS ARE HUGE! And the film (believe it or believe it now) was excellently executed. Why? Because there is a
chemistry between source matter and it's portrayal that simply won't be re-achieved. (Female director, I'd like to point out.) It's dark, it's sexual in its undertones, great teen-centric soundtrack and it's simply beautiful to look at.
What is with the endless running dialogue?
Now I know that dialogue driven writing can be wonderful. It can be sharp and it can be funny. I think the ultimate example of this is Kevin Smith's various works; all his films are dialogue driven and that's what makes them so special but we've all seen that this can go wrong (Jersey Girl? That aside, Chasing Amy while an interesting commentary on sexuality, was shit. Zac and Miri was funny but still…meh.) This issue of Runaways is just pages and pages of edgy banter on interesting backdrops. I understand that it's a wrap up but the wrap up could have been handled in three pages at the back of the last issue. It's such a down point on which to end what was advertised as 'Runaways most exciting and dangerous arc yet!' Apart from Old Lace dying, I don't even really remember the why's and hows.
Teen genre works like GG and Twilight are dialogue driven, too. More then any comic book should be because one is about a regular group of people who regardless of crazy amounts of cash, deal with every day problems. Twilight is a first person book, but that aside when it makes it to the big screen so much of this pointless dialogue is removed and it becomes story driven. Yes, there are endless cut to and travelling montage all with that lovely back voice over to catch us up. How is it that a film achieves comic book rhythm and timing but a comic book cannot? Least of all a comic that is meant to be one of the most sophisticated portrayals of the modern teenager and their relationships? It was written by a Mormon!
Excessive sexuality.
I touched on this in my last review but not in the manner I would have liked. I understand that it is not as prominent in this issue as it was in the last issue and every issue for the entirety of this volume. Every action seems to have a sexual overtone in Runaways that doesn't sit well with me considering this is meant to be a welcoming point for new readers. There is no bridge for that gap between having just learned to read and enjoy comics AKA Power Pack and the mainstream such as X-Men. Ultimate Spider-Man used to be this comic, it used to be the welcome mat but with that now completely…well, near enough gone Runaways is about the closest thing I can think of. I know the older ones are growing up but I can’t help but feel that this bed hopping mentality distracts from the initial point of the comic where sex was a very awkward thing. When it was handled as a matter of fact it was stepped over clever in a way that meant those that would understand would see it and those that were not looking for it would just read on. A great example of this is the quiet acknowledgement that Gert and Chase used to share a bed.
Through works like Twilight you can see that it is possible to communicate love, fear, stress, sexual tension…even sex without making it so bare faced, without making it the most prominent theme in the book. I know sex is EVERYTHING when you’re a teenager, but only in it being private and terrifying. And even then, when you’ve done is as these characters seem to have (All have been in long term sexual relationships) then it doesn’t become the same anymore. It doesn’t become the frightening and awkward theme as it appears in the early comics.
This is rambling, but my point is essentially this:
There are very, very few writers able to communicate adolescence so well. Don’t get me wrong, I can think of three wonderful ones right off the top of my head (Yes, the same ones as you.) but the vast majority of it make it hammy or worse Skins-Lite. Skins being Edgy teen drama. American’s look it up because a US remake is on its way. It’s wonderful, don’t get me wrong but it doesn’t fit in with Dinosaurs and Lesbian Aliens.
I think with comics like this that are trying to be the rough side of teen drama, this whole thing sometimes comes off as patronizing, eye-rollingly bad in places. I know I’m a little older then a teenager but I had my time at it and I had my supernatural teen drama. I had Buffy and Buffy was a whole lot better then this without being patronzing or OOT.
This is for a certain group of people and the new readers are going to be a certain kind of people. Nerd or geek are old fashioned words now because this is all becoming so mainstream…through the movies. The movies make this a wider audience and that’s good news but if a person likes science fiction or character stories or amazing art or a new trying new mediums for stories then they will eventually come by a comic. Some will read it and like it and some will not. Having a story about fashion isn’t going to make some girl pick up a comic, let alone the epic stories of the moment but something other will grab their attention because it is possible to have multiple hobbies and it is possible to enjoy a number of things at once. I am a girl, I like buying clothes but buying clothes isn’t the only thing to do. I am a girl, I enjoy angsting my way through excessive sexual tension but angsting my way through excessive sexual tension isn’t all I do because I also really, really like stories about people who have their own dinosaur! And murderers for parents! Aliens! Magicians! And especially super famous character cameos!
Combine all this in with real, sweet and melancholy characters, hilarious in jokes and beautiful art and then you had the original run of Runaways and you’re going to have something that attracts people.
And so my point is this is not what I think teenage readers are looking for. I know my 16 year old brother who liked the original run doesn’t care for it now. I believe that the kind of people who will come to comics, young and otherwise, are going to be attracted by quality story writing and incredible art. Now stop publishing sh*t and get the talent on the good stuff…and this, Runaways is the good stuff. It is the eternal hopping point after Ultimate Spiderman. Go, go, go!
This isn’t what it’s about and this is meant to be one of my favourite titles. Infact, my favourite. When Runaway’s comes out it’s always the first thing I read, the only comic I have kept for me under the counter more then anything because it will sell out. Everyone loved Runaways but check the boards because my feeling is consensus. It’s already moving slower and soon I won’t need to have it kept back.
The Be All and End All: 2 Stars, you gits.
Oh. And P.S.
Gert’s not back, you liars. Liars! Well, she is but we have to spend months guessing for a poor reveal. I was hoping for more.
Also, who else noticed the dinosaur down the alleyway? And is it just me or was that Chase who hit Chase with his old white van? Even the clothing, yellow t-shirt and red cap are a match for one of his outfits.
