1.5 stars

There were a few bits here and there that felt like the "old" Runaways, but overall this was really disappointing. One of my favorite characters was missing entirely and there was little-to-no plot or character development, because the entire volume is pretty much just a compilation of battles. Other comics were thrown in when the Runaways were featured in them and the art style changes... ack. And if this is really where the story ends (there is no volume 4, to my knowledge), then what the heck? There was no closure. ( )

Quite enjoyable until the Civil War stuff, which was a bit dicey at times (who're all these people, and why are their villains so melodramatic?!). And then Joss Whedon took over and did what he always does: create drama where it doesn't need to exist whilst completely ignoring all opportunities for subtler growth and drama where it already exists. At least Manic Pixie Dream Girl Lillie didn't join the team, and I have hopes that the relationship that had been developing so interestingly between Vic and Nico will get back on track once Whedon's mitts are off the controls. I miss Vaughan, et al already.... ( )

I liked the first two volumes of this series, but, I think that this third volume was my favorite. It included many issues of their own series, as well as Runaway/Young Avenger crossovers that went with the two big Marvel stories of the time, the original Civil War and Secret Invasion. Oh, and they were even thrown back in time in this TPB.

It wasn’t a perfect TPB story wise. Some of the Xavin/Karolina stuff still didn’t sit perfectly well with me.

Still, overall, it was a fun read. Oh, and the art, I don’t always care about whether the art is good or bad or middling, I read comics for the stories, and the art is a nice extra, but, in this book, wow. Amazing art! ( )

Less enthusiastic about this collection, mainly because of the Young Avengers crossover - there were too many new and unfamiliar (to me) characters to keep track of. Readers of both comics were probably delighted at the crossover/mashup (probably...?). The "Runaways Saga" in the form of Molly's journal about halfway through provided a good recap of events from beginning to present. Collection ends with a Skrull invasion of New York.

Quotes

"When you're dead set on doing the right think, sometimes it's hard to recognize that you're going it in the wrong way." (Lotus, one of Alex's former gamer friends, to Chase, as he sets off to get the Gibborim to revive Gert from the dead; Runaways 20)

"You play grown-up long enough and you lose your perspective on right and wrong. Why not put it off for as long as possible?" (Nico to Young Avengers; Civil War: Young Avengers & Runaways 4)

"This is all we do! This is our life! We try to do something right, we mess it up, we die, we frikkin' DIE and we blame someone and then do it all again." (Nico to Xavin, Karolina's betrothed Super Skrull in training; Runaways 26) ( )