Runaways #3 review: The good times of Karolina Dean
By Alex Widen
The Runaways reunion tour reaches Lucy in the Sky. Yet what happens when Karolina Dean isn’t feeling nostalgic?
Runaways #3
Writer: Rainbow Rowell
Artist: Kris Anka
Colorist: Matthew Wilson
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Whenever an old band is coming together, there is always at least one team member who isn’t so eager. The Runaways relaunch reaches this juncture with Karolina Dean, once known as “Lucy in the Sky.” If the entire Runaways franchise debuted ahead of their time, Karolina Dean symbolized that. She is a lesbian alien who debuted before Tumblr did. For years, her lover was a Skrull prince named Xavin whose gender was fluid (and who often lived as a woman for her). But that was a long time ago.
Image by Marvel Comics
Yet unlike the rest of the team, Karolina Dean has improved her situation on her own terms. Unlike Molly Hayes, she’s not under the care of a relative. Instead she’s a student in Pomona College who has everything together. She has a therapist, a girlfriend, and a cool roommate and everything is in control. Posters of her favorite musicians, Dazzler and the Beatles, adorn her dorm room. Out of all of the former Runaways, Karolina Dean has rebounded the best. Guess it’s time for a visit!
Image by Marvel Comics
See Who Showed up for Pledge Week!
Nico Minoru was quietly trying to survive day to day after the events of Avengers Arena and the end of A-Force. She literally had Chase Stein teleport into her apartment with Gertrude Yorkes, who he saved from death via hot-wiring their folks’ time machine. Led by Gert’s emotional zeal for reestablishing old ties (which for her are still current), the trio and their dinosaur Old Lace show up to meet Karolina Dean. It couldn’t come at any worse of a time for the colorful young woman.
Image by Marvel Comics
As commonly stated, the Runaways were hardly a “team” in the pure sense. They barely even had code-names or a team name that they came up with themselves. Their primary motives were opposing their super villain parents and trying not to die. Their family ties made them associates, yet shared tragedy made them a team. As a result of their comic being canceled and relaunched a few times, they drifted apart. Subsequent writers, like Rowell, played on that for character drama.
Image by Marvel Comics
It has taken Karolina Dean years of therapy to get to this state. She literally has to repeat a mantra that she deserves to be happy, and to forgive herself for past errors. Gert is motivated by the immunity of time travel, of not having experienced years of time. Chase is motivated by having nothing better for himself than nostalgia. Nico has been burying her trauma, and while she understands why Karolina wants little to do with them, realizes that her own options are nil.
Image by Marvel Comics
The Best Friends at the Wrong Time!
The rejection by Karolina Dean is almost too much for Gert to bare. While she only missed two years of life, she may as well be Captain America — thawed out after decades passed. Her already older boyfriend is now even older. The squad of pals who were once inseparable proved to be very separable. While she is happy to have Old Lace back, even her cybernetic pal Victor Mancha has been reduced to a head. She’s been saved from death, yet her life now resembles a purgatory.
Image by Marvel Comics
Nico and Karolina have a subtle yet potent scene together. Nico was fully aware of Karolina’s happier life and doesn’t hold her decision against her. In fact, she even understands. Yet the heroine formerly known as Sister Grimm acknowledges that she’s got nothing better to do with her time. Until Chase landed in her kitchen, all Nico had done is endure day to day. Unfortunately, simply seeing her old pals again puts the risk of Karolina Dean throwing it all away for old habits.
Image by Marvel Comics
While Karolina may be a no-show, Nico is more determined than after to reunite what is left of the Runaways. Amid trying, and failing (as usual) to cheer Gert up, Chase is convinced he can reactivate Victor. Unfortunately, he succeeds better than he knows, activating Mancha’s “Victorious” protocols as programmed by Ultron. Victor’s father intended for him to be the ideal Avengers mole. Even worse, Molly Hayes’ grandma may be the last bastion of their evil parents.
Image by Marvel Comics
Getting to the Heart of the Matter!
Rainbow Rowell continues to take a methodical yet well-executed approach to reviving the Runaways. Rather than bypass some of the crazy history amid the cast, she’s embraced it. Karolina Dean was in a similar position as people who tend to always venture into regrettable decisions due to old friends. She’s made a life for herself and moved on, yet the reappearance of old friends brings potential for old habits, if only because emotional bonds are hard to break.
Image by Marvel Comics
What the series lacks in action it makes up for in dramatic character interaction. The scenes between Gert and Chase were downright painful. You can almost feel the fact that Gert is tiptoeing around the idea of the much older Chase being unable to move on. That her resurrection has less to do with Chase wanting to save her and more to do with him wanting to save a symbol of a happier past. Unfortunately, simply shoving the past into the present doesn’t make it so.
Image by Marvel Comics
The give and take between Nico and Gert continues to be among the strongest aspects of the book. In the past, while Nico was often the tactical leader, Gert was often the heart and moral center. The Runaways quickly fell apart without her. Yet now the dynamic is a little different. While Gert is still the emotional center, Nico has more experience both with the Runaways and A-Force to motivate her. Despite the time between them, their emotional bonds remain strong.
Image by Marvel Comics
Fantastic Art Highlights Upcoming Adversaries!
Rainbow is also putting in the ground work for potential threats. Grandma Hayes is the clear front-runner, as she has ties to the founding motivation for the Runaways. While digging up a long lost member of the original Pride may smack of being too eager to recapture the first volume, the slow build is adding suspense. The return of Victorious is another shout out to older material, this time from volume two. Resolving that should have been in Runaways, and it’s a chance at a do-over.
Image by Marvel Comics
As with previous issues, the incredible art and colors by Kris Anka and Matthew Wilson remains another top draw. Anka has always been a strong artist, yet this may among the strongest work of his career. The opening panels with Karolina Dean reminded me of some Jem & the Holograms pages. From emotional expressions to vibrant colors, to Karolina’s awesome dorm neighbor, to Old Lace’s fantasies, help make this among the best looking Marvel Comics on the stands today.
Image by Marvel Comics
Next: Gert Yorkes faces the ghosts of her future in #2!
In fact if I had any complaint, it is that the pace of the arc has been a tad slow. It appears obvious this is a six-issues-or-bust arc, and the medium has mostly abandoned that for the past five years. One member per issue risks being repetitive, with Molly Hayes obviously being due up next. A reunion is inevitable, yet it’s all about the method getting there. What the series lacks in action it makes up for in heart, and in the end that’s what made Runaways stand out. The time is right for their revival.