(no subject)

[usernamenumber]

Several years ago, I was over at heiligekuh's place when he insisted that I read his copy of the first issue of this new comic called Runaways. I read it. I liked it, but I didn't find myself as... enthusiastic as he was. It was probably a combination of not wanting to get invested in a series I would have to wait for issue by issue and the fact that heiligekuh can get very enthusiastic about the things he's into.

Anyway, flash forward to last week, when I was teaching in San Diego. I took some time out to visit the most wonderful place in the universe. The corner of a little strip mall with both an awesome comics shop complete with walking-encyclopedia owner and the best vegetarian restaurant in the history of ever, oh how I do miss it nestled together. Now there's even a thrift store benefiting a local animal rights group next door. W00t.

So I walk into Comickaze (no relation to Comicazi in Davis Square) and ask Comic Book Guy what's the best thing I can get for less than $10. After looking through a few options I remember Runaways and, sure enough, they're out in digest now and the digests are cheap. Awesome. So I grab the first one and decide to start it while enjoying a lovely meal at Sipz... (you can totally see where this is going, right?)

Of course, 30 mins later I walk run back into the comics store and drop another $10 for volume two. Damn, this series is good. And the best part is I've waited so long, and I know Brian Vaughn is doing other series now, so there must be a nice clean break with the latest digest wrapping up the last storyline, right?

Right?

Yeah, so it's 2am. Volumes 3-7 arrived on Weds from Amazon (Comickaze was out of #3, curse their metal bodies) and I just finished 7.

Damn.

So... umm... when is 8 coming out? The series definitely has its flaws (John says Wheedon will be doing the next run, which is good because it will be interesting to compare Wheedon dialogue to Vaughn-trying-to-be-Wheedon dialogue) but the bottom line is that I care about the characters enough to overlook the excessive hipness and the odd implausible plot twist and really (really, really) just want to see what happens next.

So yeah, I'm all buzzed and insomniac from reading an exciting comic for two hours. Kind of sad, but I'm glad I'm still capable of it.


The story arcs after the first one were starting to lose me, but the one in #7 was good stuff. After reading #1 I remember choose_again asking who my favorite characters were. I said Alex and Gertrude.

Ouch. Can I pick 'em or what?

I think one of the reasons I can't sleep now is that a bit of me is actually mourning Gertrude. =:( Oh, and while I'm on the subject, can I just whine a minute about Takeshi Miyazawa, the artist who took over periodically and kept turning Gertie thin? Dangit, I want my cranky, awesome fat girl thankyouverymuch.

Next she asked me about Chase. I said I thought he could grow on me. Ayup. Post-Gertie Chase is your pretty standard angstbunny, but it totally worked for me. Their relationship made no sense and yet it still came off as genuine and he and O.L. will make an interesting team.


Reading Runaways has also made me oh so nostalgic for Power Pack. I gotta find out if it's out in trade now.

Gah. Gotta try and sleep now... it's a good thing I'm teaching in Phoenix next week. My current wonky sleep schedule will fit right in in that time zone.

Comments

[mllelaurel.livejournal.com]

Oh, Runaways! nevacaruso introduced me to it, quite a while back. Thankfully, the first arc was out in trade paperbacks, at that point. Excellent series. I didn't fall quite as in love as nevacaruso did, but it sure was good stuff.

I haven't read it in a while, but will likely be picking it up again, cause dude - Joss!

[usernamenumber.livejournal.com]

And after Wheedon's run, Terry Moore of Strangers in Paradase (you _must_ read at least the first few trades if you haven't) will be doing it. I'm honestly not sure which I'm more excited about.

[mllelaurel.livejournal.com]

I've read some Strangers in Paradise. I'm...of two minds about it. It sets off a number of my characterization pet peeves and my liking of it seems to be directly proportional to how happy the characters are at the time. When they're content, they're likable and supremely entertaining. When they're miserable, far too much of their misery is self-created for me to enjoy the story rather than roll my eyes heavenward.