The riveting runaways — Marvel’s youngest comic is also its coolest

Bradley Burgess | Rawr

Pop quiz: What do a witch, an alien, a jock, a mutant and a girl with a pet dinosaur have in common?

They’re the stars of Marvel Comics’ coolest and freshest superhero team, “Runaways.” This slick and original comic book is so much fun that “Avengers” director Joss Whedon encouraged the writers to expand the limited series into on ongoing saga. When Whedon is a fan of your work, you know you’re doing something right.

Nico, Gertrude, Chase, Molly and Karolina have very little in common other than the fact that their parents are members of an apocalyptic cult called the Pride.

When the Pride’s kids find out the truth, these ordinary teenagers become runaways trying to stop the Pride from destroying the world. Along the way, they’ll learn that their parents aren’t the only ones with secrets, as these kids discover they’re anything but ordinary.

Brian K. Vaughan’s concept is so fresh and so out of the box that it breathes new life into the comic book world. Pretty much every teenager has thought at some point that their parents were evil, so bringing that idea to life rings true for most people.

But a superhero team is nothing without great characters, and the ones in “Runaways” are top of the line.

Nico, a goth Asian-American girl, has control over a magic staff. Gertrude has a pet dinosaur named Old Lace who obeys her commands. Molly is a mutant with superhuman strength, while Chase has enhanced gloves with cool gadgets. Rounding out the group is Karolina, an alien who can fly and has a secret I wouldn’t dare ruin for you.

All of these characters are not only diverse, but they’re unlike any past Marvel hero. They’re flawed, relatable and realistically done. Teenagers in the Marvel Universe are something we rarely see, so seeing a new perspective on superheroes is always exciting. The kids are so endearing that when things go wrong for them, it breaks your heart. But even with the occasional dark turn, there’s a magical feeling over the whole thing. It feels like a classic story.

“Runaways” is the most original and gripping comic book out there. It rewards readers with its timeless characters and great writing. The inevitable film adaptation should spark more interest, but until then, get on the bandwagon. You’ll be glad.