Runaways #1-6 (2008-2009): Dead Wrong

Terry Moore and Humberto Ramos take over Runaways for a third volume.  It ties loosely into the Secret Invasion event, in that it involves skrulls.  As part of their master plan to rule everything, the skrulls destroy the planet Majesdane and that planet’s survivors blame  because her father gave the skrulls the coordinates of the planet.  Karolina’s parents were exiled from the planet before they joined with The Pride, and all of its residents have similar light powers.  Hence, the Majesdonians who come after Karolina are called The Light Brigade (and collectively tagged as such).

The kids are able to scatter the Light Brigade and capture one member.

After some creative battles, Runaways’ member Xavin, a skrull, saves the day by shape-shifting into Karolina’s form and tricking the Light Brigade into capturing him instead of their intended target.

This ending gives Xavin a big heroic moment at a time when the skrulls in most other Marvel books are being total a-holes.  Nicely done.  It also re-sets Karolina as single, and enables Terry Moore–who is known for writing female characters with depth and substance–the chance to explore her broken heart.

This is a solid first story by the new creative team–better than anything Joss Whedon did.  I will say, though, that Ramos’ art is too cartoony for my liking.