It's Graphic Time: Runaways Vol 2: Teenage Wasteland by Brian K Vaughn

Title:Runaways Vol 2: Teenage Wasteland

Author:  Biran K Vaughn
Publisher: Marvel
Publishing Date:  July 19th, 2006

Pages: 144
Genre: Superhero Graphic Novel 

Series:  Runaways Vol 2 (issues 7-12)
Source:  Graphic Novel Paperback

 

Still on the run from their super-villain parents, this motley crew of super-powered kids finds a kindred spirit in a daring young stranger and welcomes him into their fold. But will this dashing young man help the teenagers defeat their villainous parents...or tear them apart? One troubled member finds out, as she leaves the group's hideout with their new recruit, who reveals his startling secret, putting the entire team in jeopardy Plus: Who do you send to catch a group of missing, runaway teenage super heroes? Marvel's original teen runaway crimefighters, Cloak and Dagger, making their first major appearance in years.

I really enjoyed the first volume for this collection and couldn’t wait to read the second. I started to read this graphic novel series after watching the show on Hulu. I fell in love with the show and decided to check out the series. I really enjoy the series to read as much as I do the show. What is great is the show and the graphic novel are a bit different so I was able to really enjoy both without knowing the entire story or the direction it was going. I am sure the end game is similar but the differences keep me interested.

The runaways are now living on their own trying to escape their parents, stay away from the cops, stay alive, and figure out a way to bring their parents down. Oh and still trying to figure out what really their parents are up to and who they really are. Powers are coming into play more and a bit more of pride is being revealed. There is a traitor amongst the group too. someone is on the parents side. We just don’t know who.

Well it’s hard to have a lot of thoughts on a graphic novel after the first volume is read. This volume follows in the footsteps of its predecessor and is exciting and wonderful. The story did take a bit of a strange turn and I will see how that comes together in volume three. It did give me a bit of a strange vibe but nothing to deter me from reading more or enjoying this one. I do love the characters and the story line… or at least what has been revealed. There are some parts I of course love more than the other aspects but all in all it’s a very enjoyable read.

Things I do love…. The dinosaur. I still love the dinosaur. I also love that this graphic novel brings in aspects from everything sci-fi- time travelers- mutants- aliens and then we have some fantasy- witches and now vampires. Yes vampires. This is the bit of the weird turn the story took. I really didn’t see vampires coming into the mix. Now I can say I am a big fan of vampires but I wasn’t expecting them in this story. So it did take me aback some. But I will see how it all plays out in the story. This might be the only part that has vampires not sure.

So vampires were a bit strange for me but what I really don’t love- the traitor in the mix and some of the drama. I know the drama is needed and I know this story is about teenagers. But…how I feel.

First about the traitor- I just don’t want one. I love all the runaways and I don’t want any of them to be of the dark side.

Second- the drama- okay it’s not horrible but these teens are trying to fight for their lives… the romance drama- it can go. I like romance and don’t want the romance to leave- just all the high school teen drama of the romance.

That said. These things in no way make me not love this series or this volume. I do love it, I so enjoy it, and I will read so much more.

Also- the dinosaur- really awesome. The artwork is beautiful too.


Yup I love it, more will be added to my graphic novel library.

Born in Cleveland in 1976, Brian K. Vaughan is the Eisner, Harvey, and Shuster Award-winning writer and co-creator of the critically acclaimed comics series Y: The Last Man, Runaways, and Ex Machina (picked as one of the ten best works of fiction of 2005 by Entertainment Weekly).

Recently named "Writer of the Year" by Wizard Magazine, and one of the “top ten comic writers of all time” by Comic Book Resources, Vaughan’s work has been featured and/or reviewed in countless mainstream media outlets, including The New York Times, MTV, National Public Radio, and feminist magazine Bust, which photographed him for their “Men We Love” issue (don’t ask).
As an undergraduate film student at New York University, Vaughan got his big break as part of Marvel’s Stanhattan Project, a workshop for aspiring comic book writers. In the ten years since, he has written nearly all of the major DC and Marvel characters, everyone from Batman to the X-Men.
In September of 2006, Vertigo released Vaughan’s first original graphic novel, Pride of Baghdad, lavishly illustrated by artist Niko Henrichon. Inspired by an unbelievable true story of four lions who escaped the Baghdad Zoo during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Pride is equal parts anthropomorphic adventure and Animal Farm-like parable about the ongoing conflict in Iraq, and was described as "the best novel so far" about the war by the UK's Telegraph.
Along with his creator-owned work, Vaughan is currently writing The Escapists, a Dark Horse miniseries inspired by Michael Chabon’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, as well as a new Doctor Strange limited series for Marvel with artist Marcos Martin.
This summer, the new WGA member/CAA client transplanted his poor playwright wife to Los Angeles, where Vaughan is currently working on the screenplay adaptations of Y and Ex Machina for New Line Cinema, as well as other new creations in film and television.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Illustrator: Adrian Alphona is a Canadian comic book artist best known for his work on Marvel Comics' Runaways, which he co-created with writer Brian K. Vaughan.
Slated to be pencilling the second volume of Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane when writer Terry Moore took over writing duties from Sean McKeever, Alphona instead chose to leave comics entirely, only supplying the covers for the new series, whilst art duties were handed over to Craig Rousseau. However, Alphona made a return to comics in June 2009, doing art for the Captain Britain and MI: 13 annual.[1] He later drew Uncanny X-Force alongside Ron Garney.
In August 2013, Marvel Comics premiered the monthly series Ms. Marvel, with Alphona as artist and G. Willow Wilson as writer.

It's Graphic Time! Gotham Academy Vol. 1 Welcome to Gotham Academy by Becky Cloonan

It's Graphic Time is a feature where we review graphic novels and comic books.

Title: Welcome to Gotham Academy

Author: Becky Bloonan
Illustrator: Karl Kerschl, Brenden Fletcher

Publisher: DC Comics 

Publishing Date: June 17th, 2015

Pages: 160
Genre: YA Superhero Mystery Graphic Novel

TW: Mental Illness

Series: Gotham Academy Vol. 1

Source: Book

 

Welcome to Gotham Academy, the most prestigious school in Gotham City. Only the best and brightest students may enter its halls, study in its classrooms, explore its secret passages, summon its terrifying spirits...
Okay, so Gotham Academy isn't like other schools. But Olive Silverlock isn't like other students. After a mysterious incident over summer break, she's back at school with a bad case of amnesia, an even worse attitude...and an unexplained fear of bats.
Olive's supposed to show new student Maps Mizoguchi the ropes. Problem: Maps is the kid sister of Kyle, Olive's ex. Then there's the ghost haunting the campus...and the secret society conducting bizarre rituals.

Can Olive and Maps ace the biggest challenge of their lives? Or are they about to get schooled?
Collects Gotham Academy #1-6

What made me pick this book up: 

I saw it when I was looking up graphic novels to read and I love Gotham (Enough that Greyson's second middle name was going to be Gotham) And this one just looked so cute. 

What did I like about the cover: 

I love the colors and I love the look on their faces.

What made me read this book:

DC... Gotham... Ghosts...  

Would I read the rest of the series/more from this author?
Yes absolutely! At this point I've read two of them and I love them. 




The artwork is super cute and I think it fits the book well, with it being about kids in the DC universe. I think it's cartoon-y without feeling too cartoon-y.

I love the characters in this book, they are written really well, all very unique and full of personality. Maps is my favorite by far, I also really like Colton. He makes me laugh, even if he is kinda annoying. I can't really think of anyone I don't like. 

I feel like they all come together to help Olive, even someone who doesn't like her much. 

The pace of this book is great, it has a great build up but it's not slow at all, once things start going, they're really going. 






The mystery of this is great, it makes me want to read more and I honestly have no idea where the author is going with this. Which is awesome. It still has the batman element of it, without it being completely batman. Which is also great.

This was a really fun read. It definitely made me want to read more of the series to find out what's really going on.

Born in Pisa, Becky Cloonan began her career self-publishing mini-comics in 1999. Since then she has gone on to work with publishers like DC, Vertigo, Dark Horse, Harper Collins and Marvel, winning a few Eisner Awards along the way, both for self-published books. In 2012 Becky broke a glass ceiling, became the first woman to illustrate an issue of Batman. In her spare time, she illustrates for Mondo, Criterion, Roadburn Festival, Konkani and DeathWaltz Records, and has worked with bands like Clutch, Abbath, X Japan, and Black Sabbath.