Runaways #12

Last issue was the first of the new creative team, and it was actually pretty good. Will this issue keep up the good work, or will this series slip back into the quagmire it crawled out of? I don't know yet, I guess I'll find out in a couple of minutes! This issue is written by Kathryn Immonen.

-This issue opens with the kids still trapped in their Malibu home, which is surrounded by out of control plants. Klara(the one responsible for the plants)is traumatized due to Old Lace's death last issue and Chase is uber-pissed for the same reason. Nico tries to establish some semblance of control over the situation, but fails.

-Over at the offices of Track Integrated Construction and Containment, the president of the company is informed a plane crashed into the Malibu home of the Runaways, and the he rushes to a waiting helicopter... Huh???

-The kids still can't decide what they should do, and while they continue to bicker, a different helicopter lands on the grounds of the Malibu house. This particular helicopter is full of government agent types, who are looking for their experimental airplane(the one that killed Old Lace last issue). The agents can't enter the house due to the security devices and the helicopter carrying the president of the company seen earlier arrives. The pres, Stein, convinces the agents to let him pass, stating that he should be able to get past the defenses. The agents tell him it's his funeral, and he manages to bypass the security measures.

-Stein enters the house and runs into the kids, who are surprised to see someone was able to bypass the plants and security measures. Stein introduces himself as Hunter Stein, Chase's uncle. Chase becomes incensed at the sight of Hunter and decks him, ending this issue by stating that the guy claiming to be Hunter is a liar since Chase killed Hunter several years ago!

Not bad, not bad at all. This issue started off well enough, but the middle was a bit on the boring side for me. However, things picked back up again at the end with Chase's dramatic statement. So he killed his uncle? I'm sure there are some mitigating circumstances to that story, ie. it was a car accident or something along those lines, I doubt Chase gunned him down or anything like that! For a score I'll give this issue a 7 out of 10. This was what I would call a perfectly acceptable comic book. There was nothing spectacular or mind-blowing, just a decent little story, which is really all I ask for.