Runaways (comics)/Characters: Difference between revisions

'''Alex Wilder'''

The leader of the group, he possesses [[Badass Normal|no super-human powers]], but his keen intellect and his possession of his parents' Abstract make him a formidable strategist. His parents were mob bosses who ran the more traditional criminal ring of the Pride, with prostitution, drugs, murder, and whatnot. He is introduced while playing an [[The Avengers (Comic Book)|Avengers]] MMORPG and has an affinity for classic television series, and begins to bond with Nico when he learns that she enjoyed the copy of [[The Prisoner]] that he had lent her. He is the most vocal of the group in their need to oppose their parents.

'''Gertrude Yorkes''' (Codename: Arsenic)

Like Alex, she has no real powers, but her [[Time Travel|Time Travelling]] parents left her a very special inheritance: A genetically engineered, [[Empathic Weapon|psychic]] dinosaur named Old Lace, who follows her every command. Unlike the rest of the group, Gertrude and Nico had been close friends for years and spent time together beyond the once-a-year Pride meetings, and she often serves as a voice of reason and (relative) maturity for the group. Forward-thinking even as a child, Nico recounts that when they were little kids Gert once took all of Nico's pony dolls and hid them in the woods, explaining that they deserved to be free.

'''Karolina Dean''' (Codename: Lucy In The Sky)

Karolina at first appears to be a clichéd [[Valley Girl]] child of celebrity parents (tall, blond, attractive, and always fighting for "a cause"), but she is actually the most confused and internally conflicted member of the group. After discovering the nature of the Pride, Karolina learns that she is an alien from the planet Majesdane, which had exiled her parents to Earth for criminal activites. Solar powered, she also gained the power to fire energy blasts from her hands and generate forcefields. The revelation that she is not even human, along with more personal crises of identity, lead to severe depression, although her newfound ability to fly does provide her with some joy.

'''Chase Stein''' (Codename: Talkback)

''"Which street? Sesame...?"'' }}

'''Nico Minoru''' (Codename: Sister Grimm)

Nico was a normal [[Perky Goth|Goth]] teenager when everything kicked off. Imagine her surprise to find out that her parents were dark sorcerers, and she has inherited their powers. During their escape, she absorbs her parent's magic staff, "The Staff of One". It allows her to do anything, cast any spell she can think of, but each spell only works once. To summon the staff, her blood must be spilled - she carries a small knife to for just that purpose (which she detests, since she is not, and never has been, a cutter), but [[Subverted Trope|does not always]] [[No Periods, Period|need to use it]]. Her powers are only limited by her imagination. It is implied throughout the series that the staff is only the tip of the iceberg of her power, and she might be able to control magic without it one day; after {{spoiler|being tortured by her great-grandmother, the Witchbreaker}}, this seems to be coming true. {{spoiler|She becomes the leader of the group after Alex's death.}}

'''Molly Hayes''' (Codenames: Princess Powerful, Bruiser)

The youngest member of the group, 11-year-old Molly's parents were mutants. They thought she did not inherit the X-Gene from them, but during their escape her eyes glow an eerie purple and she gains super strength. She has limited invulnerability and super strength, but using these abilities are extremely tiring and can only be sustained for a short time before she requires a nap ( {{spoiler|though this no longer seems to apply as of volume 3}}). Serving as the voice of innocence and child-like good-nature, numerous characters nontheless explain that Molly is much more intelligent and mature than she appears, but [[Obfuscating Stupidity|she hides it well]].

'''Victor Mancha'''

"''You don't know what you're talking about, little girl! That's a Rick Jones song!''" }}

* [[Abusive Parents]] - X's parents are both dead, but what little we hear of them suggests this.

* [[Action Girl]] - Half the time

* [[Arranged Marriage]] - Karolina's parents sold out their own home planet to the Skrulls after being exiled from it, and offered them K's hand in marriage as a bargaining chip. While both Xavin's and Karolina's parents are dead, Xavin attempted to use this as a way to end the war. {{spoiler|Despite both their efforts, it didn't take.}}

'''Klara Prast'''

A young immigrant girl from 1907 with [[Green Thumb|the ability to control plants]] whom the team encountered when they had [[Time Travel|been flung back in time]]. When Karolina and Molly learned about the abuse she suffered at the hands of the (adult) man her parents had married her to, they convinced her to come back to the present with them. She is close with Molly, being the two youngest runaways, but her unfamiliarity with the present and her own abusive history make their relationship vastly different from "normal" friendship.

'''Geoffrey and Katherine Wilder''' ("The Thieves")

The parents of Alex. They are two mob bosses whose organized crime syndicate controls all of Los Angeles and, apparently, California. Though they are {{spoiler|killed during the Rite of Thunder, several of Alex's online friends accidentally transport the 1980's version of Geoffrey to the present in a failed attempt to save Alex. He convinces them that the Pride was made up of heroes and tries to sacrifice Molly to the Gibborim in exchange for resurrecting his wife and son and creating a new Pride. He is defeated and, with his memory wiped, returned to the eighties}}.

'''Dale and Stacey Yorkes''' ("The Travelers")

The parents of Gert. They were recruited by the Gibborim when their time machine broke down in [[The Eighties]], which they consider the worst decade of the millennium. At some point in their travels, they went to the 87th century and created a deinonychus who they would psychically link to their daughter Gert. They are {{spoiler|killed during the Rite of Thunder with the rest of the Pride, but their past selves appear when the Runaways accidentally time travel back to 1907, where they lead a gang of superpowered criminals called the Sinners, who begin a war with a group of superheroes called the Upward Path. When they learn of Gert's future death, they desperately try to return to the 21st century. Nico, in retaliation for the war they caused, casts a spell on them that prevents them from acting on their new knowledge.}} They wield various weapons from different time periods including a samurai battle axe (from an "alternate past"), an ornate musket, and a glove that bursts into flames.

'''Frank and Leslie Dean''' ("The Colonists")

The parents of Karolina. They are extraterrestrials from the planet Majesdane, who were exiled to Earth for unspecified criminal activity. They took their new surname from actor James Dean and became Hollywood actors. When Karolina was born, they made her wear a med-alert bracelet at all times, which in actuality suppressed her Majesdanean form and made her appear human. At some point before the events of the series, the Deans fended off a Skrull invasion of Earth by giving them the coordinates to the planet Majesdane and arranging a marriage between their daughter and Skrull prince/princess Xavin, who they hoped would die before he/she could take their offer. {{spoiler|They conspired with the Hayeses to murder the human members of the Pride, hoping to secure the six seats in the Gibborim's paradise for themselves and their children. They believed that the Gibborim, hating humans for their role in ruining the Earth, would favor aliens and mutants. However, later dialogue shows that the Gibborim detest aliens, who they consider invasive creatures.}}

** [[Light Is Not Good]]

* [[Psycho for Hire]]: To the Gibborim.

* [[The Starscream]]: {{spoiler|To Geoffrey}}

* [[Stepford Smiler]]: Both but especially Leslie. They're Brady Bunch on the outside and homicidal on the inside.

'''Victor and Janet Stein''' ("The Wise Men")

A pair of scientists who supposedly invented a tool to easily remove the plastic wrap from CDs. In fact, they are the Pride's main scientists and have created x-ray goggles, weaponized gauntlets called the Fistigons, rocket boots that Chase dubbed the "Footstigons," and several transport ships called Leapfrogs. Victor often beats his son for reasons such as bad grades. Despite this, he claims to truly love Chase and wants him to get a place in the Gibborim's post-apocalyptic paradise. He has also been shown hitting his wife. He has {{spoiler|a brother named Hunter, with whom he has an antagonistic relationship over his criminal activity.}}

'''Gene and Alice Hayes''' ("The Outcasts")

A pair of telepathic mutants who are doctors by profession. They had originally thought that Molly was not a mutant. They both have a sadistic side, once telepathically forcing a rival gang leader to watch as they butchered his crew. {{spoiler|They conspired with the Deans to murder the human members of the Pride, hoping to secure the six seats in the Gibborim's paradise for themselves and their kids.}}

'''Robert and Tina Minoru''' ("The Magicians")

A pair of dark magicians who are abducted by the Gibborim on their wedding day. Tina wields the Staff of One, which is taken by Nico. Robert is usually seen reading a spellbook when casting magic. According to the Witchbreaker, Robert fought something called his "Grimshape" by the time he was Nico's age. The Minorus were somehow acquainted with a Monk Theppie, a.k.a. "Mother," a male magician who worked for the California Witchcraft Community and coveted the Staff of One.

'''The Gibborim'''

The six-toed giants that create the Pride in order to gain sacrificed human souls, regain their power, and eventually purge the Earth of humanity. They are the [[Half-Human Hybrid]] descendants of fallen angels. When {{spoiler|Molly Hayes frees a sacrificed soul and stops the Rite of Thunder, the Gibborim turn against the Pride, killing them and Alex.}} Both {{spoiler|1980's Geoffrey Wilder}} and {{spoiler|Chase Stein}} later seek their help in resurrecting deceased loved ones for which the cost is one human sacrifice. {{spoiler|Wilder tries and fails while Chase tries to sacrifice himself.}} Unable to gain sufficient human souls, {{spoiler|the Gibborim fade from Earth to [[The Nothing After Death]].}} They run into {{spoiler|Alex}}, who speculates that they, like him, did evil things in the hope that their [[God|father]] would be proud of them.

'''Excelsior'''

'''Turbo''': ''"It's like my mom always said, Jono. 'Do as I say, not as I do.'"'' }}

A team of now-adult superheroes who began their careers as teenagers. The group is formed with the mission of stopping other teenagers from going down the same path. While they originally resolved to carry out their mission without resorting to their superhero identities, they soon decided that using their powers was necessary. The Runaways have a disdainful attitude towards them, seeing their message as "Do as I say, not as I do." Excelsior soon got its own [[Spin-Off]] comic, though the name of the team and the comic was changed to "Loners" due to copyright issues.

'''The Upward Path'''

A group of superheroes from 1907. Their methods cause some in-universe [[Values Dissonance]] with the main characters. They use torture as well as allow civilians to join them in combat, two things most superheroes in the 21st century do not do.

* '''The Adjudicator''': A religious, gun-wielding superhero whose appearance is likely inspired by [[The Punisher]].

** [[Expy]]: Of the Punisher.

* '''Black Maria''': A superheroine with a nun-inspired costume. The nature of her power is unknown but involves her touching the heads of her victims, causing a halo-like light to shine around them. A similar halo also appears around her own head.

* '''The Difference Engine''': A superhero who is either a robot or a man in [[Powered Armor]]. He can fire explosive shells from arm-mounted cannons and contains an advanced (for the time period) computer. His primary weakness is water.

** [[Steampunk]]

** [[Oh My Gods]] / [[Thank the Maker]]: "For [[wikipedia:Charles Babbage|Babbage's]] sake..."

* '''Nightstick''': A superhero with a police-inspired uniform. He is often relied upon to control his hot-tempered partner, Daystick.

* '''Daystick''': A superhero with a police-inspired uniform. He plays the [[Good Cop, Bad Cop|Bad Cop]] to Nightstick's Good Cop (or Slightly-More-Levelheaded Cop).

* '''The Witchbreaker''': A magician with a miko-inspired costume. She tortures witches, aiming to bring out their true potential. She is {{spoiler|Nico's great-grandmother. She also appears to have some knowledge of the future concerning her descendants.}}

** [[Ethnic Magician]]: Her costume is based on that of a Miko.

** [[Tough Love]]: She is concerned about her descendant's success.

'''The Sinners'''

A criminal gang of Wonders (people with superpowers) led by {{spoiler|Gertrude's parents}}. They travel on a luxurious train called the Mineola. They are the main enemies of the Upward Path.

* '''Maneater''': A cannibalistic giant with a jaw so strong that it hurt Xavin's [[Fantastic Four|Thing]]-like fist when he punched it. Nico defeats him by magically turning him into a vegan.

** [[The Dragon]]: To {{spoiler|the Yorkes}}

** [[I'm a Humanitarian]]

** [[Super Strength]]

* '''Kid Twist''': A marksman with [[Guns Akimbo|two revolvers]]. He can [[Improbable Aiming Skills|hit any target]] he's seen and his bullets follow their victims like heat-seeking missiles.

* '''Forget-Me-Not''': A beautiful, centuries-old woman who can use her scent to cause men to fall in love with her and fight over her. She is usually seen lounging on a couch or bed, almost never standing upright.

** [[Living Aphrodisiac]]

** [[Love Is in the Air]]: [[Love Makes You Crazy|Jealous, violent love.]]

* '''Eddie Gunnam/The Swell''': The leader of the Street Arabs. An otherwise ordinary man who obtains an enchanted walking stick that brings him good luck. He pried the stick from the hand of a dead man who had been struck by lightning five times. The stick was destroyed when it blocked a bullet from Kid Twist that otherwise would have killed Eddie.

* '''Lillie McGurty/Spieler''': A young girl who is able to fly if she hears music, even if that music is in her own head. She falls in love with Victor, who begs her to come with them in the future. {{spoiler|She refuses, afraid, and her regretful future self in the 21st century arranges to have the Runaways transported back in time, setting in motion the whole ''Dead End Kids'' arc}}.

** [[Heroes Want Redheads]]: Victor and Lillie

** [[Fiery Redhead]]: Lillie

** [[The Slow Path]]

* '''Tristan''': A man with incredible strength fitted with mechanical wings. He is in love with Lillie, but she puts him firmly in the [[Just Friends|friend zone]]. {{spoiler|He is badly scarred while stopping a bomb planted by the Yorkes. He remains with the future Lillie in the 21st century, giving her message to Victor right before the runaways go back in time.}}

* '''Creeper''': A tiny man with a close bond to Hoyden. He often rides on her shoulder. He is killed by Kid Twist.

** [[Incredible Shrinking Man]]: Creeper's power is apparently being very, very small. He is probably like that permanently as he has never been shown at any other size.

* '''Dead George Pelham''': A brain-eating zombie. He is impervious to most kinds of physical harm.

** [[Not Using the Z Word]]: He is never called a zombie.

* '''Megan the Hoyden''': A tomboyish young girl whose power is super speed. She is killed by Kid Twist.

** [[Tomboy]]

** [[The Big Guy]]

* '''Yellow Kid''': The "most notorious" member of the Street Arabs. He is seen generating blasts of yellow light during a fight, though it is unclear what they do. His profile in the Runaway's [[Secret Invasion]] tie-in says that his thoughts generate words on his shirt and that he was seen in a Manhattan bar nearly a century after "Dead End Kids." A [[Shout-Out]] to the very first comic strip character.

* '''Jacob''': A fiddler who lives with the Street Arabs. He plays to allow Lillie to fly. He has no known powers though the appendix of the [[Secret Invasion]] issue says his music has "unique qualities."

* '''Professor Duck''': A Chinese scientist who crafted Tristan's mechanical wings. He is not a Street Arab but is liked and respected by them. It is unclear if he has any powers but he was able to recognize a time travel device from the future.