Rainbow Rowell Reveals Secrets of Marvel’s Runaways

In this new volume of Runaways we’ve caught glimpses of Victor Mancha, who recently died — but death isn’t always the end for artificial intelligences, especially with someone like Chase on the team. If Victor is able to return, and able to do so with the same personality, what do you think he’ll add to the book?

Well, I love Victor. I know he’s not an original member, but he feels absolutely central to the team. He’s so smart and humble, and he’s got that great dry sense of humor.

RELATED: Who’s Who On Marvel’s Runaways

I’m a sucker for decency in a character, and Victor is decent, through and through. (Which is a funny thing to say about a guy who was created to be a supervillain.) He just tries so hard to do the right thing.

When I started working on this book, my first goal was to bring back Gert in a way that felt authentic and earned. And then I immediately set my sights on Victor. The day Issue 2 came out, I went to the comic book shop as soon as it opened; I was so excited to see Victor in print.

EXCLUSIVE: Art from Runaways 34 by Kris Anna and Matt Wilson

The Runaways reunion has not gone unnoticed in the Marvel U. In these first two issues we’ve seen a possibly sinister person, with an ability to communicate with or see through the eyes of cats, keeping tabs on them. What can you tell us about this character? Are they acting alone or are they part of a larger group?

Let’s see, what can I say… I mean, obviously, this sinister character likes cats. So, in that sense they’re part of a larger group.

I really don’t want to spoil it. But I will say – I have a hard time writing evil characters. I’m not that interested in them. I’m much more likely to write about someone who starts out good, then badly loses their way.

We’ve talked a lot about your cast of characters, and helping you bring to life those characters is Kris Anka, an artist who has shown his knack for lots of different elements on lots of different Marvel books. One of the things I’ve loved about his first two issues of Runaways has been his character acting. What do you enjoy most about Kris’ art?

I sincerely love Kris’s work – and his approach to work – so much that it’s hard to choose one thing. I mean, his character acting is stellar. The characters look alive and responsive. No one is just taking up space in a panel, waiting for their turn to talk.

And he’s exceedingly thoughtful. Like, in this arc, Gert has no access to her old clothes. Kris and I talk every issue about what she might have found to wear. He thinks through every single outfit for every character.

Everything you see in one of Kris’ panels was a decision.

Beyond that, he’s a thoughtful, compassionate person. I can text him about where my head is at on a plotline or even something about comics publishing, and he’ll come back with something kind and insightful.

While we’re talking art, I’d like to shout out the work Matt Wilson is doing on color. He’s brought this very natural, California-sunlit energy to the book, which feels just right. And the characters themselves have so much breath and vibrancy.

Finally, we know from issue #1 that Tony Stark was at least aware of what Chase was doing for a while. Do you have plans for some other Marvel heroes to become embroiled in the Runaways’ adventures?

Not initially. I’m really conscious of how many people are already in the book – four teens, one 20-something, one currently dead cyborg, and a dinosaur. I want to do them all justice. I want them all to get page-time. I want to bring them back together in a way that feels real, and that sucks in old and new readers.

And I think that takes focus. I think you have to care about the main characters before you care about how they fit into the Marvel Universe.

That said, I’m writing an arc now that brings in two Marvel characters who’ve been important to individual Runaways in the past, and that’s been a lot of fun to write.

This book has been a pleasure to work on. And I think it’s because our whole team — including editors Nick Lowe and Kathleen Wisneski – really loves these kids. The Runaways have felt like classic Marvel characters since their very first issue. We all want to give them the stories they deserve.

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