History ComicBook / Runaways

* HowDidYouKnowIDidnt: Twice - played seriously with [[spoiler:Karolina's blood killing Topher]] in volume one, because [[spoiler:she had no idea it would happen and honestly wanted to die]]. Played for laughs in volume three.

* ArtifactTitle: The title comes from the fact that its original cast ran away from home when they discovered that their parents were supervillains. In the current iteration of the team, only Gert and Victor count as an actual runaway; Nico, Chase, and Karolina are all legally adults, and Molly is technically legally adopted.

* BelatedLoveEpiphany: Downplayed. Nico begins to realize that she might have feelings for Karolina after the latter has gone off to space to fulfill an arranged marriage, although nothing comes of it.

* ArtifactTitle: The title comes from the fact that its original cast ran away from home when they discovered that their parents were supervillains. In the current iteration of the team, only Gert counts as an actual runaway; Nico, Chase, and Karolina are all legally adults, Molly is technically legally adopted, and Victor is no longer subject to truancy laws due to being a head attached to a Roomba.

* AliensAndMonsters: The kids fight aliens (Skrulls, Majesdinians, Kree), supernatural beasts (Demons, vampires) and criminals both mundane and super powered.

** [[ComicBook/RainbowRowellsRunaways Vol. 5]] (2017-present)

* NotSoDifferent: Many, many sly moments where one of the kids acts just like their parents without realizing it.

* LaserGuidedAmnesia: To preserve their secret, the Pride wipe memories from Cloak and Dagger. At least they use telepathy, legitimizing the trope. [[spoiler:But then Cloak regains his memories after a [[FonzarelliFix swift smack on the head]] from {{ComicBook/Luke Cage|HeroForHire}}, and this is played totally straight.]]

* FutureSelfReveal: The second series opens with the team suddenly being confronted by a time-traveling brunette calling herself Heroine. When Gert threatens to sic Old Lace on her, Heroine advises her against it, as she is actually a future version of Gert herself.

* FutureSelfReveal: The second series opens with the team suddenly being confronted by a time-traveling brunette calling herself Heroine. When Gert threatens to sic Old Lace on her, Heroine advises her against it, as she is actually a future version of Gert herself.

* MoreDiverseSequel: The original series had only two main characters of color, Japanese-American Nico and African-American Alex, and by the end, Nico was the sole person of color left in the cast. The second series added Latino ComicBook/{{Victor|Mancha}} and genderfluid Xavin, and confirmed Karolina as a lesbian, creating one of the few mainstream superhero teams that wasn't dominated by white male characters (of which only Chase fit).

Following the end of the first arc, Vol. 2 would focus on the EvilPowerVacuum in Los Angeles, and introduced two new members: ComicBook/VictorMancha and Xavin. This was also the last arc written by Creator/BrianKVaughan before his amicable departure.

* ClosetGay: Karolina harbored an obvious crush on ComicBook/{{Nico|Minoru}}, but remained in the closet until Volume 2. Nico herself would not admit that she returned Karolina's affections until [[ComicBook/RainbowRowellsRunaways the fifth series]], over a decade later in real life (and two years later in-universe.)

* MoreDiverseSequel: The original series had only two main characters of color, Japanese-American ComicBook/{{Nico|Minoru}} and African-American Alex, and by the end, Nico was the sole person of color left in the cast. The second series added Latino ComicBook/{{Victor|Mancha}} and genderfluid Xavin, and confirmed Karolina as a lesbian, creating one of the few mainstream superhero teams that wasn't dominated by white male characters (of which only Chase fit).

* BreakoutCharacter: Nico, who would appear with Chase in ''Comicbook/AvengersArena'', join Comicbook/AForce, and even [[Comicbook/NicoMinoru has her own page here]]!

This is how we are introduced to the Creator/MarvelComics series ''Runaways''. Chase Stein, Alex Wilder, ComicBook/NicoMinoru, Karolina Dean, Molly Hayes and Gert Yorkes are old acquaintances. Once a year, their rich parents meet up and hold a charity meeting, and they are stuck in the family room to play while the parents discuss grown up stuff. But one year, when the parents were having their meeting, Alex discovers a secret passageway which allows them to see what really happens in their meetings. They discover their parents are a [[LegionOfDoom secret organization]] called The Pride.

* TemporaryLoveInterest: Topher is this for Nico and Karolina. Lillie is also this for Victor.

* TemporaryLoveInterest: Topher and Lillie are arc-long love interests for Nico and Victor, respectively.

* FiveTokenBand: The original team was comprised of Alex (black male), Nico (Japanese-American female), Gert (Jewish female[[note]]although non-practicing[[/note]]), Chase (white male), Karolina (lesbian alien female), and Molly (white mutant female). Later additions include Victor (Latino male[[note]]although actually a robot, he grew up thinking he was Mexican-American like his mother[[/note]], Xavin (black-appearing possibly genderqueer alien), and Klara (white female). Enforced, as the writers wanted to avoid the superhero team cliches of the time, and lampshaded, as one character mentions they look like multiethnic gangs seen on TV.

* TheArtifact: Old Lace's name. It makes sense when the person she has telepathic link to calls her self [[Theatre/ArsenicAndOldLace Arsenic]]. After she drops the code name... not so much. It does get a LampShadeHanging though.

* BilingualBonus: Victor does this on two accounts. The first is the Spanish swearing he manages to sneak in. (Also a case of GettingCrapPastTheRadar.) The second is his binary rambling after Chase flips his safety switch. The stream of ones and zeroes out of his mouth? They spell W-T-F.

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: Chase's not-so-subtle joke regarding his girlfriend in Volume 2, Issue #1.
-->'''Nico:''' We're the ones who created the power vacuum.
-->'''Chase:''' Heh, "power vacuum". That should be Gert's new codename.

* OnlyChildSyndrome: Justified - the six couples agreed to donate their spots to a single child each, rather than worry about which six of them the Gibborim would select once the plan was complete.