Book Review: Runaways: Dead-End Kids

Although I never watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer (at least not yet), and neither have I watched Firefly, I did see Serenity, and that's one thing Joss Whedon has done. I figured this comic book collection would be a second dose. It's really an X-men multiple-superhero team setup, but with a few twists: all are teenagers who have parents who are evil superhero villains. Joss Whedon took over the characters that had already been created and sends them on a time-travel scheme that ends up in turn-of-the-century Manhattan. So he has a chance to create a whole bunch of early-20th-century superheroes (including the "Yellow Kid," just like that old comic strip), and ignite a big ol' war between them all. It's better than most, with some good lines in there -- but the best reason is just to glance at all those superheroes from another era and imagine their backstories and strengths and weaknesses. Also, some nice historical plotting involving child labor and striking workers and sweatshops and the like. Better than most movies.