Canon Fodder

The Runaways may have been a superhero team once, but they haven’t been one in a long time. Now, they feel as though they have their lives together, even if they’re not using their powers to fulfill their supposed responsibilities. Karolina has discovered her passion for saving people along with her girlfriend and fellow Runaway, Nico. She wants to use her powers to make the world better, especially when they meet Doc Justice.

Doc Justice is a big deal in Los Angeles. He single-handedly built the J-Team from the ground up, and although most of the old team members are deceased, he has never stopped fighting crime. He is an inspiration to the Runaways, especially Victor, who grew up hearing stories about the great Doc Justice. So, when Karolina and Nico bring news that Doc Justice has invited the Runaways to live with him, they cannot refuse a chance to meet their idol.

The Runaways move into Doc Justice’s mansion, and soon, he’s recruiting them for a new J-Team, complete with the old costumes and monikers. Soon enough, all of Los Angeles is in love with their new superhero team. Excited to finally use their powers for greater things and to have stable leadership, the Runaways go along with it — except for Gert.

Gert doesn’t have special powers, but she has never felt excluded. She is left at home again and again with Doc Justice’s assistant, Matthew. Feeling useless, Gert asks Matthew to train her in the art of mission control. Along the way, she learns about the old J-Team and their deaths. As it turns out, Doc Justice isn’t the good guy the Runaways think he is, and it was no accident that his past teams have fallen apart. Despite not possessing superpowers, Gert is determined to stop Doc Justice and save her friends.

Canon Fodder focuses more on Gert than previous issues did, and she proves to be inspiring, fantastically stubborn, and genuinely kind. She is the only member of the Runaways without superpowers, but she proves to be invaluable because she’s the only one who figures out Doc Justice’s secrets. Additionally, she does so while sincerely doubting herself and her role on the team, which is relatable for teenagers. Even after defeating Doc Justice, she still feels off-kilter, and while she’s more confident in her abilities, she doesn’t see herself as worth anything to her team.

Overall, Canon Fodder has a more somber tone than the other books in the series, as it explores heavier themes such as betrayal, deception, murder, and self-doubt. There’s more death and violence in this issue than in the others. Doc Justice’s deceased teammates and the manipulation of the Runaways add depth to the story, making the characters more complex and interesting.

The fifth volume of The Runaways is divided into six parts, each of which builds the overall narrative and allows the reader to gain insight into each character. As with all comics, this one can be confusing at times, with numerous references to the broader Marvel universe. This means that readers unfamiliar with Marvel may be a little discombobulated while reading. However, this doesn’t detract from the story, which has an easily comprehensible plot and simple language.

Canon Fodder is filled with beautiful illustrations that highlight the characters’ best features and fantastical, magical battles. The panels alternate between close-ups and wide shots, designed to capture the scene and the characters’ expressions perfectly. Although events that occur simultaneously are depicted, they can occasionally be confusing when determining where to look based on the page layout. However, this doesn’t distract from the detailed artwork on each page.

Readers who enjoy superhero teams, vicious villains, and found families will love the fierce action, creatively designed costumes, and brave curiosity in the fifth volume of The Runaways. This graphic novel emphasizes themes of loyalty and hope, while also serving as a cautionary tale about the dangers of ambition. Doc Justice is a twisted villain who challenges the Runaways perfectly, forcing them to grow up and learn how to trust one another. Overall, this is a beautiful story with a brutal message: trust needs to be hard-earned and is not easily given, especially when you’re learning how to be an adult.

Sexual Content

• None

Violence

• While Nico and Karolina are patrolling for crime, they are attacked by bad guys. A new superhero, Doc Justice, shows up and saves the two Runaways. He punches and chokes the three bad guys. The two that he punches have blood flying from their mouths. The three are just unconscious by the end of the fight.
• As the Runaways begin fighting crime alongside Doc Justice, a montage of the Runaways is shown, lifting cars, firing lasers at unseen villains, and punching bad guys. There is no blood, and it is implied that no one dies.
• After saving Los Angeles a few times, Doc Justice decides to train Nico in physical combat, since she struggles to control her staff. There are a few panels with Nico and Doc sparring. There is no blood, and no one is injured.
• When Gib is incorporated into the team they’re building, he wears a costume, and there is a panel with supposed bad guys shooting guns at him. The bullets bounce off him, and no one is hurt.
• While battling Doc’s old teammate, Doc Justice shows the team his true selfish colors. He sends Karolina off to her death. When Gert notices, she sends Old Lace, their pet dinosaur, after him. Doc Justice rips apart a solar panel and attacks Old Lace with it when she’s protecting Karolina. Old Lace flies backwards, with blood dripping from her mouth. Old Lace heals eventually.
• In response to Doc’s actions, Victor blasts him with electricity. Doc falls backwards, and Old Lace jumps up and grabs Doc with her teeth. There is no blood, but Old Lace drags him into darkness, and it’s implied that he dies.

Drugs and Alcohol

• None

Language

• None

Supernatural

• The Runaways are a teenage group of superheroes, so, naturally, many of them possess magic or supernatural abilities. Nico, the Runaways’ magician, casts spells to solve their problems. When Nico and Karolina are trying to return to the Runaways’ hideout, they encounter a construction crew working on the mountain blocking their way. Nico calls Chase and says, “You’re pretty free and easy with the magic when you’re not the one casting spells.”
• Nico summons the Staff of One, and golden rays of magic shine from her body and from the staff as she casts the spell “End of Shift!” that gets rid of the construction crew.
• Karolina, the Runaways’ resident alien, can fly and shoot rainbow colored energy from her palms that act like lasers or lightning. When Nico and Karolina return from patrolling the streets for crime, Karolina confesses that “there [had] been some flying. Yes.” She is depicted as flying and rainbow-colored on many pages.
• Molly, the youngest Runaway, has super strength and is invincible. She is often depicted performing a superhero landing (landing from high heights without a scratch) and punching through walls.
• Gib, the newest addition to the Runaways, needs souls to sustain him. There is a series of three panels where Old Lace, the Runaways’ pet dinosaur, gives Gib a dead cat. The only way we know the cat is dead is because it’s limp – there is no blood or gore. Pink rays of light and sparkles flow from the cat to Gib, nourishing him.
• When the Runaways fail at incorporating Gert into their team, Chase apologizes to Gert. Chase feels sorry because Gert’s old psychic link to Old Lace shifted to him. Gert says, “Look, I’m the one who shifted Old Lace’s bond to you before I died. It was the right thing to do in the moment.” The psychic bond enables Old Lace to form a connection with both Gert and Chase, protecting them when they’re in trouble.
• With Doc Justice, the team goes after an environmental activist and an old member of Doc’s team. She can control lightning and blasts it at Karolina. The lightning bolts are blue and flying around her when she does so.
• After the Runaways’ battle with Doc Justice, he lies on the floor, passed out. Gib approaches him, and the same pink light and sparkles surround him, drawing Doc’s soul to him and feeding Gib.

Spiritual Content

• None

by Kate Schuyler