Scan barcode
A review by stadkison
Runaways, Vol. 5: Canon Fodder by Rainbow Rowell
4.0
As usual, this book is a delight. The art is clean and cute. The story of the found family continues in an interesting way. I must say, the twist was pretty obvious. Other than that, good stuff.
On that twist: I interpret it as a meta-commentary on comic books at large. The villain kills of what he views as supporting characters in order to boost his own popularity. This is reminiscent of the “fridging” dynamic, in which love interests (particularly women) are killed off to forward the (usual male) protagonists arc. It is relevant that the one he attempts to kill, Karolina, is wearing the suit of his former romantic partner. Just as comic books often tout deaths to boost sales (death of superman, death of the inhumans, etc), the villain wants (and has in the past) done the same. I guess this book is saying it is such a force of positivity that it is no longer necessary to kill of characters for drama.
On that twist: I interpret it as a meta-commentary on comic books at large. The villain kills of what he views as supporting characters in order to boost his own popularity. This is reminiscent of the “fridging” dynamic, in which love interests (particularly women) are killed off to forward the (usual male) protagonists arc. It is relevant that the one he attempts to kill, Karolina, is wearing the suit of his former romantic partner. Just as comic books often tout deaths to boost sales (death of superman, death of the inhumans, etc), the villain wants (and has in the past) done the same. I guess this book is saying it is such a force of positivity that it is no longer necessary to kill of characters for drama.