Must-read graphic novels are futuristic classics that shouldn't be missed. Of course, not every must-see is perfect. That's why we've rated them 1-5 on the patented "crunchy goodness" scale.

Title: Runaways
Date: 2003 to present

Vitals: A group of kids discover their parents are a gang of supervillains, and they've inherited some of their super powers. They're forced to rely on each other to survive on the run, while they figure out how to cope with their awful legacy.

Famous names: Brian K. Vaughn, Joss Whedon, Adrian Alphona

Crunchy goodness: 5

Stunt creator: Joss "Firefly" Whedon took over writing the comic for an arc which saw the kids traveling back in time to 1907 — and discovering some alarming parallels with their own era.

Life lesson: Adults aren't all evil — just mostly. And the ones who aren't evil are almost all asswipes.

Sexism antidote: For once, a comic with a majority-female cast who aren't wearing lingerie and fetishwear to show off their stripperesque bodies.

Runaways Hardcover Book One Review by Greg Sanders

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