As we see Beast, with the rest of the Astonishing X-Men team, saying it’s marvelous how the stars can align. Vic has one of his super hero geek outs, as Wolverine points out Molly as the mutant he had a tussle with in New York. Molly says she doesn’t like him anymore and Nico wants to know what they want with her. Cyclops starts his spiel about their school for mutants, but Gert just wants them to cut to the chase since they know what mutants are. Emma and Colossus respond, snottily and calmly, respectively, that it’s more dangerous for mutant than ever and Molly belongs with them where she can be safe and control her abilities. Nico isn’t buying it, saying that the X-Men have been at this since they were kids, but things have actually gotten worse. Why should they turn Molly over to them? Cyclops says this isn’t a negotiation, since the Runaways aren’t Molly’s guardians, and that she needs discipline and they’re the ones with the vision to give it to her. Well, if he had any vision at all, says Nico, he would have realized he was talking to an astral projection, as the real her appears behind him an blasts his visor off, causing his powers to flare out of control.

Wolverine turns his attention to Vic, who tries to beg Logan not to hurt him and that he likes the X-Men, but his fear causes his powers to go off, restraining the Canadian in a bunch of metal. If this kid is another son of Magneto, says Logan, he’ll end him. Vic explains his origin from Ultron in a geeky way, and Logan just moans that he needs to stick to solo missions.

Colossus is shocked when he sees Molly lift a big truck over her head, while saying she’s tired of people trying to tell her she can’t take care of herself, and heaves the truck towards Piotr. He just stands there however, and says that she reminds him of his little sister, as the truck just crumples around him.

Gert is just sitting this out, wanting it to be over, and the sentiment is echoed by Kitty, who introduces herself to Gert, wondering if she’s the token pacifist of her group. Gert says pacifists are more like vegans while she is a vegetarian: she enjoys fish and occasional maulings. They exchange talk about Kitty’s powers, and finds it funny that she also has a pet dragon.

Chase is running around, trying to get the leapfrog to target the X-Men, when he’s picked up by a swinging Beast, asking if he’s the one in charge of the interesting flying device, only in more scientific terms than Chase can understand. In response, Chase just pulls his switchblade saying to let him go or he’ll cut him. But Beast just points out that if he cuts him where they’re sitting, on the top of a tree, they’ll both fall, but Chase still tries to act tough.

Emma finally calls them all to break it up, as she arrives with Old Lace in tow. Gert is overjoyed and wonders he she found her pet. Emma says that OL actually found her, which reminds her that maybe it’s better to let lost souls find their way home rather than searching, right Scott? He tries to tell her that this girl is important, but Emma reminds him of his policy never to force someone to join them. Molly will come to them when she needs to. The rest of the X-Men say their goodbyes and well wishes, except for Logan of course, and Molly and Vic share them back. Once they’re gone, Nico grumbles that they’re stuck on clean up again, and Gert wants to know what exactly just happened. Chase doesn’t know, but he did manage to steal Beast’s glasses! Whew, Gert sighs, she was worried they might have actually learned something there. Chase ends the issue doing his best Beast impression: “Ooo, look at me! I’m a big furry nerd!”

Review: I absolutely loved every single part of this little issue. There’s not much there, it’s only about 12 pages long, but Vaughan manages to fit in just about all we love about our favorite Runaways, as well as the X-Men. Not really all that much to say about the story because it was so short, but seemed like it was always planned as a basic introduction for new readers anyway, so the story wasn’t really the most important aspect of this issue. Still, overall, very good, and I hoped it was very popular and brought in some new readers for this underappreciated but amazing series.

On the art, Skottie Young doesn’t rank the highest on my list of fav artists, but his art was suitable here. I wouldn’t mind seeing him as a fill in artist if needed on Runaways, but please, just don’t draw the X-Men again.

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