Publisher: Marvel

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What If…? Runaways Issue 1 (2026) Read Free Marvel Comics Online

What If…? Runaways Issue 1 (2026) – Read Free Marvel Comics Online

What If…? Runaways Issue 1 is published by Marvel Comics as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the iconic What If…? series. Written by Rainbow Rowell, the definitive scribe of the Runaways since 2017, with art by Zulema Scotto Lavina and a main cover by Lucas Werneck .

The 27-page issue is priced at $4.99 and was released on August 19, 2026 . For more information about Marvel Comics, you can visit the official Marvel Comics website. For background on the Runaways and their history, you can visit the Wikipedia page on Runaways.

Plot Overview – The Young Pride Rises

The central premise of What If…? Runaways Issue 1 is as simple as it is devastating: What if the Runaways never ran away? In the main Marvel Universe, the teenagers discovered their parents were the Pride, a supervillain cult that sacrificed a young girl to the god-like Gibborim, and they fled in horror . But in this alternate timeline, the Pride catches them before they can escape and slowly eases them into their evil legacy, replacing shock and rebellion with intrigue, ambition, and a dark sense of duty .

The issue explores a deeply uncomfortable question: what would children accept if the horrors were abstract, and the promise of power was real? Instead of being defiant heroes, the group becomes the “Young Pride,” groomed to inherit their parents’ criminal empire . They are given wealth, status, and purpose—told that their sacrifices will one day build a paradise. The exception is the youngest member, Molly Hayes, who is lied to, told she is a superhero rather than an accomplice to evil .

The Rise of Victorious

One of the darkest and most talked-about consequences of this What If…? scenario is the fate of Victor Mancha, the cyborg son of Ultron who is not part of the Pride’s inner circle . In the main timeline, he was saved by the Runaways, befriended them, and fell in love with Gert Yorkes. But in this world, without their intervention, Victor follows his programming and becomes a villain known as “Victorious” .

He is depicted in a sleek black costume with a large ‘V’ logo, his hands crackling with electromagnetic energy . The issue reveals that Victorious assassinates Steve Rogers, killing Captain America off-panel, and has his murderous sights set on the Fantastic Four and the rest of the Avengers . This is the ultimate price of the Runaways’ inaction: a world without their moral compass leads to the death of one of Marvel’s greatest heroes.

The comic also highlights the tragic personal cost: without the bond forged by running away, the Runaways don’t form their deep friendships, and their romantic connections—like Chase and Gert, or Nico and Karolina—never blossom . They are a team in name only, manipulated by their parents and lacking the trust that defines them.

Creative Team and Why It Matters

Rainbow Rowell has written more Runaways stories than anyone, even the characters’ creator Brian K. Vaughan, so her return to the series is a major event for fans . She has described writing this villainous version of the characters as challenging, noting that she tried to imagine how they would act if they hadn’t come together to support each other . Without their friendship, Chase remains brash, Gert stays brittle, and Karolina doesn’t grow as brave .

Artist Zulema Scotto Lavina, while newer to Marvel, does a stellar job capturing the classic look of the characters from the original Adrian Alphona designs in the flashback sequences, while also giving them sleek, modern “Pride” designs after the time skip . The issue includes a main cover by Lucas Werneck, with variant covers by Betsy Cola and Joe Quinones .

Key Details

Detail	Information
Title	What If…? Runaways Issue 1 (2026)
Publisher	Marvel Comics
Writer	Rainbow Rowell
Artist	Zulema Scotto Lavina
Cover Artist	Lucas Werneck
Page Count	27 pages
Price	$4.99
Release Date	August 19, 2026
Rating	T+

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the premise of What If…? Runaways Issue 1?
It asks what would have happened if the Runaways had been caught by their parents and decided to join the Pride instead of running away .

2. Who is the creative team behind this issue?
The issue is written by Rainbow Rowell with art by Zulema Scotto Lavina and a main cover by Lucas Werneck .

3. Is this part of the main Marvel continuity?
No, it is a stand-alone What If…? one-shot, part of the 50th-anniversary celebration .

4. What is the “Young Pride”?
It is the name given to the Runaways when they stay and join their parents’ criminal organization .

5. What happens to Victor Mancha in this timeline?
Without the Runaways’ influence, he becomes the villain Victorious and kills Captain America .

6. Are there any romantic relationships in this issue?
In this dark timeline, the bonds that lead to their canonical romances don’t form, with the kids barely being friends with each other .

7. What are the variant covers for this issue?
The issue features a main cover by Lucas Werneck, a homage variant by Betsy Cola, and a variant by Joe Quinones .

8. Is What If…? Runaways Issue 1 a good starting point?
Yes, as a self-contained one-shot, it requires no deep prior knowledge to enjoy .

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