AceShowbiz - Marvel is preparing a significant retcon for the superhero team the MCU mishandled, as announced at ComicsPRO. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has brought numerous iconic characters to life on screen, captivating audiences with large-scale productions. While heroes like Iron Man and Captain America became household names, the MCU also explored lesser-known Marvel characters, proving that audiences were eager for fresh stories.

Films such as Ant-Man and Guardians of the Galaxy demonstrated successful introductions of second-tier characters, while others like The Eternals failed to resonate with fans and faded from prominence. Among the properties that struggled was Runaways, a series that the MCU attempted to bring to life but ultimately did a disservice to the team.

The Runaways were introduced to live-action audiences through a Hulu series that ran for three seasons starting in 2017. Despite initial hopes that the show would tie into the MCU, it remained largely disconnected from the broader cinematic universe. The series did not feature appearances or references to established MCU heroes, nor did it acknowledge the events of the films, which created a schism between Marvel’s film and television divisions that hindered the show’s potential.

Now, in a fresh twist, Marvel is revisiting the Runaways through a new series of What If? one-shot comics that explore alternate realities and "roads not taken." One of these specials will imagine a world where the Runaways never rebelled against their villainous parents and never ran away. This story will be penned by regular Runaways writer Rainbow Rowell and illustrated by Zulema Lavina, with a release planned for later this year. Marvel has not provided further details about this or other upcoming What If? issues.

The original premise of the Runaways centers on a group of teenagers who discover that their parents are part of a villainous cabal known as "the Pride." This group of super-villains made child sacrifices to appease their demonic overlords. Upon learning this horrific truth, the teenagers fled to escape their families’ dark legacy and took justice into their own hands. Some members had superpowers, while others relied on their parents’ advanced technology, all united by the goal of dismantling the Pride.

The upcoming What If? story challenges this foundation by imagining what would happen if the kids never uncovered their parents’ secrets and never rebelled. In this alternate reality, the child sacrifices would have continued, and the Pride’s grip on the West Coast would have strengthened. It’s also likely that the children would have inherited control of the Pride, potentially becoming villains themselves rather than heroes.

The Runaways comic series is regarded as one of the best Marvel debuts of the 2000s, blending teenage drama with superhero action in a way that resonated with readers for over two decades. This made it a natural candidate for adaptation into live-action, yet the MCU’s handling of the property was fraught with issues. The separation between Marvel’s film and television divisions during the show’s run left the series isolated from the wider MCU narrative, limiting its storytelling potential and alienating fans who expected more integration.

Despite the MCU’s recent consolidation of its film and television branches, there are no current indications that the Runaways will be reintegrated into the cinematic universe. Characters such as Alex, Nico, and Molly are unlikely to appear alongside MCU staples like Ant-Man, Shang-Chi, or Black Widow anytime soon. It appears the Runaways journey in the MCU may have reached a definitive end.

However, Marvel is clearly not finished with the concept. The new What If? special offers a chance to revisit and reimagine the team’s origins and highlight what made them compelling in the first place. Writer Rainbow Rowell and artist Zulema Lavina’s involvement signals a commitment to honoring the essence of the Runaways while addressing some of the missteps made in their adaptation to screen.

This retcon not only provides fans with interesting new narrative possibilities but also serves as an acknowledgment of the team’s complex history and the MCU’s previous shortcomings in handling them. By exploring a scenario where the Runaways never rebelled, Marvel opens a door to stories that examine the consequences of choices and the different paths a generation of young heroes might take.

In sum, Marvel’s Runaways are poised for a fresh start through the upcoming What If? special, potentially correcting the missteps of their MCU adaptation and reaffirming their place within the Marvel Universe’s rich tapestry. Fans eagerly await more details on this series and how it might influence future storytelling, even if the team’s presence on screen remains uncertain.