Karolina Dean

Karolina Dean
File:Karolina.PNG Karolina Dean in art from Runaways #3 by Adrian Alphona.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Runaways, vol. 1 #1
Created by	Brian K. Vaughan Adrian Alphona
In-story information
Alter ego	Karolina Dean
Species	Majesdanian
Place of origin	Earth
Team affiliations	Runaways
Notable aliases	Lucy in the Sky
Abilities	Ability to project kinetic light energy, Flight, Force field generation

Karolina Dean, sometimes known as Lucy in the Sky, is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics comic book series Runaways. Karolina was created by author Brian K. Vaughan and artist Adrian Alphona. She debuts in Runaways vol. 1 #1 with the other five original runaways.

Karolina used to be the only extraterrestrial in the cadre of friends, but since her return to Earth with Skrull fiancee Xavin, Karolina now takes comfort in having someone else not from Earth to relate to and speak with. However, Karolina still holds the distinction of being the sole homosexual within the group, and is among the ranks of openly LGBT comic book characters that have a leading role in a comic series.

Fictional character biography

Main article: Runaways story arcs

Runaways vol. 1 (March 2003 - September 2004)

Pride and Joy

File:Karolina v1-6.jpg

Cover to Runaways vol. 1 #3. Art by Jo Chen.

Karolina Dean is the daughter of Frank and Leslie Dean, two Hollywood actors who are secretly alien outcasts and members of a crime organization called the Pride. While Nico, Alex, Gert, and Chase witness their own parents' part in one of the Pride's secret meetings, Karolina is ordered to take 12-year old Molly back to the mansion's game room. Karolina meets with the group later and they inform her of the murder they witnessed, after which they promptly run away from home to a dilapidated mansion that Chase calls "The Hostel." In frustration, Karolina removes her medic alert bracelet and discovers that she is an alien; the bracelet nullifies her powers and true, fluorescent form. The runaways band together to stop their parents, and whoever chooses to do so takes a "superhero codename"; Karolina calls herself "Lucy In The Sky," a reference to the Beatles song.

Teenage Wasteland

File:Karolinadean-c10.jpg

Cover to Runaways vol. 1 #10. Art by Jo Chen.

Karolina still feels ashamed of her alien heritage when the group briefly admits Topher into the Hostel, after his parents left him behind at a convenience store heist. He seduces Karolina and briefly thereafter reveals that he is a vampire. Karolina volunteers to be killed first, ignorant that her blood is infused with solar energy; Topher dies shortly after drinking Karolina's blood.

Lost and Found

Karolina and the group encounter runaways-turned-vigilantes Cloak and Dagger after the LAPD's Lieutenant Flores hires the duo to track the runaways down. Karolina's light-based powers only make Cloak stronger, leading to the runaways' prompt defeat. The two teams later discuss the runaways' situation with the Pride, and Cloak & Dagger promise to send the Avengers as reinforcements. However, before going back to NYC, the pair is captured by the Pride and have their memories erased.

The Good Die Young

Alex deciphers the Abstract, a magical tome that automatically details the past, present, and future of the Pride's membership; he discovers that the Pride works for being called the Gibborim. Soon after, Lieutenant Flores and a S.W.A.T. team show up at the Hostel, claiming a mole within the children's gang helped them locate the hideout. Karolina discovers she can create forcefields as she helps facilitate the runaways' escape. The friends then argue amongst themselves over the mole's identity; Karolina is suspected by Chase and Gert. They put aside their differences long enough to agree on attacking the Pride at their next meeting. In the ensuing battle, Alex and Karolina are the last two combatants left standing, but Alex knocks out Karolina, and reveals himself as the mole. When Nico refuses to join his side, Alex quickly loses control of the situation and takes Karolina hostage; it is here that Karolina loses the death drive she has harbored since learning she was an alien. However, Molly shatters the Pride's sacrifice just as the Gibborim arrive to receive it. Alex takes full responsibility and is promptly incinerated. The parents band together to cover the children's escape as the Gibborim threaten to kill everyone present; the parents are presumed dead after their lair floods. The runaways pile into the Leapfrog and crash land on a Los Angeles beach, only to be met by Captain America.

Eighteen

After their parents' demise, California Social Services split up the runaways; Karolina is sent to live with foster parents who are addicted to prescription painkillers and force her to see a psychologist. Karolina organizes a reunion at the James Dean memorial where they planned to run away the first time. When Nico arrives and states that she is through with boys, Karolina sheepishly grins, subtly hinting at romantic feelings she harbors towards Nico. After retrieving Old Lace and the Leapfrog from a West Coast Avengers storage facility, the group decides to run away and look after each other.

Runaways vol. 2 (February 2005 - present)

True Believers

The runaways fight the criminals of Los Angeles that try to fill the power vacuum left by the Pride's defeat; their new Hostel is one of the Pride's old lairs beneath the La Brea Tar Pits. A future version of Gert appears in a time machine and warns the runaways about a soon-to-be villain named Victor Mancha, the son of "the greatest evil in the universe." With her dying breath, future Gert demands that the runaways kill Mancha while he is young and not as powerful. After a fight with Excelsior, the runaways get Victor to the Hostel and begin winnowing choices for his father's identity. Dr. Doom calls Victor, claiming parentage. Victor and the runaways confront Doom, but it is a Doombot controlled by Avengers foe Ultron, Victor's true "father." Ultron reveals that Victor is a cyborg and forces him to attack the runaways. Victor is able to break free from Ultron's control as Excelsior shows up to assist in the battle. The runaways slip away unnoticed as the battle ends so Excelsior will not have the chance the separate the team. Victor joins the runaways.

Starcrossed

File:RUNAWAYS007.jpg

Cover to Runaways vol. 2 #7. Art by Chris Bachalo.

Karolina reveals her feelings for Nico in an attempted kiss, but is rejected; Nico says she just wants some time alone, and Karolina berates herself for misinterpreting Nico's decree to "swear off boys forever." Soon afterwards, a spaceship lands in front of Nico and Karolina. The pilot identifies himself as Xavin, a Super-Skrull-in-training and her fiancé through an arranged marriage. Xavin explains that their marriage might encourage a ceasefire in the war between their respective worlds. Karolina resists at first, citing her sexuality as a problem, but Xavin shapeshifts into a female. Karolina gives Nico her medic alert bracelet as a goodbye present and promises to keep in touch.

Parental Guidance

Karolina returns to the Hostel after months away from Earth in Runaways vol. 2 #16.
Art by Adrian Alphona

When Xavin asks Karolina why she seems melancholy so close to their wedding day, she responds that she misses Earth and her friends; the runaways cannot attend Karolina's wedding due to the Skrulls' general dislike of humans. However the wedding is ultimately sabotaged. Karolina explains later that a "Skrullos guest insulted one of the bridesmaids outfits" and this lead to fighting. Karolina and Xavin barely manage to escape as the Skrulls launch an antimatter missile at the Majesdanian outpost, causing a nearby star to explode, destroying both planets. They crash land a few miles outside the Hostel and return amidst the runaways fighting over Victor's assumed betrayal; Karolina stops the fight merely by appearing, and Nico is ecstatic at her return. Karolina accompanies the runaways on their mission to rescue Molly from the new Pride and is injured in battle. She assists in burying Gert behind the Hollywood sign after the battle with the Pride.

Powers and abilities

Like all Majesdanians, Karolina's natural form is luminous, iridescent, and visually fluid. Originally, Karolina required a bracelet constructed of an unspecified alien metal to revert to her human form. However, after some refinement of her abilities, she can now change back and forth at will.

Karolina is also able to manipulate solar energy, usually in the form of iridescent concussive blasts or fine cutting beams (which she calls a 'lock pick'). Karolina's parents also demonstrated control such that they could wrap or bind people and objects. Karolina has only recently used the same abilities, having learned to use her powers more effectively during her excursion to Majesdane. Karolina can now create force fields of solar energy capable of protecting all six Runaways from a close-range explosion, as well as being capable of stopping bullets.

As well, her mother states that because they have the same abilities, they cannot hurt one another. This may mean that Majesdanians' solar manipulations have no effect on one another.

During an encounter with a vampire, it is revealed that Karolina's blood also harbors solar energy-based properties, since drinking her blood caused the vampire to combust.

Her Majesdanian form also gives her the ability to fly.

Appearance

At the beginning of the series, Karolina dresses in popular clothing trends, probably due to the richesse of her parents. Karolina is tall, blonde haired and blue eyed.

Conceptual Changes

In Brian K. Vaughan's original pitch for the series, Karolina was originally called Leslie. This name would eventually be given to the character's mother. Her parents were originally real estate magnates, as opposed to famous actors.