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If one has learned anything from Brian K. Vaughan’s work it is to expect the unexpected. Whether we’re talking about Ex Machina or Y: The Last Man or Runaways, the only thing about which you can be fairly certain is that somewhere along the way he’s going to pull the rug out from under you. Runaways #6 does that not once, not twice, not thrice even: four times Vaughan ties up a plot thread with a twist that was all but impossible to see coming.

Part of this stems from the book’s slow start. After the cliffhanger revelation of Victor’s “father” at the end of the previous issue, Vaughan opens this installment with what is essentially a flashback, a guided tour of Victor’s origins and purpose from his father. While interesting, the flashback distracts from the high stakes showdown we were left with in #5 between a brainwashed Victor and the Runaways—and the shift back to that confrontation seems rather abrupt.

But just when all hell is ready to break loose, Excelsior, a group of recovering teenage superheroes that has stalked the Runaways at the behest of an anonymous benefactor, descends on the scene to save the day. And just when you thought Excelsior was going to pack the Runaways off to foster homes, one of their own lets the Runaways go. And just when you thought the traitor had fled with the Runaways, he turns out to be the last person that long­time fans of the series would expect. As you can see, the whole operation can make one rather dizzy.

The book touches on all the hallmarks of Vaughan’s writing: a knack for the unexpected, a flair for one­liners that are funny without drawing undue attention to themselves and a focus on characterization. That Victor turns on his father for killing his mother is really no surprise when one considers how well Vaughan built up Victor’s love for her. That Jono winds up as Excelsior’s mole is really no surprise when one considers how disdainful he has been of the whole affair from the beginning.

Best of all, Vaughan manages to tie up enough questions from this six­issue story arc to leave a good taste in readers’ mouths while dangling enough new questions before them to have them salivating for Runaways #7. I give the entire run of this title my highest recommendation.