Old Lace (comics)

Old Lace
Old Lace and Gertrude Yorkes. Artwork by Jo Chen.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Runaways vol. 1 #2 (August, 2003) (July, 2003)
Created by	Brian K. Vaughan Adrian Alphona
In-story information
Team affiliations	Runaways
Abilities	A genetically engineered Deinonychus, razor-sharp claws.

Old Lace (often nicknamed as OL^[1]) is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics award-winning series Runaways. She was created by Brian K. Vaughan & artist Adrian Alphona and debuted attacking the other characters in Runaways vol. 1 #2.^[2] Old Lace was given her name by Gertrude Yorkes after she had taken the code name Arsenic, making the pair Arsenic and Old Lace, which is a reference to a movie of the same name.^[2] Old Lace had originally belonged to Gert's parents. The dinosaur was genetically engineered to obey all of Gertrude's commands,^[3] meaning whenever Gert thought or felt something, so would the dinosaur.^[3] Initially believed to be a Velociraptor, she is later correctly identified as a Deinonychus by Victor Mancha. Due to the psychic link that they share, Gertrude and Old Lace share emotions and physical pain such that if Old Lace had a cut, or was injured (which is often), Gert would have to endure her pain.^[4] After the death of Gert, the psychic link was transferred to Chase Stein.^[4]

Old Lace is known for being the only unique regular dinosaur character in the Marvel Universe.^[4]

Fictional character biography

Initial appearance

Old Lace was genetically engineered in the 87th century, the project being commissioned by Dale and Stacey Yorkes, the parents of Gertrude.^[4] At the parents request, the designer also put in several character traits which included a tele-empathic bond with Gertrude as well as being incapable of harming any of her immediate family,^[4] as discovered when Gertrude orders Old Lace to attack her parents and Old Lace refuses.^[5] Old Lace was originally intended to be part of Gert's inheritance for when her parents died but Gertrude and the rest of the Runaways stumble upon her while searching the Yorkes' basement for the body of a girl that they had witnessed their parents sacrificing.^[2]

As a Runaway

Old Lace has a telepathic bond with Gert. This lets her feel each others' thoughts and pain, and allows Old Lace to act on Gert's emotions.^[3] Old Lace got her name from Gert Yorkes, who had temporarily been using "Arsenic" as her codename (essentially making the pair Arsenic and Old Lace, after the play and film of the same name). Though Gertrude later dropped the codename after deciding that some things from her parents (such as her real name) were worth keeping, Old Lace's name stuck.^[1] During their final encounter with The Pride Old Lace was briefly under the control of Alex Wilder while Gertrude was unconscious, but Gertrude quickly took control back when she came to.^[6] Seconds before Gert's death, she was able to pass her telepathic link with Old Lace to her boyfriend Chase Stein, since her death would have killed Lace as well via their telepathic link.^[7] Even though Old Lace has a telepathic bond with Chase now,^[2] she has been shown to have some free will. This is first shown when Old Lace attacks a vampire named Topher, despite Gertrude telling her to stop^[8] and again when Chase ties Nico up and Old Lace growls and tries to stop Chase.^[2]

Apparent death

Chase, after his girlfriend's death, has been using Old Lace in a much more angry and aggressive manner, even going so far as to command Old Lace to rip an enemy's throat out; though eventually was called off by Chase after being scolded by Nico.^[4] The Deinonychus later went on to follow Chase but when ordered to hurt Karolina as well as Nico, Old Lace showed her own will by greeting them warmly.^[4]

In Runaways Vol. 3 #11, the first issue written by Kathryn Immonen and drawn by Sara Pichelli, Chase, Nico, Victor and Karolina hold a house prom. An outside source manages to send a UAV flying into the Runaways' Malibu home, in the upstairs living room where Klara and Old Lace lie. Nico, Victor and Karolina rush to save Klara and Old Lace - upon arriving at the top, however, it's revealed that Old Lace had heard the UAV coming but had only enough time to shield Klara with her body. Old Lace succeeds in protecting Klara but dies as a result.^[9]

In issue #13 Molly notices that Old Lace's body is missing.

In #14, Chase sees a girl resembling Gert. Before he runs out onto the street and gets hit by a truck, the girl yells at him to stop. Behind her in the shadows a dinosaur can be seen.

Powers and abilities

Despite being a normal dinosaur she has shown a good level of intelligence. In the first volume Old Lace had followed Gertrude and the group while they were traveling throughout Los Angeles after they discovered the dinosaur in her parents basement. She defeated the super hero Dagger with ease, because of her immunity to her light daggers. She was also useful when they first clashed with the Pride taking down the Stein's and in their second battle when it defeated Mr. Hayes and their last battle with the Pride it was helpful in taking down Karolina's parents. It also should be mentioned on how it took down some of the Wrecking Crew. And while under Chase's leadership it has shown the intelligence in leaving a urine trail to be found on purpose and maneuvering on the side of a building to save Chase's life by sliding down the wall with its claws.

Old Lace's claws are also shown to be incredibly sharp, to a point where she can break through and hold onto a wall.^[10]

Relationship with other Runaways

Gertrude

Main article: Gertrude Yorkes

Gert discovered that she had a telepathic bond to Old Lace when the dinosaur halted from attacking the Runaways because Gert yelled out "NO!" in fear.^[3] In one of the Runaways' early encounters with the Pride, Gert also discovered she had an empathic bond to Old Lace when she experienced the same pain Old Lace felt.^[3] Gert's telepathic bond to Old Lace allowed her to directly communicate with the dinosaur and command it to do anything she wished. The bond worked both ways, enabling Old Lace to transfer her thoughts directly to Gert, but Old Lace could not give commands to Gert in the same fashion. Old Lace was unconditionally loyal to Gert, even to the point of fighting against the team; Old Lace once lashed out at Nico without Gert's orders when Gert and Nico had their brief falling out.^[11] Gert and Old Lace's empathic bond allows them to share more than just thoughts, but physical pain as well. If Gertrude were to be hurt, Old Lace would feel the pain and vice versa.^[12] This is the reason why in Runaways volume 2, issue 7, Gert refuses to fight Swarm because she is allergic to bee stings and posits that even one sting on her could end the both of them.^[13]

Chase

Main article: Chase Stein

At the moment of Gertrude's death, she transfers her psychic link with Old Lace to her boyfriend Chase.^[14] From this moment, Old Lace becomes loyal to Chase. Chase uses Old Lace much more aggressively then Gertrude did, ordering her to rip an enemy's throat out.^[4] However, Old Lace does not follow Chase's order quite as well as she followed those of Gert. Old Lace sometimes protests and Chase has to remind her that he is in charge of her now.^[15] Just as with Gertrude, the psychic link with Chase shares the same disadvantage in that if either is injured, they will both share the pain.^[16]

Alex

Main article: Alex Wilder

Alex was the original leader of the Runaways. He learned of Old Lace's existence before even Gertrude and masterminded a plan for her to stumble upon Old Lace seemingly accidentally.^[6] During the final battle with The Pride, Gertrude tells Old Lace that if anything happens to her, OL should obey Alex's commands. However, Gertrude is unaware that Alex is the teams traitor and is actually working for The Pride. Alex sees to it that Gertrude is knocked out and assumes control over Old Lace. Old Lace follows Alex until Gertrude revives and immediately takes control of Old Lace again and has the dinosaur turn against Alex.^[6]

Other Versions

Old Lace can also be found in the Marvel Zombies vs. The Army of Darkness book. In several panels, the zombified Runaways are feeding upon Old Lace while a group of zombies chases down Blob.^[17]

In honor of "Pet Week", a celebration of all the Marvel Universe animals, several animal debut issues was available for free on Marvel's digital comics.^[18] Runaways #3 (June 2003), Old Lace's debut, was available to read for free on Friday, April 10.^[18]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Runaways: Volume 1, #9
2. ^ ^{a b c d e} Runaways: Volume 1, #2
3. ^ ^{a b c d e} Runaways: Volume 1, #3
4. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} Old Lace
5. ^ Runaways: Volume 1, #5
6. ^ ^{a b c} Runaways: Volume 1, #17
7. ^ Runaways: Volume 1, #16
8. ^ Runaways: Volume 1, #8
9. ^ Runaways Vol. 3 #11
10. ^ Runaways #25, by Joss Whedon
11. ^ Runaways: Volume 2, #15
12. ^ Runaways: Volume 1, #10
13. ^ Runaways: Volume 2, #7
14. ^ Runaways: Volume 2, #18
15. ^ Runaways: Volume 2, #23
16. ^ Runaways: Volume 2, #20
17. ^ Marvel Zombies/Army of Darkness #2
18. ^ ^{a b} "Check-in every day and read a digital comic featuring your favorite Marvel pets for free!". Marvel.com. 2009-04-06. http://www.marvel.com/news/comicstories.7514.Pet_Week~colon~_Digital_Comics_Update. Retrieved 2009-04-06. 

External links

• Marvel Page on the Runaways
• Marvel Page on Arsenic (Gertrude) and Old Lace