Okay, if you guys can't even decide on a costume, I'm not going to sing our new theme song! 
- —Molly Hayes[src]
History
Origins
Like the other original Runaways, Molly Hayes was born after her parents and the other members of the Pride decided to pass on their inheritance from the Gibborim to their children.[5] Molly's parents, Gene (a doctor) and Alice Hayes (a speech therapist), had telepathic powers.[6][5] At birth, Molly's parents tested her for the presence of an X-Gene, but the tests results were negative.[7]
Runaways
Along with Karolina Dean, Molly was not present to witness her parents and the Pride sacrifice Destiny Gonzales for the Ritual of Blood.[8] She was also left out of the groups subsequent meeting at Griffith Observatory.[9] The Runaways' last stop before going into hiding was rescuing Molly. After narrowly escaping their parents, and taking refuge in The Hostel, Gert suggested taking on new codenames to start over without the influence of their parents. Molly wanted to be named Princess Powerful, but Chase instead dubbed her Bruiser.[1]
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Molly reasserting her codename
Molly thought that running away was a great adventure, and she was excited about becoming a real superhero and even made a costume. Molly has been a longtime admirer of superheroes, and even planned on one day joining the X-Men and marrying Wolverine.[10] Molly also owns a plush Doop doll[11][12] and loves Dazzler's music.[13]
Molly was the only Runaway to truly miss her parents,[14][15] and had to be continually reminded that her parents were super-villains. Chase Stein and Molly began to develop a big-brother/little-sister relationship.[14] Molly later developed a similar sibling relationship with Speed from the Young Avengers much to Chase's annoyance.[16][17]
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Molly bonding with the Young Avenger Speed
When facing off with the Pride in Marine Vivarium, it was Molly that destroyed the sacrifice container freeing Destiny Gonzales' soul.[18]
After narrowly escaping the destruction of the Marine Vivarium, the Runaways were immediately apprehended by Captain America[18] and placed into foster care. Molly was picked up by a local branch of the X-Corporation.[19] Weeks later after a text message from Karolina, the Runaways reconvened at the Griffith Observatory. Together they decided to retrieve Old Lace and the Leapfrog, and run away again.[20]
Molly was always excited to bring new recruits onto the team,[10][21][13][22] but sometimes lacked some of the social nuances of young adults.[19][13]
X-Men
During a trip to New York City to help Cloak, Molly met her idol, Wolverine. However, she quickly became annoyed with him resulting her punching him hard enough to propel him out of a church window.[23] This ended her crush on Wolverine.
Molly is one of the 198 mutants to retained their abilities after M-Day.[23] Because of their severe depletion of the mutant population, the X-Men tracked down the Runaways to recruit Molly to be trained at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. A brawl ensued, and in the end, the X-Men agreed to allow Molly to remain with her friends.[24]
Molly once encountered the Beast at the La Brea Tar Pits and the two discussed extinction. When Beast explained that mutantkind was heading in that direction Molly stormed off, calling him a depressing jerk. The two were able to reconcile when the Beast told her that, despite this, she should try to do as much as possible so she could be remembered.[25]
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Molly touring Cerebro with Wolverine and the Stepford Cuckoos
After the X-Men relocated to San Francisco, Molly began complaining of the psychic call sent out to all mutants.[26] Molly was able to tour Graymalkin Industries, but ultimately again declined the X-Men's offer in favor of remaining with her friends.[27]
Growing Up
During a fight with Dragoness, Molly was knocked unconscious and awoke to find that she had been kidnapped by the Provost, who used children to commit thefts. Fortunately, Molly was able to organize her fellow captives, defeated the Provost, and returned home.[15]
Molly took Gert's death hard. When she began receiving ominous direction from a disembodied voice, she believed it was Gert aiding her from beyond the grave.[12] In fact, it was Alex Wilder trying to redeem himself and escape from Hell.[28]
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Molly punishing the Punisher
During their trip to 1907, Molly was extremely excited at the prospect of recruiting Klara Prast, a young girl roughly Molly's age with the gifts of botanopathy and chlorokinesis.[22] Upon returning to the present, Klara and Molly became best friends.[29][17][30]
Molly accompanied the Runaways when the aided Daken take down Marcus Roston.[31]
Avengers Academy
When Chase started to sense that Old Lace was still alive, the Runaways followed the trail straight to the Avengers Academy campus. When Justin Seyfert detected the Ultron tech within Victor and X-Genes in Molly and Klara, the Runaways were attacked. The fighting ceased and they made an effort to recover Old Lace. Much to the Runaway's joy, they found Old Lace alive and well. They then came into conflict with the Academy again as their plans to force Klara and Molly to stay were revealed. Ultimately, Dr. Pym agreed to allow the girls to remain with the Runaways as long as they checked in regularly and took a robotic tutor for Molly and Klara.[32]
When Nico and Chase disappeared with little notice,[33] Molly became very concerned. She somehow knew they had been kidnapped and was worried for Old Lace's health. Dr. Pym agreed to look into the matter, but unfortunately came up empty-handed.[34]Attributes
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Powers
Molly is a second-generation mutant, and has demonstrated the following abilities:
- Superhuman Strength: The upper limits of her powers have never been tested. Molly is seen toppling monsters as large as skyscrapers (albeit while supercharged with magic), tunneling through miles of rock and lift a car with ease.[1]
- Invulnerability: Molly has some level of invulnerability, though she is not invincible.[21]
- Bioluminescence: When Molly's strength increases, her eyes glow pink. Sometimes, she also emits a pink aura. This is a similar power signature to both her parents.[7]
Weaknesses
- Exhaustion: Molly's strength rapidly drains her endurance, often causing her to fall asleep after using her strength.
Paraphernalia
Equipment
- Karolina's Medical Alert Bracelet (formerly)
Transportation
- Chase Stein's Van (formerly)
- Leapfrog (formerly)
- Steinbus (formerly)
Notes
- Molly was 11-years-old during her initial appearance in Runaways #1, 12-years-old after the Second Coming in Uncanny X-Men: The Heroic Age #1, and in Avengers Undercover #1, Chase mentioned Molly had recently celebrated a birthday making her 13-years-old.
- Writer Rainbow Rowell also stated she was 13 in Runaways Vol 5 during an interview.
Some of Molly's various hats
Trivia
- Molly is known for various ridiculous animal hats.[12]
- Molly's name is taken from creator Brian K. Vaughan's sister, Molly Hayes Vaughan.
- Molly sleeps with a plush Doop doll.[11][12]
- Molly is the only character who appeared in every issue of Runaways during Brian K. Vaughan's tenure on the title.
- Molly is a fan of the X-Men's singer Dazzler's music.[13]
- She told Xavin she has a picture of Northstar on her wall, as a way of explaining she has no problem with homosexuality.[37]
- She describes the group as having Shadowcatted when they phase through a roof.[38]
- The X-Men have tried to recruit Molly twice: once immediately after M-Day[24] and again after relocating to San Francisco.[27]
- Molly really enjoys Disneyland.[15][4]
See Also
- 119 appearance(s) of Molly Hayes (Earth-616)
- 6 appearance(s) in handbook(s) of Molly Hayes (Earth-616)
- 7 minor appearance(s) of Molly Hayes (Earth-616)
- 3 mention(s) of Molly Hayes (Earth-616)
- 1 mention(s) in handbook(s) of Molly Hayes (Earth-616)
- 272 image(s) of Molly Hayes (Earth-616)
- 13 quotation(s) by or about Molly Hayes (Earth-616)
- 1 item(s) used/owned by Molly Hayes (Earth-616)
Links and References
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Runaways #6
- ↑ Runaways (Vol. 2) #16
- ↑ Runaways (Vol. 2) #18
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Runaways (Vol. 5) #5
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Runaways #13
- ↑ Runaways #3
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Runaways #5
- ↑ Runaways #1
- ↑ Runaways #2
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Runaways #8
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Runaways (Vol. 2) #15
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Runaways (Vol. 2) #23
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Runaways (Vol. 2) #19
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Runaways #7
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Runaways (Vol. 2) #13
- ↑ Civil War: Young Avengers and Runaways #2
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Secret Invasion: Runaways/Young Avengers #3
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Runaways #17
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Runaways (Vol. 2) #7
- ↑ Runaways #18
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Runaways (Vol. 2) #1
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 Runaways (Vol. 2) #28
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Runaways (Vol. 2) #12
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 Free Comic Book Day (Vol. 2006) #X-Men Runaways
- ↑ Uncanny X-Men: The Heroic Age #1
- ↑ Uncanny X-Men #499
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 Runaways (Vol. 3) #10
- ↑ Runaways (Vol. 2) #24
- ↑ Runaways (Vol. 2) #30
- ↑ Runaways (Vol. 3) #1
- ↑ Daken: Dark Wolverine #18–19
- ↑ Avengers Academy #27–28
- ↑ Avengers Arena #1
- ↑ Avengers Arena #13
- ↑ X-Men: The 198 Files #1
- ↑ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z #5
- ↑ Runaways (Vol. 2) #22
- ↑ Runaways (Vol. 2) #26
- ↑ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z #5
- ↑ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Vol 1 5