Molly Hayes

• Core Identity: Molly Hayes is the super-strong, perpetually optimistic, and youngest founding member of the teenage superhero team, the Runaways, whose mutant abilities manifest as incredible feats of strength and invulnerability, offset by extreme narcolepsy after exertion.
• Key Takeaways:
• Role in the Universe: Often serving as the heart and moral compass of the runaways, Molly provides a childlike, innocent perspective that frequently cuts through the cynicism and trauma of her older teammates. She is a powerful symbol of the mutant experience from a non-X-Man-centric viewpoint. mutants.
• Primary Impact: Molly's story is a powerful exploration of legacy and choice, representing the innocent victims of supervillainy who break free from their parents' evil organization, The Pride, to forge their own, more heroic path. Her journey is about finding a new family and defining oneself outside the shadow of one's heritage.
• Key Incarnations: The fundamental difference lies in her origin: in the Earth-616 comics, she is a mutant, born with the X-Gene that grants her powers. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Runaways television series, she is a mutate, gaining her abilities from exposure to unique, glowing extraterrestrial rocks discovered by her parents.

Molly Hayes first appeared in `Runaways (Vol. 1) #1`, published in July 2003. She was co-created by the acclaimed writer Brian K. Vaughan and the distinctively stylish artist Adrian Alphona. The series was part of Marvel Comics' Tsunami imprint, an initiative aimed at attracting new readers, particularly fans of manga, with fresh, self-contained stories outside the dense continuity of the main Marvel Universe. The creation of the Runaways, and Molly in particular, was a direct response to the superhero genre's established tropes. Vaughan wanted to explore a simple but profound question: what if your parents were supervillains? Molly was conceived as the youngest and most naive member of the group, a counterpoint to the teen angst of her teammates. Initially conceived as a 13-year-old, artist Adrian Alphona's character designs portrayed her as much younger and more innocent, prompting Vaughan to de-age her to 11. This change proved crucial, cementing her role as the team's “little sister” and making the discovery of her parents' evil all the more tragic. Alphona also gave Molly her signature love for quirky, often animal-themed, hats, which became an iconic visual shorthand for her character's personality. The series quickly gained a cult following for its sharp dialogue, complex characters, and deconstruction of superhero archetypes, with Molly Hayes standing out as a fan-favorite for her boundless optimism and devastating power.

The origin of Molly Hayes differs significantly between the primary comic book universe and her live-action adaptation, primarily due to real-world corporate rights management concerning mutants on screen at the time of the show's production.

In the prime Marvel continuity, Molly Hayes is a mutant, born with the latent X-Gene. Her parents, Dr. Gene Hayes and Dr. Alice Hayes, were powerful telepathic mutants themselves. They concealed their own nature and Molly's from the other members of The Pride, the secret cabal of supervillains who controlled Los Angeles. The Pride had a pact with ancient, god-like beings known as the gibborim, offering them an annual human soul in exchange for power and a promise of being saved when the Gibborim eventually cleansed the Earth. Molly's life changed forever on the night of the Pride's annual “charity” event. Along with the other children of the Pride members—alex_wilder, nico_minoru, karolina_dean, gertrude_yorkes, and chase_stein—she spied on her parents, expecting to see a boring adult gathering. Instead, they witnessed their parents, clad in ritualistic robes, sacrificing a young woman. This horrific revelation shattered their world. As the children decided to flee their homes, they began discovering their own inherited powers and technology. Molly's mutant abilities manifested dramatically during their initial escape. When cornered by Cloak and Dagger (who were initially misled into thinking the Runaways were villains), the stress and danger triggered her X-Gene, granting her superhuman strength. She effortlessly punched the ground, causing a minor tremor that stunned their attackers. However, this first major use of her power immediately caused her to fall into a deep, narcoleptic sleep—a biological side effect that would become her greatest weakness. Dubbing herself “Princess Powerful,” Molly joined her friends on the run. She was the most enthusiastic about becoming a superhero, viewing their grim situation through the lens of the comic books she loved. Her innocence, however, did not shield her from the harsh reality of their parents' betrayal. The fight against the Pride was a fight against her own family, a conflict that forced her to mature rapidly despite her young age.

In the Hulu television series `Marvel's Runaways`, the character is named Molly Hernandez and is portrayed by actress Allegra Acosta. Her backstory is significantly altered. In this continuity, Molly is not a mutant, and the Yorkes family—Gert's parents—are her adoptive parents. Her biological parents, Gene and Alice Hernandez, were geologists and members of the Pride who died in a mysterious fire years before the series begins. Molly's powers are not innate. Her parents had discovered a unique, bioluminescent type of rock during an excavation for the Pride. Prolonged exposure to the energy from these rocks, which are tied to the Gibborim's buried vessel, fundamentally altered Molly's DNA, making her a mutate. Her powers include superhuman strength and durability, visually signified by her eyes glowing a golden hue when she uses them. The series begins with Molly feeling like an outsider in the Yorkes household and longing to learn about her birth parents. Her powers begin to manifest uncontrollably, such as when she accidentally bends a steel car door. It is her discovery of a mysterious key and a VHS tape in her parents' old research that leads her to investigate the Pride. She convinces the other kids to snoop on their parents during the annual gathering, leading to the same horrifying discovery of the ritual sacrifice as in the comics. Her journey in the MCU is deeply intertwined with uncovering the truth about her parents' death. She learns that they had discovered the dangerous nature of the Gibborim's energy and planned to expose the Pride, leading to their murder by Leslie Dean, Karolina's mother. This adaptation shifts her motivation from a simple reaction to her parents' evil to a quest for justice for the parents she never knew. The change from “mutant” to “mutate” was a creative decision driven by the fact that 20th Century Fox held the television and film rights to the x-men and all associated “mutant” concepts when the show was produced, preventing Marvel Television from using the term or origin.

Molly's power set is straightforward but immense, making her the physical powerhouse of the Runaways. Her personality is a key element of her character, often acting in direct contrast to her incredible strength.

• Superhuman Strength: Molly possesses vast superhuman strength, the full limits of which are unknown. Her strength is tied to her emotional state, often increasing with her anger or determination.
• Feats of Strength: She has performed numerous incredible feats, including lifting and throwing a multi-ton truck, punching out the side of a building, tunneling through solid rock with her bare hands, and holding her own against powerful beings like the Punisher's battle van and even a version of Thor. She once single-handedly defeated a giant monster that had bested the rest of her team. When wolverine met her, he remarked that her scent reminded him of Hulk, suggesting a similar gamma-like or rage-based power source, though this has never been explicitly confirmed.
• Superhuman Durability/Invulnerability: Molly's body is highly resistant to physical injury. She can withstand impacts that would kill an ordinary human, such as falls from great heights, being hit by vehicles, and direct strikes from other super-powered individuals. Her skin is nearly impenetrable, and she has survived energy blasts and extreme temperatures.
• Key Weakness - Narcolepsy: The most significant drawback to Molly's powers is the extreme fatigue they induce. After performing a major feat of strength, her body's metabolism goes into overdrive, causing her to fall into a deep, almost comatose sleep to recover. The duration of this sleep is proportional to the amount of energy she expended. This weakness makes her a powerful but unreliable combatant, as the team must always be prepared to protect her vulnerable, unconscious form after a battle.
• Personality:
• Innocence and Optimism: Molly is defined by her cheerful and bubbly personality. She sees the world, even their dire situation as runaways, through a lens of adventure and superhero comics. She hates cussing and often tries to enforce a “no-cussing” rule on the team.
• Hero Worship: She is a massive fan of other superheroes, particularly the X-Men and wolverine. Her first meeting with Wolverine, where she punched him out of a church, is an iconic moment. Despite this, he became a mentor figure who gave her the codename “Bruiser.”
• Fierce Loyalty: Beneath her bubbly exterior, Molly is fiercely loyal and protective of her found family, the Runaways. She is often the one to rally the team's spirits and remind them of their moral obligations. She takes betrayal, like Alex Wilder's, very personally.
• Signature Style: Molly is famous for her collection of eccentric and colorful hats, many of which are animal-themed (e.g., a cat hat, an owl hat). This visual quirk underscores her youthful and whimsical nature.

The MCU's Molly Hernandez retains the core power set and personality of her comic counterpart, with some minor adjustments for the live-action medium.

• Superhuman Strength and Durability: Her powers are visually similar to the comics. She can rip car doors off their hinges, punch through concrete walls, and stop moving vehicles. Her durability allows her to be thrown through walls and suffer minimal injury. A key visual difference is that her eyes glow a bright gold color whenever she actively uses her strength, a direct visual link to the extraterrestrial energy source of her powers.
• Power Source: Unlike the comics, her power is not biological in the mutant sense but is derived from the energy of the Gibborim rocks. The series implies that her powers could grow or change with further exposure or understanding of this energy source, but this was left largely unexplored.
• Weakness: The narcolepsy/fatigue is present but is depicted less consistently than in the comics. While she does get tired after using her powers, she rarely falls into the deep, prolonged slumbers that define her comic book counterpart's limitations. This change likely made her a more consistently available character for the fast-paced plotting of a television series.
• Personality:
• Core Traits: The MCU's Molly is still optimistic, loyal, and serves as the team's emotional glue. Her youth and enthusiasm are central to her character.
• Modernized Teen: Her personality is updated for a contemporary setting. She is more actively engaged in social justice and activism, reflecting the concerns of modern teenagers. Her primary emotional arc is not just about escaping evil parents but about discovering her own identity and the history of the birth parents she lost.
• Found Family: Her desire for a true family is even more pronounced due to her status as an adopted child who feels like an outsider. The Runaways become the family she chooses and fights for, giving her a sense of belonging she's always craved.

• Gertrude Yorkes: Gert is unquestionably the most important person in Molly's life. In the comics, they are not related, but Gert quickly assumes the role of a protective, cynical, and loving older sister. She is Molly's fiercest defender and confidante. Gert's death at the hands of Geoffrey Wilder was a deeply traumatic event for Molly, causing her to lose her innocence and forcing her to mature in ways she wasn't ready for. In the MCU, this bond is even more formalized as they are adoptive sisters from the start.
• Chase Stein: Chase fills the role of the goofy, often irresponsible but ultimately caring older brother. He is protective of Molly and is frequently the one to carry her to safety when she falls asleep after using her powers. Their relationship is one of sibling-like affection and occasional exasperation.
• Wolverine (Logan): Molly's absolute hero. She idolizes the X-Men, and Wolverine in particular. When they first met, she was so excited that she punched him through a wall. Despite the rough introduction, Logan developed a soft spot for her, recognizing her immense power and fierce spirit. He gave her the nickname “Bruiser” and offered her a place with the X-Men, showing a level of respect that meant the world to her.
• Victor Mancha: When Victor Mancha, the cyborg “son” of ultron, joined the Runaways, he and Molly formed a quick bond. Both were outsiders with monstrous parental legacies, and they found common ground in their shared experience. Molly was one of the first to trust Victor, and they often acted as the team's youngest members trying to navigate the drama of the older teens.

• The Pride: Molly's primary antagonists are her own parents, Gene and Alice Hayes, and their villainous cabal. The discovery that the people who were supposed to love and protect her were actually cold-blooded killers was the defining trauma of her life. This betrayal is the foundation of the Runaways' entire existence and Molly's personal journey from an innocent child to a self-reliant hero.
• Alex Wilder: The original leader of the Runaways and their ultimate betrayer. Alex's revelation that he was secretly loyal to the Pride all along was a devastating blow to the entire team. For Molly, who trusted him implicitly as the group's de facto leader and big brother figure, the betrayal was a harsh lesson in the nature of good and evil. It shattered her black-and-white view of the world.

• The Runaways: Molly is a founding member and the powerhouse of the team. She is the group's heart, and her presence often prevents the more cynical members from losing their way entirely. The Runaways are not just her team; they are her true family.
• X-Men: Due to her mutant status, Molly has had several interactions with the X-Men. After the events of “Schism,” Wolverine invited her to attend the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning. Molly briefly accepted, hoping to be among her own kind. However, she found the X-Men's constant world-ending crises and militant training overwhelming and ultimately chose to return to the relative simplicity of her family, the Runaways. This stint highlighted that while she is a mutant, her identity is more closely tied to the Runaways than to the larger mutant cause.
• A-Force (Battleworld): During the 2015 `Secret Wars` event, a version of Molly from the amalgamated “Battleworld” was a member of A-Force, the all-female team of protectors for the domain of Arcadia. This older, more battle-hardened version fought alongside heroes like She-Hulk and Captain Marvel, showcasing her potential as a top-tier powerhouse.

This is the foundational story for Molly and the entire team. The plot centers on the six children discovering their parents' secret life as the supervillain group, The Pride. For Molly, this arc is about the violent end of her childhood innocence. She witnesses a ritual murder, learns her parents are evil, and is forced to flee her home. Her mutant powers of super-strength awaken for the first time in a moment of extreme stress, establishing her role as the team's muscle and her critical weakness of narcolepsy. Her decision to name herself “Princess Powerful” perfectly encapsulates her attempt to process her trauma through the familiar language of superhero comics.

During the first superhero `Civil War`, the Runaways are targeted by the pro-registration forces. This storyline forces the team to confront the larger superhero community and its complex moralities. The Young Avengers are sent to apprehend them, leading to a conflict between two ideologically opposed teenage teams. Molly's role is significant as she represents the ultimate counter-argument to the Superhuman Registration Act: a child with immense, uncontrollable power who is a victim, not a threat. Her perspective highlights the absurdity of forcing a child who has been betrayed by all authority figures to register with the government. The event solidifies the Runaways' status as outsiders, unwilling to pick a side in a conflict between adults they don't trust.

Following the “Utopia” storyline, where the X-Men established a new mutant sanctuary off the coast of San Francisco, Molly receives an invitation from Cyclops to join them. Longing to be with “her people,” she briefly leaves the Runaways for Utopia. She finds the militaristic and grim atmosphere under Cyclops's leadership unsettling. Later, she joins Wolverine's more nurturing Jean Grey School but still feels like an outsider. She ultimately realizes that her true family is the Runaways, regardless of shared genetics or powers. This arc is crucial for her character development, affirming that identity is about choice and belonging, not just biology. She is a mutant, but she is a Runaway first.

• Earth-58163 (House of M): In the `House of M` reality created by the Scarlet Witch, mutants are the dominant species. In the New X-Men: Academy X tie-in, a background character who looks identical to Molly Hayes appears as part of a junior S.H.I.E.L.D. training squad called the Hellions.
• Battleworld (Secret Wars, 2015): As mentioned previously, a more mature and seasoned version of Molly was a key member of A-Force, the protectors of the Arcadia domain on Doctor Doom's Battleworld. This version of Molly was fully integrated into a premier superhero team, demonstrating the hero she could become if she fully embraced the wider superhero community. She fought alongside legends and proved herself to be an invaluable asset, showcasing the sheer potential of her powers when not limited by her youth or narcolepsy.
• Video Game Adaptations:
• In `Marvel: Avengers Alliance`, Molly Hayes was a playable hero, classified as a Bruiser. Her abilities in the game were directly inspired by her comic powers, focusing on high-damage attacks that could induce exhaustion debuffs on herself.
• In `LEGO Marvel's Avengers`, she is an unlockable playable character as part of the Runaways DLC pack, allowing players to use her super-strength to solve puzzles and defeat enemies in the classic LEGO game style.

• runaways
• the_pride
• gertrude_yorkes
• brian_k_vaughan
• mutants
• x-men
• Marvel Cinematic Universe

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