Show takes time before revealing its true intention

Initially, very little is what it seems in “Marvel’s Runaways.”

The 10-episode show, whose first three chapters premiere today on Hulu, at first appears to be just a few swear words above Disney Channel fare for teenagers.

The show involves six Los Angeles teens from wealthy families who used to be close when they were younger but haven’t been since the death of Amy, the sister of Nico Minoru (Lyrica Okano).

Nico is a Goth-tinged loner, Alex Wilder (Rhenzy Feliz) is a nerdy four-eyes, Chase Stein (Gregg Sulkin) is a most-likely-to lacrosse jock, Gert Yorkes (Ariela Baer) is a political activist with purple hair, Molly Hernandez (Allegra Acosta) was adopted by Gert’s parents after her own parents died, and Karolina Dean (Virginia Gardner) is the serene and beautiful daughter of Leslie Dean (Annie Wersching), a former actress who leads a cultlike religion called Gibborim.

If you know your Marvel Universe, you’re somewhat, but not fully, ahead of the game regarding how intentionally misleading the first episode of “Runaways” is.

The six former friends reunite because they don’t trust their parents. Well, what teenager does, right? These kids, though, might have good reason not to trust their parents.

Viewers are right there with them, especially in regard to Leslie and her creepy cult. And who does she keep hidden in her all-white fortress?

Nico’s mom, Tina (Brittany Ishibashi), is a tyrannical and coldblooded lawyer. Chase’s dad, Victor (James Marsters), never misses an opportunity to call his son inadequate and treats his wife, Janet, (Ever Carradine) like a servant. Alex’s folks (Ryan Sands and Angel Parker) are unnecessarily controlling and distrustful of their son.

Bit by bit, the show’s creators, Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, pull planks of predictability out of their creation. We gradually learn more about what the parents are up to.

There are other surprises, too — including what Gert’s latter-day hippie folks (Kevin Weisman and Brigid Brannagh) are keeping as a pet and some things about the teen sleuths that they themselves don’t yet know.

Augmented by a strong cast, “Runaways” maintains an appealing balance of accessible familiarity and savvy sense of surprise. Mostly, the show is fun without being weighed down by the sense of self-importance that sometimes defines Marvel shows.