Created by writer Brian K. Vaughan and artist Adrian Alphona, Karolina Dean first appeared in Runaways #1 (July 2003).

[6] Karolina Dean appears in the Hulu / Marvel Cinematic Universe television series Runaways, portrayed by Virginia Gardner.

Christina Strain, the second colorist for Runaways, colors Dean in lighter tones, using primarily blue, yellow, and pink with a glitter-like effect.

[13] Daughter of renowned Hollywood stars,[14] Karolina Dean is the only older Runaway who did not see her parents kill an innocent girl as a sacrifice.

[19] In early issues of Runaways, volume 2, Karolina Dean, under Nico Minoru's command, becomes more comfortable with her extraterrestrial identity,[20] and hints at being a lesbian.

#2, Karolina Dean is kidnapped by Henry Gyrich in his "aliens go home" policy, using pheromones targeting her Majesdanian physiology.

After the Runaways disbanded, Karolina Dean moved on to a happy college life, overcoming her past anxieties with therapy.

Karolina Dean fit back in seamlessly but struggled to balance her classes and relationship with Julie Power.

[36] When Doctor Doom attacked during Power's visit, their differing views on the Runaways' methods caused tension.

To drown her sorrows in sugar over Dean ignoring her once again, Power accidentally ate an enchanted cupcake, turning her into a thirteen-year-old.

[44] In her natural Majesdanian form, she is luminous, iridescent, and visually fluid, often depicted with waves of rainbow-like light emanating from her body,[45] which Stein described as "a burning painting.

[49] Initially, Dean required a custom-made medic alert bracelet of alien metal to revert to her human guise.

[26] Peyton Hinckle of ComicsVerse referred to Karolina Dean as a "fan favorite," writing, "Her popularity has grown even more, making her one of the most well-known lesbian characters in the comics industry.

"[50] Deirdre Kaye of Scary Mommy called Karolina Dean a "role model" and a "truly heroic" female character.

[53] Joshua Yehl of IGN said, "Kar wouldn’t be the first gay person to develop feelings for a straight friend, and that’s what makes writer Brian K. Vaughan and artist Adrian Alphona’s depiction of her so authentic.

The reader watches her struggle with her feelings, spiral downward into self-destruction, and rise back up by expressing herself only to hit a new low afterward.

While Kar did not get the reaction she wanted from Nico, she made the same awkward coming out mistakes that countless others have, making this alien girl feel all the more human.

"[54] Keertana Sastry of Bustle expressed interest in seeing a movie featuring Karolina Dean, calling her "freaking cool.

[58] Marvel noted how fans of the show nicknamed the relationship between Karolina Dean and Nico Minoru as "Deanoru.

[64] She descends from a family of exiled royal magistrates whose fear of removing her power dampening bracelet stems from her mother's religious background and work with the cult-like Church of Gibborim, which made Dean a target of ridicule at school.

[65] Over the course of the first season, Dean slowly learns more about her true form and powers and expresses feelings toward Nico Minoru,[66] whom she soon enters a relationship with.