Deadly Class

Rick Remender, Wes Craig and Lee Loughridge’s “Deadly Class” 7 is less flashy than some of their previous issues, which is not to say this book is quiet, but it’s certainly at a point where the book can breathe — but only a bit. There’s a wonderful ebb and flow to this issue as it seethes with danger both present and not yet realized. Reeling from the traumatic (and drug induced) events of their road trip, the story jumps forward in time as Marcus and his friends are all trying very hard to pretend that everything is normal. Marcus and Maria’s relationship has been turned up to ten (in all ways good and bad) and everyone is just trying to get back to what passes for normal in a school for assassins. This probably counts as a quiet issue of “Deadly Class” — while there’s nothing inherently quiet about it, it’s also not an awesome surreal bloodbath. Remender does a great job of introducing (and further developing) some truly terrifying antagonists, which Craig magnifies a thousand fol

Rick Remender, Wes Craig and Lee Loughridge’s “Deadly Class” #4 finds our protagonists on a bonding road trip off to kill the dad of one kid, and naturally, to pick up cheap drugs to sell to their classmates upon their return. Obviously this turns into an acid trip gone horribly — and hilariously — wrong. Remender’s placement of the road trip in the story is wise, because it’s an awesome chance to have these characters bond in fun, and soon to be much less fun, circumstances. Though this particular issue is almost entirely a hilarious romp, there is evil lurking just outside the edges of our anti-heroes’ mindless adventure. In fact, Remender actually starts the book in the police station, with our primary anti-hero, Marcus, unable to remember the previous events and covered in blood. It all means something, not just from a wonderful character development point of view, but also because badness is absolutely afoot and Remender raises the stakes appropriately throughout. Though Reme

“Deadly Class” #2 by Rick Remender and Wes Craig follows Marcus around during his first couple of days in Kings Dominion Atelier of the Deadly Arts, AKA the high school for assassins. After Marcus’ rescue and enrollment in the debut issue, “Deadly Class” settles into cookie-cutter lines as soon as Marcus sets foot on the school grounds. From its hidden location to its overwrought reception of Marcus, Kings Dominion falls into all of the tropes of a generic “new kid within grade school cliques” dynamic, with few if any deviations from stereotype. Remender begins “Deadly Class” #2 by showing how Marcus holds himself apart from his new schoolmates, just as he was separated from the other kids at his old boy’s school. Although he dismisses most of the other kids as poseurs, his own disaffected loner role is just as predictable and full of bravado. Equally predictable are the other characters introduced by name. There are two potential love interests: Maria, who seems eager to get to

Homeless, alone and plagued by an as-yet-mysterious past, Marcus Lopez aimlessly wandered the streets of San Francisco for months until a police chase delivered him right into the hands of Saya, a pupil at Kings Dominion School of the Deadly Arts. Rick Remender and Wes Craig spend a good amount of time fleshing out their protagonist in their debut of “Deadly Class,” but the issue is not without its fair share of action and intrigue. “Deadly Class” #1 makes a strong showing with its compelling exposition, dynamic layouts and dark, gritty edge. “Deadly Class” #1 contains a story very different from the one teased in solicits, but that doesn’t make the issue any less effective. Instead of diving right into the action, Remender pulls back and introduces readers to Marcus one moment at a time, using a diary to expand on his character and develop his voice. This is a great device that not only provides a reasonable explanation for the book’s conversational narrative but also gives a reaso