This book is brutal. Deadly Class is a no holds barred indie book from Image Comics written by Rick Remender and drawn by Wes Craig with rotating inkers to take charge of the colors. The pitch I was given two years ago to read this book before its release was that it was a mix between Naruto and The Hunger Games, but after reading just a bit, it becomes clear that Deadly Class is on its own level and enters new territory that few books are willing test. The series begins in 1987 and is very all-encompassing in that it does an excellent job of characterizing, and getting into the background and motives for every character introduced; that being said the lead protagonist is Marcus, a teenage orphan who lived homelessly on the streets after his parents death until one day, he is granted the opportunity to live and learn in King’s Dominion School for the Deadly Arts. King’s Dominion is an underground high school, hidden away such that no one besides those associated with it know that it is a high school focused on teaching teenage youths the skills needed to become an efficient and respected assassin.
Marcus takes the opportunity to leave the streets, embrace the darkness inside him, and use those skills to accomplish his ultimate motive, which is later revealed in the story. While the story is centered on Marcus, Rick Remender does a stupendous job making you feel connected to all the characters that inhabit King’s Dominion, and also does an incredible job of crushing your heart at every turn. This is a violent book. It’s vulgar, it’s uncensored, and makes the world feel real. From the classic music references, to the blood and language, to the typical attitudes coupled with the inner truths that each student holds, this book practically forces you to grow attached and physically feel every scene of panic and those of dark silence. What’s more is that the book embraces the reality of being a high school student in the realest of ways whether it be studying, drugs, sex, drama, curiosity or anything you can think of, it is all tackled head on and excellently so. While I typically cannot stand watching anything involving high school drama, this book is intended to be read by an older audience and every moment that would otherwise feel like a cliché is done genuinely and brings you closer to the story rather than alienate us.
While what was mentioned above typically doesn’t sound as something older audiences might enjoy, you can take my word as well as that of countless others, that this book is actually intended for you. It’s heavy on political themes, and the characters are smart, calling out the injustices that existed and continue to exist three decades later in casual conversation. Remender has actually spoken about his past and talked about the difficult youth he had, where he and his friends dealt first-hand with the travesties that scar a person for life. These real life experiences translate smoothly into the dark experiences that these students hold and the adventures that unfold in their story. It makes each moment, even those that feel unimportant, true- capable of making you smile, grimace, weep, and be afflicted.
Besides the excellent writing, the art in this book is some of the greatest I have ever seen. It can look rather rough, sketchy and a tad simple at times, but it’s rugged looks and bold colors make the book pop and it suits the feel of the overarching story beautifully. Wes Craig does a phenomenal job with facial expressions as well, something that must be highlighted. I have read too many books where faces that try to portray emotion are just too forced, awkward or incomplete. Every facial expression branded the same emotions the characters felt onto me, and it’s what made this emotional rollercoaster of a book feel complete. I can’t imagine anyone taking the place of Wes Craig and his contributions in forming the plotline with Remender are duly noted. As a side note, I also want to thank the creators for including a letter feedback section at the end of the book. I love comics, but often times I feel disconnected from the people and process behind the books. To me, a letter page is almost mandatory in making the experience personal, and helping readers get a taste of the people behind the development. Rick Remender and Wes Craig both accept and read letters from fans, print some of them on the back few pages of each issue, and respond thoughtfully with energy and enthusiasm. Plus, they love to react to the issue you are reading and tease what lies ahead. I genuinely thank them for this and doing everything to interact with fans and make us feel at home.
Deadly Class does not believe in tropes. It does not care about your feelings, who you love, your ideologies or beliefs. Deadly Class is real. It brings to what would otherwise seem like a fictional world, truth. It’s flooded with themes and dialogue of hate, love, racism, justice, pain, achievement, etc. It doesn’t care what you want to happen, because its goal is for you to see the mirror image of the world we live in and the lives we all lead, in one form or another. It tells you what would actually happen in King’s Dominion School of the Deadly Arts, and it’s something you will unwillingly come to love.
Deadly Class is an indie comic book written by Rick Remender and drawn by Wes Craig, published by Image Comics. You can find the individual issues of this title in any local comic shop or online retailer. Similarly, you can also collect and read the trade paperbacks that compile several issues into a single volume. It begins with Deadly Class: Reagan Youth. To find out more about Deadly Class or Image Comics you can visit their official page at: https://imagecomics.com/comics/series/deadly-class .
