Written by: Rick Remender
Art by: Wes Craig
Publisher: Image
Rick Remender and Wes Craig deliver a startling conclusion to the second arc on their violence-infused, angst-ridden, coming of age story that happens to feature deadly assassins.
Deadly Class #11 excels in finally delivering the end-note on Marcus’ ongoing feud with the antagonistic gang of hillbillies that has roused his attention. One of the best aspects of this series has remained it’s supporting cast and this issue is no exception. Some of the best character moments this time around have little to do with Marcus actually being present and instead how the supporting cast interacts with each other based on his actions and wrongdoings. Saya and Maria’s conflict remains one of the driving forces of this second arc and is one of the highlights of this issue for their dialogue remains organic and visceral in the face of all the destruction surrounding them. The fight scenes present in this issue, between our main group of assassins and the unstable rednecks, has a very palpable feel and while it is stylized, it is not unrealistic in any sort of way.
This is due to the realism that Rick Remender’s scripts bring to the table brought to life by Wes Craig’s pencils. While violence is a big part of this issue (and the book as a whole), it never feels gratuitous and each punch, stab, and slice has meaning and impact behind it, both in the script and the art. One thing that has been a staple of this series thus far has been Wes Craig’s interesting panel layouts and while they are always welcome for they bring a vivaciousness to every page, they remained distracting and hard to follow when the action became too chaotic. Another thing that may take a prospective reader out of this book lies in the unlikeability of many of the main characters. Remender portrays each character as realistic as possible, warts and all, but at times they can feel hard to root for, especially as they stab a myriad of rednecks (and each other) in the back.
Deadly Class still remains one of my favorite books on the stands, however. Our morally grey protagonists (while hard to root for) remain as compelling as ever as their tensions and problems seem to create a colossal web of inescapability. I, for one, will still be eager to continue the adventures of Marcus and friends in April when Deadly Class starts it’s third arc.
