Writer: Rick Remender
Artist: Wes Craig
Colorist: Lee Loughridge
Letterer: Rus Wooton
My Thoughts;
Recently I have had to reduce my list, I found I was buying more than I could read, and also several comics I wasn't really enjoying. Deadly Class caught my attention when announced at the Image Expo last year and with a lot of positive feedback from a member of staff at my local comic store I thought I will give it a go. Rick Remender is certainly one of the best writers around right now and having enjoyed the work I have read by him, Secret Avengers, Venom, Uncanny X-Force, Captain America and Uncanny Avengers, along with a few of his creator owned comics there was really no reason not to pick up Deadly Class #1.
Remender has teamed up with Wes Craig and Lee Loughridge on art duties for the title. Wes Craig is a very promising new talent who has already produced work for two of DC's top level characters, Superman and Batman, in Batman Annual #2 and in Adventures of Superman #10. Although his style from that issue to his work in Deadly Class is very different and certainly a step forward, his inventive layouts and use of panels are used perfectly to tell the story. The use of dynamic diagonal panels during the action scenes, layered panels to help portray the chaos during the chase. Also his character work and facial expressions do a great job of illustrating the emotion in the scenes. Loughbridges colours are beautiful and really compliment Craig's work. His use of flat colours, and layering of different shades does a great job of creating depth without having to use gradient colour. My favourite panels are the chase seen coloured in red, catching my eye and immediately making me realise the danger the characters are in.
The three of these creators work perfectly together to introduce the characters and the story. Remender's writing as always is easy to follow and engaging. Introducing the main character, Marcus Lopez, through the use of his journal was a great way to learn about the character even though his back story is harrowing. The characters situation grabs my attention straight away and I want to know how he has got into the position he is in. As we journey with the character through the months, alongside his journal you learn more about the character up until the point where his past catches up with him and we are finally introduced to the other main cast of Deadly Class.
After being introduced to the character comes my favourite part of the comic the arrival of one of the students of "Kings Dominion School of the Deadly Arts" as she saves him from the cops and the superbly illustrated action sequences grab my eyes darting from panel to panel as she systematically saves Marcus and takes down the authorities chasing him. Whether Marcus considers her arrival as positive after he witnesses her kill a cop and then he gets kidnapped. We are finally introduced to the rest of the cast and there teacher. After initially rejecting being offered the opportunity to become the World's greatest assassin, would you really jump at the opportunity? He is persuaded by the female character who saved him to join and attend the school and as we are introduced to the rules of joining we are journeyed to the secret location of the school.
In this one issue Remender and his team have done a great job of introducing us to Marcus Lopez and also introducing the school and setting up the world that I will certainly now be entering each month an issue is released. Remender continues to produce great work, even with such a heavy work load, and with all his other titles currently being released this is certainly going to be a great year for the writer. Wes Craig and Lee Loughridge have combined to create a partnership that could rival and the formidable David Aja and Matt Hollingsworth, and I look forward to opening the next issue and seeing what the two have produced.
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