Deadly Class Vol 1 Review

Title:	Deadly Class
Contributors:	Rick Remender Wesley Craig
Publisher:	Image
Issue #:	Vol 1
Year:	2014
Content:	Drug Use, Sexuality, Violence

A homeless Marcus Lopez wanders around the bay area homeless during the era Reagan. That is until a police chase lands him in the capable hands of a teen assassin that just-so-happens to be attending the prestigious King's Dominion School of the Deadly Arts. From there we move into an underground high school setting with all the cliques and social stereotypes imagined. And from there it is just a short read to an acid-fueled road trip to Vegas that is rivaled only by Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

This story is filled with many familiar tropes, plots and story arcs, like the secret school for the gifted (can you say Harry Potter or X-Men). The social cliques are a little cliché with latino cliques using words like vato, and redneck cliques being poster children for the aryan nation. It is a little much at times, but what really makes this a special read is the visuals... especially once the kids drop acid in Vegas.

One other aspect that I found enthralling is that Marcus wants to kill Ronald Reagan. This is his sole purpose for accepting the invitation into the school. Marcus holds Reagan's politics responsible for the untimely death of his parents, which following their death landed him in an abusive boys home which he then set on fire killing most of the boys and staff. But one badly burned survivor is seeking revenge against Marcus for his pain and suffering.

All in all this was Yeah! for me. Even though the story and continuity issues really deserves a Meh... I enjoyed the setting of 1987 as this was time I was coming into my own, finding my identity, and realizing just how fucked up people and politics were. Combined with late 80's feeling of the graphics the mood is definitely set for a road trip back in time.