Posted in: Comics, Image, Review | Tagged: action, Deadly Class, image comics, Jordan Boyd, rick remender, Wes Craig

First Impressions: Deadly Class Is Daunting but Rewarding [#34 Review]

For those who didn't catch my initial First Impressions Review of Gasolina #8, this is a slightly different variety of review. My First Impressions reviews will be for comic series that have been going on for more than five issues, whether it be mini, maxi, or ongoing — and this issue (in this case #34) is the first one in the series I've picked up. To add to that, I haven't read up on the plot or events of the series up to this point, which will factor more into my analysis as opposed to previous times where I've just tried to catch up on what's going on.

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This issue of Deadly Class is complete mayhem, with Quan and Maria trapped at the mercy of a squad of Yakuza assassins. Maria manages to escape after threatening Quan, whom promises to hold off the Yakuza. Elsewhere, Brandy is under attack by Yakuza soldiers too, and Viktor is in the process of beating Marcus to death.

This was a daunting issue of Deadly Class on which to start, admittedly. There is a lot of chaos and violence, and the sides of the conflict are based upon what the reader would already know from previous issues. Even the recap doesn't clear up everything.

That said, the character interactions make for distinct and compelling reading, and the intense nature of everything makes it easy to get sucked in.

Not knowing the backdrop to the intense emotion of Deadly Class does take away from any investment a reader could stockpile. That doesn't mean its impossible to get attached — I certainly did — but it's far from what someone with a firm grasp on the plot could get from the comic.

Wes Craig's artwork is gritty, kinetic, and wonderfully gory. The fight scenes are gloriously realized, and each action is easy to follow, which is something many action-centric comics can't boast these days. Jordan Boyd's color art is a nicely saturated, with the lighter shades being oppressively so and the darker shades being dower.

Deadly Class #34 was an intimidating but ultimately rewarding introductory issue for the readers. Without further research, one may not get a solid understanding of the plot, but the recap does help clarify some of it. In any case, I wouldn't recommend this as your first Deadly Class issue, I recommend it to those who follow the series and checking out this title.

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