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Review: ‘Deadly Class’ #1

Published

10 years ago

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It’s one thing to have superlatively high expectations before delving into an eagerly anticipated series written by the fantastic Rick Remender. But it’s something else when those expectations are exceeded at every turn by the sheer force of talent and passion behind the project. Boasting an exceptionally skilled artistic team comprised of Wesley Craig and Lee Loughridge, Image Comics’ “Deadly Class” hits all the marks with dead-on precision.

WRITTEN BY: Rick Remender
ART BY: Wes Craig
PUBLISHER: Image Comics
PRICE: $3.50
RELEASE: January 22, 2014

Like excerpts from deeply personal journal entries, set against a backdrop of violence and dark themes, “Deadly Class” tells a compelling tale of strife and survival through the troubled eyes of 14-year-old street kid, Marcus Lopez. Our journey begins in 1987, as the author unceremoniously drops us head-first into Marcus’ arduous life on the streets of San Francisco. Reagan’s controversial reign as POTUS is nearing its end, and true to the consequences of his politics, Remender paints a bleak and angry picture of a time plagued by the disenfranchisement of the mentally ill and violent-prone youth.

He writes an exceedingly captivating tale made totally accessible by creating such a raw portrait of a damaged kid, but it isn’t long before the narrative kicks into high-gear with a brilliant show of epic action. Once introducing the mysterious Saya and her eclectic cohorts, Marcus — who is tortured by a cataclysmically devastating event from his past and struggling through the hopelessness of his present — is finally given a sense of direction and belonging in the form of “Kings Dominion School of the Deadly Arts”.

Being a sucker for any works of fiction involving elaborate ‘Extranormal Institutes’ of learning — whether good or evil — my inclination to read Remender’s take on a similar trope had been remarkably strong. And with very little still known about the assassin training academy, my interest is only heightened to an embarrassing degree. There’s something to be said for the author’s ability to keep the mystery alive, while solidifying reader interest for the next issue.

The amazing artwork is a huge selling point for the series. Far be it for me to fully recognize the punk/skate subculture and setting of an 80s era San Francisco, but Wes Craig and Lee Loughridge’s collaborative work allows for a sense of ambience and style that really seems to suit said period in time. Craig’s brilliant pencils and Loughridge’s understated colours provide a thoroughly engaging visual experience from start to finish. It’ll prove quite difficult not to be completely submerged in the illustrated action that effortlessly flows from page-to-page. There’s nothing stiff or unyielding about their impressive knack for depicting high-octane movement. And it’s made entirely effective thanks to the wicked panel layouts that add a sense of exhilarating urgency to Remender’s accelerated narrative. This creative team is a force to be reckoned with, and “Deadly Class” proves to be just as powerful.

4.5 Skulls

Review by – ShadowJayd

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Comics

‘Witchblade’ is Getting Resurrected This Summer in New Comic Series from Top Cow and Image Comics

Published

5 days ago

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April 18, 2024

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Witchblade cover

Witchblade, the popular comic series that initially ran from 1995 to 2015 and launched a TV series, is getting resurrected in a new comic series from Top Cow and Image Comics. It’s set to unleash heavy metal, black magic and blood this summer.

Look for the new Witchblade series to launch on July 17, 2024.

In Witchblade #1, “New York City Police Detective Sara Pezzini’s life was forever fractured by her father’s murder. Cold, cunning, and hellbent on revenge, Sara now stalks a vicious criminal cabal beneath the city, where an ancient power collides and transforms her into something wild, magnificent, and beyond her darkest imaginings. How will Sara use this ancient power, or will she be consumed by it?”

The series is penned by NYT Best-Selling writer Marguerite Bennett (Animosity, Batwoman, DC Bombshells) and visualized by artist Giuseppe Cafaro (Suicide Squad, Power Rangers, Red Sonja). The creative duo is working with original co-creator Marc Silvestri, who is the CEO of Top Cow Productions Inc. and one of the founders of Image Comics. They are set to reintroduce the series to Witchblade’s enduring fans with “a reimagined origin with contemporary takes on familiar characters and new story arcs that will hook new readers and rekindle the energy and excitement that fueled the 90’s Image Revolution that shaped generations of top creators.”

Bennett said in a statement, “The ability to tell a ferocious story full of monsters, sexuality, vision, and history was irresistible.” She adds, “Our saga is sleek, vicious, ferocious, and has a lot to say about power in the 21st century and will be the first time that we are stopping the roller coaster to let more people on. I’ve loved Witchblade since I was a child, and there is truly no other heroine like Sara with such an iconic legacy and such a rich, brutal relationship to her own body.”

“The Witchblade universe is being modernized to reflect how Marguerite beautifully explores the extreme sides of Sara through memories, her personal thoughts, like desire and hunger, in her solitude and when she is possessed by the Witchblade. So, I had to visually intersect a noir True Detective-like world with a supernatural, horror world that is a fantastic mix between Berserk and Zodiac,” Cafaro stated.

Marc Silvestri notes, “This is brand new mythology around Sara, and I can’t wait for you to fall in love with her and all the twists and turns. Discover Witchblade reimagined this summer, and join us as we bring all the fun of the 90s to the modern age and see how exciting comics can be. I can’t wait for you to read this new series.”

Witchblade#1 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, July 17th, for $4.99 for 48 pages. And it’ll come with multiple cover variants.

  • Cover A: Marc Silvestri and Arif Prianto (Full Color)

  • Cover B: Giuseppe Cafaro and Arif Prianto (Full Color)

  • Cover C: Blank Sketch Cover

  • Cover D (1/10): Dani and Brad Simpson (Full Color)

  • Cover E (1/25): Marc Silvestri and Arif Prianto, Virgin Cover (Full Color)

  • Cover F (1/50): J.Scott Campbell (Full Color)

  • Cover G (1/100): Bill Sienkiewicz. (Full Color)

  • Cover H (1/250): Line art by Marc. Virgin Cover, Inks (B/W)

Witchblade #1 will also be available across many digital platforms, including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play.

Witchblade comic panel Witchblade #1 cover image

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