The acid kicks in full stop and pushes “Deadly Class” into its best chapter yet. Remender’s stream of consciousness inner monologue beautifully captures the desperation and enlightenment of a drug trip that just won’t end.
WRITTEN BY: Rick Remender
ART BY: Wes Craig
PUBLISHER: Image
PRICE: $3.50
RELEASE: May 28, 2014
Holy hell, I’m at a complete loss. Wes Craig and Rick Remender team this month to give the seamless expression of an acid trip gone haywire. There is enough here in the character drama to push the emotive chapter to one of the best yet, but the action relentless, too.
The acid has sunk into Marcus’ head and poisoned his brain in the worst way. He sits bathing in the blue light of the television baked into a state of subconscious thought that will soon propel him into a wild ride. Although this drug trips is like most, featuring crazy colors and warped visuals, it rises above any other depiction in any other medium because it captures the pacing of acid.
The intense moments happen in a flash, a blink and you’ll miss it feature from the script and a quick panel set up and payoff from Craig. Yet, the moments of sheer bliss, the tiny moments, like falling out a window are lingered on for far too long. Allowing the inner monologue to take over and smooth everything out. Nothing feels concrete, everything has a wavy quality that doesn’t exactly feel safe, but doesn’t threaten either.
The hectic nature of this issue is bound to get under people’s skin. Yet, it allows Wes Craig to ease into his most comfortable state. His work has always played with paneling and experimented with page layout and this month he goes wild. Whether it’s the flickering blue television panels, or the final showdown in the 7/11 something here will blow you away.
I actually have to be honest when I say “Deadly Class” has been a little hit or miss for me. It never feels like it completely embraces Remender’s wilder side and the overall story always felt left behind. Neither of those criticisms hold water here this month. The creative team has created a seamless expression of an acid trip gone horribly awry and never misses a beat.
The result is a frantically paced comic that never ceases to entertain or invoke awe. This is a master class in comic book storytelling told through the bent lens of heavy hallucination. Every single page is more fun than the last.