Deadly class

Review by Booklist Review

Teenager Marcus Lopez is a homeless drifter with nothing to live for out on the streets of 1980s San Francisco. But due to his mysterious and murderous past, he is recruited by an underground school that trains its students in the deadly arts of assassination. He soon finds out, however, that although the curriculum is vastly different, all the classic high-school drama remains. Marcus grapples with various cliques, fitting in with his new friends, stopping bullies, and vying for the affection of two different girls, all while completing his deadly education. Remender's story is a twisted mix of John Hughes-inspired '80s high-school drama and Quentin Tarantino-style drug-fueled violence. Surprisingly, its best moments come when these jaded characters show how vulnerable they truly are, bringing this over-the-top story back to reality. Craig's use of heavy shading and minimal detail work evokes a sleek pop art quality helped along by moody, dramatic splashes of bright color. A good start to a wicked series.--Blenski, Peter Copyright 2014 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.

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Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

Built on the comic book trope of a secret school for gifted youngsters a la X-Men, and mixing in John Hughes' high school clique cliches, Remender's self-described "memoir of sorts wrapped in the guise of a crime thriller" ends up not being much of either. The year is 1987, and young Marcus Lopez Arguello is homeless and suicidal following the death of his parents. The cops are chasing him for a mysterious crime, but he's rescued at the last minute by a one-man-army-of-a-teen-girl cliche who recruits him to a secret high school that trains assassins. At first, the book to explores the society and intrigue of the school, but this is abandoned for more gratuitous thrills, soon moving to the depressing murder of a homeless man for a homework assignment, then sidetracking into a pointless drug-fueled murder trip to Las Vegas. Craig's appealing artwork is decompressed and crisp, and aided by Lee Loughridge's European-style color palette. Remender (Black Science) attempts commentary on the Reagan era, but ends up absorbing the decade's cynicism with a callousness that offers solace neither to his characters nor to his readers. (Aug.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

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Review by Library Journal Review

Creators Remender (Black Science), Craig (Batman), and Loughridge (Fear Agent) deliver an incredibly fun read about a secret school devoted to training only those with the potential to be world-class assassins. Set in 1987, the story features Marcus Lopez, a homeless teen who doesn't know what to do or who to turn to until he's offered a chance to attend Kings Dominion Atelier of the Deadly Arts. Once there and having difficulty mingling with the cliques, Marcus finds his true home in a group of others who are rejected and gathers these misfits. Misfit assassins-to-be. Remender's writing is exceptional, especially among the company of students. He even winks to the reader when one of the characters talks about John Hughes movies, as he seems to be influenced by these films. The illustration by Craig and Loughridge terrifically bounces between shades of blue and gray to orange and yellow. The art also effectively shows the fluid motion of the characters. Verdict Deadly Class is a solid read for those who want a combination of Mark Millar's Wanted and Harry Potter with Garth Ennis's (Preacher) style. For fans of stories of espionage, spies, assassins, and high school awkwardness.-Ryan Claringbole, Coll. Lib., Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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