If you thought that saving yourself from a pure psycho beating you to death was a problem, then how do you feel about saving yourself from a pure psycho that is beating you to death as you continue into a real bad LSD trip? That pretty much sums up what is going on for much of issue six of Rick Remender and Wes Craig’s Deadly Class. The story of a killer, killers actually who are trained at an elite school for the deadly arts. Kind of like Beverly Hills 90210 meet… well… a school where their grades are based on their ability to kill, but with all the cliques and drama of a traditional high school. I know, it’s a damn awesome idea huh? But underneath all the thrilling and killing, we are given entry into a real autobiographical account of Remender’s own life when he was a teen in the 1980s trying to fit into a new school and getting into those crazy adventures that only kids in the 80s could get into (myself included). It has been a healthy mixture of hardcore in your face action, with an undertone of personal desire just to fit in with someone or something. It is, dare I say, a touching account of teen life, fresh with blood, guts, murder, drugs, sex, and adventure.

Alas, this issue completes the first story arc and we will get no more until September 2014, but as far as the wait goes, I think Remender and Craig totally kick ass in finishing this arc and in offering us an opening salvo for the next arc. A new enemy who has been around the periphery finally makes himself known and he looks to be a big nasty. But enough of that, we need to see what will happen to our main hero Marcus as he is getting ruthlessly pummeled by a sadistic boyfriend of one in his clique. What unfolds is nothing short of colossal storytelling with a satisfying and quite real conclusion that you just need to read to truly enjoy it. It is spot on in every way. Once this arc is over, you just know that Marcus and his gang will never be the same again, elite murderers that they are or not.

Craig has continued to dazzle with his incredible art doused with funky colors conveying the LSD fueled vision being presented to Marcus. It continues here, but with a level of brutality that we have only seen minor instances of thus far. No, the violence here is full on and relentless covered to artistic perfection by Craig with Remender’s real and honest wording. This is one hell of an issue.

Deadly Class has been one of my favorite titles for the new year. And after reading this first arc, Remender and Craig appear to show no signs of slowing in this rip roaring wild ride of a comic. September can’t come quickly enough for me.

Score: 5/5

Writer: Rick Remender Artist: Wes Craig Publisher: Image Comics Price: $3.50 Release Date: 6/25/14 Format: Ongoing, Print/Digital