While Remender and Craig do not shy away from the gritty realism depicted in their actions, the cores of their characters are given the same reality as well. Marcus remains an incredibly compelling character for a multitude of reasons. He exists as an obvious cypher for our author and yet is not shown with any sort of pomp or circumstance in his actions. Remender writes him as ahuman, with all of the flaws that come with that title. He is a morally ambiguous character, rejecting the notion of a paragon protagonist and committing some deeds that are reprehensible. However it is important to note that while Marcus' actions may be hard to get behind sometimes, they are the beating, bleeding heart of this story. What he does and why he does them are the real selling point of this comic book and the other incredible characters in their incredibly depicted Assassin School almost act as window dressing in comparison. He isthat good of a character. Read Full Review

Wes Craig turns in fantastic work as is his M.O. Deadly Class #9 is less ultra violent than most issues, but Craig keeps things lively and finds opportunities to sneak in some of his layouts. Lee Loughridge works skillfully with Craig's art, giving the book a mood that's all its own. Read Full Review

Rick Remender again finds just the right blend of back-story, character development and forward progression, his plotting somehow both sporadic and meticulous. Read Full Review

This issue is a breather, but not without adding a few pivotal moments; though Remender is biding his time before Marcus and his crew take on Chester and his gang, he does so by fleshing out their relationships and motivations and still adding in a few surprises at the end. As this arc continues to build its momentum, Deadly Class #9 is a necessary piece in the grand scheme. Read Full Review

Deadly Class is amazing representation of young adults. It’s a profound story that will make you reflect on your teenage years and analyze the mindset of someone who is coming into their own as a person. Insecurities are a devastating circle and there aren’t many other comics that put this on display as well as Deadly Class. Read Full Review

As the issue comes to a close, the series moves back towards its initial issues in tone and focus as it feels more like a reflection on teenage life, high school and impulse. Marcus's decisions in the latter portion of Deadly Class #9 are expected, though still frustrating. Remender manages to keep the progression of the character authentic, leaving most readers understanding of, but annoyed with, Marcus. And it comes in the letters page that readers really don't know much about one of the major characters. Though that shouldn't be a surprise, like Marcus many readers may not have realized just how little they know despite developing an instant trust and fondness of this individual. With that and a tease of the cover for issue 10, the final pages of this issue certainly do well to tease what lies ahead. Read Full Review

A fine edition to the series. Still as crazy as a moonwalking terrapin though. Read Full Review