Deadly Class #8 is a tour de force, a terribly beautiful meditation upon pain and depression. Through this outlandish narrative, Remender, Craig, and Loughridge have constructed a story that is emotionally true. It acknowledges what it means to be in pain, what it is like to hide its origins, and the difficulty of seeking and obtaining help. It is does not aim to provide easy answers or solace, but it is a true story. It is authentic in the way that matters most, in reflecting what it is like to be human. In telling that truth, it provides some small opportunity for relief and understanding by showing its scars. Read Full Review

The team behind Deadly Class have managed to definitively capture these emotional fluencies in comic book form to the utmost pinnacle of their craft in this issue. With a premise of teenage assassins from the 80's, writer Rick Remender has manifested a beautifully evocative script filled with cogitative narrations, viscerally poignant dialogue, and cogitative direction. Artist Wes Craig fabricates a symposium of desperate violence, insidious introspection, with galvanized emotion. And colorist Lee Loughridge has enraptured the pages with a complicated subtlety that inarguably evokes the readers sensibilities. Frankly, there is no surprise that this creative team has inevitably managed to produce some of the best comics out on the stands right now. Read Full Review

Murder, mayhem, revenge, and fear. It's all packed in between these pages as the panels in this issue seem to come alive and make sure you're completely invested in the story. Didn't think things could get worse? Me neither, but I feel we're about to find out just how much trouble Marcus is really in. Anyone missing out on this title should be kicking themselves. Read Full Review

Deadly Class continues to impress with issue #8. The plot barely budges but the amount of character placed into this issue makes up for it. This is a story about pain, depression and the fear one has of sharing their feelings at a young age. It’s a brutally honest story about the struggles of a teenager and humans in general as well. Remender is telling a deep and profound story with Deadly Class and this series’ intensity hasn’t faltered yet. It’s not for the faint of heart but it’s an incredible experience for those who are up to it! Read Full Review

With a clear understanding of emotion and structure, Remender displays his skill at engineering smart, functional stories that entertain as well as inform. He draws on empathy and wish-fulfillment in order to get his audience invested. He will not allow this story to be ignored, and he shouldn't; it's fantastic. Read Full Review

This issue was a long time coming, and it did not disappoint. The concept of a school for young assassins may have seemed potentially trite at the start of this series, but Remender pleasantly surprised whenever the series turned into something much different. Deadly Class is a fascinating character study on a bunch of sad, screwed up kids; they just so happen to attend some crazy classes sometimes. Read Full Review

Its hard to make comics that provide an interesting, suspenseful, fantastical story while also showcasing distinctive and appealing art and personal storytelling. Deadly Class #8 is an example that is possible, though, and its really exciting to see it happen. The series as a whole has been exciting (both in story and that something like this exists), and the new issue which doesnt require much previous exposure demonstrates why. Read Full Review

While not entirely conducive to the book's forward motion, Remender nevertheless crafts yet another riveting read filled with achingly damaged characters. Read Full Review

A little piece of teenage nostalgia with some surprisingly beautiful ruminations on growing up. There's also lots of delicious violence as well Read Full Review

Deadly Class is a gem of a book. It's a bit of a period piece as it takes place in the 1980s but it relies on emotions that are timeless. This origin issue pulls on the reader's strings and delivers a great ride even if the reader knows how it's going to end. This is one to pick up. Read Full Review

Wes Craig continues to match Remender page after page in skill and the book has a number of fantastic images, from the large head of Mistress Ranks beneath a crucifix to the small and implicit images of violence and horror. Partnered with and complimented by the talents of Lee Loughridge, the book, for as unsettling as it may be, is continuously an ambitious and exciting read. Read Full Review

On the face of it, Deadly Class #8 is an intimate story, but it opens up this series to so much more. It's easy to jump into, and it's gorgeously drawn, almost reading as a snapshot of unbelievable horror and rage. The rest of the backstory, featuring Marcus and his cadre of trainee assassins, doesn't even factor in here. Nor should it - this is a prime example of not letting the high concept get in your way, instead letting the execution speak for itself. If you're looking to find out what all the hubbub is about with Deadly Class, there's no better time than the present. Read Full Review

The art, exactly like the story, is stunning in the present day and lackluster during the flashback. Lee Loughridge is well-known for the way he colours each scene using similar pigments and complements. For whatever reason, in Deadly Class #8 he limits himself further to a single monochrome for every section of flashback. The book is flat and pale and lifeless. Wes Craig's triesto stand out, but this strange colouring choice stifles his work. Read Full Review

All in all, it's not a bad issue and, while I appreciate it trying to do a few things, I'm not sure this one will go down that well in the title's longer run. Read Full Review

Overall, Deadly Class is not a bad read. The premise is great, the character's are complex and the art is punk at it's best. My only real gripe is the overall sullen nature of the book. In a world where a secondary school with "Deadly Arts" in it's name is a real thing, it's kind of hard for me to take it's student body as seriously as they take themselves. Read Full Review