You've got to love that. I mean how could you not? Rick Remender is able to write such a convincing story; I actually believed that Marcus had thoroughly murdered Viktor at long last. From the moment we set foot in King's Dominion, it felt as if the Russian meathead was doomed to become a formidable antagonist. An antagonist who was going to meet a grisly, bloody, and excessively violent end at the hands of our protagonist. That makes it all the more interesting to see both of these damaged characters finally reconcile their differences despite all that they have been through. The tragedy of their circumstances continues to shape who they are, but it truly feels as though Marcus has let go of some of the hatred that he has been holding onto since Willie's death. It is a moment of quiet introspection in a series that spends a lot of time murdering people in an array of interesting ways.
Speaking of murdering people in interesting ways, Brandy reprises her role as an agent of chaos in a world that is growing more malcontent with each passing issue. I've never been a fan of Brandy, but I'll be the first to admit that when it comes to psychotically murdering people she is one of the best. Somehow, when Helmut, Petra, Zenzele, and Tosawhi are making their grand escape BOOM there she is with a machine gun to stop them in their tracks! Somehow, when Marcus confronts Petra about her role in killing Willie BOOM there she is with a stick slapping Marcus over the head and stabbing Petra in the throat! SOMEHOW! When Helmut desperately sprints to Petra's side and the other members of their fellowship arrive on the scene! BOOM! There she is taking off at high speed in time to avoid the arrival of the Kuroki Yakuza Syndicate! If nothing else, her uncanny ability to avoid the worst parts of a fight speak to the level of her capability as a student of King's Dominion. All of these revelations, contemplations, and action sequences would make for fearsome literary prowess on their own. Combined with Wes Craig's art, Jordan Boyd's colour, and Rus Wooton's lettering? This trio make DEADLY CLASS what it is, and take the story to new heights of power. The level of detail evident in each page of this issue stand as testament to how much time and effort went in to creating each character, background, and panel. From the glisten of stars to the shadows on the water, from the hail of bullets to the shards of glass, from minimalist pallet to the flying bird accents, you can really feel that every aspect of the comic has been meticulously laid out. At the same time, there is this overwhelming sense of motion and chaos that so heavily differentiates standstill comics from our real world that Craig, Boyd, and Wooton have woven into their work. The mixture of subtle, and in your face artistry seems to perfectly capture the essence of what DEADLY CLASS is about. The duality of Remender's story in how it toes the line between violence and meditative introspection are made visual through Craig, Boyd, and Wooton's work. Having managed to escape the clutches of the Kuroki Yakuza Syndicate with the help of Viktor's excellent sniper skills things are not looking good for Marcus and friends. Sure, they've managed to avoid a variety of near death scenarios. Yes, they've overcome hardship and heartbreak over the course of their journey. BUT, they aren't even close to dealing with all of the loose ends. Saya is still at the mercy of her incompetent older brother. Brandy is injured but certainly looking to settle the score with Marcus and his companions. Tohsawi's grandmother still didn't get the milk for her morning coffee, and with all these freeloaders hanging around her farm? Who can say when she'll snap? Love Like Blood has proven itself to be an exceptional story arc, and an amazing addition to the DEADLY CLASS story. Over the last four months, Rick Remender, Wes Craig, Jordan Boyd, and Rus Wooton have lead us on a journey that started with Marcus meeting the new recruits of King's Dominion. Since that surprising introduction events have extrapolated dramatically and not for the better. With our protagonists hiding out with Tohsawi's family, and Petra dead it is difficult to say how they intend to deal with their present circumstances. Even though we are now stepping into unknown, and uncharted territory there is one thing that can be said with decisive certainty. The conclusion to this story arc is going to be mind blowing! Written By: ALAN "VIENNA" SINGH
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