Deadly Class, Volume 8: Never Go Back

Deadly Class

by Rick Remender

Les dernières années passées à King Dominion ont été extrêmement rudes pour Marcus et ses compagnons de galère. Violences, trahisons, disparitions d'êtres chers. Rien ni personne n'aura été épargné. Près d'un an après la fuite de Marcus au Mexique, un groupe de jeunes tueurs a été chargé par Maître Lin de le ramener à bon port. Et, contre tout attente, le jeune homme n'a pas l'intention de leur résister car, pour lui, l'heure de la vengeance a sonné.
Contenu : Deadly Class volume 8 (#36-40)

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Graphic Novels Comics, Fiction, Comic Book, Young Adult, Crime

136 pages, Hardcover

First published July 31, 2019

About the author

Rick Remender is an American comic book writer and artist who resides in Los Angeles, California. He is the writer/co-creator of many independent comic books like Black Science, Deadly Class, LOW, Fear Agent and Seven to Eternity. Previously, he wrote The Punisher, Uncanny X-Force, Captain America and Uncanny Avengers for Marvel Comics.

Reviews

[Jayson · Rating 4 out of 5]

(A-) 81% | Very Good
Notes: A cold-brewed interlude, still sinfully sublime, sluicing emotional bursts in spatter and spurts, it resets the paradigm.

[Anne · Rating 1 out of 5]

na·vel-gaz·ing
/ˈnāvəl ɡāziNG/
noun
self-indulgent or excessive contemplation of oneself or a single issue, at the expense of a wider view.



I absolutely hate being stuck inside Marcus' head.
He's just the woooooorst. Whiny, pretentious, self-absorbed, stuck in a loop of annoying self-discovery that just goes on and on and on...8 volumes!
Shut up, Marcus! Just shut the fuck up.
Unfortunately for me, Never Go Back opened with this grating douche going on a Spirit Journey. Because if there's anything that's worse than the guy whose inner thoughts are already obnoxious, it's having to listen to that person when they're high.



Things happen in this one. Action-y things.
But I just don't care about any of these shitty little characters or their journey. I honestly read this thinking that it was the last volume because the blurb said, Rick Remender and Wes Craig's darkly humorous look at the 1980s underground comes full circle, and I took that to mean that it was finally over.
But no.
There will be more. And I feel like I've now invested too much time and energy in it to stop.
Do I hate-read whatever comes next or should I just walk away?



This series has always been sort of an iffy one in my book. Like, I'd not be all that impressed with the story (mostly because of Marcus) but then the next volume would be much better, so I'd just kind of keep going. Hanging on to see what everyone else loved so much.

I think I'm just the wrong personality type for this sort of story. I have very few fucks to give for angry/depressed rantings or pseudo-deep introspections about the futility of things. And the wah, wah, wah stuff in the club about music bringing us all together?
Whatever. So does cake.
Anything that you mutually like is something that brings people together. I like to sing along as much as the next guy, but acting like it's some sort of spiritual experience that's outside of the norm is just stupid to me. <--I'm a soulless ass, I know!



I don't know what else to say other than Deadly Class brings out the eye-rolling dickhead in me, and it's probably better if we part ways now.

[Baba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marcus and Maria would never go back to the school for assassins where the entire student body tried to kill them, right? Each time I read another volume of this exceptional series I ask myself how did this series not come to my attention sooner? There really are no words, otherwise than pleading for you to go online and read the first issue for free and that will be all you need to get hooked.

Anyways this volume turns everything up on its head in the school as priorities and agendas have to be radically changed. Meanwhile are protagonists have to get used to not being the underclass anymore. Hot damn, words are pointless and not enough to explain the genius plotting, dialogue, art and other creativity in this superb series.

2022 read

[Kyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was... not the most interesting (or riveting) Volume in the series.

Issue #36: Filler— a redundant head-trip through Marcus’s inner turmoil. Perfectly encapsulates depression and grief, sure, but we’ve seen it countless times before in this series.
Issue #37: Gorgeous action/chase scenes. I am so constantly in awe of the coloring and art direction. This was more my speed, even though I’m still not a fan of Saya.
Issue #38: Coming full-circle— back to the basics. It’s dawning on me how Maria is probably the only character left that I truly enjoy.
Issue #39: Finally making some headway, but too little, too late...

[James DeSantis · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's been awhile since I gave a Deadly Class volume lower than 4 stars.

This isn't horrible or anything. It's still filled with solid dialogue and great art, but it lacks any punch the series is known for. This time we have Marcus going on a personal journey in his head on who he is. It is revealed that, he is, a piece of shit. Then we move on to him and Maria returning to school and how everyone's perception of him has changed. Marcus has a plan and this time it's to strike back at the school.

This volume is light on plot progression for Marcus and co. Sure, Saya gets some much needed time but her chapter plays out like how I expected. I thought there was some funny moments but these chapters also felt like we were just going through the motions. While still solid, and fun, this is a bridge volume, and short, so hopefully the next arc picks up. A 3 out of 5.

[CS · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bullet Review:

Remender is such a blow-hard...I'm reminded of Frank Miller (which I suppose might be what he's going for, as this is set in the 80's), and yet, Frank Miller's navel-gazing never got as whiny and pretentious as Remender does in nearly everything he touches.

At least this series is going somewhere. Maria and Marcus (who both aren't dead at this point) go back to King's Dominion. That first issue felt literally like someone going, "I don't want to deal with the plot, I just want to draw a bunch of weird sh!t", but after that, the story at least seems to be going somewhere - unlike with Black Science.

[Jakub Kvíz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deadly Class je pri absenci Sagy a po konci TWD asi moje nejoblibenejsi ongoing serie. Obcas me sere Marcusovo emo poplakavani, ale to k tomu asi nejak patri.

Po delsi dobe sme dostali dalsi cislo na tripu, tentokrat peyote, ktery nebylo tako dobry jako to puvodni, ale porad povedeny.

Celkem sem zmatenej z "kdo s kym a proti komu", ale kdyby clovek vedel, jak se veci maj, tak by byl tezko prekvapenej ze vsech twistu, o ktery rozhodne neni nouze.

[Benji Glaab · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deadly Class is a riot, and continues in a wildly entertaining flurry. I love Craig's unique take on late 80's fashion. The charters ideals and thoughts are very suited to the era also. While I was a teen in the early 2000's I feel like I've had so many similar convos with my group of friends growing up. I'm connected, and Remender writes it raw and organic.

Volume 8 is 100% a bridge volume accompanied by one peyote trippin ballz issue, and a flash back to Marcus' early days in Kings Dominion. Despite the volumes title, (never go back) going back is exactly what Marcus and Co. do. Their enemies won't stop coming. They know too much. They only have one option. They have to play by their rules. They have to go back to Kings Dominion. After an onslaught of bloody, action filled volumes. Remender and Craig are taking time to set the table for another darkly humorous feast.

One of my favourite ongoing titles atm. Can't wait for volume 9. It's been a great journey and would highly recommend trying out volume 1

[Valéria. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nechápem ľudí, čo tomu napráskajú 1-2 hviezdy. Oni čítajú niečo iné? Ako chápem, že niekomu môže Marcus po takej dobe vadiť ale vážne? S tým ako sú skvele napísané postavy, ako je príbeh nastavený a a ako to celé vyzerá? Už len za kresbu a čo tam Craig predvádza si to zaslúži krajšie hodnotenie. Za mňa furt super, furt baví, zas len teraz tŕpnuť a čakať na ďalší book.

[RG · Rating 4 out of 5]

A return to kings dominion but kinda feels like a build of a new arc in a way.

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I own this book.

This series is consistently good. I've seen a couple of people complaining about being stuck in Marcus's head but I noticed when the book wasn't written from his POV, and was from Saya's instead, I kind of missed him. I'm glad he's back. So...We have returned to Kings Dominion, Marcus and Maria included and they realise that this isn't the same school that they left. Everyone is obviously shocked when they show up, Saya is still in Japan, but Marcus showing up alive confirms to everyone (that didn't already know) that she didn't kill him. This story moves the plot along nicely but nothing super memorable happens. I remember liking this book, especially the moments with Master Lin as he reveals his true intentions and is basically just an evil old gobshite. I only have 2 or 3 volumes left so I can't work out where the story is going to go or how they're going to end it. I hope the next volume is a little faster paced.

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marcus and Maria finally return to Kings Dominion, but all is not as they left it. Shabnam and his Council rule the school, while Master Lin seems content to turn a blind eye to their machinations in favour of his own. Plus, a Free Comic Book Day flashback story!

Man, this series doesn't know when to stop. Despite all the insanity that Marcus and his friends have gone through, literally walking back into the lion's den doesn't seem to phase them at all. There's a hell of a lot of tension in these issues, and it's not going to be long before it all explodes, I'm sure. Reading this series is like holding a bomb, and you don't know which page turn is going to make it explode.

The FCBD story is an essay on music that even Kieron Gillen would be envious of, as we flash back to the time the original kids went to a concert, and the effect that it had on them, as well as some extra backstory for Viktor that kind of makes him sympathetic, but not really.

With the excellent TV show unfortunately coming to a premature end, it's nice to see that the comic book is still firing on all cylinders.

[Belinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my lowest rating for a deadly class volume ever. While still enjoyable there was nothing that completely wowed or shocked me. Craig's art is as amazing as ever, but Remender's writing was a bit lackluster in this volume. It was a tad predictable. Even the moments that were supposed to be shocking I already knew would happen. The only thing that did catch me was what happened at the party Marcus goes to.

With all of that in mind, I still love Marcus and Maria to pieces. My appreciation for Saya has waned, but if she's here for redemption we'll see if that changes.

[Licha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a real review since so much time has gone by that I had forgotten I read this. I think this series has never been a favorite of mine so it's easy for it to lose it's momentum for me. I believe there is one more volume that concludes this series (yay!).

From my notes: So much philosophizing. I find it quite annoying and distracting.

The artwork is not the greatest. Makes it very hard to tell the characters apart.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

The flashbacks were a little confusing. I liked getting more backstory on Viktor. Miguel and Maria’s return to King’s Dominion was pretty anti-climactic. It almost made all the drama of the earlier Battle Royale feel a little irrelevant. I liked Saya and Maria reuniting. I’d like to see them work together more because they’re both really cool characters.

[Devon Munn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.1 stars

One of the weaker volumes in the series but the last issue made up for it The reunion between Maria and Saya was cute

[Marmoladka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ta była taka nie wiem nie podpasowała

[Ethan Chapman · Rating 3 out of 5]

With this volume, a little too much time is spent on Marcus being cynical, self-serving and feeling sorry for himself. Basically, just being Marcus. Misery loves company and there’s only so much time I can spend in the company of Marcus before he grates. It’s like, Jesus, come on man! For the love of Christ!

There’s a certain arrogance that comes with feeling ostracised - thinking you’re better, thinking you’re right, thinking you’re the only one able to peek behind the curtain and see how life really works. But, when you get down to it, these feelings just mask a deep seated anger and bitterness because we all want to belong, and this internal monologue of Marcus keeps going on, and on, and on...

Maria returning was the shot in the arm the series needed, but now they’ve got back to Kings Dominion it feels a little like it’s spinning its wheels - more betrayals, more of Marcus’s doubts about himself and Maria and life. At this point, when you get down to it, Maria is the only likeable person in the bunch.

Marcus needs to get it together. Quickly.

[Eddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series never fails to impress. Some great twists in this volume as well as character insight. Can’t wait for the inevitably bloody denouement.

[Sara Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Issue #36: 4 Stars (also...what?)
Issue #37: 5 Stars!
Issue #38: 4 Stars
Issue #39: 4 Stars

[OmniBen · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Zero spoiler review for the deluxe edition collecting this volume)
I've really been enjoying this series, having consumed all three available library editions in the last month or so. And despite this being the weakest collection of the three, I still enjoyed spending time in this world with these characters. It's become quite clear Remender has a formula that he is repeating throughout this series. But hey, if it works, why not run with it. It's just that his formula is starting to wear ever so slightly thin here, with a protracted, somewhat boring opening, at least in my opinion anyway, taking a while to settle back into the ongoing deadly drama that initially hooked me into this series. That said, the good bits that make up the middle section of this book don't last anywhere near as long as they did on previous volumes. And it isn't so long before the final arc returns to the bland and uninspired action that is getting just a little bit stale. It doesn't help that it is probably the dumbest story arc of the entire series. Taking a character I rather liked and doing something wholly ridiculous and disappointing. That and Wes Craig's art seems noticeably weaker, sloppier here throughout the entire duration of these arcs. The art had absolutely been the highlight of this series for me, despite Remender turning in his best work I've read thus far, but this really looks like he was half assing it. Whether he was burnt out, or was busy working on other material with deadlines looming, I don't know. All I know is, this is some fairly sloppy and uninspired art, at least when compared to what came before.
All in all, still a solid enjoyable collection, but undoubtedly the weakest of the three. Hopefully everyone involved can find their mojo in time to end this series on a high, because if it all descends into a bland and disappointing affair, it would spoil one of the better indie series I've had the privilege of reading. Still worth a look though. 4/5


OmniBen.

[ksiazkowy_pirat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kolejny powrót do Kings Dominion to prawie jak nostalgiczny powrót do znanego już miejsca. Tyle że w szkole dla zabójców nie ma miejsca na nostalgię, a bohaterom przyjdzie gorzko przekonać się o tym, że podczas ich nieobecności w szkole zaszły ogromne zmiany.

Od pierwszego zeszytu wspominam o tym, że bardzo lubię tę serię i jej dynamikę. Mam wrażenie, że ten tom po raz kolejny jest pewnym pomostem do kolejnych wydarzeń, a takie rozwiązania w tej serii już się pojawiły. Poprzedni tom od początku do końca wypełniony był akcją, dlatego ten, mimo tego że nie pozwala się nudzić, wprowadza mniej dynamiczny rozwój wątków, chociaż zdarzają się momenty, które potrafią zaskoczyć.

Tym za co cenię Deadly Class jest sposób połączenia wątków, które dają do myślenia z bezkompromisową jatką i jazdą bez trzymanki. Remender nie bierze jeńców i nie boi się stosować odważnych rozwiązań fabularnych. Tym razem ponownie pojawiają się momenty, które zmuszają czytelnika do refleksji, by chwilę później natknąć się na fontanny krwi i odcinane części ciała. Wszystko to niezmiennie okraszone niezwykle charakterystycznym stylem Wesa Craiga, który przez całą serię zdążyłem naprawdę polubić. Oryginalna kreska w połączeniu ze stylistyką lat 80-tych i typową dla serii paletą barw bardzo dobrze się tu sprawdza.

Każda odsłona historii dodaje coś do świata i poniekąd rozszerza to uniwersum. Historia się rozwija, ale pozwala również poznać momenty, które do pewnych wydarzeń doprowadziły. Mimo pewnych potknięć, całość nie przestaje zaskakiwać, jednocześnie pozostając w klimacie lat 80-tych i dostarczając rozrywkę na najwyższym poziomie.

[Rolando Marono · Rating 3 out of 5]

Volví a leer el tomo siete y mi review de ese tomo antes de escribir esta. Lo mucho que esperaba el tomo ocho y lo equivocado que estaba en mis predicciones. Sentía, de cierta manera, que el octavo tomo sería el final de la historia, con Marcus y María asesinando a Lin y a Shabman. Pero estaba muy equivocado. Como conclusión del arco, el tomo ocho es bastante flojo.
Después de un tomo entero de acción trepidante al estilo de Miller, el tomo ocho es bastante lento.
El primer número, de los cuatro que incluye, es un viaje de Peyote de Marcus. Y es increíble a nivel emocional y psicológico del personaje. Si hasta este punto no te has sentido identificado con Marcus, probablemente ahora lo hagas. Ese fue mi número favorito.
El segundo es para ponernos al corriente con el cabrón de Kwan y Saya. Y los otros dos es el status de los estudiantes en Kings dominion ahora que Marcus y María regresan triunfalmente.
No es malo el octavo tomo, pero yo esperaba más. Definitivamente habrá un tercer arco, probablemente de cuatro tomos nuevamente. Donde veamos a los estudiantes enfrentarse completamente contra Shabnam, Randy, Viktor y Steve.
El arte y la acción, aunque poca, siguen siendo impresionantes. Y la narración personal e íntima de Remender, es increíble, justo lo que necesitaba en este momento.
Espero con ansias el noveno tomo.

[Carlos J. Eguren · Rating 4 out of 5]

78/365
Echaba mucho de menos Clase letal y su número 8 sigue confirmándola como la heredera espiritual de Predicador de Garth Ennis. Marcus y cía, tras experiencias extrasensoriales, regresan a la escuela y planean su venganza, pero no será fácil. Número de transición, pero con una voz en off fantástica que retrata perfectamente la desolación de estos personajes.

[FrontalNerdaty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another solid entry in the epic tale that is Deadly Class. Seeing Marcus and Maria return to the school, with all the changes and their pasts was great. Saya doing what she had too was great and I appreciate nothing wrapped up neatly and will no doubt come back to bite everyone in the ass.

[Tim Nash · Rating 2 out of 5]

On the whole this holds up and doesn't let the series down.

But the first issue is a narration heavy drug trip.
The last issue is a FCBD one shot.
Between those is a restablishment of the status quo (seemingly).
And the most interesting thing to happen is a cliffhanger for the next volume.

Remender still rules, and this is still a fun series. This volume just let me wanting more in a not so satisfying way.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[wiktoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

"choć, poudajemy razem." 🥺

[Lachlan]

Love seeing how far the characters have come. Glad my reading challenge is incentivising me to get through these finally

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series has continued to be solid. The layouts are incredible. There are times where I wish the story progressed faster, but it is a minor quibble.