Welcome to the table. Deadly Class, from Image Comics, was one of those books I went into completely unprepared. I was a fan of Wes Craig’s art style, and Rick Remender had impressed me with Black Science, so a story set in the late 1980s of teenage assassins seemed to be the kind of thing that would fit nicely in my non-superhero comic collection.
Starting the series, I was immediately drawn in by the narrative that felt akin to a John Hughes film directed by Quentin Tarantino. Deadly Class showcased young protagonists – who were dealt fantastically bad hands by twists of fate – pitted against each other in some twisted version of high school hierarchy, peppered liberally with combat, corruption, and cut-throat double crosses. This was linked together with pop culture references and some seriously dynamic art and color work from Lee Loughridge. All in all, the book was a great time from cover to cover and a title I remember enjoying as it was hitting the shelf in my local comic shop. And, it resulted in me becoming immediately intrigued when I saw Image announce a giant-sized artist proof edition.
Artists’ proofs tend to be oversized comics in black and white, providing readers with a detailed view of the linework and inks that make up the layouts and compositions on the page. This offering falls squarely in that space, showcasing the first two issues of Deadly Class collected into a single volume along with a collection of additional pages full of issue progression thumbnail images of the page layouts showcasing the penciled linework that goes into this early stage of comic creation.
It’s fantastic to see Craig’s linework and inks with such brilliant clarity. What struck me as unique about this format was that without the addition of Loughridge’s colors, the sequential storytelling shifts tone a great deal, bringing the stark panels that once relied on the brilliant color separation defined by figures drafted with minimal lines into something less akin to the pop-punk action romp tome of the original work and more something that leaned into a space that almost feels akin to horror. The empty cavities created on the page that I was accustomed to seeing full of highly saturated color are left barren, creating an entirely new reading experience.
The Deadly Class Giant-Sized Artist’s Proof is something I could see collectors and fans of the series gravitating towards, as it does offer insight into the drawn lines of this well-loved story. Art students and fans of comic process can easily find themselves studying the layouts and shape language playing out across the pages.
Until next time, comics are such a collaborative art form, and it is always interesting to see just how many different skillsets and creative processes come together to make a single issue. These kinds of offerings strip down a comic to its bare bones and highlight not only how strong those bones have to be to support the story, but also how much value other elements can bring to the production to give us the final product that sits upon the shelf for us to enjoy on new comic book day.
Creative Team: Rick Remender (writer), Wes Craig (art), Lee Loughridge (colors), Rus Wooton (letters and Design)
Publisher: Image Comics
Click here to purchase.
