A “Super” Cast Debuts “Deadly Class” at New York Comic Con

Artistry Magazine | October 18, 2018

Hundreds of fans poured into the Hammerstein Ballroom on Saturday Oct. 6. The third day of New York City Comic Con brought tons of exciting announcements, exclusives, and guests, but what was most exciting to see was the world premiere of one of the most anticipated shows of next year, “Deadly Class.”

“Deadly Class” was created by Rick Remender and artist Wes Craig. The series was published under Image Comics, a popular indie house responsible for hits such as “Saga,” “The Walking Dead,” “Spawn,” and “Chew.” Since Deadly Class Volume 1: Reagan Youth was released in 2014, the series has been a staple for countless comic fans.

The story takes place in 1980s San Francisco, and centers around Marcus Lopez (Benjamin Wadsworth), an orphan who is recruited into King’s Dominion Atelier of the Deadly Arts. King’s Dominion, run by Master Lin (Benedict Wong), is a secret high school that grooms the next generation of assassins. At this school, it is necessary to be in a group, for friendship, but more importantly, protection. Saya (Lana Condor), is the badass leader of the Japanese Kuroki Syndicate. Willie (Luke Tennie), is the son of an LA gangster, and is the leader of his own gang at the school. Maria (María Gabriela de Faría), is a member of the Mexican organized crime family, El Alma del Diablo, and she is dating the leader’s son, Chico (Michel Duval). Billy (Liam James) is an outcast just like Marcus, and quickly connects with him. Marcus goes through all the trials and tribulations of any high schooler, but at this school, one wrong step could actually get you stabbed in the back. 

The Syfy channel picked up the show in mid 2018, and the story has been shepherded faithfully from page to screen by the guiding hands of creators Remender and Craig. One of the major contributions Remender made during the creation of the series was with music. While writing the comic, he had a very clear idea of what kind of music would fit into the Deadly Class world. Sisters of Mercy, The Cure, and The Smiths among others give Deadly Class a undeniably punk rock 80s vibe. The cast even praises Remender for giving them each playlists custom made for their characters. Additionally, the show generated a lot of buzz when it was announced that acclaimed directing duo, Joe and Anthony Russo would executive produce the project. The Russo brothers are known for their incredible work in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, directing “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Captain America: Civil War,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” and the upcoming untitled Avengers 4 film. With  the Russo brothers’ great success with Marvel, fans of the Deadly Class comic have total faith in these two to bring their beloved comic to the small screen.

The show has also received praise for its cast, and having watched the pilot episode, I can confirm that each actor fully embodies their character. New kids on the block Luke Tennie, María Gabriela de Faría, Liam James, and Benjamin Wadsworth are joined by two actors you probably already know and love. Lana Condor who plays Saya, has recently skyrocketed into fame with the wild success of her Netflix film “To all the Boys I’ve Loved Before.” Benedict Wong who plays Master Lin, is known for his role as Wong in “Doctor Strange” and “Avengers: Infinity War.” The cast may as well have been ripped straight from the pages of the comic; they truly bring their characters to life, and then some.

Fans were at the edge of their seats as Remender came out to introduce the pilot. The episode began by showing Marcus’s life before King’s Dominion. Orphaned and living on the street, Marcus scrounges for food, cigarettes, drugs, and anything that helps him escape from reality. Saya brings Marcus to King’s Dominion one night, where he is offered admission into the school by Master Lin. Assuming that the whole thing is a joke, he blows it all off. Inevitably Marcus is driven to rock bottom, and he attempts to kill himself, only to be interrupted by Saya who convinces him to join the school, since he has nothing to lose. The rest of the episode documents Marcus’s first few deadly days at King’s Dominion. Marcus attends classes such as, “Dismemberment: 101,” gets involved with some girls, and bullies, and begins to make friends, finally having some purpose to his life.

“Deadly Class” is a truly unique story about misfits and outcasts. Remender and the Russos promise to give viewers a non stop crazy ride. The show is set to premiere on Syfy on January 16 at 10pm.