The "best-laid plans" come apart in Deadly Class #42, by writer Rick Remender, artist Wes Craig, colorist Jordan Boyd, and letterer Rus Wooton. Remender fits a lot of plot into this issue, using a party to start all kinds of drama with everyone, potentially changing the game for all of the factions at the school.

Marcus deals with constipation at a Lake Tahoe cabin. From there, he gives a narration of the events that lead him to this point- he's gone straight edge as Maria drinks more, and they get farther apart. Stefano, the Mafia kid that's been hanging out with Maria, is throwing a party at his parents' Lake Tahoe cabin and invites everyone. What follows is an eventful night for everyone, one which will have long-reaching ramifications for everyone involved.

There is a lot that happens in this issue. Marcus has been getting tired of the game at King's Dominion since he came back to the school, but this issue really hits home his disgust with it. Going straight edge is a symptom of this. He's gotten tired of numbing himself to the realities of his situation. And this has brought on a self-righteousness that is hurting his already tenuous relationship with Maria. Maria has been finding solace with Stefano and alcohol, while still trying to build new ties for her and Marcus's plan. Over in the Student Council's corner, Stephen, at Marcus's urging, has spilled the beans about Brandi and Shabnam, throwing their alliance into chaos. On the outskirts of it all hovers Saya, in self-imposed exile.

Remender balances out a lot of plots in this issue and builds on all of them, adding layers to the story that up the ante. This issue feels like a return to form for a series that has felt sort of rudderless lately. There's a lot of drama here, and it all works to build up to something. Everything with Marcus is falling apart and a lot of it is just due to who he is. The Student Council takes a loss that may be beneficial to Marcus and Maria's plans or could spell doom for them, while Marcus makes a discovery about a rival that he may be able to use to his advantage. Maria and Stefano get closer, but is Stefano everything he seems? Jayla and Saya get close, changing both of their relationships with Marcus. There are so many cans of worms opened in this issue, and Remender pulls it off rather well.

Wes Craig's art is okay. It's not as muddy or as indistinct as it has been in the recent past, but it's not up to its old levels of quality. Nothing really stands out as bad, but nothing really stands out as good.

Deadly Class #42 is a game-changing issue for all the characters. Everyone's plans are thrown into disarray by actions beyond their control, and it plays out wonderfully. Remender throws a lot of balls in the air and catches them all in this one. Wes Craig's art isn't as bad as it has been, but that doesn't mean it's good either. However, the writing is so compelling that it does all the heavy lifting of the issue, and the art doesn't detract from it very much. It'll be interesting to see where things go in the next issue.

Grade: B+