Tag Archives: sex criminals

Review: Sex Criminals #16

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sexcriminals16After an eight-month hiatus, Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky are back with Sex Criminals #16. An extended series of recap pages gets us right in the mood as our time freezing, orgasm having, crime doing couple of Jon and Susie are at a big crossroads in their relationship. Most of the issue is narrated from Susie’s perspective as Jon just wants to live in the moment and take out Kegelface, this series’ Big Bad no matter who gets on his way. On the other hand, Susie wants to get more serious with their relationship and even mentions writing down their goals in markers on paper because she’s a big ol’ library-loving nerd. But Fraction and Zdarsky resist the melodrama of a big argument or breakup and continue to be grounded in feelings stemming from a long-term relationship while keeping the dirty puns and constant references to “butt stuff” that made this series hilarious as well as real.

Sex Criminals #16 is a great post-hiatus issue for the series because it zeroes in on the messiness of romantic relationships, and what people want to get out of them in kind of silly, kind of serious way. Yes, Jon and Susie dress up in Teletubby costumes and chase each other with dildos, and Jon might be the “intern” for his favorite porn star growing up. But Sex Criminals #16 has long passages of walk and talk (Or walk, fuck, talk, and eat lo mein.) where Jon and Susie get all their feeling out about each other with Susie’s narration filling in some of the unsaid things.

Fraction hits on a great point through this narration that the reason why Jon doesn’t want fill out lists of goals is because he doesn’t think he’s worthy of a future with her. He is stressed out by Kegelface stealing his personal psychiatric files that talk about his oppositional defiant disorder as well as insecure in his relationship and wants to take her out even if he means breaking the law. Susie just wants him to be happy, and Zdarsky draws a beautiful, almost quiet sequence of them spooning even if this kind of cuddle position has been awkward for them in the past. (Someone’s arm falls asleep inevitably.) It’s a glimpse of happiness in the midst of both the interpersonal/Kegelface drama.

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Chip Zdarsky’s coloring choices in Sex Criminals #16 also herald the shift in Jon’s character. In the past, the Quiet has been a trippy world of sexy fun and occasional mayhem filled action against Kegelface and her ultra creepy Sex Cops. But, for Jon, it is all red rage, and Susie is lying on the bed away from him. Fraction and Zdarsky cut to these intense red sequences when Jon is really feeling bad. It’s something that definitely needs to be addressed in their relationship, and hopefully these two crazy kids will break through and stay together.

Sex Criminals #16 reminded me of why I loved this series when it first started out in 2013, which is Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky’s complete honesty about sex and relationships while still having some hilarious background gags from Zdarsky and an eccentric supporting cast, like the Alix who compares Jon to Don Quixote, and villains.

Story: Matt Fraction Art: Chip Zdarsky 
Story: 9.5 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.3 Recommendation: Buy

Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Image Comics Reveals 11 Variants to Celebrate 25 Years

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Image Comics is thrilled to reveal the first 11 of 15 homage variants planned for February’s 25th anniversary theme month—“tribute covers” celebrating iconic cover images from throughout the company’s history.

Each month of Image’s 25th year will boast a theme for special anniversary variants, beginning with Wednesday, February 1st—the exact date of Image Comics’ founding in 1992, and the date of this year’s “Image Comics Day.”

“One of the great things about celebrating our 25th anniversary is that it creates an opportunity for us to look back at over two decades of history-making comics and showcase some of the wonderful work that made Image what it is today,” said Eric Stephenson, Publisher at Image Comics. “Everyone in the Image family is a fan at heart, and this month’s tribute variants give the participating creators a chance to show their admiration for some of comics’ greatest creator-owned triumphs by putting their own unique spin on classic images from that rich and varied past for a collection of covers as fun as they are stunning.”

Available in stores on Wednesday, February 1st:

  • Rick Remender and Wes Craig’s Deadly Class #26 commemorating Marc Silvestri’s Cyber Force #1 (Diamond Code NOV168917)
Available in stores on Wednesday, February 8th:
  • Jonathan Hickman and Nick Dragotta’s East of West #31 commemorating Rob Liefeld’s Team Youngblood #19 (Diamond Code NOV169165)
  • Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie’s The Wicked + The Divine #26 commemorating Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky’s SEX CRIMINALS #1 (Diamond Code NOV169053)
Available in stores on Wednesday, February 15th:
  • Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker’s Invincible #133 commemorating Rob Liefeld’s Youngblood #1 (Diamond Code NOV169172)
  • Donny Cates and Geoff Shaw’s God Country #2 commemorating Erik Larsen’s Savage Dragon #1 (Diamond Code NOV169169)
  • Ed Brubaker, Sean Phillips, and Elizabeth Breitweiser’s Kill or Be Killed #6 commemorating Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead #1 (Diamond Code NOV169051)
  • Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky’s Sex Criminals #16 commemorating Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie’s The Wicked + The Divine #1 (Diamond Code NOV169052)
  • Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead #164 commemorating Jim Lee’s WILD C.A.T.S. #1 (Diamond Code NOV169171)
Available in stores on Wednesday, February 22nd: 
  • Charles Soule and Ryan Browne’s Curse Words #2 commemorating Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker’s Invincible #1 (Diamond Code NOV169173)
  • Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen’s Descender #19 commemorating  Dale Keown’s Pitt #2 (Diamond Code NOV169174)
  • Tim Seely and Mike Norton’s Revival #47 commemorating Marc Silvestri, Brian Haberlin, Michael Turner, and David Wohl’s Witchblade #1 (Diamond Code NOV169170)

Around the Tubes

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sexcriminals15-coverIt’s new comic book day tomorrow and we’re one day closer to Captain America: Civil War and Free Comic Book Day!

To keep you entertained, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web in our morning roundup.

Around the Tubes

Women Write About Comics – Fainted When She Saw My Body: Social Construction of Monstrousness in Saga  – A very interesting read.

Kotaku – The Only Thing This Ant-Man Cosplay Doesn’t Do Is Shrink – It looks pretty great!

The Nerdy Bird – GLAAD’s 2016 Hollywood Report: “Historic Low” For Representation, Star Wars Call Out – Always interesting to see these reports.

 

Around the Tubes Reviews

CBR – Daredevil #6

CBR – Faith #4

Big Shiny Robot – Golem

Comic Attack – I Am a Hero Vol. 1

CBR – Insexts #5

Talking Comics – Library Wars

CBR – Ms. Marvel #6

CBR – Sex Criminals #15

Newsarama – Best Shots Reviews: Doctor Strange – The Last Days of Magic #1, Cyborg #10, Faith #4

Around the Tubes

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POWER-MAN-AND-IRON-FIST-#3The weekend is almost here! What geeky things will people be doing? Who’s taking part in International Tabletop Day? Let us know in the comments!

While you decide on that, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web.

Around the Tubes

Kotaku – The Highs and Lows of X-Men Video Games – So many lows.

 

Around the Tubes Reviews

ICv2 – A Goofy Guide to Penguins

CGM – Batman: Europa

CBR – Dark Knight III: The Master Race #4

Comic Attack – Power Man & Iron Fist #3

Nothing But Comics – Saga #36

Newsarama – Best Shots Rapid-Fire Reviews: Amazing Spider-Man #11, Justice League #49, Sex Criminals #15, More

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Power_Man_and_Iron_Fist_1_CoverIt’s new comic book day tomorrow! What’s everyone excited for? We’ll have our picks in a few hours, but until then, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web in our morning roundup.

Around the Tubes

The Beat – When will the big players crack down on unlicensed prints? – Very good question.

The Beat – WB preps Justice League for an April start date – You mean all those reports that Warner Bros. was in chaos was full of shit!?

GamePolitics – Orange County, New York Executive seeks FCC help to combat swatting – Good!

 

Around the Tubes Reviews

CBR – Amazing Spider-Man #8

CBR – Astro City #32

Newsarama – The Dark Knight III: The Master Race #3

CBR – The Dark Knight III: The Master Race #3

The Beat – Drinking at the Movies

Talking Comics – Ghostbusters International #2

Talking Comics – Power Man and Iron Fist #1

CBR – Sex Criminals #14

Review: Sex Criminals #14

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SexCriminals_14-1Sex Criminals has always been one of those books that needs to be read a couple of times after purchasing. Usually to catch all the weird visual jokes that get placed in the backgrounds of panels. For the fourteenth issue subtitled “Ladies Please,” it’s to understand just how the disjointed nature of this issue works to its advantage.

The issue is mostly about Suzie and Myrtle. Myrtle is still having sex with Jon’s therapist to get information about him while Suzie and Jon start work at their new and crappy jobs. Jon is working as Ana’s research assistant while Suzie has started work in a new library. One day while sending dirty texts to Jon, Suzie makes some crass comments about Ana’s previous life as a porn star, which leads to a confrontation in The Quiet between the two of them.

Well, in the actual timeline of the story. In the timeline of the comic, we’re actually greeted with a fourth wall break as Matt Fraction struggles to write the scene and ends up calling Chip Zdarsky, asking for help.

From the sounds of it, a lot of this dialogue between the creators is taken directly from conversations the two had about the scene as it was originally planned to play out, with Suzie being judge-y of Ana, but Fraction has reservations of how this comes across. How it all ties back to how insidious and judgmental our culture is in regards to amount of sexual partners and sex workers, but how Ana isn’t exactly in the right either to act as if Suzie’s intentions with the library aren’t genuine. It’s complicated, clumsy, and it’s a bit revealing to see Fraction and Zdarsky hash it out like this.

On first pass, the scene is jarring in the middle of the story, especially after it jumps back into the story as a whole. Hysterical, especially with Chip drawing himself like a cokehead high on his own rising star simultaneously, but jarring. However, on a second read, after seeing how out of it Suzie has become, the outright statement of theme from our creators actually ties back into the story kind of brilliantly. It shows the kind of vulnerability that the series has been known for, especially in an issue where two of the characters are finding themselves in places they’re not sure they want to be in. The theme of the arc may be about “who gets to decide who’s a monster and who isn’t,” but a lot of this issue seems to be about being at a crossroads as well. Suzie isn’t into robbing banks with Jon anymore. Rach doesn’t know what to do about her relationship with Robert. Myrtle might be getting something else out of her relationship with Jon’s therapist. Matt can’t figure out how to write a scene. It all ties together in a strange sort of fashion.

Plus, the decision to “full-on Chuck Jones” the entire conversation and to play up the Zdarsky character super hard may be one of the funniest things this book has done.

If you’re having a hard time with the latest Sex Criminals at first pass, give it another read and see how it all ties together. What comes across as disjointed at first actually has a strange sort of clearness once the thread that ties it all together becomes clear. This book has always been about vulnerability and to see it upfront and hysterically done is kind of amazing.

Story: Matt Fraction Art: Chip Zdarsky
Story: 7.5 Art: 9.5 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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Power_Man_and_Iron_Fist_1_CoverIt was new comic book day yesterday! What’d everyone get? What did you find exciting? What were duds? Sound off in the comments below!

Around the Tubes

Ad Week – Youssef Daoudi to Create a Thelonious Monk Graphic Novel – Well that’s interesting.

The Beat – The Deadpool Movie Isn’t Faithful To The Comics, And I Approve – Do you think it is?

BBC – Did the Maya create the first “comics”? – This is really interesting.

The Beat – Commentary: BATMAN: The Uncomfortable Conversation – Bryan Hill is always someone to see what he has to say.

Panels – 12 Black Comic Artists You Should Know – Some great suggestions.

 

Around the Tubes Reviews

Comic Vine – Avengers Standoff: Welcome to Pleasant Hill #1

Newsarama – Avengers Standoff: Welcome to Pleasant Hill #1

Talking Comics – Bill & Ted Go to Hell #1

Comic Vine – Bill & Ted Go to Hell #1

The Beat – Midnighter Vol. 1

CBR – Power Man & Iron Fist #1

Talking Comics – Sex Criminals #14

Comic Attack – Shaft: Imitation of Life #1

Comic Vine – Star Wars #16

Comic Vine – Superman: American Alien #4

Talking Comics – Will Eisner’s The Spirit: The New Adventures

Comics You Should Be Reading: Sex Criminals (NSFW)

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Sex Criminals, an ongoing comic book by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky, is dedicated to everyone who has had sex – or is curious about it.

The criminals from the title are Suzie and Jon, described by Fraction as a mix of Masters & Johnson, the pioneer research team on human sexuality, and Bonnie & Clyde, the legendary bank robbers from the 1930s. That’s what they are and that’s pretty much what they do. They have sex and they rob banks. Maybe even both at the same time.

But they’re also much more than that. Because Suzie and Jon share a common secret: when they reach orgasm, time stops. Literally stops. They each enter a private world of silence, solitude and exploration, a world Suzie calls “The Quiet” and Jon calls “Cumworld”. When both have an orgasm at the same time, they get to explore this world together, not so silent and lonely anymore. That’s their superpower.

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Guilt, shame and curiosity. That’s sex and crime in a nutshell. Which brings us back to the title: what’s Suzie and Jon’s real crime? The bank-robbery or the sex? They only rob one bank, and they have good reasons to do so. They’re not exactly Most Wanted for doing that. That only happens after they start exploring their sexuality together.

Which activity is more transgressive? Which couple is more dangerous, Bonnie & Clyde or Masters & Johnson?

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Suzie and Jon aren’t the only criminals in the story. Each character in the series is introduced by their sexual history, which defines them and makes them who they are.

Rach, Suzie’s roommate/best friend, defaces a toilet stall to teach Suzie of possible sexual acts:

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Robert Rainbow, Suzie’s gynecologist and Jon’s childhood friend, talks openly about the different kinds of birth control methods:

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Jazmine St. Cocaine, ex-porn actress and Jon’s teenage crush, responds to prejudiced comments against the nature of her former occupation:

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The other criminals are the creators of the series and their loyal readers. We’re all part of this open relationship called Sex Criminals. Fraction & Zdarsky have created such a delicious story that their readers get to ask questions about sex and share sex tips on the letter’s column.

The comic itself is part of that experience. It shows and tells unashamedly of penises and vaginas, oral sex and masturbation, sex shops and pornography, S&M and prostitution, rape and contraceptives, dildos and sex toys, slutshamming and dick pics, drugs and therapy.

Sex Criminals is a very mature comedy series. It can be extremely provocative and reader-friendly at the same time:

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Did you notice it’s Suzie, the woman, not Jon, the man, experiencing oral pleasure? Can you see Suzie’s discomfort at her first gynecological visit? Do you understand Robert’s embarrassment when hearing the words related to his profession?

None of that is by chance. And the crime is exploring this language together. Suzie, Jon and the reader. Time stops all around us. Each panel, in its fixed and timeless moment, is a post-orgasmic experience of reading.

And how can a couple of white men portray sex in such an inclusive way? They research about it. And they aren’t afraid of asking for help. “I ask Kelly”, says Fraction, talking about his wonderful feminist wife. Simple, effective and something all creators should do to reduce the effects of their own privileges.

Please, do not miss this one out. It makes you laugh and it gives you pleasure.

What else could you ask for?

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For more information on the single issues and collected editions, click here.

Graphic Policy’s Top Comic Picks this Week!

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Avengers_Standoff_Welcome_to_Pleasant_Hill_1_CoverWednesdays are new comic book day! Each week hundreds of comics are released, and that can be pretty daunting to go over and choose what to buy. That’s where we come in!

We’re bringing back something we haven’t done for a while, what the team thinks. Our contributors are choosing up to five books each week and why they’re choosing the books.

Find out what folks think below, and what comics you should be looking out for this Wednesday.

Alex

Top Pick: Wrath Of The Eternal Warrior #4 (Valiant) – I’ve been enjoying this series so far, and while it hasn’t captured me like some other Valiant books (or Old Man Logan), it’s still a damn fine series that’s got a very interesting take on immortality,and the Earth’s Fist an Steel.

Wraithborn #1 (Benitez Productions) – I know nothing about this series, but the cover looks awesome. I’m picking it up for that reason alone.

 

Paul

Top Pick: Extraordinary X-Men #7 (Marvel) – This book has been delivering with every issue; lots of action, a kick ass team line up and Humberto Ramos’ art is just icing on the cake.  Plus I’m looking forward to finding out what made Nightcrawler’s trolley jump the tracks.

Avengers Standoff Welcome to Pleasant Hill #1 (Marvel) – I am very curious about this title; a quiet, run of the mill town where everyone knows everyone, but there’s something hiding beneath the façade.  And is that a cosmic cube on the cover?  The upcoming ‘Standoff’ event starts here.

Uncanny Inhumans #5 (Marvel) – A new story arc “The Quiet Room” starts in this issue, and that alone has me curious when it involves a character whose slightest whisper can shatter a mountain.  Brandon Peterson is taking on the art duties for this book, and I am looking forward to seeing his take on the characters.

 

Brett

Top Pick: Power Man and Iron Fist #1 (Marvel) – Written by David Walker with art by Sanford Greene, this classic team-u is back! This is a comic I’ve been excited for, and waiting for, since it was announced and I can’t wait to see how these two creators handle them.

Race For the Moon (Canton Street Press) – This is a reprint that features sci-fi stories with artwork by Jack Kirby, Joe Simon, Al Williamson, and Bob Powell. I honestly didn’t know about it until I looked a this week’s releases, but it sounds awesome.

Revenger Vol. 1 (Bergen Street Press) – Collecting Charles Forsman’s self-published series. If you haven’t read it in individual issues, now’s your chance to pick it up and see what you’ve been missing. When all hope is lost, and those who meant the most have been ripped away, there is only revenge.

Snowfall #1 (Image Comics) – Joe Harris and Martin Morazzo’s new sci-fi ongoing series kicks off with an oversized debut. It’s 2045, the climate is messed up, a new corporate government is in charge and one man wages a weather war against the system. Sounds awesome.

Wraithborn #1 (Benitez Productions) – A new series from artist Joe Benitez and writer Marcia Chen. I love Benitez’s Lady Mechanika, so really want to check this one out.

 

Mr. H

Top Pick: Avengers Standoff: Welcome to Pleasant Hill #1 (Marvel) – So of the big two Marvel has been the one handling it better with their event books. Secret Wars was stellar. I know Civil War 2 is a coming but I hope we are not in for another retread. Honestly I’m just giving this one the benefit of the doubt. That and Mark Bagley.

Amazing Spider-Man #8 (Marvel) – This comic has just been fun since go. I like the whole Zodiac storyline and really been enjoying how Slott writes Peter, him and the Parker Industry staff are the highlights of the book. Nothing grand or spectacular but a very reliable book every month. It’s nice.

Poison Ivy: Circle of Life and Death #2 (DC Comics) – She’s sultry, she’s sexy and she’s wanted for murder. It is high time Ms. Ivy has gotten her own monthly. I’m not the biggest supporter of this title but I will in the hopes she gets her own monthly. Scott Snyder please… fingers crossed.

 

Madison

Top Pick: Bitch Planet #7 (Image Comics) – Bitch Planet finally seems to be back on a regular publishing schedule, which is exciting because the story is really getting good. A must-read for feminists, not only for the story, but also for the backmatter, which contains feminist essays.

Sex Criminals #14 (Image Comics) – Sex Criminals is a hilarious comic about time-stopping orgasms (literally time-stopping). I’m not sure if my favorite thing about it is that Fraction and Zdarsky manage a humorous but at times sensitive and relatable story, or trying to describe to people why they should read it.

Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #5 (Marvel) – Doreen is still stuck in the sixties, but this issue features an old lady Squirrel Girl to give her a hand. Surely, more hilarity and butt-kicking will ensue.

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It’s a new week! We’ve got lots of interviews and post NYCC coverage still to come. But, until then, here’s some comic book reviews from around the web in our morning roundup.

Around the Tubes Reviews

CBR – Batman and Robin Eternal #2

ICV2 – Black Bullet Vol. 1

CBR – Black Jack Ketchum #1

CBR – Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens – Shattered Empire #3

CBR – Sex Criminals #13

CBR – Superman: American Alien #1

The Outhousers – Twilight Children #1

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