Tag Archives: Chip Zdarsky

“My Dad, the Bill Cosby of Kink” | Thoughts on Sex Criminals #8

Sex Criminals #8 (Image) – SexCrimz never seems to disappoint and it’s undeniably my highest rated series since I’ve started doing the Fetish Favorites here, scoring 5.0 issues more than any other series I read. And it’s never earned a rating lower than 4.0 (out of 5) from me in all its eight issues-so-far run. Just as Velvet is Ed Brubaker writing at his best, Sex Criminals is easily Matt Fraction writing at his very best. Of course, I would be remiss not to mention Chip Zdarsky’s equal contribution to the greatness of this series as its artist (love the way he portrays Suzie Dickson). It’s amazing that despite its rather high concept SexCrimz manages to be a very grounded story thanks to its character-driven qualities. This is enhanced by Fraction’s decision to use multiple first-person narrators. In this issue we also get the internal monologue – and sexual-enlightenment backstory – of new character Robert Rainbow. Speaking of the fellow who maybe could’ve gotten lucky with Suzie, I must say there was a moment there where I thought this book was taking the Sagaroute with the implications of potential illicit relations, but – wait, actually it did do what Saga did since there actually wasn’t any illicit relations (yet). I’m not going to say more, only that I used this issue’s best line in my headline. Actually, there were other candidates, but I try to keep this program in that PG-13 range. – Rating: 5.0 (out of 5)

2013 Fetish Favorites: SEX CRIMINALS — Most Original New Comic Series

To me Sex Criminalsfeels like it was created by direct descendants of both Gilbert and Jamie Hernandez of Love and Rockets fame, but minus the Latino aspects. The narrative from a female character’s perspective is very sound and flawless. The sexual aspects handled with skill and great knowing humor. And in the first issue, Suzie’s origin-flashback, the trials and tribulations of youth were informed and executed with accuracy. The high concept of two people who can stop time when they have an orgasm finally finding each other and naively thinking they can use this special power to embark on a life of crime is one of the more unique in the market, set up perfectly for great action, drama, laugh-out-louds and yes, sex to be had in the coming issues of what promises to be a fine ongoing creator-owned series for years to come.
But be forewarned, as the back covers explicitly and boldly state in big letters: “FOR MATURE READERS DUH” And in the smaller letters: “Don’t sell this to a kid, what are you, nuts? Seriously” (issue #1) or “There’s, like, an entire scene that takes place in a sex shoppe” (issue #2). The place where I bought my comics had them bagged-and-boarded as extra security to thwart the wrong young and eager eyes.