I read a lot of comic books and graphic novels, but this is the only graphic novel I have ever anticipated and held out for months waiting for its release. This is both because, as a polyamorous woman, I've been dying to find open relationships portrayed in a mainstream comic publication, and also because I enjoyed Postal and The Tithe, two other comic book series that Matt Hawkins created.
Before I read the book, I worried I'd be disappointed after all that hype, but I was not. The story in volume one follows a couple in the beginning of their relationship through to marriage and kids, and then feeling stuck in the routine of that life, and then how that leads to the desire to explore ways of bringing the sexual energy back into their life, primarily through swinging. Because it's only volume one, there isn't too much yet in the swinging exploration, but the book did leave me wanting volume two, like, immediately. Unfortunately I have to wait until next year.
I'm not a swinger, but being polyamorous, I can relate a lot to why a couple would choose to explore it, since it's just another style of open relationship. I thought this book captured that really well, and it's nice because you get to care about the characters and admire their love for each other. It's not like "Oh who are these freaks who would decide to do this?" These characters are pretty normal, relatable people. I thought Linda's art worked especially well with their dynamic, and found that helped elicit the laughs I got from relating to the experiences. Even if you're not into open relationships yourself, if you've ever been curious about WHY someone would choose one, I thought this was a great place to start and learn. It is an adult book, with sexually explicit imagery on some pages, but that never detracts from the story and romance of the main couple.
In the back of the book, you can also learn more about the practicality of open relationships/swinging through the "Sex Ed" segment Matt included. Apart from the "here are things I learned while researching this book" segment, this is nothing like any of Matt Hawkins' other books that I've read (Postal, The Tithe, Think Tank, Aphrodite IX: Rebirth), but I enjoyed reading how he felt writing this helped him grow as a writer, because I could see that coming through in this book.
So yeah... I recommend this book and look forward to volume two next year. I really hope Top Cow continues producing more books in this genre.