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Sex Criminals #3-4
Big Hard Sex Criminals, Volume Two
"When Jon and Suzie have sex, time stops—literally. What happens next? They rob banks, of course. Now they must try to stay out of trouble, too—and also love—but mostly trouble, yet everything keeps on complicating and getting all feelings-y and stuff.
Gathering together for the first time in full glorious color on oversized pages and almost entirely in the right order comes the pulse-quickening, pants-tightening, heart-pokening third and fourth arcs of the award-winning, bestselling, can't-believe-this-is-actually-our-jobs sex comedy SEX CRIMINALS, with bonus content (some created exclusively for this volume) and a modesty cover beneath the dust jacket to enable shame-free public consumption.
Gathering together for the first time in full glorious color on oversized pages and almost entirely in the right order comes the pulse-quickening, pants-tightening, heart-pokening third and fourth arcs of the award-winning, bestselling, can't-believe-this-is-actually-our-jobs sex comedy SEX CRIMINALS, with bonus content (some created exclusively for this volume) and a modesty cover beneath the dust jacket to enable shame-free public consumption.
252 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2018
16 people are currently reading
276 people want to read
About the author
Matt Fraction
1,223 books1,868 followers"How he got started in comics: In 1983, when Fraction was 7 years old and growing up in Kansas City, Mo., he became fascinated by the U.S. invasion of Grenada and created his own newspaper to explain the event. "I've always been story-driven, telling stories with pictures and words," he said.
Education and first job: Fraction never graduated from college. He stopped half a semester short of an art degree at Kansas City Art Institute in Missouri in 1998 to take a job as a Web designer and managing editor of a magazine about Internet culture.
"My mother was not happy about that," he said.
But that gig led Fraction and his co-workers to split off and launch MK12, a boutique graphic design and production firm in Kansas City that created the opening credits for the James Bond film "Quantum of Solace."
Big break: While writing and directing live-action shoots at MK12, Fraction spent his spare time writing comics and pitching his books each year to publishers at Comic-Con. Two books sold: "The Last of the Independents," published in 2003 by AiT/Planet Lar, and "Casanova," published in 2006 by Image Comics.
Fraction traveled extensively on commercial shoots. Then his wife got pregnant. So Fraction did what any rational man in his position would do -- he quit his job at MK12 to pursue his dream of becoming a full-time comic book writer.
Say what? "It was terrifying," said Fraction, who now lives in Portland, Ore. "I was married. We had a house. We had a baby coming. And I just quit my job."
Marvel hired Fraction in June 2006, thanks largely to the success of his other two comics. "I got very lucky," he half-joked. "If it hadn't worked out, I would have had to move back in with my parents.
- 2009. Alex Pham. Los Angeles Times.
Education and first job: Fraction never graduated from college. He stopped half a semester short of an art degree at Kansas City Art Institute in Missouri in 1998 to take a job as a Web designer and managing editor of a magazine about Internet culture.
"My mother was not happy about that," he said.
But that gig led Fraction and his co-workers to split off and launch MK12, a boutique graphic design and production firm in Kansas City that created the opening credits for the James Bond film "Quantum of Solace."
Big break: While writing and directing live-action shoots at MK12, Fraction spent his spare time writing comics and pitching his books each year to publishers at Comic-Con. Two books sold: "The Last of the Independents," published in 2003 by AiT/Planet Lar, and "Casanova," published in 2006 by Image Comics.
Fraction traveled extensively on commercial shoots. Then his wife got pregnant. So Fraction did what any rational man in his position would do -- he quit his job at MK12 to pursue his dream of becoming a full-time comic book writer.
Say what? "It was terrifying," said Fraction, who now lives in Portland, Ore. "I was married. We had a house. We had a baby coming. And I just quit my job."
Marvel hired Fraction in June 2006, thanks largely to the success of his other two comics. "I got very lucky," he half-joked. "If it hadn't worked out, I would have had to move back in with my parents.
- 2009. Alex Pham. Los Angeles Times.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
March 12, 2020
The best part of this comic is 100% how much Matt Fraction & Chip Zdarsky seem to enjoy collaborating on this thing. It's like watching two really nice guys make up some crazy-shit story about magic clits and glowing peckers, robbing banks for a good cause, and navigating relationships with lovers.
The worst part is that none of the wacky stuff really makes any sense. If it were just about relationships? These two would have nailed it in all its awkward glory.
But all the stuff with the Sex Police is just so far off the wall and (I hate to say it) uninteresting.
The characters themselves are cool. The fun little jokes are cool. But the plot? No. The stuff where Jon is running around trying to discover the conspiracy of the Sex Police and what they do is just wacky-stupid.
Then again, it's not over yet. Maybe it will all come together in the end and be so amazing that it makes me take it all back.
The worst part is that none of the wacky stuff really makes any sense. If it were just about relationships? These two would have nailed it in all its awkward glory.
But all the stuff with the Sex Police is just so far off the wall and (I hate to say it) uninteresting.
The characters themselves are cool. The fun little jokes are cool. But the plot? No. The stuff where Jon is running around trying to discover the conspiracy of the Sex Police and what they do is just wacky-stupid.
Then again, it's not over yet. Maybe it will all come together in the end and be so amazing that it makes me take it all back.
February 21, 2018
Re-reading both volumes in one sitting, not to mention in this sexy oversized hardcover edition, definitely leaves a better impression. I still think that volume 3 was slightly better than 4, and I still don’t understand the entire storyline of the wide wiener-selling Shrokfucker. This is the “troubled second album” of Sex Criminals, and while it certainly has its problems, the series didn’t lose its heart (or peen (or vag)) along the way. And this hardcover edition is highly recommended to every fan of the series, because the bonus section contains almost every visual background gag by Chip Zdarsky — trust me, if you haven’t checked out this bonus section, you haven’t seen half of what’s hiding in the backgrounds of this comic. It’s priceless.
Check out my more detailed reviews for both volumes collected in this edition:
Volume 3: Three The Hard Way
Volume 4: Fourgy!
Check out my more detailed reviews for both volumes collected in this edition:
Volume 3: Three The Hard Way
Volume 4: Fourgy!
December 14, 2023
3.5 stars. The sex is there, but the crime stops a little bit to make room for plotting against the mysteriously organized sex police and the psychology and drama of sex and some of the relationships that have me invested in reading this story. The deeper dives in on some of the side characters were really interesting and comical for this volume, as well. As with last volume, Chip Zdarsky’s art and humor really shines as the brightest aspect in these volumes. The collaboration and riffing off of each other that we see from Chip and Matt Fraction might be one of the funnest in comics period. Phenomenal bonus features section in this one, as was also the case with the first volume. Looking forward to seeing where this story finishes (no pun intended) and what the next volume will bring.
April 27, 2025
A really good continuation to the story, it’s an enjoyable world to read about and all the characters are all interesting to follow. It’s nothing mind blowing but it’s fun and that makes for a good book in my eyes.
January 18, 2018
This series is still hilarious (the meta bits are the best) and the creators have opened the world up in a really fascinating way. It doesn't quite hit the high that the first volume did, but it's still really good. I'm very intrigued as to where they take plot.
December 9, 2021
I can't wait to read what happens next in this truly original saga. Each character has a distinct personality and is relatable in their own way. Fraction and zdarsky play so well off each other I couldn't imagine stripping the words from the art and seeing this story presented in any other way. I laughed out loud and I stopped to think. Can't recommend this series enough.
new full review for all three volumes at https://amanjareads.com/2021/11/16/se...
new full review for all three volumes at https://amanjareads.com/2021/11/16/se...
July 5, 2023
It's a fun read, absolutely inappropriate and wild, but I enjoy it. That being said, I'm honestly unsure about the overall direction of the plot. Naturally, I'll read the last book to see how everything ties together (plus, I bought them as a complete collection).
June 7, 2024
I have been in denial regarding Jon & Suzie for the entirety of this arc, I didn't like where it was going and tried to convince myself that it wasn't going there. That is part of what makes Sex Criminals such a fantastic book; few books make me care about the characters as much as this one. Things continue to fall apart in this arc, as Jon and Susie can't find ground to stand on. I have no idea where we're going but it's clear the divide between Jon and Suze is going to lead to an even greater story overall. This is the rare book that lets its characters drive the narrative, and it's continually the better for it. Overall, it's a good installment in the Sex Criminals saga, and exactly what you've come to expect from Zdarsky and Fraction.
August 27, 2020
Jsem lehce zklamaný. Možná i proto, že jsem na konci této knihy čekal grandiózní finále. Jenže ona by měla být ještě jedna kniha (10 čísel) a tak je to neuzavřené. Mám pocit, že v této knize ztratil příběh tah na bránu. Více se točí v nekonečných debatách a neustálém omlouvání se. Je fajn, že přibyly nové postavy, které jsou dobře napsané a každá má svou unikátní sexualitu a unikátní superschopnosti. Taky mám pocit, že se oproti první knize lehce změnila angličtina, kterou je to psané a přibylo tam hovorových frází a "prázdných vět". V důsledku toho jsem už ke konci knihy četl jen povrchně a přestal jsem tak často dohledávat všechny neznámé slova a fráze. 3,5*
April 30, 2019
Cute, funny, dare I say sexy? No, not really. But love this series so far. Kegalface is the best villain!
October 14, 2020
Cute turned into weird real quick.
August 14, 2020
A través de Humble Bundle obtuve este junto con el anterior volumen del cómic, después de terminar el primero, del que también escribí una review, decidí continuar con este para ver cómo progresaba la historia. En general ha sido divertido ver cómo la trama se desarrolla y sobre todo conocer el trasfondo de los personajes. Aun así no creo que continúe con esta lectura ya que dudo que adquiera los siguientes volúmenes por mi cuenta, ¡igualmente ha sido bastante entretenido!
August 4, 2020
A rollercoaster ride with these two, with a bit of meta thrown in, and some real laugh out loud moments. And then it ends with so much left open, which was slightly stunning since I didn't realise there was a third volume.
April 12, 2021
(Zero spoiler review) 3.5/5
Damn, this is some disappointing shit right here. And after I praised the pants off the last two issues (and the deluxe OHC), we are treated to this bland, uninspired dreck. So, its certainly not the worst thing I've ever read, although it may just be the manual on how to go from interesting and engaging to damn near insipid from one issue to the next. Pretty much everything that made the opening arcs of this story what it was is greatly diminished or destroyed altogether. I commented in the last review, how it felt like the creators clearly had an overarching plan for this series, and were demonstrating this to excellent effect. I take it back. When I said that it was a wonderful, intimate little study on likeable characters engaged in interesting activities. I take it back. I take it back, I take it all back. Whoever thought this go nowhere five issue snoozefest, which takes focus away from the heart of the story, namely Jon and Suzie and their kinky little relationship, needs to go home and have a good long hard look in the mirror. We get extended periods of time with either two bit or brand new characters which are about as interesting a bare assed ride down a sandpaper slide. We get the most godawful meta, fourth wall breaking moment I've ever come across in any medium. Not to mention the overly preachy tone that rears its head from time to time. I could easily have put the book down and never picked it up again.
The suprehero-ish aspect of the book was never meant to be the basis for the story, just an interesting hook. So of course, its what the creators lean most into. And god help me, the humour went from pretty funny in volume one, to a mildly pleasant accompaniment, to ass bleedingly awful. There was nothing that came within a hundred miles of a smile crossing my face in this one. It was pretty shameful really.
Here's hoping this series gets its shit together in volume four, remembers what made the series gat in the first place, and focuses its energy in that direction. Otherwise, this series really should have gone for a limited run, cause it currently seems like the creators don't have a clue where to go with this book. Fingers optimistically crossed moving forward.
(Part two)
Well, thank the great blue balled Christ normal service has been somewhat resumed. The story has, for the most part, returned to its narrative heart, wit Jon and Suzie standing front ands centre once again. I had previously remarked that the 'criminalistic' nature of the book, I.E Cumworld and all it had offered thud far was holding this book back. The whole sex police narrative was over half the story ago, or at least it should have been. I'm sure it will still play a role within the story, however perfunctorily. Letting it dribble out over the finish line in ten issues time. But it was nice to see the creators taking stock of what was working, and what clearly wasn't and we now get More of Jon and Suzie, being Jon and Suzie. I am more than happy for this to continue to settle into a kinky little suburban tale, with some interesting side characters playing second fiddle. Sure, use 'The Quiet' for a little narrative flair here and there, but the whole kegel face and crew are clearly the anchor that keeps dragging this story down. I was really worried when one issue didn't feature Jon or Suzie at all, thinking we were back on track for another volume three, with its go nowhere plot, rubbish humour and even rubbisher characters, although that was a minor aberration in what was a much stronger, more enjoyable read. So as long as they keep leaning into the real world emotion and keep the nonsense to a limit, I'll likely enjoy the final two arcs of this book. Should they wanna try and ramp up the stupid, like they seemed to be doing a couple of times here, then it will again, be volume three repeated, and nobody wants that. Like all sex, a strong start don't count for much if you finish with a wet fizzle. 3.5/5
OmniBen.
Damn, this is some disappointing shit right here. And after I praised the pants off the last two issues (and the deluxe OHC), we are treated to this bland, uninspired dreck. So, its certainly not the worst thing I've ever read, although it may just be the manual on how to go from interesting and engaging to damn near insipid from one issue to the next. Pretty much everything that made the opening arcs of this story what it was is greatly diminished or destroyed altogether. I commented in the last review, how it felt like the creators clearly had an overarching plan for this series, and were demonstrating this to excellent effect. I take it back. When I said that it was a wonderful, intimate little study on likeable characters engaged in interesting activities. I take it back. I take it back, I take it all back. Whoever thought this go nowhere five issue snoozefest, which takes focus away from the heart of the story, namely Jon and Suzie and their kinky little relationship, needs to go home and have a good long hard look in the mirror. We get extended periods of time with either two bit or brand new characters which are about as interesting a bare assed ride down a sandpaper slide. We get the most godawful meta, fourth wall breaking moment I've ever come across in any medium. Not to mention the overly preachy tone that rears its head from time to time. I could easily have put the book down and never picked it up again.
The suprehero-ish aspect of the book was never meant to be the basis for the story, just an interesting hook. So of course, its what the creators lean most into. And god help me, the humour went from pretty funny in volume one, to a mildly pleasant accompaniment, to ass bleedingly awful. There was nothing that came within a hundred miles of a smile crossing my face in this one. It was pretty shameful really.
Here's hoping this series gets its shit together in volume four, remembers what made the series gat in the first place, and focuses its energy in that direction. Otherwise, this series really should have gone for a limited run, cause it currently seems like the creators don't have a clue where to go with this book. Fingers optimistically crossed moving forward.
(Part two)
Well, thank the great blue balled Christ normal service has been somewhat resumed. The story has, for the most part, returned to its narrative heart, wit Jon and Suzie standing front ands centre once again. I had previously remarked that the 'criminalistic' nature of the book, I.E Cumworld and all it had offered thud far was holding this book back. The whole sex police narrative was over half the story ago, or at least it should have been. I'm sure it will still play a role within the story, however perfunctorily. Letting it dribble out over the finish line in ten issues time. But it was nice to see the creators taking stock of what was working, and what clearly wasn't and we now get More of Jon and Suzie, being Jon and Suzie. I am more than happy for this to continue to settle into a kinky little suburban tale, with some interesting side characters playing second fiddle. Sure, use 'The Quiet' for a little narrative flair here and there, but the whole kegel face and crew are clearly the anchor that keeps dragging this story down. I was really worried when one issue didn't feature Jon or Suzie at all, thinking we were back on track for another volume three, with its go nowhere plot, rubbish humour and even rubbisher characters, although that was a minor aberration in what was a much stronger, more enjoyable read. So as long as they keep leaning into the real world emotion and keep the nonsense to a limit, I'll likely enjoy the final two arcs of this book. Should they wanna try and ramp up the stupid, like they seemed to be doing a couple of times here, then it will again, be volume three repeated, and nobody wants that. Like all sex, a strong start don't count for much if you finish with a wet fizzle. 3.5/5
OmniBen.
March 31, 2020
Lamentablemente esta serie es bimestral, así que sacan un volumen al año y hay que esperar dos años para poder ver esta bella edición en pasta dura que titularon Big Hard Sex Criminals. Antes de que sigamos con mi opinión, y aunque a veces esperar duele mucho, vale la pena porque en la parte de atrás trae varias páginas con todas las bromas que Chip Zdarsky escondió en los fondos y muchas son muy graciosas.
Lo que más me llamó la atención del primer volumen es la manera tan libre en la que hablan sobre el sexo y algunas de sus variaciones. Aquí expanden eso y nos muestran personajes muy interesantes con distintas filias, y algunos de los personajes "Doctores" de la serie, se echan monólogos largos explicando cosas importantes sobre la sexualidad humana, el poder, el consentimiento, las filias, etc. El personaje de Wide Wiener fue uno de los más interesantes por la manera en la que nos presentan, aunque tanto Manime como Alix, aportan cosas importantes sobre la sexualidad humana que deberíamos de tratar de comprender y este cómic nos ayuda en eso.
Los personajes se siguen sintiendo muy reales. Vemos como Suze y Jon siguen luchando contra sus propios demonios para mantener a flote su relación; también vemos más sobre Rach, el Dr. Rainbow, la Dra. Kincaid y el Dr. Dave. Todos enfrentando sus propios problemas. Fraction suda autenticidad en este cómic y todos los problemas que suceden, aunque detienen el tiempo o hay hadas de ectoplasma volando, se sienten como cualquier problema que podrías enfrentar en tu vida cotidiana.
La historia avanza pero lo hace poco, todavía no sabemos mucho sobre los antagonistas de la serie, el origen de los poderes, y muchas veces parece que Fraction y Zdarsky están planeando algo grande pero todavía no llegamos a eso. Hay algunos momentos que parecen extraños en ciertos issues pero varios issues después son retomados y eso hace que apreciemos mejor el trabajo de los autores porque quiere decir que todo está planeado aunque a veces parece que no siguen un plan.
Aunque se vuelven meta un par de veces, y puede ser extraño, a mí me pareció muy bien por la información que arrojan sobre como los autores perciben a sus personajes. Nos da algunas pistas de cómo es que logran la autenticidad de los personajes.
Si tuviera que decir qué volumen me gustó más entre el uno y el dos, creo que me iría por este. Ambos tienen momentos muy fuertes, pero el primero lo sentí menos estructurado y lo tuve que leer dos veces para entenderlo bien. El último número de este volumen me rompió el corazón por lo fuerte de las escenas. La manera en la que mezclan los detalles fantásticos de su obra con lo realista de lo que está sucediendo es simplemente asombroso.
Me duele pero a esperar dos años más para leer lo siguiente de esta serie que todos deberíamos de leer por lo pertinente del tema en nuestra sociedad actual.
Lo que más me llamó la atención del primer volumen es la manera tan libre en la que hablan sobre el sexo y algunas de sus variaciones. Aquí expanden eso y nos muestran personajes muy interesantes con distintas filias, y algunos de los personajes "Doctores" de la serie, se echan monólogos largos explicando cosas importantes sobre la sexualidad humana, el poder, el consentimiento, las filias, etc. El personaje de Wide Wiener fue uno de los más interesantes por la manera en la que nos presentan, aunque tanto Manime como Alix, aportan cosas importantes sobre la sexualidad humana que deberíamos de tratar de comprender y este cómic nos ayuda en eso.
Los personajes se siguen sintiendo muy reales. Vemos como Suze y Jon siguen luchando contra sus propios demonios para mantener a flote su relación; también vemos más sobre Rach, el Dr. Rainbow, la Dra. Kincaid y el Dr. Dave. Todos enfrentando sus propios problemas. Fraction suda autenticidad en este cómic y todos los problemas que suceden, aunque detienen el tiempo o hay hadas de ectoplasma volando, se sienten como cualquier problema que podrías enfrentar en tu vida cotidiana.
La historia avanza pero lo hace poco, todavía no sabemos mucho sobre los antagonistas de la serie, el origen de los poderes, y muchas veces parece que Fraction y Zdarsky están planeando algo grande pero todavía no llegamos a eso. Hay algunos momentos que parecen extraños en ciertos issues pero varios issues después son retomados y eso hace que apreciemos mejor el trabajo de los autores porque quiere decir que todo está planeado aunque a veces parece que no siguen un plan.
Aunque se vuelven meta un par de veces, y puede ser extraño, a mí me pareció muy bien por la información que arrojan sobre como los autores perciben a sus personajes. Nos da algunas pistas de cómo es que logran la autenticidad de los personajes.
Si tuviera que decir qué volumen me gustó más entre el uno y el dos, creo que me iría por este. Ambos tienen momentos muy fuertes, pero el primero lo sentí menos estructurado y lo tuve que leer dos veces para entenderlo bien. El último número de este volumen me rompió el corazón por lo fuerte de las escenas. La manera en la que mezclan los detalles fantásticos de su obra con lo realista de lo que está sucediendo es simplemente asombroso.
Me duele pero a esperar dos años más para leer lo siguiente de esta serie que todos deberíamos de leer por lo pertinente del tema en nuestra sociedad actual.
November 14, 2021
Unfortunately throwing in the towel on this series. The further it goes, the more it divorces itself from its core premise, and all the high-concept-ness of it all starts to feel like window dressing on a series that is mostly just about the minutiae of a couple's sex life. It's still mostly funny, but the comedy often feels separated from the actual relationships at play, instead living in side jokes and visual gags. And it doesn't help that every character speaks in exactly the same way.
I'm bummed, because I truly love both of these creators, and had even been holding off on reading this until I could get my hands on the entire series, so sure was I that I would love it. But it just isn't really delivering... whatever I thought it would be. I guess I thought there would be some bank robbing in the series about a couple who has sex, stops time, and robs banks? But really it's just about a couple of only-mildly-neurotic people who seem to, for the most part, have a pretty steady relationship. But it also isn't really a "feel good" comic, since there's this overarching conflict about how they're having their lives ruined by a group called the Sex Police (great name btw). But the Sex Police, after a time, don't seem to be serving any purpose other than being a frustration engine for our heroes. Our heroes who, again, don't really rob any banks anymore, so I'm not clear why the Sex Police are all over their asses.
Basically, I've spent two volumes waiting on the other shoe to drop, and it still hasn't. So I'm going to move on. Again, Fraction and Zdarsky have made some incredible work over the years, but I just don't think this one is quite for me.
I'm bummed, because I truly love both of these creators, and had even been holding off on reading this until I could get my hands on the entire series, so sure was I that I would love it. But it just isn't really delivering... whatever I thought it would be. I guess I thought there would be some bank robbing in the series about a couple who has sex, stops time, and robs banks? But really it's just about a couple of only-mildly-neurotic people who seem to, for the most part, have a pretty steady relationship. But it also isn't really a "feel good" comic, since there's this overarching conflict about how they're having their lives ruined by a group called the Sex Police (great name btw). But the Sex Police, after a time, don't seem to be serving any purpose other than being a frustration engine for our heroes. Our heroes who, again, don't really rob any banks anymore, so I'm not clear why the Sex Police are all over their asses.
Basically, I've spent two volumes waiting on the other shoe to drop, and it still hasn't. So I'm going to move on. Again, Fraction and Zdarsky have made some incredible work over the years, but I just don't think this one is quite for me.
February 27, 2024
the series continues to be a lot of bright, saucy fun, primarily concerned with relationships and sexuality, but with a low hum of sociopolitical critique always present in the background. and sometimes taking up the foreground, usually when the nefarious Sex Police are featured. I wish there were more of that, the sociopolitical critique and the Big (Narrative) Picture, rather than the tracking of the various ins & outs of the primary couple's relationship. that relationship is certainly well-done, very realistic even grueling at times in how fair Matt Fraction is to both protagonists' wants and needs, and in their spontaneous expressions of love and irritation. but in this volume at least, their relationship started to bore me a bit, alas. too microscopic in its details, maybe? the series is juggling relationships with villainous conspiracies and I think I wanted more conspiracies? none of that is to say that I didn't really enjoy this, because I did! and it is an unfair critique as well, because that relationship and the very individualized sexualities on display by the protagonists and the many supporting characters are the entire point of this series.
Fraction is such a cheeky, generous writer (including during one meta sequence featuring writer and artist discussing how to deal with a rote scene about sex-shaming). Zdarsky is wonderfully talented and creative (and as in the prior volume, balances the occasional surreal flights with an absolute realism in depicting how bodies actually look). this series is pure pleasure, despite my whining.
Fraction is such a cheeky, generous writer (including during one meta sequence featuring writer and artist discussing how to deal with a rote scene about sex-shaming). Zdarsky is wonderfully talented and creative (and as in the prior volume, balances the occasional surreal flights with an absolute realism in depicting how bodies actually look). this series is pure pleasure, despite my whining.
August 12, 2018
Big Hard Sex Criminals Vol. 2: Deluxxxe!!! Again, the most difficult part about posting reviews of Sex Criminal on Facebook, is looking for pages that wouldn’t get you banned or reported! Anyway, we’re back to our favorite, sex-crazed couple. This time, they are on the offensive and going on a full-frontal attack on the Sex Police. To do this, they had to enlist the help of the other sex-powered people, using the files Jon stole from Kegelface’s office. There’s Douglas D. Douglas who, aside from stopping time, summons a tentacular-jizz-schoolgirl-fairy-avatar (take guess where the tentacles emerge from); and Alix who could also bend space. They have a, rather, rocky start as Alix how really tough Kegelface and the rest of the ménage à trois is.
However, as Suzie and Jon go balls-deep down on the case, they could also see a friction, slowly chaffing their relationship. This volume ends with a sad note, well relatively considering the jokes they crammed into this, but it sets up the next volume quite well. I first got acquainted with Matt Fraction through his work on Invincible Iron Man, butt fuck, /I think Sex Criminals is where he vents out his (sexual) frustrations with his other titles. Good thing that Chip Zdarsky is there to receive it, bending over backwards, and spurt out the perfect art to match the story. I just love the way he draws the faces! Hope they release the 3rd volume soon!
However, as Suzie and Jon go balls-deep down on the case, they could also see a friction, slowly chaffing their relationship. This volume ends with a sad note, well relatively considering the jokes they crammed into this, but it sets up the next volume quite well. I first got acquainted with Matt Fraction through his work on Invincible Iron Man, butt fuck, /I think Sex Criminals is where he vents out his (sexual) frustrations with his other titles. Good thing that Chip Zdarsky is there to receive it, bending over backwards, and spurt out the perfect art to match the story. I just love the way he draws the faces! Hope they release the 3rd volume soon!
July 1, 2021
This book contains the third and fourth volume in the series, which I am rereading because the last volume got published. So, I am going to be lazy and copy my reviews of the third and fourth volume:
Third volume:
Two people stop time when they have an orgasm. Can it get any weirder? Yes, because there are more of them. How about a Lovecraftian horror semen faerie? That’s pretty weird, huh? I was having my doubts about continuing this series after the second volume because I felt like it wasn’t going anywhere. The second half of the third volume changed my mind. This comic can go from informative to awkward to sexy to awareness raising (mental illness, sexuality) to hilarious to weird and back. Pretty impressive for a comic.
Fourth volume:
The fourth volume is harder and darker than the first; our sympathetic sex criminals and their acquaintances get hammered by the sex police. By the end of the volume it looks like they are going to fight back and that the sex police is not as united and kosher as they appear to be.
Third volume:
Two people stop time when they have an orgasm. Can it get any weirder? Yes, because there are more of them. How about a Lovecraftian horror semen faerie? That’s pretty weird, huh? I was having my doubts about continuing this series after the second volume because I felt like it wasn’t going anywhere. The second half of the third volume changed my mind. This comic can go from informative to awkward to sexy to awareness raising (mental illness, sexuality) to hilarious to weird and back. Pretty impressive for a comic.
Fourth volume:
The fourth volume is harder and darker than the first; our sympathetic sex criminals and their acquaintances get hammered by the sex police. By the end of the volume it looks like they are going to fight back and that the sex police is not as united and kosher as they appear to be.
February 19, 2018
Another strong volume in this quirky series. Matt Fraction continues to deliver an effective script that utilizes humour while establishing additional layers of the narrative. This volume explores the Sex Criminal world and provides more information on a number of key characters introduced in the opening volume. While the overall story does not progress as much as I would have liked I really enjoyed the level of thought put into each detail and the character dynamics.
Chip Zdarsky continues to provide amazing art with hilarious sight gags included into each issue. The complete break down of each visual joke at the end of the book really shows how much time and effort is put into each issue. Zdarsky and Fraction have a great chemistry that really adds to the appeal of the comic overall. They have created a crazy world that still feels grounded in human emotion. This book continues to be unpredictable and I cannot wait to see what they come up wit next!
Chip Zdarsky continues to provide amazing art with hilarious sight gags included into each issue. The complete break down of each visual joke at the end of the book really shows how much time and effort is put into each issue. Zdarsky and Fraction have a great chemistry that really adds to the appeal of the comic overall. They have created a crazy world that still feels grounded in human emotion. This book continues to be unpredictable and I cannot wait to see what they come up wit next!
March 14, 2018
The plot honestly is very... meandering. I'm not sure it knows what it wants to be when it grows up. in dialogue the characters jokingly reference that they've outgrown "the premise" (fucking, stopping time, robbing banks). luckily, it still gives very intense feels, the characters are still real and lovable, the jokes are hilarious, and the art is beautiful and wacky. some of the best stuff is whenever they focus on new characters, telling their story. there is a whole back story issue about an asexual character. another back story issue is told in a pitch-perfect parody of Ed Brubaker and Sean Philips' "Criminal" series (a favorite of mine), colored by Criminal's colorist Bettie Breitweiser. so don't get me wrong, there's a lot to love here, and I do. honestly, if it wasn't such a slow-to-be-released series (20 issues in 5 years) then the wandering plot wouldn't matter as much. so there's that to consider as well.
March 7, 2020
I can't believe that this series is actually like, super progressive. Written by two cishet, vulgar-humored white dudes, I'd expect it to be faux-progressive like a Cracked.com listicle by one of their staff writers. But NOPE, Fraction and Zdarsky really go that extra mile and are the real-deal.
The best thing about this "big hard" edition are the collection-exclusive extras, including interviews with the real-life models for Jon and Suze (yes, the characters actually have real people enacting the increasingly creative sex positions, like a fully-clothed X-rated version of a Drawing 101 class for Zdarsky). Plus a really dumb parody of an "oral history" narrative for the Wide Wieners song, which is funnier than the entirety of the already hilarious story included in the main pages. Plus the inclusion of all of the unnecessary background gags by Zdarsky continues to be insanely entertaining.
This series has no right to exist, but thank fucking G O D it does.
The best thing about this "big hard" edition are the collection-exclusive extras, including interviews with the real-life models for Jon and Suze (yes, the characters actually have real people enacting the increasingly creative sex positions, like a fully-clothed X-rated version of a Drawing 101 class for Zdarsky). Plus a really dumb parody of an "oral history" narrative for the Wide Wieners song, which is funnier than the entirety of the already hilarious story included in the main pages. Plus the inclusion of all of the unnecessary background gags by Zdarsky continues to be insanely entertaining.
This series has no right to exist, but thank fucking G O D it does.
June 21, 2020
Having read none of the issues that will make up the third and final volume, I'm not sure this analogy will hold up...
But volume 2 seems like the The Empire Strikes Back of the series.
The villains getting more devious.
New characters in the mix, who by the end look to be allies.
A downer ending.
The writing and art are just as good as before and although at times it's still very funny, the progression of the plot has made the vibe a little darker than in volume 1. Things are bit more serious.
But as before there are still some great jokes within the artwork and #14 has a very funny meta sequence of Fraction and Zdarsky discussing what's going on. I love how this series can be exploring some quite weighty issues surrounding sex, gender and relationships but not be afraid to get super weird too.
I love it. Did I enjoy it as much as volume 1?
Possibly not. But I'm still really looking forward to getting the eventual volume 3.
But volume 2 seems like the The Empire Strikes Back of the series.
The villains getting more devious.
New characters in the mix, who by the end look to be allies.
A downer ending.
The writing and art are just as good as before and although at times it's still very funny, the progression of the plot has made the vibe a little darker than in volume 1. Things are bit more serious.
But as before there are still some great jokes within the artwork and #14 has a very funny meta sequence of Fraction and Zdarsky discussing what's going on. I love how this series can be exploring some quite weighty issues surrounding sex, gender and relationships but not be afraid to get super weird too.
I love it. Did I enjoy it as much as volume 1?
Possibly not. But I'm still really looking forward to getting the eventual volume 3.
April 13, 2018
Definitely irreverent, but also, somehow, heartwarming. And, again, oddly realistic: their relationship goes through peaks and valleys just like anyone else's, and sometimes it looks like they'll lose each other through sheer hard-headedness and stupidity, but it's realistic stupidity. Sure, they have great sex, and sure, they stop time, but they still argue about dumb shit and are willfully mean to each other in heated arguments that they later regret and work through and apologize for. The series is intent on upsetting the automatic idea that they're MEANT to be together, which is just great. And obviously Chip Zdarsky's illustrations and Matt Fraction's details are just getting more and more hilariously weird so I highly recommend. The book doesn't take itself too seriously, but you should.
February 28, 2019
Arcs 3 and 4 of the comic about people whose orgasms stop time. This gets even more metatextual than the first book, including a lengthy scene where the creators themselves talk about a sequence they can't think how to write. In keeping with the themes of the comic, it's very self-effacing and honest about human flaws - though when characters' mistakes become increasingly frustrating toward the end of arc 4, my engagement as a reader started to stretch more thinly. That said, I won't be putting this series down - there are some really nice moments and good jokes and difficult interpersonal conversations here, even through the haze of dick and kegel jokes. Plus they managed to write in an asexual character who doesn't seem tokenistic or out of place? So that's nice.
December 4, 2019
I enjoyed the further explorations of this crazy world. The new sex criminals are a mixed bag: Manime is... strange. Alix the asexual sex criminal is amazing. Wide weiners dude's backstory was an interesting take on how kinks take root. Our main couple Jon and Suze are facing some relationship bumps. I love that Suzie is putting out Little Free Libraries. Dr. Ana Kincaid is brilliant, and her story allows some real raw and provocative analysis of sex work and desire. My one quibble is that I've never attended a university lecture as polished as her scene.
March 25, 2020
I love the two volumes. It's complicated, it's fantastical but most of all it's ridiculously self reflective. The second volume is not at the same level as the first one, and many would have trouble figuring out the plot if they haven't read the first volume. But it's really worth the read. I thought the inclusion of more characters would confuse the plot but that's not happened for me. Only grouse is the transition between storylines. It's a tad bit abrupt.
Cannot wait for the next one in the series.
Cannot wait for the next one in the series.
February 22, 2018
One of my favorite series because the sci fi behind it is so creative. Unfortunately, this part suffers from pacing issues. We are introduced to a few more characters, but some mysteries are still out there, including what exactly is wrong with Jon. Maybe I'm wrong, maybe Fraction is painting an entire picture for the reader. But it feels like there is a deeper mystery that is only being hinted at.
May 6, 2018
Is this the end of the series? Quite good continuation.
Comprising numbers 11 to 20, this volume takes Jon and Suzie on an emotional journey as they encounter others whose orgasms have unusual effects while the Sex Police attempt to control the lot of them. We find out more about many of the characters and the story moves along quite quickly with flashbacks.
Quite good series, perhaps now brought to a close, with clear illustrations and a reasonably engaging plot.
Comprising numbers 11 to 20, this volume takes Jon and Suzie on an emotional journey as they encounter others whose orgasms have unusual effects while the Sex Police attempt to control the lot of them. We find out more about many of the characters and the story moves along quite quickly with flashbacks.
Quite good series, perhaps now brought to a close, with clear illustrations and a reasonably engaging plot.
July 16, 2021
What a great story! The writing is expanding the universe of Appletown and I gotta say I love where it's going. It still has a lot of heart and a lot of humor. One thing that I've particularly enjoyed is the relationship between our main characters Jon and Suzie. I just think their relationship feels very real. They have their ups and downs and it's written in a realistic way. Props to Fraction and Zdarsky!
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