SFSX (Safe Sex) Vol. 2: Terms of Service

SFSX (Safe Sex) #8-12

by Tina Horn, G. Romero-Johnston (Artist), Tula Lotay (Artist)

Popular writer/creator TINA HORN and up and coming artist G Romero-Johnson team up again for the latest SFSX (SAFE SEX) cyberpunk thriller. After their previous adventures in sex, love, and torture left them separated and traumatized, the Dirty Mind heroes must face the totalitarian Party's latest "social program" -- one involving uncanny sexpots and a twisted men's rights movement. This intelligent and colorful dystopian satire is perfect for fans of Ex Machina, "San Junipero," and Pose. Pick up the latest instalment in the critically acclaimed series SyFy Wire says, "effortlessly captures the feeling of this revolutionary and terrifying moment in time."

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Queer, Science Fiction, LGBT, Fiction, Dystopia

144 pages, Paperback

First published November 30, 2021

About the author

Tina Horn is a writer, teacher, and media-maker. She produces and hosts the sexuality podcast Why Are People Into That?!. Her first book, Love Not Given Lightly, is a collection of nonfiction stories about sex workers; she has also been published in Vice, Nerve, Girl Sex 101, and Best Sex Writing 2015. Tina’s workshops on dirty talk, sex worker self care, and spanking have been featured at Good Vibrations, Armory Studios, Lesbian Sex Mafia, International Ms Leather, the New School, and the Feminist Porn Conference. She is a LAMBDA Literary Fellow, has won two Feminist Porn Awards, and holds an MFA in Creative Nonfiction Writing from Sarah Lawrence. Born in Northern California, Tina now lives in Manhattan.

Reviews

[Judah Radd · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ll go ahead and kick this review off with the things I liked.

Tina Horn is a very good writer. Her dialogue was punchy, expressive and incredibly effective at conveying and developing character. She also used her characters to offer some valuable and informative insight into the “inside baseball” of sex work and kink. I learned things I didn’t know, and I because of her background, I believe them.

The problem here is that as a comic book, everything else sort of falls apart. On the technical side, having a constantly changing stream of artists is not doing the flow any favors. I felt like I had to constantly remind myself who everyone was, since they looked so wildly different from the first volume, and even from issue to issue. Furthermore, these layouts and this storyboard felt like it was almost deliberately trying to stifle the drama. Some moments really should have been decompressed. It felt sloppy and sometimes I felt like I was getting a cliff notes version of the story.

The story. Christ. This was the biggest weakness of the whole volume. I felt like I was getting firehosed with painfully on-the-nose analogies. One major plot point was that “The Party” had developed the technology to “shadow ban” (yes, that’s what they called it) the people they deemed sexual perverts. A shadow ban means that you become invisible and nobody can see or hear you. This is very much on the nose allegory here… but it’s made even more insulting by the fact that it’s ridiculous. With all the technology they have here (tech that would cost billions to develop,) they’ve decided to use it to humiliate sex workers that they could imprison or murder for much cheaper. The book doesn’t explain what their endgame looks like. Also… why does this anti sex party want to create an army of sexbots to make all these dudes cum? Also, why is that so bad that we’re supposed to be scared of it? It just doesn’t make any god damn sense. Somehow, in a world where the party is micromanaging everyone’s sex life, the stakes still feel unbelievably low.

Anyway, i want to end on a positive note and say that Denis is an incredibly well done NB character who goes through fascinating development. I also think their relationship with Sylvia is incredibly interesting and complex. Tina knows people, Tina understands how people relate to each other, and she did a really good job of making these characters matter. I just think she needs to get a little better at transferring these amazing things into a comic book story.

[sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

pleasantly surprised, this was better than the first volume. i can’t give any book where (spoilers) a sentient bimbo sex robot bursts a man’s skull like a watermelon between her legs anything less than 4 stars, so here we are. just know the characters and art are much, much better than the story and setting. although, i gotta say, dunking on incels and second-wave feminism will always be entertaining. *marge voice* it’ll be good for the economy

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

i love a sentient sex robot, incredible

[Xavier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Way more futuristic than the previous volume. I love the idea of the unified AI sex robots taking control.

This idea that the incels aren't trying to fuck the robot AIs is interesting. The robots aren't attractive to the incels because they don't suffer the same way real women do. The incels would prefer to be rejected and punish women with their penises as a 'fuck you ' to all the women who ever rejected them but the bimbo bots don't represent women.

The hyper immersive virtual reality is another fascinating concept. I could absolutely see someone who has been deprived of sensation choosing to lose themselves in it. I would imagine a lot of people would choose that over a romantic relationship, even. It really blurs the lines between masturbation and sex. If masturbation could fulfill all the physical sensations of tell you what you want to hear, a perfectly simulated partner, would you seek the real thing elsewhere? It's a tough question to answer. In the end we're really just mice hitting a button waiting for the food to come out.

[Jazmin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book a lot more than I actually did. The first book was FANTASTIC, 11 out of 10. But this one is fine.

The metaphors are heavy-handed. The plot is interesting in theory but feels sloppy in execution. This instalment also suffers from having a completely different artist and art style. Let me be clear, it’s not a bad art style. Quite the opposite! But the characters look completely different and I had to constantly confirm who was who. The sci-fi/dystopian elements aren’t as tight in this volume and are starting to unravel.

I’ll definitely still be reading the third volume, whenever it might come. I won’t go into it with high expectations this time though.

[Anna Quilter · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5


"....we find ourselves in the waning months of 2021..all of that might make you think fact has won out over fiction in the strangeness stakes, but I'm here to tell you that we need tales of dystopia even more.
We need the work of artists and writers to imagine further and create world's, world's that may mirror ours but also refract it,if only to prepare us,to arm us...."

Bishakh Som: from intro....

[Alyse · Rating 4 out of 5]

It feels weird describing this series as lovely (because there are a lot of unhappy things that occur), but it really is. It's also sad, frightening, and poignant (especially with the current grasping puritan trend occurring in real life before our eyes). But the theme of chosen family fighting for the people they love in the face of all of that is truly lovely. And hopeful.

Plus this volume has a playlist for each issue! I am always won over by playlists.

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genuinely a thought provoking look at a (terrifying too close?) dystopian future where sex/kink/anything that isn’t socks on missionary between holy husband and wife is policed by a big, bad totalitarian party made of white men.

Basically:
• kinky
• gritty
• very explicit
• terrifying
• AI sex robots
• entitled white men
• incels vs queers
• trauma
• AI sex robots becoming sentient
• queers vs the world
• AI SEX ROBOTS BECOMING SENTIENT
• an interesting take on what would happen if incels actually had free access to the sex they feel so entitled to
• AI SEX ROBOTS BECOMING SENTIENT AND… seeing them use that consciousness to immediately crush a man’s head between their thighs

[Adam Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

SFSX is the one of the best totally adult, LGBTQ+ positive, kink-friendly, comics on the market right now. Volume 2 comes blasting out of the gate, focusing on the next level of insane actions by the horrible fascists of the Pleasure Center. Our story is divided into 2 parts:
1) Avery was captured at the end of the first Volume and her mind (as well as two others) are being asked to do something new. They are to normalize and humanize a new type of sex robot referred to as "Stacey". Created to be a sexual outlet for horrible men, they are having issues with the men using them. Avery and Stacey become friends and lovers, and a bit of treason and subterfuge, the Staceys' are given sentience and help Avery escape.
2) Sylvia, a scientist at "The Dirty Mind" is working with Denis, who has been altered by the Pleasure Center to not be able to feel anything. Using that microchip connection, The Dirty Mind is trying to reverse hack into the Center and see what they are working on and their upcoming plans. Denis, using sensory depravation, is able to access "Wetware", which is a digital space where the Stacey's can learn and fully experience things. Think of it like a fully immersive VR cyberspace. Unfortunately, the Pleasure Center knows about these hacks and is able to track the location of "The Dirty Mind" and shut them down, destroying everything except the people..
The Volume ends on kind of a down note, so I expect a third chapter at some point, to wrap up the story. I do enjoy this GN and find me asking some interesting questions about myself.

If you can handle the openness and graphic sexual content, you should definitely be checking SFSX out. Recommend.

[Mark Robison · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot here is great: Sex robots are created to service incels but the incels are so emotionally stunted and angry that they don't know what to do with blond bombshells willing to do whatever they want, so sex workers are enlisted to teach the sex robots how to deal with entitled misogynists.

The character depictions and development are much better than in the first volume, which I didn't like at all (but I'd bought both during a Comixology sale, assuming I'd love sex worker rebels in a dystopian future with lots of social commentary). The characters' bodies feel more real this time around. Except for a few ripped characters, everyone has soft and squishy bodies that I found beautiful. Note: This volume is much more graphic in its depiction of sex and related fluids.

The book is saddled with continuing plot points from volume one. When it can break free of its past, the book is fascinating. I found the robot "bimbos" brilliant. But in the chaos of the big finale, I was confused and then disconnected. The anti-sex authorities are so cartoonish, any action that turned to them was one-dimensional. And the denouement's cliffhanger made me sigh.

I suspect if trans sex work is a world you live in, then you might get more mileage out of this. For me, I want a clearer story and narrative arc and deeper discussions of the social/political implications.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun follow up to the original that left me wanting more!

Things I liked:
-This leaves off on a cliffhanger that manages to fix one of my biggest complaints from the first volume.
-One of the main characters is mentioned to be asexual. It's always nice to see representation, but especially in spaces like this where we're often overlooked or erased.
-This series continues to take present-day issues and take them to their logical, twisted extreme.

Things I didn't like:
-I wish it had been just a bit longer.

[Ninja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe because it's shorter, maybe because it was done a few years afterward, but volume 2 seems a litle more focused and polished than the first volume. I found the art clean and consistent throughout, and the storyline is fairly focused on the more tech angles of the puritan society and the government's pivot after some of the fallout of volume 1. This one mostly wraps things up, whilst opening up new threads for a potential volume 3.

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I tend to enjoy the afterward and explanation of what these books are trying to say more than the actual execution but still interesting and enjoyable enough and glad to see it continue. This volume definitely left off with the intention of more, and I'm invested enough to keep going with the series and hopeful it will only get stronger over time.

[Ivy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, the dystopian sex politics continue and so does the kink. But I’m pretty disappointed to discover that this is only the second arc and that the comic is on hiatus. Curses.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Alex Sarll]

I read the first volume of SFSX back at the beginning of this benighted decade, and was impressed by its vision of a nightmare near-future America where puritanical right and zealous left had joined forces, taken advantage of new technological possibilities, and declared war on weird sex. Coming back to the setting five years later, with everything that's happened since, I can't help but recall Peter Cook's line about those wonderful Weimar cabarets that did so much to prevent the rise of the Nazis. Hell, on the same day I borrowed this from the library – and I suppose at least it was still in the library – there was a letter in the paper (and this the Guardian, not the Mail or Express) asking impatiently why the UK's new internet crackdown was so timid, rather than trying to eliminate porn altogether, which not coincidentally is a plot point here. But at the same time the monolithic Party has legions of incel footsoldiers, which if you consider it as abstract worldbuilding seems nonsensical, but because the world is nonsensical now, sadly checks out. So the plan is to reward them with compliant fembots, and that leads to some of the most satisfying scenes here, where it turns out that presented with perfectly pliable partners, the little shits don't quite know what to do with them, so the captured rebel deviants are enlisted to teach the synthetic Stacies some tricks of the trade. And in general, Horn still has a good handle on the person to person interactions, the ebb and flow of dynamics – and all without, crucially, that well-meaning but infuriating modern trend where progressive-minded authors feel compelled to make their sympathetic characters bloodless saints whose every intimate interaction necessitates a full on-camera discussion of boundaries and best practice. But the change of art team really didn't work for me, the first volume's cinematic sheen giving way to a more indie comix style which sometimes felt a bit too suburban sex party in the bad sense. Worse, though, was the way it simply didn't feel new like the first volume did. I don't just mean because it's a second volume, or because I took a while to get around to it; I mean in terms of elements like the sexbot revolt, or the extension of shadowbanning to real life, heavily reminiscent of Westworld and Black Mirror plotlines from those halcyon days of the 2010s. And if I clearly can't hold one smutty indie comic responsible for the gathering dark age, I think I can expect it to live up to its own early potential a little better than that within the pages of the world it does control.

[Gonzalez · Rating 4 out of 5]

bigassporn love straight up made by a horny wizard who cast a plus 69 round booty spell each vid starts with a slow twerk in jeans leggings micro shorts skirts then POV creep to the bed couch floor kitchen table balcony car parking lot dentist room wherever boss pulled her thong off that colossal rear eats the lens I swear you count cellulite dimples like braille you read brail while she backs it up on ya face man categories got anal squirt creampie gangbang interracial lesbian cosplay yoga teacher librarian you pick click cum
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[Robert Hudder · Rating 2 out of 5]

This arc is slower, more focused and a little less tight than the previous arc. There are some benefits in that there is time for the characters to breathe. It also feels more like a superhero comic this time around. I have mixed feelings about it.

I am glad it exists and would like to see another volume. I am worried that the snappiness seems to be leaving the building here. What I mean by that is that the first set let the baddies have a bit more 'respect' for lack of a better word. This time, incel culture seemed a bit more of a caricature and therefore a little less of a worthy enemy and more of a stand in.

Maybe that was covered up in the first arc due to the pacing and the number of baddies. Regardless, there is plenty to mine in terms of BDSM, kink, sex work and human sexuality. I do hope that this crew keeps going. The sex positivity is good to see.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will be honest I still don't think I knew who half the characters were because the art and characters were so dramatically different than the first arc. The storyline was different from the first and deals exclusively with the aftermath of the events of the first arc. I wouldn't necessarily say I liked this one any better than the first. The creation of Stacie was interesting and kept you going but the rest seemed like just filler to tell that story. It will be interesting to see where this series goes in the future.

[Justin Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second volume does what it needed to do. It expanded the world in vol 1, gave the characters interesting story arcs, and gave them more depth. It’s great to see from a crowdfunded comic. I appreciate that this comic about sex in a dystopian not far future takes concepts bubbling in pop culture and fleshes them out. In volume two, we get incels, robots, and a weird addiction to virtual intimacy.

Narrowing the story and concepts and focusing on a few benefits the book. Well done.

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't sure which direction this would go after volume 1. I do appreciate that it had a different set of topics to address and largely a different direction. However, this one felt like it could have been developed further. It just wasn't as hard hitting as the first. I appreciate that certain characters got more time than they did in the first volume.
The art did not change styles like it did in the first volume. It was much more consistent which is something I really liked.

[Somu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read. I really liked how the author delved into themes like AI, sex work, in addition to the other Puritan and sex based themes. I thought this might be the conclusion but I’m definitely interested in seeing where the story goes.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gotta be honest I actually really like that one of the main villains is an old gay white man because more often than not in this life I've found that old gay white men are not my allies in the struggle.

Love that the Stacies choose violence.

[charlie · Rating 3 out of 5]

i wasnt a big fan of the change in art style and also the cliffhanger felt unrealistic and just not something that should’ve been added i think jones should’ve stayed dead and also the characters just felt flat and dull compared to volume one so yeah only 3/5 stars

[Woowott · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a relief to have this back. I maybe liked this even more than the first arc? Though maybe it's because I could read it straight through. Some nice AI horror in there too, and delightful art.

[Jason Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

more focused than the first volume

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

The over the top sequel. Another wild ride, this time with robots.

[Savannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few pacing issues but an absolute love. Took to a new and unexpected direction.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Builds beautifully on the characters and themes of the last volume, sharing insights into brave and unashamed pleasure. It’s also hot. Very, very hot.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is such a solid series: I love Avory and the Stacies, and the (literal and metaphorical) themes of body autonomy.

[Andi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars