I don’t recall Batman ever breaking the fourth wall.

Generally speaking I feel like breaking the fourth wall is a cheap shortcut in writing to convey your story, much like waking up and it all being a dream rather than giving a real ending to a story, but I feel like Fraction puts it to rare good use here to help us be able to feel a kinship to the character. It was a risky move, because it could have come off as real cheesy, but thankfully it worked out here.

I felt like Suzie’s secret place after she orgasms is a metaphor for how we all feel we’ve found a whole new world when we discover sex. Then her hiding what she found is like a metaphor for how society wants people to be quiet about sex.

Then there’s the revelation that her and Job both can enter the same space after orgasming is like showing how that sex should be special between people and should take you to a place with them that only the two of you can go to.

Once they’ve realized the world they can enter together and do what ever they like is similar to that amazing time at the start of a relationship (and last through out if it’s a good one) where you’re in you’re only two there and no one else matters.

The sex cops represent the rest of the world who want to take that away from you. It’s still too early for me to get a read on them and what their all about

So all the metaphors and this meaning that talk, the comic is really fun. The characters are both unique people that you feel like you could meet at a party much like they met each other. The story is great and it’s cool to see what two regular people do when they find they have a special power, even if it’s sex activated.

Sex Criminals is like a Pixar movie, there are some super adult things spoken about, but you only catch them if you’re looking super close, otherwise you’re left with a really fun movie. I think that’s one of Fraction’s strengths. He’s make a big statement about sex and society, but he’s bundled it into a story so fantastic and fun that if you blink you’ll miss it.

I’ll def be following Sex Criminals to see where Fraction and Zdarsky take us with Suzie and Jon, what other adventures they’ll get into and see if maybe they find other people, besides the sex cops, with sexually activated powers.

That’s a cool way to put it. She does draw you into her personal baggage but she’s so upbeat about it, you feel like you’re laughing with her. As for breaking the 4th wall, Batman does it all the time!

I agree, the sex elements were either used for laughs or to give depth to the characters. It wasn’t any more sexual than any Judd Apatow movie. That’s probably why it has been optioned as a television series.

I believe issue 11 will be coming in June so not too long of a wait ☺

“They do a good job of approaching sexuality in a straightforward way while still being lighthearted.”

That is a great way of putting it! I completely agree. 😀

I also loved that while its a story with a huge focus on sex, it wasn’t very gratuitous or… hmm, ugly? Not really the word, but it made it seem natural and like it wasn’t pornish even though there were porn elements. If that makes sense.

I’ve read up to issue #9, and have #10 to read so I guess yes, I am invested in finishing what is available for this series. I wish there was more of it, but the issues last year only came out every 2-3 months according to the image comics site, so maybe we’ll get another one soon. Or maybe its because its been picked up for TV and they have to regroup/change direction. Either way, hoping for more!

It really suits the personal subject matter here, you instantly feel like part of the story like Suzie is confiding in you. Normally I HATE when it happens in Tv shows or Movies it sucks me straight out of the story but this really worked for me. Not sure I want to see it in every comic I read though.

Breaking the 4th wall is quite a unique thing in comics. The only other series I can think about that regularly does it is Deadpool. Would you like to see more of it done or do you think there is a chance that it could become over done?

Great to hear that you enjoyed it Stephen! I would agree that the sexual aspect of the series was always done in a lighthearted manner, often to some great gags such as the positions drawn on the toilet wall.

Thanks to Sex Criminals and his run on Hawkeye Matt Fraction has become a pretty big deal so I’m not surprised there was a long line. It’s pretty cool that you got it signed too!

That’s a good way to describe comedy and I think that’s one of the reasons worked so well. I don’t think it would have been as funny if it wasn’t counter balanced with the personal character back stories.

I loved the colors in the book. The art style in general just kind of clicks. Little details in the background keep the eyes wandering around every page. The characters look cartoony but just real enough to be relatable. During the quiet, those waving washed out colors made everything look hazy. Even the sex police look like a “part” of that world. It all feels very deliberate though not sure what it’s supposed to represent, if anything.

I loved the colours in “The Quiet” too. The way they swirled with pinks, yellows and blues it was kind of surreal.

I enjoyed all those jokes too, especially the ones in the sexshop. Some of those were hilarious.

Do you think you will read volume 2?