The Good
This book is probably not what you might think it is. Is there sex in it? To some extent, yes. Is it the focus of the book? Sort of but not really. There is more to the story than just that. There is some depth and plenty of characterization.
Intended to be a 'sex-comedy,' surprisingly, that is put aside for the time being. We are introduced to Suzie. As we see flashbacks to her childhood and when things went wrong in her family (it gets a little dark), she even comments, "The jokes are coming, I promise." Taking this approach may be a risk since it does not establish the sex-comedy vibe but it does succeed in showing Matt Fraction isn't going to try to take the easy way and give us a bunch of sex jokes. That is far from what this comic is going to be.
Chip Zdarsky's art immediately makes this feel like it's in its own little world. And then there's the 'money shot.' When we first see Suzie discover her powers, it's a sight to see. And despite what some might think, it's not in a gratuitous fashion. You'll think they somehow added special FX to your comic and no extra charge.
It shouldn't need to be said but this is not a comic for the youngsters. As mentioned, it's not gratuitous. There is one moment where things are...explained but the presentation is pretty priceless. As the back cover says, this is for "mature readers, duh."
Just be prepared for a different sort of comic book.
The Bad
This is meant to be a sex-comedy. Being the first issue, it is pretty crucial we get some characterization. We need to know who Suzie is. That just means while we get glimpses at the "sex-criminal" activities to come, this is really about Suzie. Is that a bad thing? Absolutely not. Just know that this issue will not set the tone of the series. And that's okay.
The Verdict
Remember that time you were saying, "Man, I wish I could read a comic book that was different"? There are many different comics with different angles but, down at some level, they have similar themes or origins. That is not the case with SEX CRIMINALS. For a series that will contain sex, crime and humor, this book surprises you by showing just how deep the characterization of Suzie goes. This is not a book that simply relies on the fact it contains the subject of sex in order to arouse curiosity. Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky have created something new and exciting. There are some touching moments that will catch you off guard and you won't know what to expect next.
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