Sex Criminals

Comic book series by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky

Sex Criminals

Artwork for the cover of Sex Criminals #1
Art by Chip Zdarsky

Publication information
Publisher| Image Comics
Schedule| Monthly
Format| Ongoing series
Genre|

* Crime

Publication date| September 2013 – October 28, 2020
No. of issues| 31 (and 1 special)
Main character(s)| Suzie
Jon
Creative team
Written by| Matt Fraction
Artist(s)| Chip Zdarsky
Colorist(s)| Becka Kinzie
Editor(s)| Thomas K
Collected editions
One Weird Trick| ISBN 1-60706-946-6
Two Worlds One Cop| ISBN 1-63215-193-6
Three the Hard Way| ISBN 1-63215-542-7
Fourgy!| ISBN 1-53430-231-X
Five-Fingered Discount| ISBN 1-53430-683-8
Six Criminals| ISBN 1-53431-062-2

Sex Criminals is a comic book series published by American company Image Comics. It is written by Matt Fraction and illustrated by Chip Zdarsky, set in the Image Universe. The first issue was published on September 25, 2013, and the last issue was published on October 28, 2020, running for 31 issues and one special over six volumes: One Weird Trick, Two Worlds One Cop, Three the Hard Way, Fourgy!, Five-Fingered Discount, and Six Criminals.[1] Since publication, the series has continuously received critical acclaim.

Sex Criminals was nominated for two Eisner Awards in 2014 including Best Continuing Series and won Best New Series.[2] In 2015, Matt Fraction made a deal with Universal TV to turn Sex Criminals into a television show, which ultimately entered development hell.[3]

According to the American Library Association, the hardcover release Big Hard Sex Criminals was the seventh most banned and challenged book in the United States in 2016, due to being considered sexually explicit.[4]

## Synopsis

[edit]

Suzie, a librarian, and Jon, an actor, meet at a party and end up sleeping together. Later, they are shocked to discover that they share the ability to freeze time when they orgasm. As their relationship develops and their sexual histories are explored, they decide to rob the bank where Jon works in order to save Suzie's endangered library.

## Publication history

[edit]

In March 2013, Image Comics announced a sex comedy during the Emerald City Comicon.[5] Later reports confirmed that it was intended for mature readers and would have Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky in the forefront. Films like The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Bridesmaids, and Jackass: The Movie were mentioned as touchstones for the comics, and Fraction himself confirmed in an interview that the works of Billy Wilder also inspired him deeply in writing.[6]

Fraction and Zdarsky had known each other for a short time before the book's creation. They communicated almost exclusively online and Zdarsky was the first to suggest a collaboration. Initially, Zdarsky wanted to write a book that was their take on fantasy, as they were fans of the genre. They felt it was underrepresented in comic books.[7] Fraction responded with another idea, suggesting, "[W]hat if we do a sex comedy about a guy, who every time he ejaculates, stops time?" Zdarsky was tired from a business trip he was on and agreed to the idea without much thought. After continued communication, their idea began to grow until the book was published in September 2013. The book has gained a cult following and its fans refer to themselves as 'brimpers' after a sex position described in the first issue.[8]

A special issue, referred to as the "Sexual Gary Special," was released in September 2020.

## Reception

[edit]

Time honored Sex Criminals as the #1 comic series/graphic novel of 2013.[9]

IGN tagged the work as "amazing", and said that the story is "so addictive, you'll find yourself staring at the last page in horror when you realize you'll have to wait another month to find out what happens next".[10]

Paste called the first issue "splendid", with "an immediately likable character", specifying that although one "wouldn’t trust most comic creators to turn a sexual awakening into compelling pulp fiction (...) Fraction and Zdarsky pull it off masterfully."[11]

The first compilation, Sex Criminals: One Weird Trick, was nominated for the 2015 Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story.[12]

According to the American Library Association, the hardcover release Big Hard Sex Criminals was the seventh most banned and challenged book in the United States in 2016, due to being considered sexually explicit.[4]

## Collected editions

[edit]

### Trade paperback releases

[edit]

Title | Material collected | Publication date | ISBN | Diamond ID/Lunar Code

|
|
|
|

Sex Criminals, Vol. 1: One Weird Trick | Sex Criminals #1–5  | April 2014[13] | 978-1607069461 | JAN140558
Sex Criminals, Vol. 2: Two Worlds One Cop | Sex Criminals #6–10  | February 2015[14] | 978-1632151933 | OCT140654
Sex Criminals, Vol. 3: Three the Hard Way | Sex Criminals #11–15  | June 2016[15] | 978-1632155429 | OCT150608
Sex Criminals, Vol. 4: Fourgy! | Sex Criminals #16–20  | September 2017[16] | 978-1534302310 | JUL170876
Sex Criminals, Vol. 5: Five-Fingered Discount | Sex Criminals #21–25  | August 2018[17] | 978-1534306837 | JUN180239
Sex Criminals, Vol. 6: Six Criminals | Sex Criminals #26–30, #69  | November 2020[18] | 978-1534310629 | AUG200105
Sex Criminals: The Complete Edition | Sex Criminals #1–30, #69  | March 2024[19] | 978-1534397484 | 0124IM225

### Hardcover releases

[edit]

Title | Material collected | Publication date | ISBN | Diamond ID

|
|
|
|

Big Hard Sex Criminals | Sex Criminals #1–10  | March 2015[20] | 978-1632152435 | NOV140582
Big Hard Sex Criminals, Vol. 2: Deluxxxe | Sex Criminals #11–20  | January 2018[21] | 978-1534307063 | NOV170713
Big Hard Sex Criminals, Vol. 3: Deluxxxe | Sex Criminals #21–30, #69  | July 2021[22] | 978-1534319097 | FEB210130

## See also

[edit]

* Comics portal

* Portrayal of women in American comics
* Erotic comics

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Butcher, Christopher (September 6, 2013). "SEX CRIMINALS #1 – A Comic Book Launch Party". The Beguiling Books & Arts. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
2. ^ "2014 Will Eisner Awards Announced". Comics Alliance. April 15, 2014. Archived from the original on October 31, 2014. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
3. ^ "Sex Criminals Comic Possibly Coming to Television". Renegade Cinema. February 25, 2015. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
4. ^ a b Office for Intellectual Freedom (2013-03-26). "Top 10 Most Challenged Books Lists". American Library Association. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
5. ^ "EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK: Fraction & Zdarsky's "Sex Criminals"". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
6. ^ "Matt Fraction Gets Cheeky With "Sex Criminals"". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
7. ^ "Chip Zdarsky On 'Sex Criminals': The Comics Alliance Interview". Comics Alliance. Archived from the original on February 23, 2015. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
8. ^ "Sex Criminals: 15 Most Tongue In Cheek Moments". Comic Book Resources. February 17, 2017. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
9. ^ Wolk, Douglas (December 4, 2013). "Top 10 Comics and Graphic Novels". Time.
10. ^ Melissa Grey 23 Oct 2013 (2013-10-23). "Sex Criminals #2 Review". IGN. Retrieved 2014-04-02.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
11. ^ Martin, Garrett (25 September 2013). "Sex Criminals #1 by Matt Fraction & Chip Zdarsky :: Books :: Reviews :: Paste". Pastemagazine.com. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
12. ^ Walter, Damien (April 6, 2015). "Are the Hugo nominees really the best sci-fi books of the year?". The Guardian. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
13. ^ "Sex Criminals, Vol. 1 TP: One Weird Trick". Image Comics.
14. ^ "Sex Criminals, Vol. 2: Two Worlds One Cop". Image Comics.
15. ^ "Sex Criminals Vol 3: Three The Hard Way". Image Comics.
16. ^ "Sex Criminals Vol 4: Fourgy!". Image Comics.
17. ^ "Sex Criminals Vol 5: Five-Fingered Discount". Image Comics.
18. ^ "Sex Criminals Vol 6: Six Criminals". Image Comics.
19. ^ "SEX CRIMINALS: THE COMPLETE EDITION TP". Image Comics.
20. ^ "Big Hard Sex Criminals". Image Comics.
21. ^ "Big Hard Sex Criminals Vol. 2: Deluxxxe". Image Comics.
22. ^ "Big Hard Sex Criminals Vol. 3: Deluxxxe". Image Comics.

## External links

[edit]

* Sex Criminals at Image Comics
* DAN CASEY (August 5, 2013). "Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky are "Sex Criminals"". Nerdist.
* Matt D. Wilson (August 28, 2013). "A Proper Sex Comedy: Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky Talk 'Sex Criminals'". Comics Alliance. Archived from the original on September 1, 2013.

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