There I was, strolling through the local comic book shop. I walk past the display of comic books and it catches my eyes. The title alone arousing my interest; I’m talking Sex Criminals by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky. The first issue of Sex Criminals was published in late September of 2013, and had just recently published the 5th volume of the series titled Five-Fingered Discount in early August of 2018. Aside from the interesting title, Sex Criminals offers a unique plot, strong female lead, realistic dialogue, creative imaging, and an all around good read. It tells the story of a female protagonist named Suzie Dickson. We very quickly learn that she had lost her dad at a pretty young age when an active shooter went into the bank he was working at and randomly shot employees. Her dad was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. After losing her dad, Suzie and her mother grew distant and Suzie had to find comfort in herself and being alone. Suzie’s relationship with her mother never healed and so by the time she had hit puberty, she was on her own as far as what her body was doing and what changes were… coming. After discovering an accidental new trick with the bathtub faucet, Suzie found out she had a power. She had no idea what this power was, what this feeling was, she was completely lost. So she turns to the dirty girls in her school to give her some advice. The head of the dirty girls, Rachel, takes Suzie under her wing and teaches her all she knows. This was the start of a friendship that has lasted until adulthood, as we see Suzie and Rachel are roommates at the beginning of the first issue. After a few years of confusion, Suzie finally understands what her power is. When Suzie orgasms, she freezes time. By the time we meet Suzie, she is a grown woman working at a small and nearly deceased library. At a fundraiser for her library, she meets (and humps) Jon Johnson. To both of their surprise, Jon has the power to stop time as he orgasms too. Needless to say, they were both caught off guard. Jon had taken the time through the years to explore and even exploit his powers (like pooping in his bosses office every morning) while Suzie mostly keeps to herself. As an act of valor, Jon suggests the couple rob the bank Jon works at (conveniently, the same bank Suzie’s dad worked and died at). They make a more taboo version of Bonnie and Clyde. Not to mention, there is a humorous musical scene.
It is a great concept to which I tip my hat to Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky for not only making a great comic, but for giving us a great female character. Sex Criminals is the type of comic that I, as a nerdy adult who has been into comics since I could read, wish was around when I was a younger. Growing up, the only types of comics that even mentioned puberty were the funnies in the newspaper. Now, we have Suzie to guide us through whatever the hell our bodies are doing at that age and the feelings we feel are perfectly normal. What Fraction has done is grab sci-fi, crime drama, romance, and comedy by the balls. He doesn’t sugar coat things, he doesn’t beat around the bush. What Matt Fraction has done is created a comic book and a story that will inadvertently change a young female comic reader’s life. In my own personal life, I was always steered away from comics: whether it be teasing from peers who called me nerd, dyke, loser, butch, because I read Fantastic Four during recess or adults who told my parents they shouldn’t let me read them because “comic books aren’t really meant for girls”. Sex Criminals is a comic that proves them wrong. Although taboo, it tells people that not only are comics not just meant for boys, but they are for everyone and everyone can find something to relate to in them. Just because you can’t freeze time when you cum doesn’t mean you can’t relate to the young boy and girl who didn’t understand their own bodies. Or the struggles of a man who hates his job. Or a woman who overcame tragedy at a young age. What makes comic books beautiful is the way the story tellers weave in their own little quirks and habits making the characters and the story come to life. You can’t tell me that comics aren’t magical.
