By Hunter T. Patrick
For Sex Criminals, as for all comics, you should always give credit for everyone involved, at least for the writer and the artist, not just one (unless this person is freakishly talented, lucky S.O.B). Fraction and Zdarsky’s compliments for one another are astonishing. Issue 24 does not have many hidden background jokes (at first inspection) like the other comics, but man does that opening scene look great as the artwork always does. The writing and art from the first few pages might be some of my favorite for this entire arc. It is nice, quiet, insightful, and surprisingly not too sexual. Darn.
As of writing this review, my knowledge is that the series will end at 31 issues. The writing is amazing, but a huge selling point is a beautiful art. Having seven issues left of Zdarsky’s art is a huge shame. The story is one where it is wonderful ending where things are meant to end, but the artwork is not always like that, especially with Zdarsky currently writing (and note how amazing of a writer he also is). Not knowing when we will see Zdarsky’s art again makes each page matter more and more. Adding not knowing when we will see these characters after, if at all, means savoring all moments.
This is one of the tamer issues, if this is your substitute for Playboy then you better be into that magazine for the articles. This issue’s biggest stand out moment for me is the beginning, as stressed at the beginning of this article. After that great opening scene, the book does not drop quality but begins to move things along, more naturally than quickly luckily. There are more scenes that seem picturesque and memorable after the first scene, but sadly none as wonderful. All the little moments keep adding up and help make things all the more exciting for when these moments pay off, as we know they will.
There are plenty of things making you want more when this issue is over. There are some laughs and some things that pop up that will have the brimpers talking. That is all for the brimpers however. Non-fans of this series will be disappointed as this is not near as great as the first few issues. This story arc continues feeling off, but it is in trust that is on purpose, waiting for reunions that will hopefully come sooner rather than later with this arc ending and the series not far after that. The series excels when the characters are together, with this shaping to have the reunions wanted. This might not be the best or one of the best Sex Criminals issues, but it is Sex Criminals, a name in comics that deserves all the praise it gets. Get the comic for the mail at the end of the issue, and also get the comic to continue your complete set. This may be better read in trade formatting with the issue beginning where the last ended, and probably next issue will continue after this ending. Sex Criminals has never been an average comic, and it deserves the 4/5 I am giving it.
Score: 4/5
Sex Criminals #24
Image Comics