< comics/x >
SMUT PEDDLER #2
edited by Trisha Sebastian, Johanna Draper Carlson and Carla Speed McNeil
(52pp comic, $5.00 from the individual
Saucy Goose Press contributors.
Adults Only)
Reviewed by Alan RankinThese days, with the success of Eros Comics and its imitators, it’s easy to find sex comics that explore every possible quirk, fetish and preference, in darned near gynecological detail. But comics that combine explicit sex with a sharp sense of humor are a rarer breed. Phil Foglio’s
Xxxenophile is the leader in this regard, adding a fantasy or sci-fi element to his whimsical tales of hardcore amour.
By contrast, Trisha Sebastian’s
Smut Peddler is firmly rooted in the real world – some of the stories in ish 2 are apparently based on true encounters. But the many writers and artists involved match Foglio’s wicked sense of fun, as well as his juicy aesthetic. I have to extend further kudos to Sebastian for including a wide spectrum of sexuality: you’ll find committed couples and group gropes; public fantasies and phone sex; gay, lesbian and bi couplings; cross-dressing and body-painting; svelte model-types and full-figured real women. There’s even a story about plant sex...unless I’m wrong, even Eros hasn’t explored that territory.
As with any good anthology, there’s a wide variety of art and story styles. My personal favorites: The beautifully detailed “clear line” of Noppie’s “Ermine Cote.” The elegant metaphor and lustful fun of Nicholas Burns’ “Arctic.” (Especially his focus on the clitoris, something men in general are often accused of ignoring.) Sean Bieri’s “Apres le Monocle” reminds me strongly of erotica author Anais Nin, and his centerfold, a naughty nude Twister game, makes good use of the comic’s flip-book format. Burns’ cover is not only hilariously suggestive, it’s a clever pun on the book’s title.
I also like Sebastian’s editorial emphasis on the heart of human sexuality. Nearly every story focuses on an established relationship in one way or another, as opposed to the anonymous one-night-shags that populate the Eros books. It’s pretty subtle, and never mushy: you come away from each tale with the impression that these people not only like having sex – they like each other. Adding that human element elevates this above so much of the other hardcore material that’s available – comics or otherwise.
[ Link to this review ]
