Comic Review: Sex Criminals #26

Sex Criminals #26

Image Comics

Writer: Matt Fraction

Artist: Chip Zdarsky

Well, it took a little bit, but Sex Criminals is back with issue #26. Not only is it back, but its back for its final arc. Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky have created one of the most important comic books of the last decade, so its kind of bittersweet that the new decade is opening up with the series ending.

Well, let’s get started, we have a bank to rob.

Jon and Suzie are teaming up with a bunch of pals to get back at those that hurt them. While this arc will inevitably be about the bank robbery, Fraction ensures that the heart of the series going anywhere. Sex Criminals #26 is about the characters, much like the rest of the series. More importantly, it’s about Jon and Suzie. Seeing these characters come back feels great, with both of them settling right back into the habits and quirks that made us fall in love with them. Their relationship gets the spotlight, though this issue is a little more focused on Suzie. As usual, the characters get lost in their heads, leading to fear and tension about the road ahead. Just when the gloomy feeling that this won’t end well truly hits the reader, issue #26 concludes with a surprising cliffhanger.

Sex Criminals has had some highs and lows, but over the course of the last few issues, but every moment has felt significant. Every panel and balloon has contributed in some way to the wonderful storytelling and loveable characters. Both the characters and the series has grown up significantly, and it is all starting to pay off now. Every emotional beat and joke hits better than ever before, making it easier to be invested than ever before. The story throughout the issue is well-paced, and while “nothing happens,” it successfully establishes what’s to come without exposing the reader to too much exposition.

While Sex Criminals is labeled as a comedy, this isn’t the funniest issue in the series. Sex Criminals #26 is somewhat light on the jokes, but this is fine because every joke that is made is told at just the right time, maximizing the impact on the reader. Even if there wasn’t a single joke in the script, you can always rely on Zdarsky throwing something funny into one of the panels.

As always, Zdarsky deserves as much praise for Sex Criminals‘ success as Fraction does. Throughout the series, Zdarsky has filled every page with as much content as he can, and nothing has changed in Sex Criminals #26. The characters’ personalities and even lives are successfully told through art. Zdarsky perfectly complements Fraction’s writing in that both halves manage to tell a unique part of the narrative. The end result is a complete experience that tells a story in a way that isn’t possible in any other medium. Emotions, jokes, and moods are all perfectly conveyed through both words and art.

Of course, Zdarsky’s art just looks good too. Every character looks excellent, with consistent faces and poses. The facial expressions are wildly animated, allowing the reader to further understand what each character is feeling. The panel layouts are simple but creative. Each page has just enough panels to tell what needs to be told. The colors are out of this world, with fantastic palettes that evoke the best emotion for every moment.

As always, Sex Criminals #26 is full of heart. This issue is sincere and compelling, successfully setting the stage for one more act. Every moment is beginning to pay off, and I can’t wait to see what Fraction and Zdarsky do with the last few issues.

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