We’ve seen Sexual Gary in the background of early “Sex Criminals” issues but do we really know Gary? What makes him tick? Why is Gary sexual? Queue author Matt Fraction setting the record straight on Gary’s past, present, and future for a special one-shot about a bonified “Sex Criminals” legend. With only one more issue of the main series left, this special one-shot about a background character is arriving at the perfect time! I’m ready to see what kind of story Matt Fraction can spin around the sex icon. Artist Rachael Stott is joining Fraction for this chapter. I’m curious to see what kind of dynamic Stott will have with Fraction. Regular series artist Chip Zdarsky is delivering letters and ‘emotional support’ for this issue (according to the credits page.) Join us for a penultimate celebration of one of the wildest comic books of the past few decades.
Written by Matt Fraction
Illustrated by Rachael Stott
Colored by Enrica Eren Angiolini
Letters by Chip ZdarskyRemember “Sexual Gary”? What was up with that guy? The brilliant RACHAEL STOTT (Supergirl, Doctor Who) drew a story so crazy it had to be told, but not by Chip, who was still a big part of the whole thing.
Fraction and Stott’s “Sex Criminals: Sexual Gary Special” is an incredibly ambitious special issue. Gary has a story that starts grounded but quickly takes a few steps into the absurd. Fraction’s sex-positive narrative has a lot to say about the nature of sex. Gary quickly identifies himself as someone who struggles to define his own sexuality. Early on in the story Fraction specifically focuses on parodying a superhero narrative. The juxtaposition of a superhero origin for someone going into an interesting line of work functions exceedingly well. Fraction and Stott particularly poke fun at some of the mystical aspects of “Batman: Year One” that makes the opening pages hilarious.
One of my favorite parts about “Sex Criminals” is how dark the title can get so quickly. Fraction and Stott completely change the tone of the series in the next sequence where Gary’s romantic interests don’t align with his own. Seeing some of the rejection unjustly lobbed at Gary reminded me of my own experiences. Fraction and Stott are not afraid of getting dark or showing some of the cryptic details looming in the background of Gary’s life. Stott’s icy facial expressions for Gary’s lovers are hauntingly icy. For every fail Gary experiences in his life, he usually finds one victory. Seeing his expressions go from suffering a huge loss to a wonderful success fills my brain with dopamine. Stott conveys a ton of emotion on any given page adding a lot of subtext to the issue as well.
A large portion of the issue is devoted to showing some of the evils of the commercial sex industry. When Fraction and Stott aren’t providing satire there’s a good chance the narrative becomes fantastical. Stott is perfect at showing the darkness of reality while making an effort to land a few wild jokes that are completely absurd. Only a special kind of title would be able to mesh those disparate tones so seamlessly. The wrestling sequence in this issue is one of those absurd moments I mentioned earlier. Stott fills the issue with visual gags and draws a seedy background for those pages. Despite having a strong sense of humor “Sex Criminals: Sexual Gary Special” is not a surface level sea of gags, it is a nuanced and at times gritty story.
The colors from Enrica Eren Angiolini are an important part of the narrative. Some moments are bright, some are dark. The lighting in the colors sets the mood depending on which kind of scene the characters are in. Also in the fantasy sequences, there is a vast amount of detail in the colors that are a visual treat to behold. Chip Zdarksy’s letters make “Sex Criminals” feel coherent no matter who is drawing the title. The letters don’t feel like other books on store shelves and elevate the distinctive tone and feeling that only this title can achieve. You can tell from the first issue just how visually diverse this series actually is. Sexual Gary opens up a magazine full of colors that are darker to show the page is printed and there is a light source illuminating the book. The attention to detail is why this series and particular issue are so effective from the visual direction alone.
“Sex Criminals: Sexual Gary Special” is a powerful story about someone who isn’t afraid to be different. This special made me reexamine my own ideas about sex. When Fraction investigates the backstory of a character he always picks apart the small details about their lives. The fact that Gary’s journey starts when he is younger charting his course toward adulthood brings the script a sense of subtlety. I loved how the issue can almost be boiled down to a sports story in the second half. Gary starts at the bottom, goes to the top, and then reinvents himself into an actual sport along the way. “Sex Criminals: Sexual Gary Special” is a smart, subversive new take on a celebrated series. Fraction is great at telling stories focused on the personal journey of an important character. Rachael Stott’s art doesn’t pull punches here. The characters are aggressive, sexual, and angry throughout this issue and Stott captures the important details along the way.
Final Verdict: 9.0 – Unzip your preconceived notions and enjoy the “Sex Criminals: Sexual Gary Special!”
