Sex in Comics
Mom, please don't read this.
How’s your pre-apocalyptic week been?
Feels like we’re going straight from the pandemic storyline into potential thermonuclear armageddon. Man, this has been an action-packed season of Earth.
If you’re new to Exploding Giraffe, welcome! These Friday bonus posts will usually be reserved for our generous Tower members (anyone who subscribes at a level above free), but we had so many new sign-ups this week that we wanted to celebrate by once again opening up the discussion to everyone.
With this latest depressing war unfolding, I thought we’d instead concentrate on what a very bald man once said was the opposite of war…fucking.
So this weekend’s topic is, What’s the most memorable sex scene you’ve ever encountered in comics?
Speaking of sex, some housekeeping (French maid-style?). Our paid subscribers might see something like this appear on their next credit card statement:
Some readers have been alarmed by the word “sex” next to an unfamiliar $69 charge, but our website https://explodinggiraffe.substack.com apparently gets condensed to “HTTPSEXPLODINCA,” and you may remember that $69 is our hilariously discounted rate for Annual subscribers.
And Future Investigations is just the name of my dumb production company/sci-fi detective agency. Check out the Easter egg-filled “vanity card” created by animator and aforementioned friend of the Tower Daniel M. Kanemoto:
Anyway, thanks in advance for your kind support/not disputing this seemingly pornographic charge, Tower!
On Monday, I teased that my sexily cerebral wife got me a Valentine’s Day gift, so here’s the steamy reveal:
It’s a collection of erotic short stories with a twist: while all of the authors are listed at the start of the book, none of the individual stories are attributed, presumably so writers would be able to tell their tales with a complete lack of inhibition.
I’m really enjoying it so far, and the book inspired me to revisit some of my favorite sex scenes from comics, where it might be harder for creators to be anonymous (especially artists), but where I’d argue we still have more freedom and ability to safely explore ideas than any other visual medium.
One of the first sex scenes I encountered in a comic is still my favorite:
I felt like a goddamn genius at age 12 when I realized the visual gag of that perfectly paced final panel.
Here’s a more recent stunner:
I have to admit that I picked it up entirely because of that audacious title, but I ended up fucking loving this graphic novel by Florent Ruppert and Jérôme Mulot, two French creators who apparently write and draw together.
Here’s just a taste from an early scene, a surreal representation of a virtual hook-up between a remote couple. Check out how the authors attempt to visually convey how climaxing feels:
Obviously, my hasty iPhone pics can’t do their subtle and spectacular artwork justice, so I highly recommend you order a hard copy from your local comic shop (and while you’re there, grab Ruppert & Mulot’s equally sexy graphic novel about a trio of art thieves, The Grande Odalisque, which happens to feature one of comics’ all-time best heists).
While most artists love drawing outrageously graphic violence, I’ve found that a lot of creators, especially—but not entirely!—my fellow Americans, are significantly less comfortable with any level of nudity and/or sex (a phenomenon Niko Henrichon and I will be delving into in Spectators), so I’m grateful to work with so many collaborators who are interested in exploring lots of different aspects of our weird existence.
For you script nerds, here’s an exclusive look at the opening scene to Saga #50, which artist Fiona Staples elevated beyond my weirdest imagination, showing that sex between familiar old married characters like our star-crossed couple Marko and Alana can still be, to find myself quoting The Love Boat, “exciting and new.”
So come aboard, curious readers, to a PDF of my script for those first five pages:
Speaking of the legendary Fiona, did you know she recently drew AND wrote an awesomely explicit short story (lettered by cartoonist/my BFF Ben Rankel) in the erotic comics anthology Smut Peddler Presents: Sex Machine?
It’s crazy hot, so I implore you to order a softcover or PDF directly from the iconic Iron Circus Comics, while I reluctantly give away my copy to some lucky reader who shares their favorite filthy comics moment (less heteronormative selections encouraged!) in this weekend’s forum:
Oh, and we promised Saga Swag to someone from our surprisingly heartwarming discussion about great experiences at your local comic shops, and the Random Commenter Generator has selected… Ron Kirkley, who picks up his comics at Duncanville Bookstore in Texas. Congrats, Ron! Someone from Exploding Giraffe H.Q. will be reaching out to you shortly.
On Monday, we’ll be back in your inboxes with what I suppose I would describe as the most significant Spectators scene yet. For now, here’s hoping you have a safe and satisfying rest of your Friday.
Make love, not World War III,
BKV
I already love these selections, thanks. I felt conflicted sending that dispatch, but this a welcome temporary respite from the headlines. Hope everyone is well!
I will honestly say that SAGA was my entry into the comics scene, and although this wasn't a sex scene, I remember being at work on my lunch break reading the comic in the break room while eating, and getting to the scene where Prince Robot has a dream and wakes up with what felt like at the time a full page of 8 inches or so -- I closed the book so fast and did the whole check around to see if anyone else was looking, and quickly went to flip the page so I could read some more. I learned my lesson reading mature comic books at work but I will never forget that moment! Hahaha.