SFSX #1

Like most safe spaces for marginalized people, The Dirty Mind is under constant threat and must be protected. With sex workers rights and safety under attack, schools, and churches being raided in search of undocumented immigrants, Black trans women being murdered at an alarming rate, and poor folks being pushed further into subjugation SFSX mirrors a reality that many in the civilized world already experience. SFSX does a great job at intentionally overlapping sex and social commentary without being heavy-handed. Establishing itself as more than a dirty comic (no shade or shame to dirty comics of course). Read Full Review

Thrilling, evocative, beautiful, and intense, SFSX (Safe Sex)is a must-read series that encourages readers to look beyond social constructions, to challenge authority, and embrace who they are. Read Full Review

Supported by a boatload of sex workers on the production side, Tina Horn and Michael Dowling have put the time and effort into building this world and cast, making SFSX #1 incendiary and fun social science-fiction. Read Full Review

'SFSX (Safe Sex)' #1 unleashes a powerful, erotic, revolutionary, gorgeous and sex-positive narrative that will open your mind as to what constitutes true freedom in a world hell-bent on crushing you. Read Full Review

A smart and entertaining comic that deals with familiar ideas government control of private sex lives (even a little bit) should always be met with a firm NO updated in for our times Read Full Review

Final Verdict: 9.0, A dark, satirical tale of sexual expression and oppression. With an experienced author who is well versed in kink and sexual literature this is never shocking for shock's sake. It is a mature thriller for adults by adults. Read Full Review

Michael Dowling delivers some beautiful art in this first issue. All of the characters look amazing and Dowling does a great job of bringing out emotion and tension in the art. Read Full Review

With the topic of the book being sex, and with the creators involved, it will no doubt garner a lot of attention. If you are a fan of books like Bitch Planet and Unnatural you may well enjoy this society versus sex romp. Read Full Review

Not only will SFSX #1 make readers want to see where the story goes next, but it will hopefully make them look at their relationship with sexuality and sexual politics in a whole new way. Read Full Review

On an intensely personal note, I find SFSX to be a very tough read. It deals with a subject which is immensely triggering for me, and with the draconian, single-minded, theocratic themes upon which the plot depends, it makes for a difficult 25-ish pages to get through. I could very easily have called this one in"requested something else to review"but this story is immensely compelling and the team behind it is coming from such a vulnerably strong place (which sounds like a contradiction in terms, but just trust me on this one) that I am choosing to persevere. Read Full Review

Like "The birds and the bees" but with actual insight. And fight scenes. Read Full Review

I Review Comics

Jan 13, 2020

During the weekly zombie walk about my local comic shop, I stumbled across SFSX. I flipped through it, clutched my pearls and added it to my stack. After reading the issue I immediately called up my guy and added the rest of the series to my pull list. I was totally sold by the comics narrative and needed more. I've caught heat for years for being a conservative. Although I'm right-leaning when it comes to fiscal and security issues I've maintained a progressive streak when it comes to social issues and commentary. SFSX is a progressive story I can get behind, no pun intended. The comic is wild as hell and just may be the most explicit comic book I've ever read. The basic premise of the series is that a conservative feminist politi cal group has taken over America and has clamped down on civil liberties in relation to sexual expression. The comic premise may sound goofy and radical until you scroll through certain circles of social media and see free speech advocates and sex workers attacked daily for their lifestyle choices. The conversation is almost always related to morality, but when you drill down the commentary amounts to censorship and social fascism. I thought that the premise presented in this story was fascinating and ironically reminded me of Mirka Andolfo's Unnatural. That series also had a fascistic government controlling the reproduction of the populace. The lead character, Avory gets away from the lifestyle after a raid shuts down the establishment she works out of. She gets married to avoid scrutiny and comply with government regulations. Conformity and employment become an issue as she is unable to explain gaps in employment related to her time as a sex-worker. I've dated and linked up with a few sex-workers in the past and Avory's concerns are very real and relatable if know anyone that dabbles in the profession. The linework for the issue isn't big or bombastic but Michael Dowling does a great job in establishing the mood and general atmosphere of the series. He's also great at drawing anatomy and action, pun intended. I wasn't expecting an action setpiece but we get one out of nowhere and it's great. By the end of SFSX #1, I was thoroughly engrossed in the story and excited for the series direction. Only in indie comics can you get concepts that are executed this well. Tina Horn swings for the fences and scores a home run. SFSX is excellent. more

DippingBird

Sep 27, 2019

I nearly didn’t pick this up, and I’m still unsure if I’ll get the next issue or wait for the trade. But this was a good first issue and I’m intrigued by the world that’s being built.

Gizmo

Sep 29, 2019

Delivers what it promises and doesn't shy away from showing rather than telling. I already like to hate the creepy puritan regime called the Party, but they could do with a better name... maybe their lack of a creative name is meant to be indicative of who they are.