One of the most unique comic book launch parties in the history of the industry occurred last night at Wicked nightclub in Toronto.

The book was Sex Criminals, a genuinely touching, romantic and indeed erotic new mature readers miniseries illustrated by Chip Zdarsky and written by Zdarsky and Matt Fraction and published by Image Comics, about a pair of criminals with the power to stop time with their simultaneous orgasms. The venue was not a typical nightclub; it has beds, and a hot tub, a public shower, and strange holes in the bathroom wall. Wicked is a sex club. For sex.

It should be stated that last night was not a normal night for the club. The usual clientele were either not in attendance or not up to their usual shenanigans. Everything seemed to be very clean. As far as this reporter is aware, no nudity and no carnality took place, though there was some exposed flesh and lewdness, mostly from creators Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky.

Zdarsky is a Toronto native -- he works as a cartoonist for the Toronto-based National Post and once ran for mayor of the city, but sadly lost out to a novelty candidate. To celebrate the occasion of his first Image comic book, and out of respect to the great cartoonist Jim Davis, Zdarsky wore the same full Garfield costume that featured proudly in Image's "Who's Next?" ad campaign. It later emerged that this costume was left for him at his desk at the National Post by an anonymous admirer, and he had no idea where it came from, though Zdarsky's peculiar love for Garfield is well known in the community.

 

Fraction and Zdarsky. Photograph by Paul Hillier.
Fraction and Zdarsky. Photograph by Paul Hillier.
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Fraction flew in from Portland, OR especially for the event, organized by Zdarsky in concert with local store The Beguiling Books & Art. Many of the Toronto comic industry's great and good were also in attendance, and out of respect to their families I shan't reveal their identities.

The festivities began with an interview conducted by monoymous sex advice columnist and burlesque performer Sasha. Fraction confessed that writing the comic had led him and Zdarsky to share a lot of intimate details about their personal histories. "There are things about me that only Chip and my wife know," he said. Fraction also admitted, "I wonder if my folks Google me, because I've not told them about this [book]." Zdarsky acknowledged that this was less of a problem for him; "My parents are here, so they don't need to Google me."

Sacha said she found Sex Criminals #1 quite a touching story. "It's a love story," said Fraction. "All the sex jokes are to disguise two people falling in love."

The interview was followed by a live dramatic reading by the creators of a phone sex sketch, which offered the world such delightful lines as, "Is your Dutch baby buttered and out of the oven?", and "Spelunk for feminine doubloons of golden ecstasy."

Then it was on to the main business of the night. While Zdarsky read excerpts from his own unpublished erotic fiction, Fraction had his nipples pierced live on stage.

 

Fraction gets pierced while sex columnist Sacha looks on. Photograph by Paul Hillier.
Fraction gets pierced while sex columnist Sacha looks on. Photograph by Paul Hillier.
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Actually, the writer had one nipple pierced. It looked like an uncomfortable experience, and the stage was so warm that Fraction either passed out for a second or came very close to it. When I asked him about it later, he said he never lost consciousness, but he wasn't getting a lot of air. "It's very hot in here," said Fraction. "I'm in a Garfield suit," replied Zdarsky.

The piercing was called off after the first nipple. The stage area was transformed into a signing area, and guests were free to wander the rooms of the club and admire the strange apparatus, one-way mirrors, mirrored ceilings and wipeable surfaces. Towards the end of the night Zdarsky stripped out of his Garfield costume and slipped into the hot tub.

That was the launch party for Sex Criminals #1. There will never be another launch party like it.

Sex Criminals #1 is available now digitally and in finer comics shops. Here's a preview:

 

Sex Criminals Issue 1 cover Image Comics Zdarsky Fraction
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Sex Criminals Issue 1 preview Image Comics Zdarsky Fraction
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Sex Criminals Issue 1 preview Image Comics Zdarsky Fraction
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Sex Criminals Issue 1 preview Image Comics Zdarsky Fraction
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Sex Criminals Issue 1 preview Image Comics Zdarsky Fraction
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Sex Criminals Issue 1 preview Image Comics Zdarsky Fraction
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