Cathy met Dave at college; then she was a wide-eyed student and he the learned teaching assistant. One torrid affair and a pregnancy later the pair have slipped in to a comfortable monogamous monotony of work, kids, food and quick pecks on the cheek. The pair still love each other even if they don’t know how to, or have time to show it. That is until Cathy has an erotic dream, a conversation with her bestie and the idea of swinging is floated. What follows are the adventures and misadventures of a couple in love trying to stay together by playing together and recapture those early sexploits and feelings of their youthful lust.
Matt Hawkins and Jenni Cheung are the writers on the project. It may seem obvious but having a male/female one-two punch really helps gives the book some stability. Generally, both genders have differing views of love and sex. This pairing allows for all the nuances of feelings and emotions to be explored. In fact, the key part of the book is the actual relationship between Cathy and Dave as it changes over time. I would even go as far to say that at times you forget that there is a copious amount of sex in the book, until you turn the page and see socking tops and genitals that is. The dialogue works well, with Cathy being the lead and more confident of their sexual adventures and David consumed by a number of natural worries. The only thing that does kind of bug me is the “offer him a threesome with another girl” line. If someone was reluctant to swing, I am not sure that this would be a motivation. Are men really that shallow?
The art supplied by Linda Sejic has an almost romantic fairy tale feel to it, that is maybe not as refined as her husbands work. Granted they are two different artists, but looking through the book, you cannot help but notice the similarities in style, composition and panel structure. The softer approach to the art really helps sell the idea of the couple in love, with normal events taking place in normal environs and not just in a sex club. The locations help to ground the story with an element of realism despite everyone looking gorgeous and sexy naked. Sejic gives the art a painted feel that is soft around the edges at times, which again helps to move away from the sex element.
Sex sells, it is a fact; this book isn’t just about sex. Sure, it’s in there and sure, there is a lot of it. But there is more to the story than that. At the basest level, it’s a book about two people in love striving to get through live, realising that there is more to living than being Mom, Dad, business woman and lecturer. No doubt people will buy the book for the sex and I don’t have a problem with that as it will give them a change to read an honest to goodness love story.
Writing – 5 Stars
Art – 5 Stars
[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]
Created by; Linda Sejic, Matt Hawkins and Jenni Cheung
Written by; Matt Hawkins Jenni Cheung
Art by; Linda Sejic
Published by; Image from Top Cow Studios
Author Profile
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I am a long time comic book fan, being first introduced to Batman in the mid to late 70's. This led to a appreciation of classic artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Moving through the decades that followed, I have a working knowledge of a huge raft of characters with a fondness for old school characters like JSA and The Shadow
Currently reading a slew of Bat Books, enjoying a mini Marvel revival, and the host of The Definative Crusade and Outside the Panels whilst also appearing on No-Prize Podcast on the Undercover Capes Podcast Network
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