The Sci-Fi Crime Comic Adaptation Fans Are Worried Is Canceled
I’m a huge fan of the Image Comic series Sex Criminals, and, like many fans, I was excited about the announcement it was being adapted for TV. The problem is that the announcement was originally made in 2015, and fans need an update to reassure them that it hasn’t been canceled. With great source material and a unique premise, it could be a hit, but the longer Amazon waits, the less interest the title will have.
An Award-Winning Fan Favorite
Sex Criminals, the comic series, was originally released in 2013 by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky for Image Comics. It follows a librarian named Suzie and an actor named Jon, who both have the power to freeze time when they climax. The two plan to use their powers to rob a bank to save the library Suzie works at, setting off a comedic sex-fueled crime story.
With a strong comedic voice and a unique brand of sexual supernatural powers, the series was a hit in the comic world. Sex Criminals won the Eisner Awards for Best New Series and Best Continuing Series. I became a fan of the series early on, drawn in by the premise, and followed it until its conclusion in 2020.
Amazon Saved The Day…Sort Of
When the Sex Criminals TV series was announced almost a decade ago, it was with Universal TV. The show then spent years in development hell with no major news coming out of the story. Then, in January of 2023, Amazon announced they’d acquired the rights to the show and were developing a show, but there hasn’t been an update since then.
Disappointment Is Setting In
While a year and a half without news about the Sex Criminals series wouldn’t usually be a major issue, the several years of silence from Universal that preceded Amazon’s involvement have already degraded my attention. It’s nearly impossible for a project to keep its hype for a full decade, with many fans already having written the show off in their minds. Amazon needs to give details of some sort to get the attention of the comic’s fans back and rebuild the anticipation lost in the long waiting period.
Amazon Knows R-Rated Comics
Amazon should be motivated to get people excited for the series because Sex Criminals is a great fit for their platform and could be a major hit. The Boys has made Amazon Prime the streaming platform fans expect to see explicit sex comedy on, and it’s proven they’re willing to push the boundaries with sexual depictions. Another comedic, raunchy sex comedy based on a comic could help cement that reputation.
A Very Different Comic Story
Sex Criminals is also a great choice for a TV series. With a focus on comedy, character development, and interpersonal relationships, it has more in common with a TV dramedy than a superhero comic. Compared to most comic book adaptations, it can also work with minimal special effects, making it much cheaper to produce.
I love Sex Criminals, and I want a TV series. I think Amazon is the perfect platform for it, but I can’t muster much excitement for the project at this point. With the comic ending four years ago and no real details on the show for nine years, my patience has been whittled away, and I imagine that’s the case for many fans. If Amazon isn’t canceling the show, they need to give us an announcement soon before fans stop paying attention altogether.
