Week of 5/13/2024
This week, I reintroduce Bob to new readers in The Shapes story arc Close Endeavors of the Bob Kind, announce a milestone, and review a really spicy comic.
The Shapes
Close Endeavors of the Bob Kind 1-3
News
TCAF Final Call
TCAF’s Digital Marketplace ends May 24, so next week is your last chance to buy any Shapes issues while I still move my online shop.
The Shapes 2nd Anniversary
Believe it or not, The Shapes is turning two years old this Thursday, May 23, a milestone I cannot quite grasp yet. In celebration, are you dear readers interested in me doing a Q&A series of comics to answer your deepest (or not so deep) fan questions? If so, comment below or reply to this email! I’m only going ahead with this if at least 5 people respond.
Sammy the Critic
Blix & Vega Review (NSFW)
Ok, for most of my reviews, I could get by with just innuendo, but for this one, there’s no getting around it. Blix & Vega a pornographic comedy by Cori Walters about a transmasculine AFAB couple who try one-upping each other in various sexual situations. If that’s going to bother you, then tune out and back in for the next update. With that out of the way, of the adult comics I’ve read, this is the most entertaining and well-composed on a technical and content level in the sense that I don’t only enjoy this as a porn comic, but as a work of sequential art in general worth taking notes from (bear with me here).
Technically, this is a compilation of two comic stories and both do not hesitate to make it clear what direction the scenario is heading in early on. In a lot of material of this nature, this would be your typical rushed pacing designed for the male gaze, but in this case, it makes perfect sense since they’re already established as a couple from the get-go. We see this in the opening page of the first story “Work From Home” where Vega is shown working from their PC before Blix enters the bedroom. Even without looking at the cover, that one panel alone and the title are enough to contextualize their relation to each other while the subsequent scenes speak for themselves. Afterward, there are at least five pages of foreplay to lead into the main action that’s equal parts sexy and funny, that is, in an unironic way where it’s clear the author knows to write and isn’t flubbing the dialogue in desperation to get to the spicy stuff. Blix saying “I’ll make sure you never have to leave your seat” and subsequently bending down with a “See? Problem solved.” in response to Vega stating they’re busy is pure comedic gold.
Throughout, the sound effects lettering is amazing always adding that pop to the page yet blending in so organically. The CHOMP feels like a drawn-out chomp and a made-up onomatopoeia like SNORK sounds like an injection one would exclaim during arousal. You know what they (by which I mean I) say, neologisms are half the fun.
More goodness continues when the real deal comes. Walters takes notes from the best hentai techniques like the cross-sectional view (if you don’t know what that is, look for with Safe Search turned off or read The History of Hentai Manga by Kimi Rito) including even a dildo that resembled a censored penis rendering highly detailed anatomical parts and contrasting it with often exaggerated expressions. On a side note, kudos for the positive body hair representation given it’s hard to come by (no pun intended) in works with fem characters.
The second story in the pairing “XXXercise” sees the duo in for some sexy times after Vega arrives home from their workout. This one just hops straight to the action after the beginning page because it’s assumed if you’re reading volume two, you likely are already familiar with the characters. My thoughts for this comic mirror the previous, titillating (pun intended) and humorous. Moments such as Cock Cam and personifying the g-spot are absolute genius with some unique shot angle choices.
Overall, Blix & Vega is the perfect erotic comedy for readers looking for body positivity, inclusivity, and a kinky good time. The book’s Kickstarter campaign is coming soon, so you can follow it here.
Thank you Cori Waters for this advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.