An issue like this might have worked better as an intro to the series. A departure from the central plot can be fun, but doing so in the third issue runs the risk of derailing narrative momentum as a whole. That being said, Horn and Gutirrez are delivering a fascinating world to the page in the third issue that easily maintains reader interest with the detailed rendering of a fascinating location in the world of SFSX. Artist Michael Dowling returns the next chapter for a story that might do for the Pleasure Center what this issue does for The Dirty Mind. Horn is doing an outstanding job of exploring extremely unique locations in and within a really compelling dystopia. Read Full Review

Normally I have a pet peeve about comics ending in the same spot as the previous issue but Tina Horn won me over. The issue details the events that brought Sylvia and Casey to Avory's doorstep at the conclusion of the previous chapter.


When I grabbed SFSX #3 I was immediately thrown off by the cover and art style from Alejandra Gutierrez. After reading several pages of the comic I understood the choice and appreciated the art direction even more for it.


We get to see a typical night at the "Dirty Mind" establishment, how it operates and the events therein. Everything is drawn in an exaggerated cartoony style. It's goofy at first but what it does is diffuse and cleverly obstruct a bulk of the sex acts taking place on the page. I'm not a prude but there are a couple of acts taking place that even made me blush. Needless to say, The Dirty Mind is the devil's playground.


The comic then transitions to the point where the lead characters learn of Jones's survival and subsequent brainwashing after the raid on the original "Dirty Mind". After an emotional scene for the cast, they decide to link up with Avory and save Jones from what is apparently a fate worse than death.


The emerging strength of the issue is the ensemble cast. The leads all feel real in the sense that they feel like real people. Their relationships feel natural which makes the situation more relatable in light of the more fantastical elements of the story.


Now that we're out of the setup phase of the series the creative team can focus on the Sex Worker revolution that is the throughline of the series. The comic is a lot of fun and if you're not triggered by NSFW comics you're in for a treat.

Rating: 8.5/10




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