Recent years have seen a surge in comic books being adapted for television. The most obvious are the many, many superhero shows on the air and in the works, but networks have begun delving deeper into the stacks and bringing back with them series that have little to do with capes and cowls: iZombie, Outcast, Preacher – the list goes on and on.

Today, there’s another comic book to add to that list: Sex Criminals. Created for Image Comics by writer Matt Fraction and artist Chip Zdarsky, the story follows Suzie and Jon as they meet, fall in love, and learn they share the unique ability to stop time whenever they orgasm. The pair decide to use their special talent to save the library Suzie works for by robbing the bank that’s threatening to close it, which also happens to be the bank Jon works for (and loathes).


The news that Sex Criminals will be adapted for television came about from a two-year overall deal Fraction and his wife and fellow comic book writer, Kelly Sue Deconnick just signed with Universal TV, reports Deadline. Sex Criminals will be the first property adapted and the couple are using their own Milkfed Criminal Masterminds production company as a launchpad for future comic book adaptations as well as original TV concepts.

In a statement, Universal TV’s Executive Vice President Bela Bajaria said:

“We’re always excited to usher in fresh voices to the television space, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to partner with Matt and Kelly Sue, a fantastic pair whose award-winning comics are as deeply realized as they are entertaining.”

In addition to Sex Criminals, Fraction has worked on The Invincible Iron Man and Hawkeye, among others for Marvel Comics, and has also created ODY-C, Satellite Sam, and more for Image. Deconnick is just as equally acclaimed and prolific, having ushered in Carol Danvers’ update as the new Captain Marvel and creating her own series for Image – Pretty Deadly and Bitch Planet.



The announcement doesn’t include any specifics on just which channel Sex Criminals will air. However, given the blatantly adult nature of the material, it’s a safe bet that a Sex Criminals TV show will not air on network or basic cable. To do so would mean severe censorship of not only the comic’s language and humor but many of its plot points, settings, characters–basically, sex is in the title for a reason.

That being said, Sex Criminals is far from being a pornographic comic (though artist Zdarsky isn’t shy about titillating the audience), and it deals more with themes of love, trust, and relationships. In fact, it’s the comic’s willingness to openly discuss sex that’s made Sex Criminals such an honest – and often hilarious – comic about relationships.

Have you read Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarksy’s Sex Criminals? If so, how do you think they’ll go about adapting it for television? And if you haven’t read Sex Criminals, are you intrigued? Drop us a line in the comments below!

Stay tuned to Screen Rant for more on a Sex Criminals television show as it develops!