Adult Content in Comics- Unpublishable?

[RetroTorque]

I'm retooling a book I was going to write into a 12 issue sci-fi comic and it has a sex scene that is important to both character development and plot advancement. If this scene doesn't happen, the rest of the story doesn't happen. Sex scenes are nothing new in novels, but comics seem treat certain subject matters differently.

For the scene I'm not going to glorify the act as it would be out of context of the scene to do so, but I don't want to treat the scene with kiddie gloves either by hiding nudity and treating the subject with symbolic euphemisms, since that doesn't square with my vision.

Would such a scene make a comic unpublishable by creator owned publishers like Image?

Would you personally be bothered by such a scene?

[MC Fumunda]

There's been humping (non-gratuitous) in Image comics plenty of times.

And it's never bothered me.

[smygba]

I'm pretty sure I seen risque stuff in the top cow lines. It doesn't bother me, but I've never actually thought any of these scenes necessary.

[NickRocks]

Nothing wrong with sex scenes. even Eisner had them. however, you say its not going to be gatuitous but you wont handle it with "kiddie gloves". so what do you mean? will this be like an R-rated movie where you see boobies and thats it? or will this be more graphic than that? say, in the vein of Heavy Metal magazine?

personally, i have no problem with it if you wanted to do hardcore stuff, but like violence, there is a tasteful line. just make sure you dont cross it.

[Pencilero]

Would such a scene make a comic unpublishable by creator owned publishers like Image?

Would you personally be bothered by such a scene?

God damn it people.

Just do what you want to do.

Here's the bottom line: If you want to reach the widest audience, you'll cut it back.

If you have a story you care about more than sales; then do it.

If it offends middle America's milquetoast sensibilities - screw it.

[NickRocks]

wait...if youre just writing it, doesnt the gratuity (is that a word?) under the discretion of the artist?

[Pencilero]

If the writer were to specify the monkey with the pencil would have to draw it.

[Chris Piers]

What you're talking about doing is nothing new. Of course you can include a sex scene.

[Phil Clark]

Absolutely you CAN include hardcore sex in your story if you really feel that it is necessary to the story. However, keep in mind that if this is your first work, it may (for a while) brand you as just a hardcore sex artist/writer which may limit your future employment opportunities.

Now you can have a sex scene, that everyone knows is a sex scene, without showing penetration. And that would not be a problem, even mainstream comics have done that from time to time. So be tasteful, remember... less is more. The less you show, the more the reader is likely to imagine, and the better it will be.

IMHO.

[RetroTorque]

Nothing wrong with sex scenes. even Eisner had them. however, you say its not going to be gatuitous but you wont handle it with "kiddie gloves". so what do you mean? will this be like an R-rated movie where you see boobies and thats it? or will this be more graphic than that? say, in the vein of Heavy Metal magazine?

I was going to be no more explicit then say Showgirls or something on cinemax, as in full nudity when the character is alone, but no graphic penetrative visuals when characters are together.

wait...if youre just writing it, doesnt the gratuity (is that a word?) under the discretion of the artist?

I'm the writer and artist.

I think maybe I'll just take GAG2's advice and get told to tone it down by the publisher when I'm finished or web publish the comic if no-one wants it.