Stjepan Sejic’s Fine Print is arguably the raunchiest comic of the year. Then again, perhaps that shouldn’t *ahem* come as a surprise since the R-rated fantasy romance centres largely on succubi and incubi, and the seduction-based wheeling and dealing of these lust-powered supernatural beings.
Already readable on Sejic’s Patreon – if you’re a supporter – the trade paperback edition of Fine Print Volume 1 is now available to buy as well, via Top Cow and Image Comics. Its 170+ pages cram in what you’d expect of Sejic’s work in the NSFW arena: sumptuous art and a helluva lot of horniness.
Fine Print injects more mythology into the Sejic-verse, a shared comics space that brings together Sejic’s creator-owned smash hit Sunstone, wife Linda Sejic’s Punderworld, and Bloodstain, and Matt Hawkins and Yishan Li’s Swing. With its Greek gods, Punderworld is the title with the most crossover significance in Fine Print, although some of the action takes place at the Crimson, the BDSM club that is a hangout for Sunstone’s Ally, Lisa, Alan and Anne. You’ll actually spot those “sex nerds” dorking out in the background of some frames in Fine Print.
But Fine Print isn’t Sunstone, it must be noted. It’s more serious, more ambitious in a grand fantasy sense, and it feels a helluva lot more explicit. Where Sunstone typically cuts away from sex scenes, leaving viewers to mentally fill in the missing panels, Fine Print splatters pages with artfully posed erotic montages that run the full spectrum – from heterosexual to LGBTQ+ to, uh, tail and tentacle fetish. It’s not a bad thing, mind, and never ever distastefully pornographic, but Fine Print is probably not a book you want to be reading with conservative types around.
Be warned too that if you’re a reader attracted to Fine Print because of the goofy slice-of-life charm of Sunstone, you’ll find less of that in Sejic’s latest. Relatable humour is present, and insecure, slightly inept succubus Merryl is an especial source of smiles, but for the most part, Fine Print feels darker tonally, and features higher stakes for its cast.
Following a prologue loosely tethered to the main storyline, the book’s many plot threads entwine around human Lauren Thomas. Lauren is an ugly duckling who evolved into a sought-after model in adulthood, but lost her soul, and the love of her life, in the process. While not malicious, Lauren is a self-destructive character, continually running towards bad decisions, and seeking out punishment for her poor choices and priorities – and that vicious cycle is not easy to witness.
Lauren’s intense wish to end the pain of her broken heart brings her to the attention of the cubi – ancient gods of desire descended from Eros (and yin to the yang of love-powered cupids). Instead of signing up for much-needed therapy, Lauren continues her run of bad choices and agrees to the cubis’ Golden Contract. In return for the nourishment provided by her emotional energy, and one other very dubious contract term (which I won’t spoil), Lauren will have her anguish extinguished by the greatest of “Caller” cubi. Except, that title is currently a contested position, with one succubi and one incubi competing for the elevated position, and the privileges it provides. Lauren is now faced with two sex gods who want to pleasure her brains out.
Fine Print has a very specific, unique mythology, and Volume 1 has a lot of exposition to cover as a result. The book jumps around quite a bit to set up its narrative, introduce its large cast, and deliver its lore. This groundwork laying is not always smoothly done, and there is a lot of information for readers to absorb between the smoking-hot sex scenes. That said, Fine Print still feels pretty tight structurally.
Volume 1 of this tale of gods and mortals never meanders or retreads the same ground – which some serialised Sejic comics can be accused of. Plus, much like the very beginning of Sunstone, Fine Print teases its climax at the start, with a flash-forward that promises much drama to come, hooking readers in the process.
Overall, Volume 1 of Fine Print is a successful marriage of fantasy and erotica, with bonus points for unveiling an intriguing fictional universe that stands on its own, and doesn’t recycle tropes. The first collection is very much a set-up, but it’s satisfying on multiple levels. And, with the foundation laid, future volumes should have far more room for play, and that trademark Sejic blend of character sass and development.
You can find various ways to purchase Fine Print Volume 1 here. If you’re still not convinced, read an extended preview of the book here.