MONEY SHOT - graphic novel

 It seems as though graphic novels have really pushed the boundaries when it comes to storylines and standards. Whether it's hard core gore or hardcore sex, you can probably find it in a graphic novel somewhere. Money Shot leans toward the sex end of the spectrum, and while moderately graphic, it's still a relatively tame sex story.

 Alien races are out there in the universe and human scientist Christine Ocampos has invented a device she calls Star Shot - a teleportation device to get people out among the races.  But Star Shot is ridiculously expensive to use (and its nickname is 'Money Shot'). And so Christine, and four of her fellow scientists toil away in their labs, writing 600 page grant requests so that they can continue their various research work.

Meanwhile, most humans have become so jaded and apathetic that even watching porn becomes a dull, routine chore. Christine convinces her compatriots to follow a new path of scientific research - sex.  Specifically, alien sex. Christine is convinced that porn watching audiences are desperate for something new, and what could be better than sex with aliens? But before they can consider opening themselves up to the sexual pleasures of beings incredibly different from themselves, they first need to get over their own hang-ups and be open to all sorts of hetero-and-homo-sexual relationships amongst themselves.

Once the five friends become intimately familiar with one another, the scientists-turned-porn-stars are off to another planet where a fish-like human, sexual guru with testicles larger than his head promises great sexual secrets ... if they can survive. Not everyone on this planet is keen to what the Money Shot team is up to. But whatever happens, it's all live-streaming back on Earth.

I. Liked. This. Book.

I've read a few sex-themed graphic novels and have generally been unimpressed with them, but Money Shot, by Tim Seeley and Sarah Beattie, drawn by Rebekah Isaacs, is a well-done sci-fi adventure comic/graphic novel, that centers around a very open attitude toward sex. But even though it centers on sex, it has overtones that address other social and political issues.

And while the sex looks like it would be non-traditional in the sense that these are humans having sex with aliens, the aliens in this particular novel are quite human-like, despite being more aquatic-looking.  The drawn penises look very much like human penises but with scales and colored blue/green.

There is more than a little humor here (Doug, aka Supermassive Blackhole is my favorite character) which helps us not take this too seriously and to just have fun with the book.

I'm not sure what I was expecting but I really didn't think I was going to enjoy this as much as I did.  I'm definitely looking forward to reading more of this series. The art is great and really fits the tone of the book.

Looking for a good book? Money Shot is a graphic novel of sex, aliens, and scientists having fun in order to make big money as porn stars in order to fund their science research.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.

4-1/2 stars

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Money Shot, Vol. 1

authors: Tim Seeley and Sarah Beattie

artists: Rebekah Isaacs and Kurt Michael Russell (colorist)

publisher: Vault Comics

ISBN: 9781939424600

paperback, 120 pages