By d. emerson eddy — As Pride Month is coming to a close, I wanted to take the opportunity to spotlight an LGBT+ series that probably flew under the radar, Insexts. There hopefully will one day be more of this book, but it was a story about two women trying to navigate the restrictions of society in the tail end of Victorian England. Also transforming into humanoid insects, torrid affairs, and lycanthropy. It began with Insexts #1 from Marguerite Bennett, Ariela Kristantina, Bryan Valenza, and Troy Peteri.

Along with the stylization of its title as InSEXts, the series prided itself on being an “erotic body horror” and it's a theme and genre I find fascinating. There's an unfortunate belief of luridness and stigma attached to gay, lesbian, and queer love that still persists, so I find it empowering when creators take that otherness back and present it in an enticing and positive light. Marguerite Bennett taps into something primal here. You see it in the works of Clive Barker and Poppy Z. Bryte, and it comes through here again in the love and transformation of Mariah and Lady Bertram. Of the blossoming of their relationship and family. 

Right from the lyrics of the opening song, “From rot the beauties of the world can only ever spring”, we get that juxtaposition of love and horror. There's a mix of beauty and revulsion through transmission and birth that is very uniquely incorporated here into the story. In a kind of way, it subverts the heterosexual male gaze, shows that the sex and eroticism are decidedly not for male titillation, and repackages it as an ultimate representation of feminine empowerment. All through a very graphic “insect” birth. It's a wonderful genesis point that leads to more transformations and transcendence through the series.

There's also a dark, lush nature to the artwork from Ariela Kristantina and Bryan Valenza. Kristantina has a style that shows interesting depth as character outlines shift from fine lines to thicker solid blacks. It kind of reminds me of Vanesa Del Rey, Davide Gianfelice, and Hayden Sherman. There's a kind of simplicity that helps straddle both sides of love and horror, making the detail of the horrific moments seem all the more terrifying. It's enhanced further by Valenza's colors, which approach a kind of rich watercolor palette here. There are some wonderful textures in the color, and choice of warm tones, that add to the overall sensuality of the story. All topped off with the clean lettering of Troy Peteri.

This is an adult book. Make no mistake about it. It tells the beginning of an entertaining and captivating horror story and romance, but it also serves as a powerful statement for wlw fiction. Insexts #1 from Bennett, Kristantina, Valenza, and Peteri kicks off a compelling exploration of love, sex, empowerment, transformation, and horror.

Insexts #1

Insexts #1
Writer: Marguerite Bennett
Artist: Ariela Kristantina
Colorist: Bryan Valenza
Letterer: A Larger World's Troy Peteri
Publisher: AfterShock Comics
Release Date: December 9, 2015
Price: $3.99 | Also available in Insexts Vol. 1 - $19.99 & Insexts Year One - $44.99

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d. emerson eddy is a student and writer of things. He fell in love with comics during Moore, Bissette, & Totleben's run on Swamp Thing and it has been a torrid affair ever since. His madness typically manifests itself on Twitter @93418.