Award-winning comic book creators Matt Fraction and Kelly Sue DeConnick are signing a significant overall deal with Amazon Prime Video that will see the streamer develop both Sex Criminals and Bitch Planet as new TV series, a trusted source has told Above the Line.
One of the biggest names in the comic book industry, Fraction has been writing Sex Criminals since 2013, and the series is illustrated by Chip Zdarsky. The story follows an actor named Jon and a librarian named Suzie who sleep together after meeting at a party, and are shocked to discover that they share the ability to freeze time when they orgasm.
Influenced by The Handmaid’s Tale and RoboCop, Bitch Planet is described as a dystopian series where “non-compliant” women who refuse to follow the rules of the patriarchy are sent to a correctional facility on another planet. Drawn by artist Valentine De Landro, the original series published 10 issues between December 2014 and April 2017, followed by a five-issue limited series published from June to October 2017.
DeConnick has written DC’s Aquaman comics as well as Avengers Assemble for Marvel. She’s a self-proclaimed feminist who makes it a point to break the “damsel in distress” trope in her work, and often uses her position in the male-dominated comics industry to help other women and promote feminist ideas. For instance, she reportedly created Bitch Planet in response to male fans’ criticism of her run on Captain Marvel.
Above the Line hears that Nick Pepper, Amazon’s Head of Studio Creative Content, was instrumental in making the deal happen, as he oversees big IP and overall deals. The two shows would be a strong fit for Prime Video, where The Boys and Invincible have proven quite popular with audiences.
Financial details of Fraction and DeConnick’s overall deal were not immediately disclosed, as it’s not quite done yet. A representative for the two comic book creators did not respond to a request for comment, nor did a representative for Prime Video.
