Women Vigilantes Get Justice For Sexual Assault Survivors In Upcoming Comic Book That Continues The Edgy MTV Series
Sweet/Vicious #1 cover by Skylar Patridge
Premiering one-week after the 2016 Presidential Election, SWEET/VICIOUS was one of the first new TV shows of the Trump Era: an edgy and provocative tale of two young women becoming vigilantes to combat sexual assaults on their college campus. As grimly relevant today as it was two years ago, SWEET/VICIOUS will continue the story of feminist vigilantes Jules and Ophelia with a comic book series written by show-creator Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, coming in 2019 from Black Mask Studios.
The SWEET/VICIOUS comic will be a continuation of the story started in season one of the series. After Jules was raped and her University did nothing to help her, she takes matters into her own hands becoming a vigilante who seeks justice for survivors of sexual assault and other abuse at her school. When the campus weed dealer and all-around troublemaker Ophelia Mayer finds out about Jules’ after-school activity, the two join forces and work together to take down those that are getting away with wrong-doing. Told through the eyes of two ass-kicking young feminists, the comic will examine and explore the patriarchal institutions that have allowed this behavior to become so pervasive in today’s world.
While the series’ creative team is still being assembled, artists Maria Llovet, Emily Pearson, and Kiki Jenkins provided concept art for Robinson’s comic book re-envisioning of the characters. The issue 1 cover was illustrated by artist Skylar Patridge.
Sweet/Vicious concept art by Maria Llovet
“To say I am excited to turn SWEET/VICIOUS into a comic is the understatement of the year. I am so humbled by the love I have seen for Jules and Ophelia and am eager to continue their story in this medium,” said creator Jennifer Kaytin Robinson. “I have been a fan of the Black Mask library for a long time. Black Mask’s rebellious spirit and in-your-face content speaks to my soul and I couldn’t think of a better home for Jules and Ophelia to continue their adventures!”
Sweet/Vicious concept art by Emily Pearson
SWEET/VICIOUS is only the second time creator-owned comics publisher Black Mask has stepped into the world of adapting characters from other media for comics (following August’s announcement of the Mr. Robot comic book series, also written by its show-creator).
ABOUT JENNIFER KAYTIN ROBINSON
Jennifer Kaytin Robinson is an exciting, emergent filmmaker with a unique voice keenly in tune with the social zeitgeist. She is the creator and Executive Producer of the critically acclaimed, Sweet/Vicious for MTV. Sweet/Vicious made a huge impact with survivors, becoming a corner stone for the way sexual assault is portrayed on television. Robinson was named one of Variety’s 10 writers to watch in 2016 and was invited to the White House under the Obama administration to speak at VP Biden’s final It’s On Us conference about her work on the show and as an advocate for sexual assault survivors. Additionally, Robinson has just completed her first feature, Someone Great which she wrote and directed for NETFLIX with Paul Feig and Anthony Bregman producing and Gina Rodriguez, Lakeith Stanfield and Brittany Snow starring. She is a force, dedicating her career to telling stories for and about women.
Sweet/Vicious concept art by Kiki Jenkins
ABOUT SWEET/VICIOUS
Sweet/Vicious is an offbeat superhero story for the millennial generation, tackling rape culture and other forms of injustice on a fictional college campus. Jules (Eliza Bennett), a sexual assault survivor, is moonlighting as a vigilante exacting revenge on those who are getting away with assault on campus. After a run-in with the campus weed dealer and known computer hacker, Ophelia (Taylor Dearden), the two team up when a series of unfortunate events bonds them for life. The show received both critical and audience acclaim following it’s 2016 premiere, but unfortunately cancelled by MTV after it’s first season. The show currently has 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and was counted as one of Variety’s Best New Shows of 2016. Jennifer Kaytin Robinson is the creator and Stacey Sher (Django Unchained, Reality Bites) and Amanda Lasher (The Bold Type) serve as EP.
ABOUT BLACK MASK STUDIOS
Black Mask supports creators telling awesome and important stories. A leading curator of creator-driven comics, Black Mask has built a library of over 50 critically acclaimed, bestselling series that all share a uniquely subversive sensibility. Current and upcoming series include the Eisner Award- and GLAAD Award-nominated KIM & KIM, the black-superheroes universe BLACK, the MR. ROBOT prequel-comic by Sam Esmail, and the incendiary hit CALEXIT.
