Blowjob 3: A Gay Erotic Collection by Johnny Murdoc
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
A plethora of dicks in all shapes, sizes, kinds, and medias. If you are a fan of dick or you always wanted to be one, this is the collection for you! I’m a fan of Johnny Murdoc’s irreverent raunchy yet intelligent style and although I haven’t read Blow Job 1 or 2, I’m pretty satisfied after reading this one. It’s a visual treat for the eyes and mind that includes nude pictures for all the happy pervs out there. I can almost predict who I know will buy this one and they won’t be disappointed.
The collection of stories starts out with a delightful introduction by Natty Soltesz and her great quote towards the end sums up the feeling of the stories so well. Introductions can be hit or miss and this one definitely hits all the high notes. Don’t skip it.
For me, Johnny Murdoc is one of those friends, a kindred spirit. Just look at the stories here, soaked in sex: its permutations, like jacking off a cop or sucking off a straight guy; its representations in print and film; its consequences for public health and civil rights issues. Most importantly, underneath all of Mr. Murdoc’s explorations of queer sexuality is a respect for sex, its wonders and mysteries.
Still, one could reasonably ask, why sex? Why so much of it? After all it’s just biology, a function, the oldest story in the world. Why worry about it? Why hate yourself over it? It’s practically nothing.
Of course, it’s also everything.
Right away you know the ride is going to be raunchy but not debasing. Rob Wolfsham’s introduction is not as succinct or good and I don’t think the anthology needed a second intro. However from there the fiction starts with Busted. This is a hot and fun story about a kid that gets busted smoking pot in a deserted playground. The cop, a few years older than the protagonist, shows Curtis a better spot to smoke and an exceptional view in more ways than one. After that messy but delightful beginning the collection continues with Do Me a Favor where a monogamous college couple decides to get frisky with a teammate. The couple is obviously loving and committed yet wants a little spice, the first of what promises to be many encounters with teammates. It’s hot, sticky fun.
There are the fun first encounters that lead to incredible sex like in Excuse Me. But there are also intimate, meaningful encounters between lovers. Sucking Dick on the Blue Line is about the connection between a couple and the act of love regardless of the place or appearance. Just as Riding Waves is about maintaining that emotion even when it seems the world has ended. The fictional stories end with Rough Sports, a raunchy and delicious sex filled fantasy come true. The mixture of sex and emotions, sometimes used together and other times apart, keeps the collection interesting and never in a rut. Each story is different and offers something totally unique from the others.
After the fiction stories are numerous nude pictures. These all feature the same model and feature him sometimes clothed, often naked and focus on different body parts. They’re certainly meant to titillate and arouse but they do highlight different areas, such as the curve of the back or neck in addition to full frontals and groin close ups. They’re all in black and white with a slightly grainy texture to the picture which fits with the somewhat obscure and vaguely hazy backgrounds.
After the series of pictures are numerous non-fiction articles. The first is an article about GLBTQ printed materials, specifically magazines and printed books, and how that culture is not only important but has evolved and used sex to incorporate ideas. This is an informative article but it didn’t quite peak my interest. It’s definitely a testament to the genre but since my reading rarely includes ‘zines this article will mean more to those readers. Moving on are several editorials that are well written but on subjects I’ve definitely read numerous editorials on already. Such as how masturbation and porn can be arousing and quite healthy as well as a debate on the ethics of bareback sex (it’s bad) and sex in this age of social, public media. The ever popular debate of church versus homosexuality, though this particular editorial is one of the more personal and focused which makes it one of the better ones. The last two articles are the best with the most relevance – an interesting look into the sweet film I Want Your Love and the other an intelligent and very well written look into gay rights and the Obama administration.
Overall this collection is somewhat of a mixed bag. The fiction scores high marks for its entertainment and lovely emotion beneath the obvious sex acts while the non-fiction section is a bit mundane but has a few highlights. Whether fans appreciate the editorials will be highly subjective though I do think this collection is worth buying for the excellent stories alone. Everything else is just icing that may or may not be to taste.
three am 