Sachs & Violens

by Peter David, George Pérez (Illustrator)

Juanita Jean Sachs is a model-turned-crusader. Ernie "Violens" Sachs is a war-scarred photographer with major anger management issues. Cross them at your own risk. They are two people who battle some of the greatest evils of our Pornography. Murder. White Slavery. Religious fanaticism. And why do they do it Because they get an erotic charge from risking their lives.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Comic Book, Fiction, Crime

128 pages, Paperback

First published December 6, 1993

About the author

aka David Peters

Peter Allen David, often abbreviated PAD, was an American writer of comic books, novels, television, films, and video games. His notable comic book work includes an award-winning 12-year run on The Incredible Hulk, as well as runs on Aquaman, Young Justice, SpyBoy, Supergirl, Fallen Angel, Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2099, Captain Marvel, and X-Factor.
His Star Trek work included comic books and novels such as the New Frontier book series. His other novels included film adaptations, media tie-ins, and original works, such as the Apropos of Nothing and Knight Life series. His television work includes series such as Babylon 5, Young Justice, Ben 10: Alien Force and Nickelodeon's Space Cases, which he co-created with Bill Mumy.
David often jokingly described his occupation as "Writer of Stuff", and he was noted for his prolific writing, characterized by its mingling of real-world issues with humor and references to popular culture, as well as elements of metafiction and self-reference.
David earned multiple awards for his work, including a 1992 Eisner Award, a 1993 Wizard Fan Award, a 1996 Haxtur Award, a 2007 Julie Award and a 2011 GLAAD Media Award.

Reviews

[Ignacio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ha tenido su gracia releer este cómic casi treinta años después. Es un poco chiste alargado, sátira de los tebeos de personajes tipo Castigador y justicieras en traje de licra, con buen humor y la espectacularidad que da tener a Pérez en los lápices. No en uno de sus trabajos más memorables, pero cuenta con la solidez habitual en su madurez: la doble página con la pelea en Mardi Gras, el sueño recurrente de Violens en Vietnam, alguna parodia desfasada a los autores que se habían ido a Image... De la primera a la última viñeta se observa una entrega que mucha gente de su generación (Byrne) ya había perdido a estas alturas de los 90. David, sin embargo, demuestra que se le dan mejor los personajes ajenos con un cierto bagaje que crear algo desde la nada.

[Dony Grayman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Primera edición española (y hasta hace muy poco, única). Publicado como libro 3 de la Colección Epic de Planeta.

[Fugo Feedback · Rating 3 out of 5]

este tomo tiene lo que insinúa el título: sexo y violencia, aunque amarretean un poco lo primero y despilfarran lo segundo. Se ve que los autores tenían un par de deseos que sublimar y este comic es una gran excusa para hacerlo al mismo tiempo que se hacían unos pesos. Al menos les quedó entretenido.
En resumen: muy buen guionista + muy buen dibujante +buen precio= Buena adquisición. Además, pensé que nunca iba a poder leer esto pero un cajón polvoriento me demostró lo contrario :D

[Jean-Pierre Vidrine · Rating 3 out of 5]

What this comic does is to hold up things in the light and say, "Look! These exist!" Of course, we are all aware of the existence of crime and depraved people. But so many of us only experience them through sanitized news stories or easy to doubt word of mouth. Indeed, when I was young and eager to sound smart, I probably would have dismissed this book as sensationalist. Having gotten over that baser fanboy impulse, and learned a few things about the world, I'll put this book in the same category as the works of the Marquis de Sade and heavy metal songs that make parents groups queasy. The adventure forces the reader to acknowledge the grime and the filth lurking in civilization. Even if you turn away and close the cover, it's still there.

[Gonzalo Oyanedel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Las menores restricciones que ofrecía el extinto sello Epic (en relación a su editorial madre, Marvel Comics) permiten que Peter David y George Pérez se diviertan al crear una miniserie violenta, satírica y plagada de humor negro, sin otro ánimo que entretener. Reflejando los tópicos del cine B de su época, Juanita Sachs y Ernie Schultz se sumergen en una venganza disparatada donde los lápices de Pérez y los diálogos de David se muestran en plena forma; quizás se hubiera agradecido un perfil más detallado de los protagonistas y sus motivaciones, aunque quizás no las necesiten dentro del mundo en que se desplazan.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better than I remember it to be, honestly. I still find JJ and Ernie's descent into vigilantism to be a little easy and convenient, but David tackles some pretty interesting themes about morality. I'm not sure that he says much about sex and violence and the morality of such, but still, it's a fun ride.

Perez's art is always terrific, though looking back, he's gotten much better over the years. Not often, but occasionally, you'll see a truly weird drawing due to the "camera" perspective. JJ's face in the last panel of issue 2 is an example.

[Greg Trosclair · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story has aged pretty well. The story of JJ Sachs and Ernie'Violens' Schultz still resonates even after 20 years. I thoroughly enjoyed Peter David's story and George Perez's art was fantastic. They handled a delicate story in a pretty hardcore way and I was happy with the outcome. I wish that they had revisited these characters again but alas other than an appearance in Peter David's book Fallen Angel they have not been seen again.

[Brendan Mckillip · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is about soft porn model and a Vietnam vet photographer taking on a murderous snuff film/child slavery ring titled “Sachs & Violens”, so I expecting more satire. The story is entertaining, though some characterizations seem forced. I guess ultimately I felt let down a bit knowing that this came from the pen of Peter David. I had higher expectations.

The art from George Perez is solid.

[Xavier Marturet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Color, entintado y nitidez en general muy por debajo de los lápices de Pérez.
Idea original muy pulp, pero con cierta falta de solidez argumental. Hay mucha escena y diálogo excesivamente forzados o gratuitos.
Da la sensación de que la historia se escribió con prisas y que no se le ha sacado todo el partido a su potencial.

[Max Z · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gratuitous Sachs and murderous Violens. I approve of both.

This reminds me of Japanese anime OVA format. 40 minutes of over-the-top fun and craziness. George Perez is on top of his game and Peter David is no slouch either.

[Lavell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Artwork: Superb, Story: Very good. I originally bought this story because it had two of my favorites working together Peter David and George Perez. Two greats who are still great looked beautiful with a little nudity and adult themes but it carried the story well.

[Reyel2107 · Rating 4 out of 5]

vigilante fun !!!!!

[Your_Average_Magical_Girls_Fan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ever Saw the cult classic Hollywood Chainsaw Hooker? this is the equivalent of that movie...only taking itself EXTREMELY seriously while completely failing in the process. Good art, but that's it.

[Dast Cover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una original colaboración entre David y Pérez en cuya portada se lucen los protagonistas epónimos.

[Index Purga · Rating 3 out of 5]

Edición española, colección Libros Epic #3. Incluye portadas originales USA.

[Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great art, but that’s no surprise from Perez. The story is fine. Feels like a Saturday morning cartoon if they could show decapitations and boobs.

[Robert Hudder · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wish there was more to this series. It has a bit of a hooker with a heart of gold feel. Even rough folks have their limits.

[Jedi Master Nate Lightray · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s… fine. Seems to be going for shock value.

[Layla Madrox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kinky al cubo.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

Published nearly 15 years ago (my how time flies), Sachs and Violens is a short lived series produced by Peter David and George Perez. The idea behind the series was to create a book that plays on the inherent absurdity with our society's inclination towards combining sex and violence despite the fact that these two acts are completely dissimilar from one another. While a good idea to start with, it is just a starting idea. The story still needs interesting characters and a compelling plot. In this regard, I thought the book fell a bit flat.

This collection, which reprints the only four issues printed, covers the origin of Sachs and Violens; the first being a model, the second a photographer with military experience. It also introduces a criminal figure whom they are working to stop. The story ends in a fairly open ended manner, indicating that this was meant to serve as an introduction to the cast of characters. Presumably, their adventures were to continue, but more issues were never printed.

Unfortunately, the characters failed to interest me, and the story, while not bad, did not grab me. Perhaps with more time, the characters would have grown more interesting, and their adventures more engaging. Outside of a few issues of Fallen Angel, the characters were never seen again, and never had that opportunity.

The pencils by George Perez, while not his best, are certainly nice to look at. I think I prefer Perez when he pencils super heroes; he does spandex and mayhem so well. Still, even when working at less than 100%, he's still one of my favorite artists. And how often do you get to see George Perez draw boobies?

I find it amusing that the book was considered somewhat racy when it was originally published. By today's standards, everything in this book is fairly tame. Obviously things have changed quite a bit in the last 15 years.

While I didn't find the book great, it also wasn't bad. I generally enjoy anything that Peter David writes, so I don't mind supporting a book that I don't fully enjoy from time to time.

[Emma Alice Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Taking Down Scumbags

Perez's art is great, and the concept of this tough duo taking down snuff filmakers and child pornographers was ahead of its time in comic book form, but the character development leaves a lot to be desired. Sachs is kind of a caricature, and there's never really any indication of how she became such a great martial artist. Violens falls into a lot of worn out tropes of grizzled 'Nam vets. Also, this almost seems a bit too lighthearted for the subject matter. There is some messed up stuff happening in this book, and the weight of it never really hits.

[Justin · Rating 2 out of 5]

It reads a bit like David found some notes he jotted down after reading a first year psych textbook. "People are driven by Eros and Thanatos!"

If its supposed to be satirical, it's clumsy, but if it's supposed to be serious it borders on incompetent. And do I read the intro right? Does David consider pornography one of the great evils?

[Devero · Rating 3 out of 5]

Scritto da Peter David e disegnato da George Perez, questa mini di 4 numeri rappresenta un tentativo di esplorare questioni come la pedofilia, lo sfruttamento della prostituzione, il porno e gli snuff movies. Un tentativo non del tutto riuscito, a mio parere, nonostante i due siano tra i migliori in circolazione nel loro campo. Non consigliato ai novizi e a chi non piacciono certi temi.

[Jdetrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a lot of respect for both of the creators here and indeed the book looks great. I'm not even saying its badly written....I just don't think it's for me. The subject matter is darker than I like and I just don't enjoy reading it.

[Michael Kitchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vintage George Perez.

[Hoch Hech · Rating 3 out of 5]

David y Pérez haciendo de las suyas en una fantasía sadomaso que habría estado mejor si se iban un poquito más a la mierda.

[Mati G. W. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historieta menos sexual y violenta de lo que promete pero igual muy cumplidora. Se supone que al ser creator-owned comparte universo con el de Fallen Angel.