Sachs and Violens is a fictional comic book duo created by American writer Peter David and co-developed with George PĂ©rez. They first appeared in a four-issue miniseries of the same name that was published by Marvel's Epic Comics imprint from 1993 to 1994. The series was part of the Heavy Hitters line, and featured a greater amount of violence and adult situations compared with mainstream comic books of the time (the title itself is an obvious play on the words "sex and violence"), and as such it was recommended for mature readers. The duo later appeared as supporting characters in David's other creator-owned series, Fallen Angel.
Juanita "J.J." Sachs is a model who does softcore pornography photo shoots for her friend Ernie "Violens" Schultz, a former Vietnam War photojournalist. After her friend is viciously murdered in a snuff photo shoot, the two of them track down the people responsible and, in the process, become lovers and uncover an underworld of depravity, ending in a violent showdown in Mardi Gras.
Tropes associated with Sachs and Violens:
- '90s Anti-Hero: The comic works within the superhero genre and has all the edginess that the genre was famous for in the 90s. The main characters have superhero traits, they fight crime and protect the innocent, but are not shy about killing villains.
- Combat Stilettos: J.J. does the majority of her fighting wearing stiletto-heeled thigh boots.
- Deadly Disc: the executioner in the Snuff Films carries a razor-edged metal disc that he can throw with enough force and accuracy to decapitate someone.
- Disposable Sex Worker: The models killed in the Snuff Films were recruited with the belief that they were going to be making porn films. Their disappearance went mostly unnoticed, but one of them was a friend of J.J.'s, and thereby begins the plot.
- Interplay of Sex and Violence: Almost inevitably, this is one of the major themes in the miniseries.
- It's Always Mardi Gras in New Orleans: In #4 of the minseries, J.J. and Ernie have a bloody showdown with the mob behind the Snuff Films. It takes in New Orleans while Mardi Gras is in full swing.
- Lock-and-Load Montage: Ernie undergoes one at the end of #1 when he realises that J.J. is in over head and in real danger. He opens his old footlocker and brings out all of his old weapons and gear: once again assuming the "Violens" persona he thought he had left behind in Vietnam.
- My Eyes Are Up Here: J.J. has a T-shirt with this phrase printed on it.
- Off with Her Head!: The girls in the Snuff Films are killed by being decapitated with an executioner's axe.
- Punny Name: Juanita "J.J". Sachs and Ernie "Violens" Schultz—, or, as they're more commonly known, Sachs and Violens.
- Sex Is Violence: Played very seriously. One of the protagonists, "J.J." Sachs, is a model for softcore porn magazines; the other is her friend Ernie "Violens" Schultz, her photographer for said magazines. Ernie seems at first to be a shy and timid fellow, unlike the energetic Sachs, and she doesn't feel any romantic feelings for him... However, when he shows his violent side when criminals producing Snuff Films target Sachs and other models, the two become lovers. Sachs seems to find this brutal side of him attractive.
- Transplant: Sachs and Violens, of the mini-series of the same name, were transplanted ten years later to Fallen Angel, which is by the same creator.
- Whip of Dominance: J.J. Sachs' is a Dominatrix-themed heroine whose primary weapon is bullwhip that she wields with a surprising degree of accuracy thanks to her previous career in softcore porn.
