Fallen Angel 19 NM Signed by Peter David Sachs & Violens App Marvel/DC Crossover

Description

Fallen Angel (2003 1st Series DC) #19 SIGNED BY PETER DAVID!

Published May 2005 by DC
Written by Peter David
Art by David Lopez, Fernando Blanco
Cover by George Pérez
32 pages, Full Color

The Angel’s back, and she’s got company in an issue featuring a spectacular cover by fan-favorite George Pérez! The duo of Sachs and Violens from the miniseries by David & Pérez have hit Bête Noire, and they have the Fallen Angel in their sights!

Peter David brought two previously published characters, Sachs and Violens, into Fallen Angel in issue #19 of the DC Comics series. Co-owned by David and artist George Pérez, the characters had previously appeared in their own limited series from Marvel Comics’s Epic imprint in 1993. Although the characters were owned by the creators, David says their appearance in Fallen Angel nearly didn’t happen due to the legal costs involved. Co-creator George Pérez contributed covers to these issues. Sachs and Violens remained cast members in the series after it transferred to IDW Publishing. Juanita “J.J.” Sachs and Ernie “Violens” Shultz come to Bete Noire to find and destroy a child pornography ring. They decide to remain in the city, and Violens becomes the city’s Chief Enforcer after the death of Shadow Boxer. Sachs is the sister of Bumper Ruggs, the manager of a local brothel.

Peter David is the popular writer of such books as Marvel’s Incredible Hulk and Madrox, DC’s Supergirl and Young Justice, Claypool’s Soulsearchers & Company, numerous Star Trek novels, and more. This month, he and WoW Content Editor Roger Ash, discuss his DC title Fallen Angel and the return of Sachs and Violens. Peter has agreed to sign the copies of Fallen Angel #19!

For people who’ve never read Fallen Angel before, what do you want them to know about the series?

Peter David: In terms of the story itself, it focuses on Lee, a woman of mysterious origin and formidable powers who serves as a sort of court of last resort in a city called Bete Noire. People in need of help seek her out, but it’s a dicey proposition. If she believes they’re deserving of help, she will do whatever it takes to aid them. If she believes they’re getting what’s coming to them, she’ll take steps to make sure it comes all the faster. At this particular point in time – for reasons I won’t go into and the new reader doesn’t need to know, but are thoroughly covered in issues 15-18 – Lee is in a reaaaaally cranky mood. In terms of the series, readers should know that it’s probably the best reviewed work I’ve ever done, and now’s as good a time as any to find out why.

Issue #19 begins a 2-part story guest-starring Sachs and Violens. For those who are unfamiliar with them, who are they?

David: Juanita Jean Sachs and Ernie “Violens” Schultz were the hard-hitting, somewhat kinky stars of a four issue series produced by George Perez and myself for Epic Comics some years ago. Basically, Sachs and Violens travel the country, taking down pornographers and purveyors of obscenity, largely because they get a sexual thrill out of it. Sachs is a superb hand to hand combatant, plus she’s armed with such toys as a very nasty whip. Violens is beefy, middle-aged, a combat veteran and former photographer with an extremely violent temper (hence his nickname).

Why did you decide to bring back Sachs & Violens in Fallen Angel?

David: Even though they only showed up in those four issues, people ask me about reviving them all the time. So when I was casting about for someone to bring in as guest stars for issues 19 and 20, and I was considering finding some creator who’d be willing to have his characters show up in Bete Noire, my wife Kathleen pointed out, “Well, you own Sachs and Violens, right? How about them?”

I know you and George Perez own the copyright to Sachs & Violens. How difficult was it legally to get them in a DC book?

David: From the George angle? It was a phone call. “Hey, George, I wanna do this, you don’t have a problem with it, right?” Not only did George have no problem with it, but he agreed to provide the covers for the two issues. Joe Quesada was gracious enough to ask the Marvel legal department to give me the official quit claim letter that they’d neglected to provide years ago. And DC… well, there was some serious hoop jumping, I can assure you. But bottom line, it all got done.

What can you tell us about the story of Fallen Angel #19?

David: Sachs and Violens, tracking down leads on a child obscenity ring, are drawn to Bete Noire, convinced that Bete Noire’s own head of vice and prostitution, Bumper Ruggs, is running it. And the only thing that can possibly get between Bumper and S&V is Lee, the Fallen Angel … provided Bumper can cut her an interesting enough deal to get involved.

Did George have any story input?

David: No. I did tell him in broad strokes what I had in mind, and he said it sounded good to him. I’m hoping he likes the final product.

What do you think artists David Lopez & Fernando Blanco bring to the series?

David: I’m really very intrigued to see what Dave and Fernando do with JJ and Ernie. I expect that they will preserve the spirit and look of the characters as they were rendered by George, but will bring their own intriguing look to it as well. Dave and Fernando excel in conveying mood, and I’m thinking S&V will be right in their wheelhouse.

You’ve done a lot of campaigning to keep Fallen Angel from being cancelled. What makes this books so special to you?

David: Honestly? I think it’s the absolute best I have to offer. It has a depth and complexity that surpasses anything else I’ve done, and I’m not alone in that assessment. If the fans and retailers don’t want the best I have to offer, well… that tells me something.

Anything you’d like to say about any other projects you’re working on?

David: Well, my work on Hulk is coming along well, and I’m in discussion with Marvel on another potential series. However, these days I’m spending more and more time outside of comics. Novels, screenplays and such. Hell, if I ditch comics altogether and show up again in ten years, I can have a whole new audience and be treated like the second coming. It’s worked for others.

The issue begins with an interlude that serves as an (re)introduction to the brutal duo of Sachs and Violens. They brutalize a couple of criminals in search of information.

We then find ourselves in Bete Noire, at Furors. We see Lee toss a man through the window at Furors. The poor soul is then robbed. Then Chief Examiner Slate stumbles by to access the situation. Once he sees that a bribe is impossible, he informs the man of Bete Noire’s strict vagrancy laws.

Inside Furors, Dolf and Lee get into an argument about her recent behavior. It appears that Lee has been in a self loathing mood since giving up her son. Dolf orders her to leave the establishment because her erratic behavior is bad for business.

Then we get to Doctor Juris’ house where Slate informs him that Black Mariah keeps inquiring about the whereabouts of Shadow Boxer. He then asks Juris if he’s going to inform Mariah that he killed Boxer. Juris dodges the question.

Lee goes to pay Bumper Ruggs a visit. Bumper runs a “house of ill repute,” and Lee is looking for some action. Lee intimidates the male “employees” while searching for a suitable candidate.

Meanwhile Benny find prey in another tourist of Bete Noire, only that “tourist” happens to be Sachs. Violens comes to her rescue. Benny offers up Bumper Ruggs as a good place to break up some vices in the city.

Back at Bumper Ruggs’, Bumper and Lee have a revealing conversation. Suddenly Bumper sees Sachs and Violens and panics. Bumper offers Lee a deal; if Lee will stop Sachs and Violens, Bumper will give Lee a lifetime of free access to the “house.” Lee accepts. To be continued.

David does a fine job of introducing Sachs and Violens. Their characters are neatly conveyed. He also does a great job of advancing the book’s storylines. The death of Shadow Boxer is still relevant as are the aftereffects of Lee’s giving up her son. This book was one of the best on the market.

Lopez and Blanco never let the reader down. Dolf looks irate. Juris is standoffish. Lee looks a bit “off.” Sachs and Violens are shown to have a very close relationship and they portray it very well. This book looks great.

Near mint, 1st print. Bagged & Boarded.