Writer and Creator – Noah Dorsey
Art – Zsombor Huszka
Creative Consultant – Steve Revenig
[Simon] Monroe is down on his luck, in a profound way. The circumstances of his life have become so bleak that suicide seems a valid option. While he lacks the will to live, he lacks the nerve to end his own life. So, he finds someone to do it for him. A serial killer named Honeycomb agrees to grant [Simon’s] death wish in four days time. Once his “death day” is set, [Simon] decides to use his remaining time to do some good in the world. Unencumbered by fear he becomes Saint Chaos. When he finds something to live for, he questions his decision to end his life, but Honeycomb does not like broken contracts. Has he realized he has a reason to live too late?
Simon is in vigilante mode, and embracing his new purpose in life as a real ass kicker who tries to right some of the wrongs in the world for people who could use a guardian angel of sorts. In a way, that’s what Simon becomes, but he’s definitely a deeply troubled one; one who is still trying to figure out if he wants to live or die. Reinvigorated, Simon seems to be ready to give life another shot. As he embraces his new role as a vigilante, he decides to ask Honeycomb to put off his murder for a couple more days. We’ll see how that turns out later in this review.
Saint Chaos #2 definitely sets Simon’s story into high gear, as both Simon and the reader realize that he’s got very few days left to live. Honeycomb, one of the most disturbing comic book villains I’ve ever come across, takes his job as a killer and torturer seriously. He does not like to be denied the orgasmic pleasure he gets in brutalizing and killing other human beings. As expected, the pace picks up–not to say the first one was slow at all–and the stakes are higher.
The second issue is more polished. The noir feel is still there, with deep shadowing and shades to add an even greater air of overall gloom and melancholy to this dark world Simon has to navigate. It’s as if the forces of evil have taken the spirit and color of the world away with their nefarious doings. I love it!
Honeycomb continues to leave an indelible mark on the reader, as we get to know more about him as a villain and realize that there is nothing he will not do. What frightens me about Honeycomb is that he is evil with a big, menacing smile. He’s like the Joker. but without all the puerile jokes and the deranged banter. Whereas Joker may come off as a teenage boy from hell, Honeycomb comes off as the Devil himself. In fact, I’m not entirely sure he’s not. Huszka continues to bring dark, gritty art to Saint Chaos #2, with exaggerated facial expressions on the characters and real detail to their faces that match the darkest recesses of who they really are. There’s an innocence about Simon and his face shows it, whereas the cold, cruel condescending manner of Honeycomb is utterly obvious in his foppish face.
One thing I missed was the change in font whenever Honeycomb “spoke”, but that’s just me. I enjoyed the contrast. By the time the comic ended, I was just so far gone into it, that when it ended I couldn’t believe it. I wanted more and was so bummed that I didn’t have issue three at my disposal. I’m literally on pins and needles.
In Simon’s efforts to help a desperate mother save her wayward son, Simon finds a lead in his mother’s murder. At the same time, we discover that Honeycomb actually brings his work with him. He tortures and kills and maims for fun and for employment for an evil crime syndicate. When one of the organization’s henchmen gets a little too threatening for ‘Comb, his insolence is punished. There’s also a certain tie between this organization and Simon’s death… What does it all mean? Apparently, we get the answers in the third issue.
Best part of the issue? When Simon spots Honeycomb walking in the park at night dressed like some sort of pimp. I LOVED it. When Simon gets a little too mouthy for our friendly neighborhood madman’s taste, he gets the crap beat out of him, vomiting his guts up on the ground while Honeycomb basically reminds him that his ass is grass.
If you’re not reading this comic, you should be. It’s not pretentious or full of beautiful bodies and people. It’s cold and to the point, and it will not spare your sensibilities. Saint Chaos is good, honest, dark comic book fun.