Titan Books; $29.99 

After the arrival of Mike Baron and Steve Rude’s Nexus from Capital Comics in 1981, my friend Weldon Adams and I were on the lookout for the next cool thing, In those days, joyously, there were a lot of next cool things. Like Howard Chaykin’s American Flagg, Mike Grell’s Jon Sable, Freelance, and eventually Nexus itself, so many of the next cool things were published by First Comics. 

So, in 1984, when First published Mark Wheatley and Marc Hempel’s Mars, it only made sense that we’d check it out. It turned out to be more than just the next cool thing. It was a revelation. Simultaneously bombastic and nuanced, it blended cutting edge science fiction, the desire to explain vast mysteries, and a full range of human emotions. 

I was blown away by the series and was sad when it ended after only 12 issues. There were of course other next cool things, but something about it stuck with me. I did, however, for a short time lose track of Wheatley and Hempel. 

In 1990, though, I mentioned Mars to my friend Sarra Mossoff, then an assistant editor at Marvel, she told me about Breathtaker, a four-issue mini-series published DC. I had somehow missed it, and I remain grateful that Sarra corrected that oversight. 

Breathtaker was the story of Chase Darrow, whose kiss is eventually deadly, yet who is craved by men nonetheless. Cultured by the government to have these powers, anyone who loves her pays the ultimate price. She is conflicted about her powers and was on the run from the government. They sent another of their creations, The Man, after her. 

About the only thing it had in common with Mars – beyond the involvement of Wheatley and Hempel – was its daring, innovative approach to telling a very imaginative story. It was captivating stuff, unlike anything else on the market.  

While only four issues, it affixed the creators more permanently to my radar. As an interesting footnote, the 1994 trade paperback collection of the series was the first trade paperback from DC’s Vertigo imprint. 

About 11 years ago, Wheatley undertook a restoration project to clean up, remaster, and collect the original series with a bit of new material and an exhibit with the Norman Rockwell Museum. With a comic book-like series of perils and pitfalls – including the Covid pandemic – things were slow to be fully realized, but the new collection, Breathtaker: Love, Death, Sex, Power, turns out to be better because of that wait. 

First, it’s a hardcover and not a soft cover as originally promoted. 

Second, there’s a wonderful new origin story for The Man by Wheatley and Hempel, included in the collection. Considering how much time has passed between the original series and this new chapter, it fits stunningly well with the earlier work. 

Third, the bonus material offers a deep dive into the development of the series, and it includes an introduction by Walter Simonson. 

Due out in September, Titan had a limited quantity available at last week’s Comic-Con International: San Diego. The book is beautifully produced and puts this material in a fitting collection.  

– J.C. Vaughn