Breathtaker – Page 19

Marc Hempel is probably best known for drawing the story arc, “The Kindly Ones” in The Sandman (sorry, have not read it but I really do plan to one day), but by then he had already had a fruitful collaboration with Insight Studios founder Mark Wheatley on such titles as Mars (from First Comics) and Jonny Quest (from Comico). However, I think my favourite was Breathtaker from which the above page is taken. Obviously, I would have preferred to have a page which features Chase Darrow, the eponymous Breathtaker, but it might be just as well I did not get what I desired as if it was anything like the page in Malcolm Bourne’s CAF gallery I might have been so besotted with it that I would lose track of time and spend every minute gazing at it longingly. They do say that the femme fatale (which is what Chase Darrow might be termed) is a misogynistic trope, but it is one that has been around for millennia. Some scientific research has shown that owing to hardwiring and social conditioning that men are ostensibly more visually-oriented than women so is it any wonder that they are increasingly susceptible to a pretty face, and that on occasion that results in the man’s downfall? I would not say I have made my fair share of stupid and impetuous and reckless acts because of an individual’s good looks but the shame and humiliation and embarrassment that has resulted on the occasions I immaturely have makes up for their lesser quantity. And as far as the “femme fatale” cliche – wouldn’t the female equivalent be that women sometimes fall for the “bad boy”, perhaps thinking that they can be changed, even though they know in their heart of hearts that it will end dismally?

Other current or former members of Insight Studios include Frank Cho, Adam Hughes and Allan Gross, and it is from the latter that I acquired this page. I want to again thank Mr Gross for not only selling me the page earlier this year but also for letting me have it at all. There is a saying that you should not keep things out of sentiment, and it looks like Mr Gross subscribes to this belief as even though this page has been personalised to him (I am guessing you can call him “Al”), was supplied ready-framed and seems to have at one point occupied pride of place because of the relationship it represents with the two creators he worked with, he has still kindly passed it on to me to appreciate which is an example I hope that I can follow when it is my turn to move it on.

Incidentally, if you are wondering what I did, said or showed to Marc Hempel to elicit such a wide-eyed look of astonishment the answer is nothing other than to ask him if I could take his photograph, which proves that if you politely ask first for permission before taking a photo you can obtain a quirky and much more memorable portrait than you might have got by surreptitiously snapping.

A very happy birthday to Mr Marc Hempel, and two days from now, also a very happy birthday to Mr Mark Wheatley.