Human Target

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The Human Target

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Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
First appearance Action Comics 419 (1972)
Created by Len Wein
Carmine Infantino
In story information
Alter ego Christopher Chance
Notable aliases Numerous; impersonates his clients to protect them
Abilities Master impersonator
Skilled detective

The Human Target is an American comic book character created by Len Wein and Carmine Infantino: a unique private detective and bodyguard named Christopher Chance who operates by impersonating his clients in order to eliminate threats to his principal. Since Chance makes himself a target, he, in essence, becomes a "Human Target."

Chance's early appearances came in back-up stories in Action Comics, a title much better known for featuring Superman tales published by DC Comics. Later, the feature appeared in Batman titles such as The Brave and the Bold and Detective Comics. Christopher Chance recently starred in an ongoing Human Target series written by Peter Milligan and published under DC's Vertigo imprint. Prior to this series, Milligan wrote a couple of stand-alone Human Target graphic novels.

Contents

[edit] Introductions

Christopher Chance was introduced to audiences as the secondary star of DC Comics' Action Comics, where he served in assorted back-up features while the title's primary focus remained on the character of Superman. Chance would go on to appear an a variety of other DC productions, most notably (along with a slew of other DC gumshoes) in a special story, "The 'Too Many Crooks...' Caper", in the 500th issue of Detective Comics.

[edit] To television and beyond

A television pilot, starring former pop star Rick Springfield, was produced in 1990. Springfield starred as Chance, who was now a Vietnam vet as well as a P.I/bodyguard. In this version, for ten percent of a client's annual income ("whether you're a busboy or the king of England"), Chance would take the client's place and protect his or her life. Philo Marsden was an eccentric computer genius who helped Chance by designing high-tech masks, and Jeff Carlyle was the chauffeur, cook and pilot for Chance's mobile base of operations, the Blackwing (designed by Mike Kaluta). Lilly Page was an ex-CIA agent who helped coordinate Chance's missions. Though produced in 1990, the show aired only briefly in 1992 (7 episodes aired in the Summer of 1992 although the unaired pilot stayed an unaired rarity to see). The version of the show which aired in 1992, had a slightly different cast than the unaired pilot episode.

Coupled with the television pilot was a one-shot issue released by DC Comics. Penned by Mark Verheiden with art by Rick Burchett and Dick Giordano, the 48-page special featured the television version of Chance and his cohorts protecting a DEA agent.

[edit] Vertigo

Writer Peter Milligan and the late Edvin Biukovic revived Christopher Chance in 1999, moving the character to the DC Comics Vertigo imprint, the destination of many forgotten DC Comics characters that can be served by a more adult take. Human Target #1-4 saw Chance assaulted by an assassin, the end product of which was the loss of his face. While dealing with painful and lengthy reconstructive surgery, Chance uses his assistant, Tom McFadden, to impersonate him and draw out the assassin while protecting a Los Angeles reverend, which leaves all involved tormented both physically and mentally. This run was later republished in graphic novel format (100 pages, 2000, ISBN 1-56389-693-1).

[edit] Final Cut

With the success of the limited series, Milligan returned to Christopher Chance in 2003 with the publication of and original graphic novel, Human Target: Final Cut (ISBN 1-56389-904-3). Milligan is joined by artist Javier Pulido as Chance, still reeling mentally from the aftermath of the previous limited series, works with a Hollywood family to save their missing celebrity son. Ultimately Chance fails in his mission, but adopts the guise of the boy's father, going so far as to have permanent reconstructive surgery to take on this, his final role. By doing so, Chance finds something he's never before had, a quiet life with a woman that loves him.

[edit] Ongoing

Though the previous story could have provided a fitting end to the character, Chance returned in an ongoing series later in 2003, also published under the Vertigo imprint. With his deceptions following Final Cut discovered, Chance leaves behind Los Angeles to move to New York City, taking on a variety of jobs that test him on physical and mental levels, exploring the psychological cost of becoming someone else. The series, which lasted 21 issues, closed with the three-part arc, "The Stealer," which features the return of Tom McFadden, who has decided only one identity will keep him sane -- that of Christopher Chance. The only problem is that the real Chance is in the way...

[edit] Collected editions

Only two trade paperbacks of the series were released:

  • Human Target: Strike Zones, (128 pages, collects #1-5, 2004, ISBN 1401202098) illustrated by Javier Pulido.

[edit] External links