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Human Target

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For other uses, see Human Target (disambiguation).
The Human Target
Christopher Chance, as he appeared on the cover of Human Target #6 (November 2021). Art by Greg Smallwood.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearance(Fred Venable)
Detective Comics #201 (November 1953)
(Christopher Chance)
Action Comics #419 (December 1972)
Created by(Fred Venable)
Edmond Hamilton
Sheldon Moldoff
(Christopher Chance)
Len Wein
Carmine Infantino
In-story information
Alter egoFred Venable
Christopher Chance
Notable aliasesNumerous identities
Impersonates his clients to protect them
Abilities
  • Master impersonator
  • Exceptional athlete
  • Skilled detective, marksman, and martial artist

The Human Target is the name of two fictional characters in American comic books published by DC Comics. The first is Fred Venable, while the second is private investigator and bodyguard Christopher Chance who assumes the identities of clients targeted by assassins and other dangerous criminals.[1] Chance has appeared in numerous books published throughout the decades and has appeared in television adaptations.

Chance has appeared in two self-titled TV series in 1992 and 2010, portrayed by Rick Springfield and Mark Valley respectively, and made guest appearances in the Arrowverse TV series Arrow, portrayed by Wil Traval.

Publication history

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The first character to use the "Human Target" title (Fred Venable) appeared in Detective Comics #201 (November 1953), and was created by Edmond Hamilton and Sheldon Moldoff.[2]

The second character to use the "Human Target" title (Christopher Chance) first appeared in Action Comics #419 (December 1972) and was created by Len Wein and Carmine Infantino.[3] His early appearances came in back-up stories in Action Comics, a title better known for featuring Superman tales published by DC Comics. He first appeared in "The Assassin-Express Contract", a backup story written by Wein and illustrated by Infantino. Later, the feature appeared in Batman titles such as The Brave and the Bold and Detective Comics.[4] He starred in a limited series, a one-shot, and then an ongoing Human Target series written by Peter Milligan and published under DC's Vertigo imprint. In 2021, Tom King and Greg Smallwood began a 12-issue limited series for DC's Black Label imprint.

Comic listing

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Comic book appearances[5]
Date Issue Title
1953 November Detective Comics #201 "The Human Target"
1958 January Gangbusters #61 "The Human Target"
1972 December Action Comics #419 "The Assassin-Express Contract"
1973 January Action Comics #420 "The King of the Jungle Contract"
1973 March Action Comics #422 "The Shadows-of-Yesterday Contract"
1973 April Action Comics #423 "The Deadly Dancer Contract"
1973 July Action Comics #425 "The Short-Walk-to-Disaster Contract -- Clause 1: I Have a Cousin in the Business"
1973 August Action Comics #426 "The Short-Walk-to-Disaster Contract -- Clause 2: The Shortest Distance Between Two Points"
1973 November Action Comics #429 "The Rodeo Riddle Contract"
1974 February Action Comics #432 "The Million Dollar Methuselah Contract"
1978 September–October DC The Brave and the Bold #143 "The Cat and the Canary Contract"
1978 October–November DC The Brave and the Bold #144 "The Symphony For The Devil Contract"
1979 April–May Detective Comics #483 "The Lights! Camera! Murder! Contract"
1979 June–July Detective Comics #484 "The Who Is Floyd Fenderman Anyway? Contract"
1979 October–November Detective Comics #486 "The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea Contract"
1980 August Detective Comics #493 "The 18-Wheel War Contract"
1981 March Detective Comics #500 "The 'Too Many Crooks...' Caper"
1982 June Detective Comics #515 "College for Killers"
1982 July Batman #349 "Blood Sport"
1982 September Batman #351 "What Stalks the Gotham Night?"
1982 September Detective Comics #518 "The Millionaire Contract"
1982 October Batman #352 "The Killer Sky"
1982 November DC The Best of Blue Ribbon Digest #30 "The Assassin-Express Contract" (reprint)
1989 March Action Comics #641 "The Pow! Wap! Zam! Contract"
1991 November DC special (TV tie-in) "The Human Target: The Mack Attack Contract"
1999 April Vertigo Human Target (1999) #1 "Human Target, Part 1"
1999 May Vertigo Human Target (1999) #2 "Human Target, Part 2"
1999 June Vertigo Human Target (1999) #3 "Human Target, Part 3"
1999 July Vertigo Human Target (1999) #4 "Human Target, Part 4"
2002 May Vertigo Human Target (2002) OGN "Final Cut"
2003 October Vertigo Human Target (2003) #1 '"To Be Frank"
2003 November Vertigo Human Target (2003) #2 "The Unshredded Man, Part 1: Ground Zero"
2003 December Vertigo Human Target (2003) #3 "The Unshredded Man, Part 2: Ready to Die"
2004 January Vertigo Human Target (2003) #4 "Take Me Out To The Ballgame, Part One: The Set-Up Man"
2004 February Vertigo Human Target (2003) #5 "Take Me Out To The Ballgame, Part Two: The Strike Zone"
2004 March Vertigo Human Target (2003) #6 "For I Have Sinned"
2004 April Vertigo Human Target (2003) #7 "Which Way The Wind Blows, Part One: Living In Amerika"
2004 May Vertigo Human Target (2003) #8 "Which Way The Wind Blows, Part Two: American Terrorists"
2004 June Vertigo Human Target (2003) #9 "Which Way The Wind Blows, Part Three: Bringing It All Back Home"
2004 July Vertigo Human Target (2003) #10 "Five Days Grace"
2004 August Vertigo Human Target (2003) #11 "Games of Chance"
2004 September Vertigo Human Target (2003) #12 "Crossing The Border, Part One: Suffer the Children"
2004 October Vertigo Human Target (2003) #13 "Crossing The Border, Part Two: Hey, Jude"
2004 November Vertigo Human Target (2003) #14 "The Second Coming, Part One: In the Name of the Father"
2004 December Vertigo Human Target (2003) #15 "The Second Coming, Part Two: The Temptation of Christopher Chance"
2005 January Vertigo Human Target (2003) #16 "The Second Coming, Conclusion: Pieces of Lead"
2005 February Vertigo Human Target (2003) #17 "You Made Me Love You"
2005 March Vertigo Human Target (2003) #18 "Letters From the Front Line"
2005 April Vertigo Human Target (2003) #19 "The Stealer, Part One"
2005 May Vertigo Human Target (2003) #20 "The Stealer, Part Two"
2005 June Vertigo Human Target (2003) #21 "The Stealer, Part Three"
2010 June Vertigo Human Target Special Edition #1 "Human Target, Part 1" (1999/reprint)
2010 April DC Human Target (2010) #1 (TV tie-in) "Human Target #1"
2010 May DC Human Target (2010) #2 (TV tie-in) "Human Target #2"
2010 June DC Human Target (2010) #3 (TV tie-in) "Human Target #3"
2010 July DC Human Target (2010) #4 (TV tie-in) "Human Target #4"
2010 August DC Human Target (2010) #5 (TV tie-in) "Human Target #5"
2010 September DC Human Target (2010) #6 (TV tie-in) "Human Target #6"
2021 November Black Label Human Target (2021) #1 "When We Are Born"
2021 November Black Label Human Target (2021) #2 "We Cry"
2021 December Black Label Human Target (2021) #3 "That We Are Come"
2022 January Black Label Human Target (2021) #4 "To This Great Stage of Fools!"
2022 February Black Label Human Target (2021) #5 "This is a Good Block"
2022 March Black Label Human Target (2021) #6 "It Were a Delicate Stratagem"
2022 August Tales of the Human Target #1 "Oh, Here He Is"
2022 September Black Label Human Target (2021) #7 "To Shoe a Troop of Horse with Felt"
2022 October Black Label Human Target (2021) #8
2022 November Black Label Human Target (2021) #9 "And When I Have Stol'n Upon These Sons-In-Law"
2023 January Black Label Human Target (2021) #10 "Then Kill"
2023 January Black Label Human Target (2021) #11 "Kill Kill Kill Kill"
2023 February Black Label Human Target (2021) #12 "Kill"

Vertigo

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Main article: Human Target (Vertigo)

Writer Peter Milligan and Edvin Biukovic revived Christopher Chance in 1999, moving the character to DC Comics' Vertigo imprint for a four-issue limited series. The mini-series was followed by the graphic novel Human Target: Final Cut, as well as a series lasting 21 issues until its cancellation in 2005.

Reception

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The Human Target story "The Unshredded Man" was analyzed as an example of depictions of the September 11 attacks in American popular culture.[6]

In other media

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  • The Christopher Chance incarnation of the Human Target appears in a self-titled TV series (1992),[7] portrayed by Rick Springfield. This version is a Vietnam War veteran in addition to being a private investigator and bodyguard who charges ten percent of a client's annual income to take their place. Additionally, he is assisted by eccentric computer genius Philo Marsden, who designs high-tech masks for Chance to use in conjunction with sophisticated makeup; Jeff Carlyle, the chauffeur, cook, and pilot for Chance's mobile base of operations, the Blackwing; and Lilly Page, an ex-CIA agent who helps coordinate Chance's missions.
    • Chance appears in the tie-in one-shot The Human Target Special #1.
  • The Christopher Chance incarnation of the Human Target appears in self-titled TV series (2010),[8][9][10] portrayed by Mark Valley. This version is a former assassin who utilizes nondescript cover identities that put him close to his clients rather than assuming their identity himself and is the fifth individual to assume the name "Christopher Chance"; having inherited it from an unnamed guardian (portrayed by Lee Majors).[11] Additionally, he is assisted by former police officer Winston, independent contractor Guerrero, financier Ilsa Pucci, and retired cat burglar Ames.
    • Chance appears in a tie-in comic miniseries, written by Len Wein and art by Bruno Redondo.
  • The Christopher Chance incarnation of the Human Target appears in Arrow,[12] portrayed by Wil Traval. This version is an old friend of John Diggle.[13]

References

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  1. ^ McAvennie, Michael; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). "1970s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. Dorling Kindersley. p. 153. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. Starting as a back-up feature in the pages of Action Comics, scribe Len Wein and artist Carmine Infantino introduced Christopher Chance, a master of disguise who would turn himself into a human target - provided you could meet his price. {{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ "Detective Comics Vol 1 #201". Human Target Online. humantargetonline.com. Retrieved 2011-06-21.
  3. ^ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 145. ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
  4. ^ Greenberger, Robert (2008). The Essential Batman Encyclopedia. Del Rey. p. 183. ISBN 9780345501066.
  5. ^ humantargetonline.com
  6. ^ Paul, J. (2007). Ashes in the Gutter: 9/11 and the Serialization of Memory in DC Comics' Human Target. American Periodicals, 17(2), 208-227. Retrieved August 31, 2020, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/20770986
  7. ^ ABC Series. "Humantargetonline: About: ABC Series". humantargetonline.com. Archived from the original on 2010-06-24. Retrieved 2010-06-17.
  8. ^ Goldman, Eric (2009-04-22). "IGN: Flash Forward, Human Target Among Hot Pilots". Tv.ign.com. Retrieved 2010-06-17.
  9. ^ "Fox press release reveals official synopsis of Human Target". Humantargetonline.com. 2009-05-21. Archived from the original on 2012-07-14. Retrieved 2010-06-17.
  10. ^ "Human Target Television Series Pilot". Target419. Retrieved 2010-06-17.
  11. ^ "TV Networks 'Upfront' About Their 2009-10 'Genre' Plans". Newsarama.com. 2009-05-22. Retrieved 2010-06-17.
  12. ^ Ausiello, Michael (August 18, 2016). "Arrow Takes Aim at Jessica Jones Cop Wil Traval for Human Target Role". TV Line. Archived from the original on August 19, 2016. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  13. ^ Francisco, Eric (May 4, 2018). "'Arrow' Has a Rare Comics Easter Egg in Tommy's Return Episode". Inverse.
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