Human Target

For other uses, see Human Target (disambiguation).

The Human Target
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	(Venable) Detective Comics #201 (November 1953) (Chance) Action Comics #419 (December 1972)
Created by	(Venable) Edmond Hamilton and Sheldon Moldoff (Chance) Len Wein Carmine Infantino
In-story information
Alter ego	-Fred Venable -Christopher Chance
Notable aliases	Numerous; impersonates his clients to protect them
Abilities	master impersonator; great athlete; skilled detective, marksman, and martial artist

The Human Target is the name of two fictional comic book characters that have appeared in books published by DC Comics. The first is Fred Venable, who appears in Detective Comics #201 (November 1953), by Edmond Hamilton and Sheldon Moldoff.^[1]

The second, Christopher Chance, first appears in Action Comics #419 (December 1972), and was created by Len Wein and Carmine Infantino. This character, a private investigator and bodyguard who assumes the identities of clients targeted by assassins and other dangerous criminals,^[2] has appeared in numerous books published throughout the decades, and has appeared in television adaptations.

Publication history

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

Christopher Chance's 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 Len Wein and illustrated Carmine Infantino that ran in Action Comics #419 (December 1972). Later, the feature appeared in Batman titles such as The Brave and the Bold and Detective Comics. Christopher Chance 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. The Human Target has twice been adapted as a television series: once briefly on ABC in 1992, starring Rick Springfield, and again on Fox, starring Mark Valley, for two seasons in 2010–2011.^[3]

In other media

A television pilot, starring Rick Springfield, was produced in 1990. Springfield starred as Chance, who was now a Vietnam vet as well as a private investigator/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 (Kirk Baltz) was an eccentric computer genius who helped Chance by designing high-tech masks, and Jeff Carlyle (Sami Chester) was the chauffeur, cook and pilot for Chance's mobile base of operations, the Blackwing (designed by Mike Kaluta). Lilly Page (Signy Coleman) was an ex-CIA agent who helped coordinate Chance's missions. The show was created by Warner Brothers and Pet Fly Productions (producers of The Flash, Viper and The Sentinel), and aired on ABC.^[4] Though produced in 1990, the show aired only briefly in 1992 (7 episodes aired in the summer of 1992 although the pilot itself was never aired). The version of the show which aired in 1992 had a slightly different cast from that of the unaired pilot episode. Guest stars included the late David Carradine in the episode entitled "Second Chance".^[5]

In November 1991, prior to the show's debut, Chance appeared in his own book, a 48-page one-shot titled The Human Target Special #1, an ostensible tie-in to the television show (the cover advertised that it was "Coming soon to ABC-TV!"), in which Chance and his cohorts protected a DEA agent from harm. It was written by Mark Verheiden, with pencils by Rick Burchett and inks by Dick Giordano.

In February 2009 FOX announced that a new FOX television series was in the works starring Mark Valley, Jackie Earle Haley,^[6] and Chi McBride.^[7] In May 2009 it was confirmed that FOX had placed an episode order and it would be on their 2009-2010 schedule.^[8] The series deviates from the comics version in that Chance assumes nondescript cover identities that keep him close to the "target", rather than taking on the target's identity himself.^[9] Human Target debuted on CTV and FOX in January 2010. Fox renewed the show for a second season in May 2010. The show was officially canceled on May 10, 2011 after two seasons.

Vertigo

Main article: Human Target (Vertigo)

Writer Peter Milligan and the late 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 an ongoing series lasting 21 issues until its cancellation in 2003.

See also

• Human Target (1992 TV series)
• Human Target (2010 TV series)

References

1. ^ "Detective Comics Vol 1 #201". Human Target Online. humantargetonline.com. http://humantargetonline.com/original-comic/. Retrieved 2011-06-21. 
2. ^ 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." 
3. ^ Brian Ford Sullivan. "FOX TO FLIP "TARGET," "IDOL" ON WEDNESDAYS". TVGuide.com. http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=8433. 
4. ^ About : ABC Series. "Humantargetonline: About: ABC Series". humantargetonline.com. http://humantargetonline.com/abc-series/. Retrieved 2010-06-17. 
5. ^ Remembering David Carradine (2009-06-07). "Remembering David Carradine". humantargetonline.com. http://humantargetonline.com/2009/06/remembering-david-carradine.php. Retrieved 2010-06-17. 
6. ^ Goldman, Eric (2009-04-22). "IGN: Flash Forward, Human Target Among Hot Pilots". Tv.ign.com. http://tv.ign.com/articles/975/975306p1.html. Retrieved 2010-06-17. 
7. ^ Fox press release reveals official synopsis of Human Target (2009-05-21). "Fox press release reveals official synopsis of Human Target". Humantargetonline.com. http://humantargetonline.com/2009/05/fox-press-release-reveals-official-synopsis-of-human-target.php. Retrieved 2010-06-17. 
8. ^ "Human Target Television Series Pilot". Target419. http://www.target419.com/. Retrieved 2010-06-17. 
9. ^ "TV Networks 'Upfront' About Their 2009-10 'Genre' Plans". Newsarama.com. 2009-05-22. http://www.newsarama.com/tv/090522-tv-network-upfronts.html. Retrieved 2010-06-17. 

External links

• Christopher Chance at the Comic Book DB
• Human Target at the Internet Movie Database (1992 television adaptation)
• Human Target at the Internet Movie Database (2010 television adaptation)
• Chance's publication history at "Thrilling Detective"
• Human Target Through the Years: Humantargetonline.com"