Human Target

The Human Target #6

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The Human Target #6 marks the halfway point of the twelve-issue maxi-series which begins with Christopher Chance telling Ice that he suspects her best-friend of the murder attempt on Lux Luthor‘s life (which poisoned Chance instead). Let’s just say she doesn’t take his suspicions all that well.

We may not get much in the way of moving the case forward (with Ice continuing to be a distraction), or any new cameos from the Justice League International, but we do get a return in the jealous Guy Gardner who attempts to break-up the pair of squabbling lovers and faces Ice’s fury. The scene, and its aftermath remind us that we are in a Black Label comic, separate from the current continuity of the DC Universe. As for the case, Chance needs to get back to work with only a handful of days left to find his answers.

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The Human Target #5

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The latest issue of The Human Target is by far the least linear of the series. While spending time with Ice, and preparing to meet the Martian Manhunter, Christopher Chance thinks back on his past and remembers the events of his childhood which put him on the path to becoming a Human Target and his training with a version of Saturn Girl who taught him not to hide his secrets but see into the minds of others as they probe his own.

What’s obvious here is how quickly Chance and Ice have fallen for each other, as his few remaining days continue to slip away. However, that hasn’t stopped him from pursuing one last mystery as the clues seem to be leading back to Ice’s best-friend who may have used her feminine wiles on J’onn to help with her plan. Before the end we can see a reckoning for Chance and Ice adding another bittersweet layer to events.

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The Human Target #4

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Christopher Chance‘s investigation into which member of the Justice League International may have murdered him continues as he spends the day with Blue Beetle and Ice. Most of the day is spent watching the two heroes team-up to stop a number of threats across the country, and with each one Chance finds himself falling more for Tora.

We don’t get the clue Chance is looking for to lead him in a new direction until near the end of the comic, when a drunken Ted Kord points him in the direction of another member of the JLI. However, the comic is far from fruitless as Tom King and Greg Smallwood continue to balance the nostalgia and film noir themes perfectly. There’s a reckoning coming, but the journey to get there continues to be a hell of a lot of fun. I don’t want this comic to end.

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The Human Target #3

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I can’t say enough about how much I am loving this comic that continues to mix a dying detective’s noir search for his own killer with just the right notes of Justice League International nostalgia. The Human Target #3 not only gives us Guy Gardner, who shows up to throw a hissy fit after discovering Ice is spending time with Christopher Chance, but also more of Ice and Chance together, and Chance talking to another former JLI member in full self-promotion mode.

We get Booster Gold in almost all his glory (sadly, no Elvis collar) along with Gardner, and Ice are all put to great use here. The cherry on top here is an unexpected final cameo of the one person who could get Guy to back off which. Aside for being a pitch perfect nod to the comic history Tom King is playing in, it further illustrates how smart and innovative Chance is, even if he remains far from finding his killer.

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The Human Target #2

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The Human Target continues to surprise as the second issue introduces the dying Christopher Chance to the Justice League International‘s Ice in something of a femme fatale role who charms Chance into spending the day with her (using up one of his 11 remaining) while offering her help on the case and attempting to convince him that her best friend, despite strong motives, isn’t responsible for the attempt on Lex Luthor’s life.

Ice, rather than Fire, is an interesting choice for this role which seems far removed from her role within the JLI but still fits within the established character while offering something new. She mesmerizes Chance who notes both her coldness and the warmth of her charms. Chance accepts Ice’s help, and a late reveal gives an interesting spin on their entire day together, but our dying hero can’t help but speculate if he’s already met his killer.

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