The Human Target

The Human Target

Superheroes and comic books. Comic books and superheroes. To most people, one is synonymous with the other. They have dominated the market for so long that the wider perception of the medium is that it’s purely capes and tights and pow and kerbang. Its not entirely unjustified; if you look at the monthly published ongoing titles from the four largest comic publishers (Marvel, DC comics, Image comics and Dark Horse), 58.11% were superhero books… two out of three.

Its like sitting down and thinking “I’ll watch some TV.,” you turn on the screen and need to flick through three channels to find something that isn’t a cooking show. Why are they so prevalent? I’m sure there are a lot of technical, market forces reasons, like audience demographic, social zeitgeist, brand recognition etc. For my money, the real reasons why superheroes have such everlasting appeal are: They are recognisably about something, and they promise hope.

The bright colours, mad-cap characters and crazy powers are decorative. Normally, the most revered superhero books are actively questioning established truths and injustices, without losing the point that we have the power to make it better. They remind us through entertaining hijinks that we can be more than what we are. There is a duty to improve. With great power, comes great responsibility. Or my preferred Marvel sound bite: Good is a thing you do, not a thing you are. The most obvious are titles like X-Men. They are an eternal metaphor for injustice towards minorities (no specific minority, but if the reader recognises themselves within the story, that’s never by accident). Less obvious are titles like The Avengers or the J.L.A, but the scenarios and driving forces reflect the panic and talking points of the time. I think superheroes are a great tool for teaching media literacy. They are easy to digest and wear their hearts on their sleeves.

So, what’s The Human Target about?

What am I reading? The Human Target, Issues 1-12, 2023. Written by Tom King, illustrated by Greg Smallwood.

Issue 12 was released this month. I’ve broken my rhythm of DC – Marvel – Other to cover this book. I’m very excited about it.

What’s it about? Christopher Chance is The Human Target. If you’ve got enemies looming, waiting to strike, hire the Human Target to pose as you. Chance stops an assassination attempt whilst disguised as Lex Luthor, taking a round to the chest. All in a day’s work. However, he also drank a poisoned cup of coffee meant for the bald billionaire. Dr Midnight, the world’s finest medical practitioner, tells him he has 12 days to live. He also says that the poison is so unique it could only have come from a member of the Justice League International. Can Christopher solve his own murder, by the hands of a hero?

What’s good about it? Before I start to gush over the story, I need to make one thing clear. This is a stunning looking book. Greg Smallwood has made every issue, every page, every panel into a work of art. It is outrageous. I’ve seen people on twitter take specific panels, blow them up, and then frame them in sequence in their houses. If I could get away with it, I’d do the same. The colour work is amazing; flat hues that lend dazzling clarity to the crisp flow of the pages. Highlights here and there that catch the eye, block colours that transfix the panelling. The forms of the subjects are divinely stylised yet ultra-realistic. Its genius. The faces are phenomenal, dripping with emotion. A few modest touches have really stayed with me: the speech bubbles and exposition boxes have no boarders, making it all blend naturally to the scene, or even into the surrounding margins. The lettering is also subtle, but the smaller shifts make greater impact. The title cards being digenic is always delightful.

 

The concept is fantastic fun. I love a murder mystery. I love the review, investigation and elimination of potential causes and culprits. This has that Poirot quality of large ridiculous characters, with big motives and sly opportunities. The suspects don’t come much sillier than the J.L.I… by their own admission, they are the B-Team. Too daft, or broken, or niché for the big league. But each are formidable world savers. Each have long and twisted histories within the multiverse. Much like the case on the Orient Express, everyone has a reason to wish Lex Luthor dead. The mechanism of Chance investigating one member per issue allows for really engaging character studies of both the suspect and The Human Target himself. It also allows each issue to be memorable: Ice, Booster Gold, Blue Beetle, Martian Man Hunter, Guy Gardiner, Fire, Rocket Red, Batman and G’nort have an issue each.

Unlike other books, I can’t pick a standout issue. They are all equally charming in my opinion. I think it helped I picked up the books monthly. This does tend to build the anticipation for the next issue, it makes you hungry and doesn’t let the rose-tinted glasses steam up. Always a double-edged sword though, if the next issue isn’t up to snuff you feel like you’ve wasted your time. However, I think all of these are great and the covers make this an incredibly appealing collection.

You really feel Tom King’s love for these eccentric characters. Chance and Ice are captured tremendously. But he also translates his disdain for others just as well. If you haven’t encountered Guy Gardener before, you’ll loath him after reading this. Similarly for Booster Gold. King always writes Booster as the biggest idiot in this dimension. All this strengthens the lust to find the killer.

I asked the question earlier, what is The Human Target about? On the surface, its about a crime and the criminals who committed it. That’s the tip of the iceberg. Beneath that, its about a great many things. Its about duty to yourself and others, about what that duty means to you and why it matters. Its about love, and the direction of love, and the obstacles and reasons for love. Its about pain and fear of death, and why that shouldn’t matter and why it does matter. Its about guilt, for things you’ve done, thoughts you’ve had, things you may have done and things you’ll never do. Its about learning to be yourself, or learning to be someone else, and knowing where that line is. It’s about being…

What did I struggle with? This is going to be really knit picky.

I found the G’nort design distracting. I know its an in-joke that his face and mannerisms were based on King’s long-term collaborator, Mitch Gerrards, but it’s a weird thing to do.

There’s a turning point in issue six, which I saw through immediately because it all hinges on a very well-established Green Lantern ring mechanism. If you know how the rings work, you’ll be questioning the twist straight away. That doesn’t get resolved for a further three issues. It gives the comic fan the feeling you are ahead of the detective, not really what you want in a who-done-it.  

I’m in love with the character of Fire ever since Greg Rucka’s Checkmate (2017). She’s a little undersold in this book, but then again it isn’t her story. Although, Martian Man Hunter* having an affair with Fire** is the kinkiest thing I've heard.  

*Martians are mortally afraid of open flames, as fire is their only weakness.

**Fire... can control fire. 

Would I recommend? Without a doubt. Books like this show why people love Superheroes, and its because they are human. They do incredible things, both for good and for bad, but this reminds us that we all can. The art in this should be in galleries across the world. This is a fantastic jumping on point for new people and a treat for those more familiar with DC. An all-round classic.