The Human Target returns with DC Comics’ new Black Label series. Book one in this run is available now.
Christopher Chance makes a living by making himself the target of assassination attempts. It’s a living, but a dangerous one, of course. And when Chance impersonates Lex Luthor in order to flush out a potential murderer, things do wrong, dangerously so. As a result, Chance is made vulnerable to being dead within 12 days!
It’s a compelling plot device, and writer Tom King makes his devices jump through hoops, cranking up the tension, all the while distracting us with misdirection. King is up to his old card tricks here, playing with time jumps, messing with dialogue clues and cues, and generally having a load of fun. And it magically works.
Illustrator Greg Smallwood also pulls a rabbit out of a hat, transforming the comic’s visuals to those of a bygone era. It’s not black lines with colour added, no sir. Smallwood’s full colour renderings resemble late 1950s -early 60s painted graphics. The character features, the colour palette, and the graphic design motifs are all throwbacks to that time. Lushly coloured, and painstakingly stylized, this Rolls Royce visual treatment has to be read to be believed.
It’s a 12 issue series, bringing back the creation of the late Len Wein and Carmine Infantino; today’s plot and dialogue accompanied by yesteryear’s GQ magazine stylings.
DC Comics, Black Label, The Human Target #1, $4.99 for 29 pages of story. 17+
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