Very cool.

This graphic novel was recommended to me by a friend, and it’s one I went into completely blind. Overall, I am a fan of Tom King’s work with many established IPs, so I had high hopes for this one.
I must admit, I am not very aware of DC characters outside of the Batman Universe, and that’s only because my husband is a huge fan. Human Target is a name I’ve heard in reference to a character, but I’ve never really looked into it. However, after reading this, I wish I knew more about the lore behind the character adaptation here.

Christopher Chance is a master of disguise who other superpowered people often hire to help with situations. After someone has tried to assassinate the man he is disguised as, Chance ends up with 12 days to discover who it is who wanted Lex Luthor dead and, by association, solves his own murder. It’s a great premise that drops the reader into the story right off the bat and immediately draws you in. The art in this graphic novel is fantastic, not only serving to tell the story but also working to set the time period. The art really serves the story here, and to me, it was the standout element.

The story was entertaining to read and reminded me (purposefully) of those hard-boiled noir mysteries from years ago. It isn’t surprising that Chance is portrayed as looking like Clark Gable or another old Hollywood actor known for those roles. There are poisonings, attempted murders, and a femme fatale in this, so an excellent recommendation to anyone interested in Raymond Chandler.
The only negative I have regarding this title is a lot of dialogue and writing, which bogs me down a bit after a while. I felt I needed to actively pay attention to every frame to understand some of the context as I don’t know much about the larger DC Universe. Knowing that I was a bit confused about the storylines involving the Justice League members as I only know they’re a thing, but nothing regarding the members.

Title: The Human Target (Vol 1)
Author: Tom King
Format: Paperback
Pages: 192
ISBN: 9781779516701

Three Descriptors: Dialog-heavy, Dreary, Stylish

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