DC is bringing back the Human Target in style. Tom King - a critically acclaimed writer who has penned numerous DC titles - is heading up this very unexpected series. The character isn't one of DC's most popular, but he could definitely skyrocket with the creative team being brought together.
The first iteration of the character - Fred Venable - was introduced in 1953. The second - Christopher Chance - debuted in 1972. Since then, the Human Target has appeared in two television series bearing the hero's name. The first aired in 1992 with the second airing more recently in 2010. Human Target was also introduced into the Arrowverse, portrayed by Wil Traval.
On Twitter, renowned comic creator Tom King announced that he will be working on a new Human Target title for DC's Black Label imprint. The Human Target will be written by Tom King with art by Greg Smallwood. This series hasn't revealed an official release date, but according to the announcement, it will come sometime this Fall.
This new comic will focus on Christopher Chance, who appeared as a private investigator protecting clients from criminals and potential assassins. The Human Target in this secondary version has had two major comic series and a miniseries, with the first major one being published by Vertigo in 2003. While the second series was published by DC, it was a tie-in for the 2010 television series. A few comics from the '70s and '80s included The Brave and the Bold, Detective Comics, and even Batman. Otherwise, the character has not really been seen in any other major DC comics. He didn't have a home in the New 52 or Rebirth, but now he will finally return.
The character's broader association with DC's most popular characters has certainly faded off over the last couple of decades, apart from the brief stint with Arrow. This led to him not being the first guess fans had when seeing a teaser earlier. King tweeted a teaser image earlier in the day, focused on the hands and arms of the other characters on the cover. This initially led to the belief that King was working on a Justice League International series - which may not be completely off the mark, though they certainly won't be the primary focus. Fans of the Human Target's previous series and television appearances will likely find this news very exciting. Tom King's work on Mister Miracle was well-received and he has worked on numerous other DC titles, including Batman and Grayson. This could be the Human Target's time to shine as an independent character after being left in DC's shadows for so long.