This is a thread for the two shows about a D-list DC superhero called The Human Target.

Long story short, Christopher Chance is a mysterious freelancer who offers a unique form of security for hire: He puts on a latex mask and assumes the identities of people in danger, becoming the "human target" on behalf of his clients.

Back in the 70's, he was the "back-up" story (the last 10 pages of the comic) behind Batman in Detective Comics.

In the early 80's, he finally got his big break when they made a live-action TV show about him.
Unfortunately, they cast none other than Rick Springfield (Jessie's Girl!!!!!) to portray him.
Not until David Hasselhoff as Nick Fury has there been a more silly idea in comic adaptation history.

(Isn't YouTube great, you can even find this old TV show on it. Wow, Rick Springfield fights David Carridine......... and he wins!!!!)

That was then, this is now.

After spending several years lost in limbo (Vertigo Comics, actually), The Human Target is getting a second chance.

Mark Valley (Boston Legal) is going to portray Chance.
Jackie Earle Haley (Rorschach!!!!!) is going to be Chance's information gatherer, who keeps his ear to the ground.
Chi McBride (Emerson Cod from Pushing Daisies) is Chance's business partner and friend.
(You're going to pretend to be who now. Aw Hell No!!)

The Human Target is back, and this time, he could be anybody.

Cautiously optimistic about this.

I hope it at least gets Vertigo to put out trades of the rest of the Milligan series.

I'm almost ashamed to admit it, but I was actually a bit of a fan of the original show. Granted, it came out when I was a teenager, and I've always been a bit of a comic book geek, and at the time I'd watch anything based on a comic book. (I wasn't cured of that little problem 'til I saw the pilot for Nightman.)

I acutally heard about this a couple of days ago. I'm not really familiar with Mark Valley, but with Chi McBride and Jackie Earle Haley in the cast, I'm definitely interested.

(And I'm not sure if I'm dreading or looking forward to the inevitable Rick Springfield cameo.)

Thanks for putting "The Human Target" in your latest Twop 10.

Twop 10 Most Promising-Sounding Pilots

Fox has picked up "Human Target".

Show synopsis from Fox:

Trailer and previews.

I never got a chance to see the original series, which I thought was a fun idea. I'm a long-time comics fan, so I was familiar with Christopher Chance from old backups in Detective Comics.

The Vertigo revamp got a lot of acclaim. I'm looking forward to this. Glad it's on FOX so that I'm guaranteed a chance to see it.

It seems interesting and the trailer makes it look really exciting, but then I think that these types of shows have a limited lifespan. Also, looks like Fox found the next cocky action hero to replace Michael Scofield.

I'm wondering, though, what the point of licensing the character is if they're not going to be emphasizing the central conceit - that he doesn't just become someone close to the client, he actually becomes the client. Sure, this Chance is still a super-bodyguard, but he's not really the Human Target - more the Human Last-Minute-Shield.

Wouldn't that mean Mark Valley dressing up as Tricia Helfer?

Spoiler-Free take on the pilot based off the script and trailer...

They clearly put a lot of money in this (many experienced actors in the cast, plus McG helming the pilot and a ton of visual effects), but...the script and trailer sort of suggest House meets Burn Notice, without the dark/snarky edge that makes those shows work.

Fox seems to put a lot of emphasis on House-type shows revolving around the premise of "Your dark secret will KILL you!" You've got Lie to Me returning, along with the reincarnation-themed Past Life. All of these are variations on the CBS procedural model with slightly smaller casts, but the same structure -- crime-of-the-week, visual gimmick, sardonic protagonist (well, Past Life has Richard Schiff, who's not visible much in the trailer, but he's doubtless going to have that Ziegler snark).

Thing is, the Vertigo version of Human Target would make a GREAT TV series. Peter Milligan and his artists really made a complex, effed-up Christopher Chance, who at this point does a better job of living other people's lives than they do. But he's so warped from years of taking on other identities that he has very little of his own. And every case deals with some twisted aspect of the human psyche that really makes you think, and often not realize what's going on until it's too late.

At least based on the pilot, the TV version feels like "how to be a bodyguard." It's just a series of fun facts as to how to flush out an assassin, combined with "Wow! Look at all the cool stuff Chance can do!" They don't even have the disguises! There is still potential to really get into Chance's psyche and tell the kind of emotionally-complex-but-action-packed tales that distinguished the comic, but based on the pilot, this feels like what is becoming a standard Fox procedural. It could get an audience, but it wouldn't take that much to embrace the source material. I hope they go that route, otherwise this is a pale mix of standard procedural with James Bond.

Just my two cents.

I'll watch it. Mark Valley is an interesting choice...he reminds me of Colin Ferguson with no sense of humor. Maybe that's what they're going for?

Granted, that would be difficult... :) But I'd gloss over that if it were only limited to female clients. From what I read from the press releases, it's applied across the board. He doesn't disguise himself as the target, just poses as someone close.

So as to be right on hand in his faux-close associate role when the target ends up biting a sniper bullet? Seems like it would be a lot less effective protection than taking the target's place from the point of view of his employers.

I can't imagine how it would have a feasible explanation, but I for one would fall out if we got a scene of Mark dressing up as Tricia Helfer and then with a final face-obscuring toss of the hair it actually IS Helfer standing in front of the mirror.

The Futon Critic's first look at The Human Target. Spoilers for the pilot.

I hadn't even heard of this show (or the comic) but now that I know Bear McCreary is scoring it? I'm totally in.

I'm not feeling Mark Valley either. At least Rick Springfield was charismatic.

I'll watch the pilot and see how it goes.

Some more info on the show from the cast and writers/producers from Comic-Con.

I just watched the series trailer and you know, this actually looks good. And Tricia Helfer, how can you go wrong? So I'm in. But Bear McCreary too, yeah, totally in.

That Vertigo series looks phenomenal. I dunno about the show, but I really want to read this.