Broken Frontier

Confession time: I have never picked up an issue of Human Target, nor was I aware that the new Fox television series was a DC Comics/Vertigo adaptation until the first episode aired on January 17. Having fully disclosed my utter unfamiliarity with the source material, I’ll say that Human Target is a surprisingly refreshing prime-time action series that, in spite of some inconsistencies from episode to episode, is a lot more entertaining than I thought it would be.

This is not the first time Human Target has been adapted for television. The original Human Target aired on ABC and starred Rick Springfield (yes, the “Jessie’s Girl” guy). It bombed, and was canceled after just a few episodes.

Fortunately, the current iteration of Human Target has already displayed some lasting potential. Based (very) loosely on the comic book, the series follows Christopher Chance (Mark Valley), a private contractor and bodyguard who is essentially a cross between James Bond and Jack Bauer. In each episode, he’s tasked with protecting a different client, ranging from computer geeks to gorgeous damsels in distress (are there any other kind?). Christopher is supported on these high-risk assignments by the level-headed Winston (Chi McBride) and the mysterious Guerrero (Jackie Earle Haley). As we’ve come to expect from our action-adventure series, there are plenty of explosions, gunfights, brawls and chase sequences. And since each episode is more or less self-contained, just about anyone can jump into this series at any time and enjoy it. While other shows such as 24 and Lost demand that viewers be caught up on the storyline each week, Human Target—at this point—is more forgiving to those of us who have a tendency to forget to set our DVRs.

In the latest episode, “Lockdown,” Christopher infiltrates a the high-tech office building of a weapons manufacturer to rescue Martin Gleason (Alias’ Kevin Weisman), an engineer whose being held there against his will. After entering the building in super-cool aerial fashion, Christopher must match wits with the building’s chief of security, played by X-Files veteran Mitch Pileggi. This is your typical “man versus building” type of story, complete with laser-guarded floors, security camera trickery and the all-too-necessary crawl through an air vent. Original? Absolutely not. But Human Target is so tongue-in-cheek—without being goofy—that you’re willing to forgive the fact that it’s not exactly groundbreaking television.

For a show like Human Target to work, we need to love the characters. And so far, it’s hard not to. Christopher is an ultra suave badass who always gets the job done, while Winston is his measured, eye-rolling but reliable field assistant. Guerrero is the wildcard of the bunch, and since Haley has pretty much established himself as Hollywood’s go-to guy for unhinged characters (his scene-stealing turn as Rorschach in Watchmen might have something to do with that), he brings some dark humor and nervous energy to the series. The back-and-forth bickering between Winston and Guerrero have provided some of Human Target’s best moments thus far, even if their scenes together are really just a sideshow to whatever Christopher is up to each week.

While I can’t rightly say whether fans of the comic book will be quick to warm up to the TV show, Human Target’s absolutely worth a shot.

If you’re on the fence, previous episodes are available at fox.com, and the next all-new installment airs on March 10 in the United States. Also, if you’re interested in the comic book inspired by the TV series inspired by the comic book (deep breath), Human Target #1 hit the stands on February 10. Click here to read fellow Broken Frontiersman Lee Newman’s review of the inaugural issue of this limited series.