I had no idea who the Human Target was until my husband put this graphic novel into my hands at the b
"Yesterday I was dead. Today I'm in trouble."
I had no idea who the Human Target was until my husband put this graphic novel into my hands at the bookstore and said "you should read this, you'll probably like it". My husband knows I like artsy things, maybe not so out there as to be incomprehensible, but writers and artists out there who push the boundaries of what comics are. People who tell stories differently. He was correct, I loved this graphic novel.
Chance is Lex Luthor's bodyguard and body double. See, Chance is the Human Target, master of disguise and combat training. At a public function where Lex Luthor was supposed to give a speech, Chance took his place on stage. Sometime during the course of the speech (or even beforehand), Chance ingested a poison meant for Lex, and now suddenly he has 12 days to solve the case or he dies. Fortunately he's able to narrow down the suspect list from "everybody in the known world" to "members of the Justice League International" thanks to an extremely rare component isolated from the poison. With a drastically reduced suspect list, Chance starts making connections (and..."connections" *winkwink*) within the JLI to figure out motives and solve his own potential death before the clock runs out.
So this read very much like a James Bond mystery, set in the DC Universe. I'm all about that, make more of this please. The art was just fan-fucking-tastic, with all sorts of flourishes and embellishments that really gave it an incredible modern/vintage look. More of this also, please. It's also a DC Black Label series, and I guess that's contentious with some people here, but I had no problems with the incredibly gritty nature of this story (except maybe (story spoiler:) (view spoiler)[Martian Manhunter in bed.... I didn't know I didn't want that until I was presented with it, and now I can confidently say I don't want to see Martian Manhunter in bed (hide spoiler)]). Chance is a bit of a drinker (understatement), there's some sexual situations (but nothing depicted), and there's a bit of violence, but I was overall satisfied with the feel of things. It was appropriate for the story being told and the period it was being told in, I guess I'd say.
I'm frothing at the mouth for volume two, which I guess comes out in July? Can't wait, I was delighted with this volume....more
We get a little more insight into Kana's past, with some flashback panels to his wife and to his childhood learnin
"They're all cute, aren't they?"
We get a little more insight into Kana's past, with some flashback panels to his wife and to his childhood learning piano. He admits part-way through the manga that he's never touched an animal before Fukumaru, presumably because of his controlling mother, which is sad. You should touch animals frequently, in my opinion.
Still super heartwarming, and I hope Fukumaru starts realizing soon that his new owner isn't going to yell at him. It seems like everytime Fukumaru screws up in even a minor way he's still convinced Kana's going to ship him back to the pet store......more
"To protect the world from evil and create a peaceful world where you will never be frightened, I will fight."
Once the story kicked off in volume
"To protect the world from evil and create a peaceful world where you will never be frightened, I will fight."
Once the story kicked off in volume 1, things really kicked off. Now it feels a bit like we're flying through plot points fast and furious, and it felt at times like the translation was a bit off in places which made it harder to follow. The suit color evidently plays a role in several places of this story, but until it was pointed out explicitly, I didn't realize the suit changed color (it being a black and white medium, and me being unfamiliar with the source material).
I love Kamen Rider in specific and tokusatsu in general. That said, I'll be 100% completely honest and say I
"The law is the judge. Not your God."
I love Kamen Rider in specific and tokusatsu in general. That said, I'll be 100% completely honest and say I haven't yet watched the season this is adapted from (I'm currently working my way through Kamen Rider Ryuki). But I'm a sucker for manga and Ishinomori's work, so this was an easy purchase.
The beginning was a bit confusing, not gonna sugar coat it. But once things started kicking off around chapter 3 or 4 or so, I got incredibly invested in the story. It's a bit bloody and creepy, very much an early Kamen Rider in story and tone. It's really good!...more
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