Human Target is a comic book character and series created by writer Len Wein and artist Carmine Infantino, first appearing in Action Comics #419 in 1972. The protagonist, Christopher Chance, is a master of disguise and a private detective who takes on the identities of clients marked for assassination, literally becoming a human target to draw out threats and protect his principals.
The character was originally introduced as a backup feature in Action Comics before headlining his own limited series and one-shots under DC Comics' Vertigo imprint. The Vertigo era, particularly the work by writer Peter Milligan in the late 1990s and early 2000s, reimagined Chance as a more psychologically complex figure, haunted by the identities he assumes and the moral ambiguities of his profession.
Unlike many superhero comics, Human Target leans heavily into noir, espionage, and psychological thriller territory. The stories explore themes of identity, sacrifice, and the psychological toll of living other people's lives, making it one of DC's more grounded and mature properties.
