DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn has revealed that his favorite comic book of 2023 was Tom King and Greg Smallwood’s The Human Target.
Gunn shared that The Human Target was his favorite comic of the year while responding to a fan on the social media platform Threads. The 12-issue maxiseries, which was released under DC’s mature Black Label imprint, began in 2021 but published its final three issues in 2023.
What is The Human Target about?
The Human Target was first announced by DC in July 2021 alongside Catwoman: Lonely City. Writer Tom King — best known for his work on Batman, Mister Miracle, and Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow — crafted all 12 issues with artist Greg Smallwood — who is known for Moon Knight, The Punisher, and Vampironica.
The Human Target follows Christopher Chance, who has made “a living out of being a human target—a man hired to disguise himself as his client to invite would-be assassins to attempt his murder,” reads the official synopsis. “He’s had a remarkable career until his latest case protecting Lex Luthor when things go sideways.”
The synopsis continues, “An assassination attempt Chance didn’t see coming leaves him vulnerable and left trying to solve his own murder, as he has 12 days to discover just who in the DC Universe hated Luthor enough to want him dead by slow-acting poison. And the prime suspects happen to be…the Justice League International?”
James Gunn is going all in on DC
It should come as no surprise that Gunn is a fan of King’s work, given that he hired the comic book creator to serve as one of the architects of his forthcoming DC Universe. While it is currently unknown what King might be working on for the DCU, an adaptation of his miniseries Superman: Woman of Tomorrow is in development, with Ana Nogueira set to write the screenplay.
As for Gunn, he is busy prepping Superman: Legacy, the upcoming reboot of the Superman film series. Gunn will direct the DCU installment from his own screenplay. David Corenswet will lead the picture as the titular Man of Steel, with Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. Filming is scheduled to begin in March 2024.
DC fans can pick up all 12 issues of The Human Target in two hardcover volumes at most comic shops and online retailers.
