Reviewer: Chris Delloiacono
Story Title: The Unshredded Man – Ground Zero: Part 1
Written by: Peter Milligan
Art by: Javier Pulido
Colored by: Lee Loughridge
Lettered by: Clem Robins
Assistant Editor: Pornshak Pichetshote
Editor: Karen Berger
Publisher: Vertigo > DC Comics
The Human Target created by: Len Wein & Carmine Infantino
The character of Christopher Chance, the Human Target, debuted in the pages of Action Comics late in the year 1972. Quickly for those that don’t know, he works undercover assuming the identity of a person in distress, and solves crimes. Don’t feel bad if you haven’t read anything lately, or ever with the character. The first Human Target comic I read was that age old time of…two weeks ago. Human Target: Final Cut, the precursor to this series, was a graphic novel released in hardcover last year, and just recently in soft cover.
The graphic novel, by the creative duo of Peter Milligan and Javier Pulido, pulled me into the world of Chris Chance, and got me interested in the new ongoing series. The first issue, reviewed by my stalwart colleague Gary Day last month, was an epilogue of sorts to the aforementioned hard cover. The issue closes out with Chris’ life in disarray, he sets out to New York to try to recover from the harrowing events, and rebuild a life. Notice I didn’t say, his life?
What’s the story, Morning Glory?
Peter Milligan does fantastic work adding multiple layers to not only his characters, but the books he writes as a whole. He did some odd things with Animal Man, following Grant Morrison’s brilliant run, and took X-Force in new and interesting directions. His style never takes things in the obvious direction, so as the reader you’re always on your heels regarding what’s to come.
Without giving away too much, this month we find Chance lost at this point in life. He’s had an increasingly difficult time getting away from the “characters†his line of work makes him play. He’s willing to live a lie to find love, but things didn’t work out. Milligan’s focus for the series is Chance’s search for the things he’s lost, not physically, but mentally.
Tread carefully Mr. Milligan!
Last issue closed with a desperate man approaching the Twin Towers, as tragedy struck. John Matthews died on paper that fateful day of September 11th, but in actuality he disappeared so the illegalities he committed in the name of his employer, would never get out. Matthews now itches for judgment against the man that forced his hand a year ago. Of course Christopher Chance becomes involved, and a very thorny story unfolds.
This is some very gutsy storytelling by Mr. Milligan. I give him and editor Karen Berger credit for taking such risks. The risks are rewarded, as this is a wonderfully dramatic piece, which has a strong resonance in recent events. The usage of the Twin Towers is done with respect, as this tale of corporate greed unfolds. This isn’t about the Towers, it’s just uses the tragedy as a backdrop.
Vertigo does it again!
Why is it, especially of late, that nearly every Vertigo book grabs me?
The concept of this book isn’t as straightforward as you may think. That’s usually the case with Vertigo books, and the layers I mentioned above are what make the title distinctive. Javier Pulido does a fantastic job with his basic, understated drawing style, lending the book a tone that’s diametrically opposite to the intricate and complex writing of Milligan. This is just another case of Vertigo finding a way to get my money. With quality like this, the only complaint is from the moths in my wallet, which cry out each time they must see the light of day!
