Human Target #3 Review

The (Character) Assassination of Guy Gardner

Written by: Tom King

Art by: Greg Smallwood

Colors by: Greg Smallwood

Letters by: Clayton Cowles

Cover price: $4.99

Release date: December 28, 2021

Human Target #3 delves deeper into the relationships of the Justice League International Christopher Chance's chance meetings with Booster Gold and Guy Gardner. During their respective talks, Chance learns the emotional bonds between JLI members run deep... maybe a little too deep.

Was It Good? 

Dammit! Dammit, dammit, dammit! I should have known it was only a matter of time before King screwed up another established character. For all you Guy Gardner fans, it's your turn to endure the King treatment.

Greg Smallwood's art is gorgeous. You'll have no complaint about the inspired mix of detective noir and mid-century aesthetics with a slight hint of Darwyn Cooke's flair. It's an impressive-looking comic. Full stop.

The plot shifts into full detective noir mode as Christopher Chance and Ice begin seeking out and interviewing potential suspects to figure out who tried to kill Luthor, poisoning Chance by mistake (or was it intentional?). The scenes play out well and you believe the chemistry between Chance and Ice is as strong as anything you'd find in a classic Hollywood film.

The high point of the interviews is the meeting with Booster Gold, who is cartoonishly buffoonish. His partnership with the perennially frustrated Skeetz is as amusing as it is a little bit sad. Of course, you could make the argument that Booster Gold's buffoonery here is a little over the top, but it's so amusing that you don't mind it.

Then we get to the significant down point, which is Guy Gardner.  Guy is a lot of things. Of course, you could argue that most of those things involve the word 'jerk.' But it's tough to accept a characterization of Guy Gardner as a stalker ex-boyfriend who doesn't take 'no' for an answer.  A bully who uses his ring to harass, intimidate, and assault people he doesn't like.  He is presented here as a coward who trembles with fear at the mere sight of Hal Jordan. This is the Guy Gardner Tom King imagines, and to that, I say, "No, thank you, Sir. No, thank you!"

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Bits and Pieces

Human Target #3 blends stellar art, a classic detective noir story, and amusing character moments to give readers a solid enough read.   Unfortunately, the bizarrely egregious characterization of Guy Gardner robs the issue of any lasting enjoyment.

6.5/10