Die Maske

I was a fan of Christopher Chance in the DC comics. Chance was a mature hero, a realistic human being with a location, friends, roots, a back story, and distinguished white at the temples with dark hair on top. (Since I have gone gray in a similar manner, this was an unavoidable affection for the Human Target. the comic was always a bit downbeat, film noir flavoured, briefly but well plotted. Christopher chance was not ridiculously wealthy (Batman), super powered (Superman) or costumed (every comic book hero). In some ways he was a throwback to comic strip heroes from *before* Superman came on the scene; more the detective than the fantasy strongman. However, in their wisdom, all this was lost in the short-lived television series. This was sad since the actor playing Chance might have been able to carry the real role, but was never given the opportunity. Perhaps someday someone will make a motion picture or television show on the *real* Christopher Chance. That would be worth watching.

As mentioned, this series was based on a small comic-book character who mostly appeared as a back-up feature in Detective Comics and Action Comics, among others. I think most people heard, "based on a comic book" and immediately thought, "What, a character wearing spandex and a target on his chest."

Christopher Chance's real story is that he is a private detective and master of disguise whose specialty is impersonating people who believe they have been marked for murder, thus taking their place in the crosshairs and earning the nickname, "the Human Target." His motivation comes from the fact that he failed to protect his father, who was gunned down. Chris tried to take the bullet for his dad and swore he wouldn't fail to protect others.

I guess Bilson & DeMeo thought that was a little too ordinary, so they made his disguise skills the part of a high-tech setup in a stealth jet with assistants. In the comics, Chance lived in a studio above a Boston restaurant, whose owner acted as his receptionist of sorts.

The stories were not too shabby, but the problem with a series about a master of disguise is that the guest-star does most of the big moves and heroics to maintain the illusion. Rick Springfield sat around while John Wesley Shipp or Scott Paulin kicked ass. ;)

I simply thought the high-tech angle wasn't necessary or cost-effective.

I have a special fondness for this series, centering around one particular episode:

Chance is hired by a judge, who happens to be his father's best friend! Chance isn't too enthusiastic about going home, since his father still thinks he has a dead-end desk job at the VA, as per Chance's cover story: During dinner, his father says he's got a friend at some company who can get him a better job...

Later, Chance shoots some pool with his father - while disguised as the judge! So, he gets to dispense some advice like "Why don't you go easy on the kid! He might surprise you!" Great scene!

His father finally discovers Chance's secret, and that final scene still brings a tear to my eye - going something like "I always thought you were wasting your life away... but a HUMAN TARGET?! I'm so proud of you."

When I first saw this t.v. series, I thought 'yes' another "Mission Impossible" or "MacGyver". However, the show about Christopher Chance, the man who helps and protects innocent victims from would-be assassins by living as them only lasted seven episodes.

While living on what appeared to be a B52 stealth (that was apparently invisible to radar and the authorities), Chance and his expert team of assistants would recreate the appearance of their clients using rubber face masks and voice trickery. While the 'human target' was impersonating the person who he had to protect, they would live in his plane with his crew until their problems were sorted. This was all done for the pricely some of one year's salary of their client.

This wasn't a bad show, and I can only assume that it didn't get the ratings. It was entertaining, though nowhere near the other series I mentioned. However, it did have some pretty unbelievable storylines. For example, the whole notion that a group of five people who 'did not exist' could live on a state of the art aircraft was fairly far fetched. As was the way Chance could manipulate his voice to sound exactly like his clients.

Anyway, it was good while it lasted. It's only a pity that it wasn't on any longer so it could develop itself a bit more.

This could have been a great series. Great storyline, pulled from a comic book with a substantial cult following; very competent cast (especially Springfield and Coleman, both of whom paid their dues in daytime TV) with good chemistry among one another.

A previous reviewer summarized the plot fairly well. Two minor points, however:

1) Chance's fee was *10%* of the client's annual salary (not the entire annual salary) and

2) Chance and his crew were not "Five people who did not exist", they were 4 people who were well known to several governments who had hired them to protect various dignitaries, and allowed Coleman's character full access to government records, as well.



I do disagree with the characterization of the storyline as "pretty unbelievable." This was science fiction/fantasy, based on a comic book. In other words, escapist entertainment. It wasn't *supposed* to be true to life, any more than series such as "The Incredible Hulk" or "Batman". As such, I think "Human Target" hit it's mark very nicely.

Too bad ABC pulled HT after it's summer replacement run of seven episodes; perhaps with more time, it would have found an audience.