The Human Target

I am always on the look out for main stream media Supergirl references. And I am always surprised in the places where they show up.

I have been enjoying the new Human Target series on Fox. Here is the link with complete episodes available on line: http://www.fox.com/humantarget/

While not as dark and psychologically deep as Peter Milligan's recent Vertigo series, the TV show has the right mix of action and pathos to make it perfect escapism entertainment.

Mark Valley plats Christopher Chance, The Human Target. He takes on jobs where he needs to take on another identity and coax the bad guys out of hiding, all while exposing himself to danger. He makes himself the target instead of his client. Chi McBride plays his colleague who sets up the jobs and occasionally needs to get his hands dirty in the field. And Jackie Earle Haley (Rorschach in the Watchmen movie) plays a anti-hero friend named Guerrero.

The action sequences are great. And it is clear that the underlying story of this Chance is that he is trying to make amends for something he has done in his past, so there is some examination of his character's motivation. Is he looking for salvation? Does he have a death wish?

A conflicted good guy, an anti-hero friend willing to blur the edges of ethics, guns, and hand-to-hand combat - the recipe for entertainment!


Anyways, this was about a Supergirl reference.

In the last episode, Chance need to go undercover in a remote monastery to find a fugitive on the run named John Gray. When Gray isn't at morning mass, Chance is told that Gray heads 'alternative services' in the library.


Gray is played by Sam Huntington, the guy who played Jimmy Olsen in the 'not great but underappreciated' Superman Returns movie.

And his alternative services sermon topic? Crisis on Infinite Earths!



Now the discussion about the book itself might be a bit off but there is not denying this shot of a monk holding Crisis on Infinite Earths #7. In fact, if you look at the table, COIE #8 (death of Flash) and COIE #4 (death of the Monitor) are pretty visible. Supergirl is never named but most comic fans immediately recognize that cover.

And I never ever thought I would hear the Anti-Monitor being compared to Jesus. Funny and profane.

The episode takes some turns as the plot revolves around finding a holy relic worth millions.

The action is great and the show is fun. And a small scene discussing Crisis! I am in!