From its 2010 Fox debut as a mid-season replacement to its two-season cancellation, Human Target became a stylish, character-driven action spy series built around Christopher Chance. Fifteen years later, fans still treat it like a “missing” DC gem—especially f
A helicopter hums. the gun is up. and Christopher Chance is doing what he always does: stepping into danger like it owes him money. Back in 2010. Fox launched Human Target as a mid-season replacement built in the spirit of Burn Notice and other action-spy shows—and it arrived with the kind of confidence that made it feel immediately collectible.
Mark Valley led the series as Christopher Chance. a former assassin and private contractor who assumes the identities of the people he’s hired to protect. aiming to weed out threats before they strike. The DC Comics character behind him wasn’t one of the company’s biggest brands, either. Christopher Chance was created by Len Wein and Carmine Infantino in the ’70s. and Human Target updated that concept for modern day rather than relying on nostalgia.
Even with Smallville approaching its end, DC adaptations weren’t down for the count. Human Target gave longtime DC Comics fans something to watch that looked like it belonged in the present: crisp action sequences. sharp banter. and a hero who carries past violence like a live wire. The show breathed humor into intense action and dramatic sequences—long before that blend became a common playbook for action television.
Chance didn’t work alone, and that mattered. His close friendships with Winston (Chi McBride) and hitman Guerrero (Jackie Earle Haley) reshaped what the series could do each week. expanding the world beyond Chance’s complicated personal history while strengthening the stakes of every job. The series also leaned into what Chance believed in: second chances. With a complicated backstory that could put his team in danger at any moment. he often found himself at the crosshairs of assassin types he once called family—especially Baptiste. played by Lennie James.
For all the comic-book lineage. the show’s energy came from its cast chemistry and the way it kept each case moving. Across two seasons and 25 episodes. Human Target delivered a near-death rhythm of high-octane adventure. featuring recognizable guest stars and the kind of witty exchanges between the three leads you couldn’t help but look forward to.
Then there was the sound of it. Bear McCreary—known from Battlestar Galactica and The Sarah Connor Chronicles—handled the rousing. orchestral score (at least during the first season). It made Human Target feel like something more serious than a glossy spy vehicle. even when it was cracking jokes mid-chaos.
Mark Valley was a big reason the series clicked. Fresh off his time on Fringe, he brought an air of confidence to the role of Christopher Chance. Valley had also served in the U.S. Army in his youth, and the performance carried a “military” look that fit the part. Yet Valley told Collider that what Chance goes through on-screen is far more exhilarating than his actual military experience. Valley had previously starred in Boston Legal. and his charisma gave Chance a screen presence that didn’t rely on brute force alone.
Human Target’s first season set expectations high. And then Fox tried to reshape things for Season 2, switching gears just as the show was finding its stride. Jonathan E. Steinberg—Jericho co-creator—was connected to the bring-back that made Human Target a real contender. but ahead of Season 2. Steinberg left the show for Matt Miller. Miller introduced two new characters to Chance’s team: financier Ilsa Pucci. played by Indira Varma. and former thief Ames. played by Janet Montgomery.
Valley spoke about the changes ahead of Season 2. saying he was excited the series was “already started on a very interesting. very adventurous and very fun path” and that it would “continue.” The reception was split. Some felt the network ruined something good by adding characters and expanding the world. Others argued the female additions to a male-dominated show opened up new stories worth exploring.
But no matter what direction the team tried to push, the series didn’t get the long run it deserved. After the second season. Fox cancelled the drama. and Christopher Chance hasn’t returned to the screen since—at least not in this version played by Mark Valley. Several years later. another version of Chance appeared in the Arrowverse. played by Wil Traval. but the show wasn’t connected to the earlier series.
Human Target also struggled with visibility after cancellation. The second season wasn’t even released on home video like the first, which made the series generally harder to find online. For many viewers, that’s how it quietly slipped away.
Still, the show doesn’t end on a cliffhanger. It’s a quick two-season binge that, once you track it down, doesn’t leave you feeling like you’re missing the definitive conclusion.
And that’s why Human Target still feels like one of DC’s hidden gems: it’s not remembered for its biggest moments in franchise history. It’s remembered for the exact mix of style. humor. and character-forward danger it offered in the gap between one era of TV and the next—before the larger superhero craze truly took over.
Human Target Mark Valley Christopher Chance DC Comics Fox action spy series Chi McBride Jackie Earle Haley Lennie James Bear McCreary Indira Varma Janet Montgomery Ilsa Pucci Ames Baptiste