The Target and the Targeteers are fictional characters, a trio of

superhero A superhero or superheroine is a fictional character who typically possesses ''superpowers'' or abilities beyond those of ordinary people, is frequently costumed concealing their identity, and fits the role of the hero, typically using their ...

es who first appeared in 1940, in ''Target Comics'' (after which the characters were named) from Novelty Press.

History

''Target Comics'' debuted with a premiere issue cover-dated February 1940, but it was not until issue #10 (Nov. 1940) that the Target first appeared; the two Targeteers were introduced the following issue. The characters were created by Dick Briefer, using the

pseudonym A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true meaning ( orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individual's o ...

Dick Hamilton.Target and the Targeteers
at

Don Markstein's Toonopedia Don Markstein's Toonopedia (subtitled A Vast Repository of Toonological Knowledge) is an online encyclopedia of print cartoons, comic strips and animation, initiated February 13, 2001. Donald D. Markstein, the sole writer and editor of Toonopedi ...

Archived
from the original on February 6, 2013. The Targeteers appeared in ''Target Comics'' through issue #95; ''Target'' itself ended with issue #105. The series was penciled by Bob Wood, with Jerry Robinson and

George Roussos George Roussos (; August 20, 1915 – February 19, 2000), also known under the pseudonym George Bell, was an American comic book artist best known as one of Jack Kirby's Silver Age of comic books, Silver Age inkers, including on landmark early is ...

providing inks, backgrounds, and letters during the early issues. Roussos recalled "Bob was just starving at the time trying to meet his deadlines, so I used to stay up all night for 2 or 3 days in a row while everyone fell asleep, helping out." In 1999, the Target appeared without his partners in issue #24 of the

AC Comics AC Comics (formerly known as Paragon Publications and Americomics) is a comic book publishing company started by Bill Black.

title ''Men of Mystery Comics''. In 2008, the Target and the Targeteers were among the many

public domain The public domain (PD) consists of all the creative work to which no Exclusive exclusive intellectual property rights apply. Those rights may have expired, been forfeited, expressly Waiver, waived, or may be inapplicable. Because no one holds ...

characters to appear in '' Project Superpowers'', a miniseries from Dynamite Entertainment. The heroes were given new powers in this series. Also in 2008, issue #2 of the Age of Adventure comic ''Legendary Heroes'' featured reprints of Golden Age stories of Target and the Targeteers.

Fictional biography

''Target Comics''

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and

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spy Niles Reed created the identity of the Target, using a bulletproof costume with a bullseye on the chest, to save the life of his brother Bill, who had been wrongfully convicted of murder and sentenced to be executed. Bill was killed during the jailbreak, and Niles avenged himself on the gangsters responsible for Bill's conviction, after which he continued to fight evil as The Target. Later, Niles' associates Dave Foster and Tom Brown, who had both been orphaned by criminals, became his wisecracking sidekicks The Targeteers. The three of them wore indestructible costumes that were identical except for the colors; one was mostly yellow, one red, one blue (who wore which wasn't always consistent, although The Target usually wore yellow). The Target's foes include gang boss Hammerfist and the beautiful Princess Hohohue. The characters all enlisted in the military to fight in

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

in ''Target Comics'' #29 (July 1942).

''Project Superpowers''

A few years after

, the Target and the Targeteers were trapped and imprisoned in the Urn of Pandora by the misguided Fighting Yank; decades later, the Urn was broken and they were freed. Imprisonment in the mystical Urn, however, had transformed them; they were now somehow bonded together and given superpowers, including super-speed.WizardUniverse.com:
The Power Players of ''Project Superpowers''

References

External links

* Reid, Britt

{{GoldenAge Dynamite Entertainment characters Golden Age superheroes Novelty Press Comics characters introduced in 1940 Fictional World War II veterans