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Posted by: Ben Higgins Sep 15 2012, 12:33 PM

Hey Guys. I've been working on this for a while. Some of you may know I released a song called Vigilante a while back.. well the theme of the song made me create a character called Frank. Before I got into the guitar, drawing was my first love. I hadn't really kept it up but I started again recently. I'm a bit out of practise and my art is never going to win any awards but I think the rough and ready approach works for what I want..

Anyway, I plan on expanding this story. I know where I want it to go and it's going to be one hell of a task but it should be worth it when it's done ! I hope you enjoy.

WARNING ! Does contain explicit language !

http://www.thereckoning.net/frank-blake---vigilante.php

Posted by: Himansu C Kerkar Sep 15 2012, 12:38 PM

Nice story Ben
Please update further part of the story.... cannot wait ............

Posted by: Slavenko Erazer Sep 15 2012, 12:46 PM

Just GREAT, Bejnamin!!

Posted by: WeePee Sep 15 2012, 01:13 PM

Wow that's GREAT !
Now you have to continue that with beautiful ladies, car chases and explosions

Posted by: bleez Sep 15 2012, 01:25 PM

awesome dude, Im a big comic book / graphic novel geek so this is right up my street
first impressions gave me a bit of a ' mark millar' vibe to it, which is very cool. I'd definitely be up for reading more
artwork is really good, hell I've paid for graphic novels where the artwork wasn't even half as good!

Posted by: Blister Sep 15 2012, 01:28 PM

Wow! So many talents! Looking forward to the next part of the story!

Posted by: vonhotch Sep 15 2012, 01:30 PM

Nice! I like the style. I envy anbody who can draw faces and hands. They are tough!

Posted by: The Uncreator Sep 15 2012, 01:49 PM

Have you played Max Payne 3 yet?

Posted by: Ben Higgins Sep 15 2012, 02:23 PM

Wow, thanks everybody for the comments

How about ugly ladies, fist fights & gangsters ?



Thank you ! I'll have to check out this Mark Millar



I find hands very tough too.. in fact, they're probably my nemesis !



Not played it but watched it all, yes !

I think Frank's brutally honest thoughts and phrases are reminiscent of Payne.. and I guess the close protection job for VIP's too. Although the security job and ex forces thing is more inspired by books I've read about real people

Posted by: Fran Sep 15 2012, 04:22 PM

Wow you have great drawing skills there Ben, keep them coming

Posted by: Sensible Jones Sep 15 2012, 04:25 PM

Great stuff Ben!

Posted by: DeGroot Sep 15 2012, 05:42 PM

Wow, impressive drawing skills... look forward to more of this comic.

Posted by: Ben Higgins Sep 15 2012, 07:08 PM

Thanks guys, I've just started piecing together some sketches for the 2nd part !

Posted by: MonkeyDAthos Sep 16 2012, 01:37 AM

that's totally awesome dude!

Posted by: Ben Higgins Sep 16 2012, 08:31 AM

Thanks man !

Posted by: Timmy b Sep 16 2012, 06:52 PM

Nice work mate! Keep it up!

Posted by: Ben Higgins Sep 16 2012, 07:07 PM

Just thought I'd let you guys know I'm deep into the 2nd part of the series. There's a lot more action in this one

Thanks my friend

Posted by: Ben Higgins Sep 19 2012, 04:26 PM

Guys ! PART 2 is now available !

Hope you like it !

http://www.thereckoning.net/frank-blake---vigilante.php

Posted by: WeePee Sep 19 2012, 06:03 PM

There was 2 options. Ingnore the punks or beat them. A good choise man.

Posted by: bleez Sep 19 2012, 06:40 PM

indeed very good.

have you done this kind of thing before or have you got a bit of a graphic novel collection? Im just curious because the 'camera' angles ( or layout ) of the panels is really good, It really flows well visually.
I liked the part when his adrenalin kicks in, I get the impression you are well up on the mechanics of self defence and confrontations.

liked it a lot dude.

Posted by: Ben Higgins Sep 19 2012, 07:50 PM

Yes, it was the logical choice... and let's face it. You guys wouldn't have accepted otherwise !!



Thanks a lot !

I used to draw like crazy from a really young age.. pre school age. And I guess I drifted away from drawing in my late teens, very early 20's. I used to draw loads of stuff like people and machinery.. diggers, cranes etc..

Then I got into WWF and used to draw pics of wrestlers like Hulk Hogan (complete with skullet) etc.. I think that helped me develop my basic anatomy..

Eventually I started very small comics that maybe lasted a page or 2 pages. There was one called The Pub which is about this psychotic pub owner who starts fights with his own clientèle for no reason. I'll have to find it and scan it in so you guys can see it.

I wasn't an avid collector or buyer of comics really. I did have some over the years but the things that I had access to the most were Annuals, compilations of comic strips and stories etc.. things like Eagle etc.. we're talking things that went back to the 60's and 70's I think. I have got some more modern 1990's hardback DC Batman ones as well though. My Mum used to pick them up from charity shops.

One of my big faves though is a Batman saga called Knightfall. I actually picked that up again and brought it back home with me to read it. That was probably a couple of days before I decided to start this Frank comic. It probably subconsciously influenced me to go for it again

EDIT: Oh yeah, about the self defence angle.. my interest in the martial arts led me into a lot of research and finding a lot of great material from a guy called Geoff Thompson, among others. Another great book that I would recommend to anyone with a passing interest in real life MA / Nature of violence / Door work is 'Working with Warriors'. There's stuff in there that would make your toes curl !

Posted by: bleez Sep 19 2012, 10:38 PM

Ive not read Knightfall but I do have what some may describe as an unhealthy amount of graphic novels and comic books and tbh if I were to pick up your Frank comic without knowing anything about it theres no way I would think it was a debut. I would assume it was from a much more established writer.
Ive read a couple of books by Geoff thompson, 'Fear' - which at first seems like a poncy self-help type book but actually is really good and 'animal day' where he pressure tests his martial arts. He's an interesting dude

Posted by: Ben Higgins Sep 20 2012, 01:55 PM

Thanks for the encouraging words !!

I've a few of Geoff's books, including some of his self help based ones. His autobiography 'Watch my Back' was the first I read.

Posted by: Ben Higgins Oct 25 2012, 07:13 PM

Just wanted to update you guys.. I'm deep into Part 3 of Frank Blake, Vigilante.. so that should hopefully be available soon !

Posted by: WeePee Oct 25 2012, 07:23 PM

Posted by: Ben Higgins Oct 25 2012, 07:24 PM

Even though I've seen that video I still had to stop what I was doing and press 'play' !

Posted by: Ben Higgins Nov 15 2012, 10:35 AM

Part 3 now up !!!! Took a bit longer than I anticipated but here it is

Expect the usual atrocious artwork and bad language

http://bit.ly/UHYw7L

Posted by: WeePee Nov 15 2012, 01:37 PM

Aww man it's getting better !

Funny quotes in the kitchen

And the last screen...small world 'eh ?

Posted by: Ben Higgins Nov 15 2012, 03:08 PM

Hehe, glad you like it !!

What do you mean about the last bit ? He's a new character, not to be confused with the guy who got head butted in the first episode. Is that what you were meaning ?

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Nov 15 2012, 04:45 PM

No, no, the head butted guy had a little goatie - Zappa style Right Ben?

Posted by: WeePee Nov 15 2012, 04:52 PM

Oh I thought it was.
Yep the 1st guy had a beard.

Posted by: bleez Nov 15 2012, 05:52 PM

yes indeed
nice one ben, enjoyed that.

Posted by: Todd Simpson Nov 15 2012, 06:31 PM

Well how freaking spiff is this? Well done! Really fine art Ben! Drawing has some great parallels to guitar IMHO, the practice, time, dedication, it's a thing of beauty when one commits to something important (like music or art).

If you have not done so already, maybe checkout SCRIBD! They are very cool site that will do an online publishing for you and your work shows up in search engines and such and you can give it away or sell it or whatev.

http://www.scribd.com/

P.S. BEN!!! Merch!!!! I went to buy a RECKONING Tshirt and No Long Sleeve Black!! Will that site let you assign your design to long sleeve version? If so, SOLD!!!! PM me if possible

Posted by: mroberts70 Nov 15 2012, 06:39 PM

Two things...

First off, LOL! Really, you had to put a disclaimer about language into a Ben Higgins creation? We knew that...

Second, HOLY (censored!) ... that was AWESOME man!

Where's the "Like" button?



...oh, who is your suggestion for a guitar instructor now that you'll be tied up autographing CD's and comics?

Posted by: Ben Higgins Nov 15 2012, 07:37 PM

Yeah, the Zappa goatie !!!



That would have been a good twist to the story though, I didn't think of that



Brill !!



Thanks T-Master !

Oh man, I wish it was possible with the long sleeve thing because that would look epic. All the T shirts were already done off the assembly line so no option to create one, so to speak. However, as soon as The Reckoning's music picks up attention etc and I can afford to I'll have long sleeves



Hahaha, good point !!!

Posted by: Ben Higgins Jan 14 2013, 02:34 PM

PART 4 IS FINALLY HERE !!

http://www.thereckoning.net/frank-blake---vigilante.php

Posted by: WeePee Jan 14 2013, 03:03 PM

Good ! I forgot to ask have you been drawing lately


EDIT:

Wow thank God Frank's apartment toilet is an old fashion style.



What would he do with this...


Really funking impressive Ben !!

Posted by: Ben Higgins Jan 14 2013, 03:34 PM

Yeah Frank definitely resides in a crappy old place !!

If he had one of those newer toilets I guess the only thing he could do is make sure it was polished so he could momentarily blind the other guy with the shininess of it !!

Posted by: WeePee Jan 14 2013, 03:39 PM

Posted by: DeGroot Jan 14 2013, 07:28 PM

Kick ass comic... I'm hooked to see what happens next.

yeah, It wouldn't be fitting for Frank to have a fancy toilet like that.

Posted by: Ben Higgins Jan 14 2013, 08:46 PM

Yeah, it's a major shock to discover he's not just using a bucket...

Posted by: bleez Jan 14 2013, 11:03 PM

great stuff Ben Its nipping along at a really good pace, also Im really diggin the violence and gratuitous swearing

Posted by: vonhotch Jan 15 2013, 03:38 AM

Still really diggin the style and the fact that you can nail faces and hands from any angle..........DAMN IT! I'm jealous. Nice Job!

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Jan 15 2013, 08:51 AM

Frank is just like Wolverine without the claws and the beard! I like him!

Posted by: Ben Higgins Jan 15 2013, 10:38 AM

Thanks sir ! Yeah, I'm wondering where all this violence and swearing comes from ?? Seems to only come out via the medium of drawing !!



Thanks ! Although I wouldn't say I always get it right.. there's some dodgy drawing here and there that makes me cringe.. and a lot of is is memory and guesswork of imagery I've built up in my head through the years of reading other comics etc.. but it's good enough for this level of comic and at least it's free haha !!



Yeah, you just know Frank and Wolverine would be good friends

Posted by: tonymiro Jan 15 2013, 10:44 AM

A little serendipity Ben...

An old friend of mine who is graphic novelist recently won the Costa Book prize with his wife for their latest collaboration. So you never know where Frank may lead you

Posted by: Ben Higgins Jan 15 2013, 10:46 AM

Sounds great, congrats to him !

I think my artwork's too crap to win any awards but I think the concept, character and story has got something there. I'd definitely love to see Frank going somewhere else.. I wonder what Tarantino's doing after he's finished promoting Django Unchained......

Posted by: Sensible Jones Jan 15 2013, 12:21 PM

He'll be jumping on the 'Frank' Band-wagon if he has any sense, like the rest of us!! Really enjoying this Ben!!

Posted by: Ben Higgins Jan 15 2013, 03:36 PM

Hey, excellent. Glad you're liking it !!

I thought you might like the handlebar 'tache on Harry !!

Posted by: Sensible Jones Jan 15 2013, 05:21 PM

Posted by: zoom Jan 16 2013, 11:21 AM

Wow Ben! Just found this. Incredible mate great read and the drawings are great too
Hope some good doors open for you this year.

Posted by: Ben Higgins Jan 16 2013, 03:43 PM

Thanks Zoom !!

Just to all let you know I'm part way through the 5th part already and it's my favourite so far !!

Posted by: ItSME3 Jan 16 2013, 04:03 PM

That is first rate stuff. I like the "noir" touch of the main character. Nice artwork too. Can't wait for it to be continued

Posted by: Ben Higgins Jan 16 2013, 07:01 PM

Thanks a lot ! I don't even know enough about what 'noir' really is.. I just drew/wrote it exactly how it felt natural to me. Maybe I'm a 'noir' guy without knowing it

Posted by: ItSME3 Jan 16 2013, 08:52 PM

Hah, I guess I am just old. The blueprint for all the hard boiled ex-police/military guys that are in protection or work as private investigators, are the classic characters created by Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett or W.R. Burnett. They became famous in movies of the "film noir" era
These guys like Chandlers Philip Marlowe are disillusioned, they drink and are loners (exceptions are their affairs) and can't control their violence. This type of character then became classic Hollywood standard (see the die hard series etc.)


BTW did you watch this one. Nice take on the vigilante topic http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1289406/

Posted by: Ben Higgins Jan 17 2013, 10:42 AM

Nah you're not old at all.. I've seen the expression loads of times and, although I knew what kind of thing it was always applied to, I never quite knew why or what it exactly constituted. But yes, it's what I imagined.. the bitter cop or ex-this or that, often making cynical observations to oneself and barely holding his life together whilst getting involved in all sorts of hi-jinx ! Love it, just my kind of thing. Sin City, Max Payne would also be firmly in this vein.

I have not seen this film but damn, I want to

Posted by: Ben Higgins Jan 24 2013, 04:05 PM

Gentlemen, I'm proud to present Part 5 of Frank...

P.S. Contains the usual naughty language and comic violence that you've come to love

http://www.thereckoning.net/frank-blake---vigilante.php

Posted by: mad Jan 24 2013, 04:09 PM

Hehe - I love this

And the badass shirt is great!

Posted by: MonkeyDAthos Jan 24 2013, 05:21 PM

Well Ben i have to say that you inspired me to get back into drawing stuff once again. i actually have this story i have been thinking for a while now, but i still need to level up drawing skills (especially with faces).

Anyways, keep up with the awesome work!

Posted by: Ben Higgins Jan 24 2013, 06:47 PM

Excellent - glad you like it !



Go for it man !

Posted by: HungryForHeaven Jan 24 2013, 07:35 PM

Good stuff, when is it available in the stores?

Posted by: Timmy b Jan 24 2013, 07:42 PM

Nice work mate! Entertaining as usual!

Posted by: vonhotch Jan 25 2013, 01:32 AM

Another great part. Keeps getting better and better!

Posted by: Ben Higgins Jan 25 2013, 10:36 AM

Haha, I'm not sure I could charge any money for this !!

Posted by: WeePee Jan 25 2013, 04:45 PM

All right ! I learnt lots of nice words and sayings

Posted by: Ben Higgins Jan 25 2013, 07:02 PM

Glad to help a fellow man learn more of the wonderful English language

Posted by: sammetal92 Jan 25 2013, 07:18 PM

Ben can draw.... of course he's full of surprises I've read all of it and anxiously waiting for more

It's almost as good as your hair

Posted by: Ben Higgins Jan 26 2013, 01:47 PM

Posted by: Ben Higgins Mar 3 2013, 02:22 PM

Righto, the conclusive part to the Frank Blake story is now up !!

http://www.thereckoning.net/frank-blake---vigilante.php

Thanks for coming on this journey with me, hope you enjoyed it !!

Posted by: mroberts70 Mar 3 2013, 03:42 PM

Awesome as usual sir! Now, go forth and take no nonsense!

Posted by: Timmy b Mar 3 2013, 07:30 PM

Nice work mate! Nicely finished up!

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Mar 4 2013, 08:41 AM

Oh man! Can't believe it's the last part! Well, I'm off to reading it

Posted by: Ben Higgins Mar 4 2013, 06:52 PM

Thanks guys, I'm glaf to have it finally completed after several months !!

Posted by: Sensible Jones Mar 4 2013, 06:58 PM

Great stuff Ben! Looking forward to his next adventure!!!

Posted by: Headbanger Mar 4 2013, 09:25 PM

Well done Ben...you are looking like a pro...The image that sticks in my mind is that head butt....cool!

Posted by: Ben Higgins Mar 5 2013, 09:52 AM

It will be in another country, that's all I know !!



Haha, glad to hear it !

About the head butt thing, take a look at my T shirt...

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Mar 5 2013, 10:34 AM

It was to be expected He left...so tell us where to?

Posted by: Ben Higgins Mar 5 2013, 10:45 AM

I can't, it's a secret... and the fact that I'm not 100% decided where but I have an idea

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Mar 5 2013, 11:01 AM

Well, I am waiting patiently

Posted by: Headbanger Mar 5 2013, 01:04 PM

Haha thats funny/ amazing! I must be good at spotting talent...or at least images with talent!

You should put that T shirt design on Threadless.com! Might be worth a couple of G if it wins.

Posted by: bleez Mar 5 2013, 01:59 PM

cool stuff Mr H the whole comic was very good.
I liked the way you shaded the last part as well, it looked cool.

Posted by: Ben Higgins Mar 5 2013, 03:33 PM

Thank you sir !

Yes, I was trying to get more of a Noir vibe... not easy with the pen shading etc, have no idea how to colour comics really.. but who knows, maybe I will decide to do a follow up and get practising in the meantime !

Posted by: Headbanger Mar 5 2013, 06:52 PM

I think you'll find a lot of people draw comics in pencil and take them into Photoshop/Corel painter for a makeover/colouring/blacklines etc usually using the original as a template layer using a pen tablet...I like traditional media personally although I do have pen tablets and occasionally have to use them....But the rule is...is there is no rules.

Posted by: Ben Higgins Mar 5 2013, 08:59 PM

Yes, I just pencil everything and then pen it over using a combo of Ballpoint and handwriting pens. I don't have Photoshop or anything, although I do have GIMP, the free program which is similar (I think ?) but I'd love to give it more sophistication one day

Posted by: ItSME3 Mar 7 2013, 02:41 PM

just great. you should publish that. I will buy a copy