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Coming Soon!<\/p>\n
Based on the American actor Tom Tyler<\/a>, best known for his leading roles in low-budget Western films, you can usually spot Heck Ben by his point jaw, sneering eyes and slightly hooked nose.<\/p>\n Heck Ben is a popular recurring supporting villain, with a\u00a0vaguely cowboy-ish style (a hold-over from his first appearance). \u00a0Although he is usually a\u00a0man of few words, he is a master at delivering a sinister silence that can ramp the tension up in any scene he’s in.<\/p>\n Despite never playing the lead, he has appeared in many Tezuka series, typically in the role of a burgler, gang-member or drug smuggler. \u00a0He first appeared in\u00a0The Cactus Kid<\/em> (1951-54)<\/a> as a no-good cowpoke named Heck Ben. Early in his career he appeared works such as Astro Boy<\/em> (1952-68)<\/a>, Storm Fairy<\/em> (1955), and numerous times in Lion Books <\/em>(1956-57).\u00a0 However, his signature role is probably as the ominous taxi driver in the short story Night on the Bypass<\/em> (1969).\u00a0 He also made several appearances Black Jack<\/em> (1973-83)<\/a>, and\u00a0Rainbow Parakeet<\/em> (1981-82)<\/a>, among many others, until his final appearance in one of Tezuka’s very last works, Ludwig B<\/em> (1987)<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you spot an appearance not already listed, please let us know in the comments section below!<\/p>\n The Cactus Kid<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>as “Heck Ben”<\/p>\n The Adventure of Rock<\/em><\/a> as “one of the delegates at the Bird Men conference” Cyrano the Hero<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>as “Chancellor Richelieu”<\/p>\n Wonder-kun\u00a0<\/em>as “Major Ben” Astro Boy<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>(“The Frozen Human”) as “a\u00a0grave robber” Lion Books\u00a0<\/em>(“The Green Cat”) as “the gangster”<\/p>\n Lion Books\u00a0<\/em>(“Skipper Skeleton”) as “the public official” Super Taiheiki\u00a0<\/em>as “scratch six of fellow”<\/p>\n Zero Men<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>as “Nango Rikimaru”<\/p>\n I Am Sarutobi!<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>as “Katsumoto Katagiri”<\/p>\n The Ant and The Giant<\/em> as “the officer of the US Army”<\/p>\n Brave Dan<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>as “one of Dr. Zogel’s henchmen”<\/p>\n Astro Boy<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>(“Slippery Catfish in Imminent Danger”) as “an Agent of Spector” Swallowing the Earth<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n The Crater<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>(“The Octagonal Mansion”) as “one of the gangsters” Alabaster<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>as “the detective” Lion Books\u00a0<\/em>(“Mirage”) as “Shinji’s Brother” Lion Books\u00a0<\/em>(“Mother River”) as “a\u00a0member of the theatrical group” Black Jack<\/a><\/em>\u00a0(“Is there a Doctor?<\/a>“) as “a doctor on the phone” Black Jack<\/a> <\/em>(“Sealed Memory”) as “the burglar” The Lower Angel\u00a0<\/em>as “a labourer”<\/p>\n Black Jack<\/a> <\/em>(“U-18 Knew”) as “a\u00a0member of the hospital staff” Black Jack<\/a> <\/em>(“Titles”) as “the inspector”<\/p>\n Black Jack<\/a> <\/em>(“Bath of the Floating World”) as “a gang member” The Two Shoguns\u00a0<\/em>as “the president of Yokoyari Co.” The Rainbow Parakeet<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(\u201cPeter Pan<\/a>\u201c)\u00a0as \u201cone of the drug smugglers\u201d<\/p>\n Farewell, Night\u00a0<\/em>as “the American sailor”Status: Secondary\u00a0Star (\u2605\u2605)<\/h3>\n
Notable Roles<\/h3>\n
\nManga Appearances<\/h3>\n
\n1951<\/h4>\n
\n1952<\/h4>\n
\nPeople with Pistols on their Heads\u00a0<\/em>as “Ono Tendo”<\/p>\n
\n1953<\/h4>\n
\n1954<\/h4>\n
\nBlack Canyon\u00a0<\/em>as “one of the outlaws”<\/p>\n
\n1955<\/h4>\n
\nChief Detective Kenichi\u00a0<\/em>(“The Case of the Gorilla”) as “a member of the theatrical troupe”
\nThe Storm Fairy\u00a0<\/em>as “Lord Gengoro Tagame”<\/p>\n
\n1956<\/h4>\n
\n1957<\/h4>\n
\nLion Books\u00a0<\/em>(“Bullet Hole in the Wilderness”) as “the gangster”
\nWhirlwind Z\u00a0<\/em>as “three-pronged Inspector”<\/p>\n
\n1958<\/h4>\n
\n1959<\/h4>\n
\n1960<\/h4>\n
\n1961<\/h4>\n
\n1962<\/h4>\n
\n1965<\/h4>\n
\nWonder 3<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>as “a country ‘A’ soldier”
\nAmbassador Magma<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>as “a member of the human resistance”<\/p>\n
\n1968<\/h4>\n
\n1969<\/h4>\n
\nThe Crater<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>(“The Double-headed Snake”) as “a member of the double-headed snake gang”
\nNight on the Bypass<\/em> as “the taxi driver”
\nRubbish Poetry<\/em>\u00a0as \u201ca member of the audience\u201d<\/p>\n
\n1970<\/h4>\n
\nPhoenix<\/em><\/a> (“Resurrection”) as “a man at the nose bar” and as “one of the smugglers”<\/p>\n
\n1971<\/h4>\n
\nLion Books\u00a0<\/em>(“Serenade of Pig’s navel”) as “a\u00a0member of Hedorogumi”<\/p>\n
\n1972<\/h4>\n
\nLion Books\u00a0<\/em>(“The March Covered with Mud”) as “the journalist”<\/p>\n
\n1973<\/h4>\n
\nBlack Jack<\/a><\/em>\u00a0(\u201cStrangers at Sea<\/a>\u201c) as \u201cthe crook\u201d
\nBlack Jack<\/a> <\/em>(“A Girl Who Became a Bird”) as “a spectator at the “flying man” competition”
\nHomecoming<\/em>\u00a0as “Ohno”<\/p>\n
\n1974<\/h4>\n
\nBlack Jack<\/a> <\/em>(“Avatar”) as “the young ranch hand”
\nBlack Jack<\/a> <\/em>(“The Two Jans”) as “a\u00a0member of the German Science Academy”
\nBlack Jack<\/a> <\/em>(“Two Loves”) as “a customer at a sushi bar”
\nBlack Jack<\/a> <\/em>(“From Afar”) as “Heineman”<\/p>\n
\n1975<\/h4>\n
\n1976<\/h4>\n
\nBlack Jack<\/a> <\/em>(“Dingoes”) as “the pilot”
\nBlack Jack<\/a> <\/em>(“The Promise”) as “the policeman”<\/p>\n
\n1977<\/h4>\n
\n1978<\/h4>\n
\nBlack Jack<\/a> <\/em>(“Tetsu of the Yamanote Line”) as “Sanko”
\nFutureman Kaos\u00a0<\/a><\/em>as “the driver”<\/p>\n
\n1979<\/h4>\n
\nDon Dracula<\/a><\/em>\u00a0(\u201cDracula, Barely<\/a>\u201d) as “the robber”<\/p>\n
\n1981<\/h4>\n
\n1985<\/h4>\n
\nSay Hello to Bookila!<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(\u201cThe House of the Pianoid<\/a>\u201d) as \u201cthe post man\u201d<\/p>\n
\n1987<\/h4>\n