Heck Ben
Also known as ヘック・ベン (Hekku Ben)
Hello, My Name (in English) is…
Coming Soon!
Distinguishing Features
Based on the American actor Tom Tyler, 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.
Status: Secondary Star (★★)
Heck Ben is a popular recurring supporting villain, with a vaguely cowboy-ish style (a hold-over from his first appearance). Although he is usually a man of few words, he is a master at delivering a sinister silence that can ramp the tension up in any scene he’s in.
Notable Roles
Despite never playing the lead, he has appeared in many Tezuka series, typically in the role of a burgler, gang-member or drug smuggler. He first appeared in The Cactus Kid (1951-54) as a no-good cowpoke named Heck Ben. Early in his career he appeared works such as Astro Boy (1952-68), Storm Fairy (1955), and numerous times in Lion Books (1956-57). However, his signature role is probably as the ominous taxi driver in the short story Night on the Bypass (1969). He also made several appearances Black Jack (1973-83), and Rainbow Parakeet (1981-82), among many others, until his final appearance in one of Tezuka’s very last works, Ludwig B (1987).
Manga Appearances
If you spot an appearance not already listed, please let us know in the comments section below!
1951
The Cactus Kid as “Heck Ben”
1952
The Adventure of Rock as “one of the delegates at the Bird Men conference”
People with Pistols on their Heads as “Ono Tendo”
1953
Cyrano the Hero as “Chancellor Richelieu”
1954
Wonder-kun as “Major Ben”
Black Canyon as “one of the outlaws”
1955
Astro Boy (“The Frozen Human”) as “a grave robber”
Chief Detective Kenichi (“The Case of the Gorilla”) as “a member of the theatrical troupe”
The Storm Fairy as “Lord Gengoro Tagame”
1956
Lion Books (“The Green Cat”) as “the gangster”
1957
Lion Books (“Skipper Skeleton”) as “the public official”
Lion Books (“Bullet Hole in the Wilderness”) as “the gangster”
Whirlwind Z as “three-pronged Inspector”
1958
Super Taiheiki as “scratch six of fellow”
1959
Zero Men as “Nango Rikimaru”
1960
I Am Sarutobi! as “Katsumoto Katagiri”
1961
The Ant and The Giant as “the officer of the US Army”
1962
Brave Dan as “one of Dr. Zogel’s henchmen”
1965
Astro Boy (“Slippery Catfish in Imminent Danger”) as “an Agent of Spector”
Wonder 3 as “a country ‘A’ soldier”
Ambassador Magma as “a member of the human resistance”
1968
1969
The Crater (“The Octagonal Mansion”) as “one of the gangsters”
The Crater (“The Double-headed Snake”) as “a member of the double-headed snake gang”
Night on the Bypass as “the taxi driver”
Rubbish Poetry as “a member of the audience”
1970
Alabaster as “the detective”
Phoenix (“Resurrection”) as “a man at the nose bar” and as “one of the smugglers”
1971
Lion Books (“Mirage”) as “Shinji’s Brother”
Lion Books (“Serenade of Pig’s navel”) as “a member of Hedorogumi”
1972
Lion Books (“Mother River”) as “a member of the theatrical group”
Lion Books (“The March Covered with Mud”) as “the journalist”
1973
Black Jack (“Is there a Doctor?“) as “a doctor on the phone”
Black Jack (“Strangers at Sea“) as “the crook”
Black Jack (“A Girl Who Became a Bird”) as “a spectator at the “flying man” competition”
Homecoming as “Ohno”
1974
Black Jack (“Sealed Memory”) as “the burglar”
Black Jack (“Avatar”) as “the young ranch hand”
Black Jack (“The Two Jans”) as “a member of the German Science Academy”
Black Jack (“Two Loves”) as “a customer at a sushi bar”
Black Jack (“From Afar”) as “Heineman”
1975
The Lower Angel as “a labourer”
1976
Black Jack (“U-18 Knew”) as “a member of the hospital staff”
Black Jack (“Dingoes”) as “the pilot”
Black Jack (“The Promise”) as “the policeman”
1977
Black Jack (“Titles”) as “the inspector”
1978
Black Jack (“Bath of the Floating World”) as “a gang member”
Black Jack (“Tetsu of the Yamanote Line”) as “Sanko”
Futureman Kaos as “the driver”
1979
The Two Shoguns as “the president of Yokoyari Co.”
Don Dracula (“Dracula, Barely”) as “the robber”
1981
The Rainbow Parakeet (“Peter Pan“) as “one of the drug smugglers”
1985
Farewell, Night as “the American sailor”
Say Hello to Bookila! (“The House of the Pianoid”) as “the post man”
1987
Ludwig B as “an Commander”
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