Post on 07-Apr-2016
description
transcript
The Noble Experiment.
Copyright 2014 Jesper Vighagen, Anders Hallgren.jespervighagen@gmail.comanders.c.hallgren@gmail.com
Permission granted to reproduce for personal and educational use only. Commercial copying, hiring, lending is prohibited.
Jesper Vighagen asserts his right to be identified as the author and copyright owner.
Anders Hallgren asserts his right to be identified as the artist and copyright owner.
The Noble ExperimentJesper VighagenWriter/Letterer
Anders HallgrenArtist
Created by Jesper Vighagen & Anders Hallgren.
I never really knew my mother. So i’m mostly guessing when i say this. But if she could see me now, she would be furious with me.
And if she could see me now, she’d grieve for me.
Coward.
Broken.
Different time, different place, different torment.
Equally pathetic.
1
Fear. Piss. Desperation. Feels familiar.
Psycho hits like a truck. Mindnumbing pain.
Less used to that. But better, numbs the real pain. Makes you forget.
You should try it some TIME. A little physical
therapy could do you WONDERS.
I’ve been thinking of going to the
psychiatrist for a while now, but this is just SO much
better.
Seriously
Hank. Are you DAMAGED? A
broken shell of a man?
Where has the vicious SCOURGE of the
underworld; Hank Evans retreated to?
Lets get that VICIOUS Hank back, shall we?
2
No wait, i got it, when your partner
acts like your WIFE.
It’d be a pretty small
stain where i’m involved.
I’m heading to the precinct
to pick up a new case.
Go home to your
WIFE man.
We’re COPS Manny, did i miss
the memo that told us NOT to chase bad guys? Let me start a kissing
booth instead and see if THAT helps.
You COMING? or will i have to look for a new parental fifififififififififfiifigure
to be dissapointed in me?
Do you know when it’s hardest to catch
bad guys?On an empty
stomach?
When your brains
are splattered on the flFLOOR!
You’re like a MAD
and VICIOUS dog Hank. This is What happens when you chase down every street dealer in the whole GOD
damn city.
3
And then i saw her.
I wish i had’nt.
I don’t know WHY i decided to bite back.I used to
admire you, you know.
Hank Evafins, the great detective
turned MAD DOG. It was GLORIOUS watcfififihing you work, inspired me a great
deal.
You’re one sick FUCK
Eddy.
WHAT did you just
say?
You do not get to call me sick. Not YOU! Do you
have ANY IDEA what it means that i have’nt killed you YET!?
Beautiful, is’nt she?
You inspired THIS! You made
me take action, made me realize what i could do to avoid the pain. So you do not get to call me a sick anything, especially not
infront of her.
4
We’ve been on this
case for so LONG Hank, lets atleast
TRY and see it to its fifififfiinish before you drink your way to an early
death.
We got another
one.It’s my day off.
Age?
Oh right. So you were saying we had another kidnapping?
The girl just hit puberty.
Well atleast she avoids
THAT travesty.
Ever the PARENT Manny.
I did. Another girl.
Taken from her home in broad daylight.
Nice place.
TOMORROW is your day
off. Today is just you feeling sorry
for yourself.
5
You a philosopher now Eddy?
You’re a PSYCHOPATH Eddy. It’s that easy, there is no mystery.
NOTHING’S that easy hank.
There are no GOOD people or BAD people. There are only PEOPLE
with reasons.
No one wakes up one day
with the urge to kill.
Psychopaths do not just HAPPEN. They are CREATED.
as i was.
If a psychopath is what I AM, it is
not the WHY.
I don’t do
this because i’m a psychopath. Just like
you did’nt beat up drug dealers just because you were
a cop.
I DO it, because the alternative...
IS THIS!
i thought You were a DETECTIVE
hank. i expected you to be more curious about your
current predicament.
“You’re PATHETIC Hank.”
6
Ok. I’ll bite, why STAGE the illusion
of a struggle?
It’s like you said.
It HAS to be someone they knew and TRUSTED. That’s a trail that we
can follow. I’ll start looking for
an INSIDIOUS nun.
We actually met before.
worked a case together a couple of years ago. Was even invited to his house
once for dinner.
And here i thought I
was his only friend.
this is just another dud Manny,
no evidence to speak of. Really?
Take a look around.
What do you see?
NOTHING, it’s completely untouched.
The PREVIOUS
crime scenes had CLEAR signs of
struggle.
Which could mean
that they were MEANT to look
that way.
And then COMPLETELY changed it
around to give us a ffiifighting
CHANCE?
Someone HEARD the
girl scream. maybe our perp SCREWED up and
had to hurry.
No sign of a struggle, just
an EMPTY apartment.
Do you even try
to solve cases anymore Hank?
Hank, meet EDDY.
He was the ffiirst detective at the
scene.
According to the FIRST
DETECTIVE on the scene an old women on the street had heard a scream
from the building.
So the perp either
SNUCK up on her or was someone she TRUSTED.
our kidnapper is
either the girls relative, a sweet old
nun or a fucking ninja. GREAT.
7
I do this because the only other alternative
that i know of is sitting infront of me. I said earlier that you inspired me, and you did. I CHOOSE not to be you,
Hank.
You’re just a PSYCHO Eddy.
Just someone who could’nt handle
LIFE so you take it out on the world.
Atleast I don’t take others with
me, it’s my HELL, my OWN, no one else belongs there.
Why not?! Everyone NEEDS to FEEL
what we feel, needs to UNDERSTAND how this world
works!
And YOURS are?
Everyone has excuses eddy, yours are no more VALID
than any other PSYCHOS.
He calms down as fast he gets riled up. Unstable, unhinged.
and when that fails to deliver
just DRINK myself into a STUPOR?!
So i should act like you
INSTEAD?! Beat up every single criminal i can
ffiind.
8
see you after the weekend
Manny.
We just got our FIRST break in this case and
you’re LEAVING?
I’d LOVE to stay Manny,
but i have a VERY important meeting
with my couch.
I won’t ffiifight you
Manny, not TODAY of all days. But you can’t
make me go with you either, you’ll solve this by yourself,
or you won’t. Tomorrow IS happening either way, nothing i can do about
that.
Don’t go Hank! I have a good feeling about this, if we just follow up on my theory we will ffiind SOMEONE who knows
all the victims!
Good luck with that.
I’m so SICK
of your self pity Hank, get over it and do your fucking JOB.
9
10
Just leave her alone EDDY!
You’re right.
You’re right eddy. I dealt with my
PAIN in a totally FUCKED up way. and
it cost me alot.
I alienated people and i turned to VIOLENCE.
i’m a fucking HYPOCRITE.
But for gods sake
Eddy, let the girl go. WE’RE the ones who are screwed up. She’s got NOTHING to do with
it.
You’re absolutely right, she’s got NOTHING to do
with this. i should just let her go.
I should just let her go of her MISERY
release her from this pathetic world before she’s TAINTED by it.
11
What did you THINK was gonna happen Hank? Did you be-lieve that you got THROUGH to me? Dont you think I
know exactly who i AM?
I know EXACTLYhow fucked up i am and i have accepted it, I embraced it even.
I got no problem with being a
“fucking psychopath”. I am way past the point of no return. How about you Hank? how do you like your current “sunny
disposition” on life?
Say it Hank, stop running from the truth!
I... I don’t WANT to
get better.
FINALLY.
I... I’m not sure what
you...
Don’t worry. I told you i would help you get that VICIOUS
hank back.
12
Hank, is that you?
You’re home early honey, how was work?
I’d like to tell you how BEAUTIFUL she was.
How her hair danced in the wind.
How her face, fairer than any on this planet, made men topple around her.
I would love to tell you her quirks, her virtues, her defects.
ALL the things that, together, made her PERFECT in my eyes.
13
Hank, why are you ignoring
me?
Where are you going honey?
Stop ignoring me you
useless piece of trash!
You’re PATHETIC Hank
Evans.
In the end it would’nt do her JUSTICE.
I would only create an inferior image of her.
A shadow.
Know only THIS.She was mine, and i was hers. COMPLETELY.
And i FAILED her.
Are you going to drink in the bathroom again
Hank!?
It was all your fault
Hank!
“Go home to your wife Hank. She needs you.”
14
“Your wife’s had a misscarriage Mr. Evans.”
Hank, PLEASE
stop this.
“It looks like a burglary Mr. Evans. She had a quick death.”
“We’re truly sorry.”
15
I want you to get ANGRY Hank. Like you used to get.
I AM angry. I’m fucking furious!
Yet you do nothing Hank. NOTHING to improve your
situation. Nothing to DRAG yourself out of this pit of DESPAIR
you’re burying yourself in.
What do you want of me? I’m fucking stuck over
here!
Exactly Hank. You’re STUCK You think you have nothing to live for.
you put restrictions on yourself. You’ve gotten out of situations like
this before.
You keep making up REASONS to
not help yourself, to not help this
girl.
That’s different, i
had MANNY to help me!
I’ve always had Manny...
the great detective
ffiinally gets it.
16
17
I got a lead on the...
I’m SERIOUS Hank. Eddy FOUND something, a social worker who knew
the victims...
Sorry, was’nt listening, busy picking out
ffllower arrangements for your funeral. I’m
thinking tulips.
Hank, be serious. there are kids in trouble. I don’t
care.
What?
THen leave manny. I don’t NEED you. I never needed
you!
I just want it to END Manny.
ALL of it!
Finish that sentence and there will be a new GRAVESTONE on
this lot.
I don’t fucking care anymore! Haven’t you got that yet? I can BARELY hang on and i don’t have anything
left in me to WASTE on other people.
That’s it Hank. I can’t keep being your crutch if you don’t have the guts to try and stand
up anymore.
18
“Well son, then you ffiind the MOTIVATION...”
“And you EXTEND that reach.”
My dad was a drunk and seldom lead by example.
He was still my dad though, so i humored him and asked; “what if heaven is out of your REACH?”.
You’re PATHETIC Hank. You lie
there and take it, the same way you have for years.
If you won’t play with me I know SOMEONE who
might.
One of his favourite lessons seem STRANGELY relevant right about now.
My father used to give these spontaneous lessons of PHILOSoPHY.
“Son, never get so comfortable in your own personal hell that you refuse to REACH for heaven.”
If he was sober enough he’d answer me inbetween drinks.
19
I thought he would
NEVER leave
We will do WONDERS for each other.
20
You MADE your
choice.
And now i’m making MINE.
Finally...
You talk too much Eddy. You are NOT the VICTIM here.
You are not just a PRODUCT of your
environment. You are not someone without
a CHOICE.
21
doctors say she only have MINOR
injuries. The mental stuff may be more SEVERE, but she seems
strong, stronger than I was.
And how are YOU feeling?
Oh you know. nothing
phases me Manny.
I’m sorry Manny, for
EVERYTHING.
Just glad to have you BACK.
Sure, just don’t expect me to put out on the ffiirst date.
Crap, you really ARE
back.
So the tip i got from Eddy turned out to be a dead end.
Gotta work on those detective skills Manny. I
caught the bad guy ALL by myself.
Uhu? And how’s the
kid?
Glad to BE back.
Wanna get something to eat? I could
REALLY go for a steak.
22
We all handle despair in different ways.
Some of us drown in it, some of us run away from it.
Just don’t let it deffiine you. Remember the good times.
Live for what once was, never die for what could have been.
Always try and reach for heaven.
No matter the reason you’re in hell in the ffiirst place.
23
THANKS TOPIRIJO ELOVAARA for providing
guidance and early feedback.
PATRIK THORSSON for pointers on layout and lettering
WILLIAM LARSSON for providing a fun and happy work environment
SOPHIA JOHANSSON for feedback on art and illustrations
MIKE MIGNOLIA for constant inspiration
PAULINA ODEHOLM, CHRISTIAN
FERNLUND, JIMMIE DIEP OLSSON and all of PINGISKARTELLEN for
entertainment and fun.
And
everyone on Blekinge Tekniska Högskola who made it our home.
This comic was made as research for a thesis in nonlinear storytelling at
Blekinge Tekniska Högskola. The structure of the story was
infflluenced by the following movies.“Alejandro González Iñárritu”
and “Guillermo Arriagas”
“21 Grams”as well as “Orson Welles”
“Citizen Kane”
For Knowledge about narrative structure we often turned to Seymour
Chatmans “Story and Discourse: Narrative structure in ffiiction and
ffiilm”.
This comic was not made for proffiit and all characters and story is the
intelluctual property of writer Jesper Vighagen and artist Anders Hallgren.
CONTACT USIf anyone would like to get in touch with any of the creators we can be reached on the following e-mails.
jespervighagen@gmail.com anders.c.hallgren@gmail.com
The font used in all speech bubbles and captions in this comic is not the property of the creators of the comic Jesper Vighagen and Anders Hallgren.
The font is by “pixel sagas” and is for personal use only. It can be found on: www.dafont.com http://www.dafont.com/comic-book.font
Thank you For Reading.