57. EDMUND HILLARY: An ordinary chap
Sir Edmund Hillary (1919-2008) was a New Zealand mountaineer and adventurer who was one of the first people, along with Nepalese sherpa Tenzing Norgay, to reach the summit of Mt Everest in 1953. As well as scaling Chomolungma (the Tibetan name for Everest), Hillary was also in expeditions to the North and South poles and spent much of his later life helping the Nepalese people of the Himalayas. Hillary was very humble and often said he didn’t have any special talents and was only blessed with ‘modest abilities’, but had a strong determination and will to succeed.
- I used the iconic picture Tenzing took of Hillary at the summit as reference. (UPDATE: Sorry, that’s actually Tenzig on the summit. I’ve changed the colour of the pants to match what Hillary was wearing.)
- Came upon this great BBC documentary on YouTube about the 1953 expedition while researching this post.
- I was initially going to do a quote submitted by a reader, Arjun: ”I will come again & conquer you because as a mountain you can’t grow, but as a human, I can.” This is often cited as Hillary’s but upon further research there’s no evidence he said it. Shame.
- I’ve had a fascination with Everest since I read Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air, a remarkable account of a tragic Everest expedition which suffered eight casualties.
- The names of the different parts of Everest just sound so cool, like they’re out of a Tolkien novel: The Khumbu Icefall, Western Cwm, Lhotse Face, South Col and Hillary Step.
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I’m not certain, but I think Mt. Everest may be the world’s highest graveyard. If that’s the case, then the name seems fitting.
Minor point: I think you know it, but it adds to the message.
Tenzing was first set foot on the summit (his country, and Hillary insisted)
Awesome!
Although since you have to scroll down to read the quote, my first thought was “This badass is clarely gonna pick up that ice pick and go fight somebody.” Haha
Not to contradict you, certainly he was badass, but my feeling is that when he planted the icepick he was fighting something already, and he was on top of it…
This one will go to my son’s bedroom wall, for sure! Awesome indeed!
He did.. the mountain.
Great comic!
Just a minor correction: the picture you referenced is *of* Tenzing, as taken by Sir Hillary (not the other way around). The common story is that Tenzing did not know how to use a camera, and was thus unable to take a reciprocal photo of Hillary, but some sources claim that Hillary instead declined to have his taken.
I’ll say it again, the art work is really looking good. The lines are looking more organic and natural. The other work was good as well, but you’re evolving artistically.
Thanks Gabe
Yay Sir Ed!
When the New Zealand banknotes were re-designed and reissued in the new plastic, high security extra hard to counterfeit type notes (yeah I know, who wants to make knockoff Kiwi currency anyway?) Sir Ed was the only ( at the time) living New Zealander featured on the designs.
We loved him cos he was the quintessential Kiwi bloke- Worked hard, achieved his goals, and kind and humble with it.
@Tony – Hillary always said they arrived together. From Wikipedia (which as we know may be wrong), “Tenzing Norgay stated in his narration “The Dream Comes True” that Hillary had indeed taken the first step atop Mount Everest, despite Hillary quoting that both had reached the summit at the same time.”
I love your motivational work! Keep up the good work!
Btw it would be awesome if you could draw something out of this quote from Mohammed Ali: “Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion”
I just saw “The Avengers” movie today (finally!) and this quote fits perfectly with certain characters in the story.
I am so glad I found this site! I really enjoy the artwork.. Just wondering, though, is there anywhere I could go to get one of these as a desktop background? Thank you and can’t wait to see more!
Yes, wallpapers are one of the many things on my ‘to-do’ list. Sorry it’s taking so long!
The second flag, what country is it?
Nepal.
Hey Buddy,
Even this quote is exceptionally good. No problem for the other one. You mentioned it at least and so it has still reached the masses. Thanks for the mention and the awesome cartoon.
Love and Regards.
Not to detract from your cool illustration, but the flags are wrong. Nepal’s is a double-triangle, and the duo had two more flags with them on that pole (India’s and the UN’s) on the summit. See here:
Of course, this is not about the flags; flags don’t really belong up there and all that
UN as in the United Nations?
Yes. Nepal’s is a double right triangle. India’s, the United Nation’s and Britain’s are rectangular, of course.
http://flagstamps.blogspot.in/2012/06/flags-atop-mount-everest.html
amazing poster. truly inspiring. this is the kind of thing one should look at each morn, as they get out of bed!
I stumbled on this website about a week ago and it is seriously the greatest thing StumbleUpon has showed me. Keep it up. You’re amazing.
Sweet, StumbleUpon is one of my biggest sources of traffic
Another great one GAV.
Since you already know Ayn Rand, maybe you could find something good at Atlas Shrugged. I myself have some quotes from the books that I find very inspiring for hard work and ethics.
An ordinary chap in an extraordinary conditions.
I met Hillary once, in the Museum of Science, Boston, as a little kid. He was incredibly kind, and, in hindsight, inspiring. I had NO IDEA who he was (I was ~10.) A security guard told us after he’d walked away. My family and I were left gaping.
That’s so cool Raven!
I discovered your website one hour ago, and I really love every single one of your illustrations, please keep up the good work!
Just one question, will there be a print of #56 henry rollins ? would love to have that one on my wall.
Thanks Muha! Re the Henry Rollins comic – probably won’t be a print, the passage is taken from a book so it’s copyrighted.
I’ve fixed the Nepalese flag. I know it’s not the exact flags that were on the icepick but I can’t make out what those 3 flags are.
How did you do that? How did you compensate for the longer flag?
I stumbled upon your website at around comic 49. I forgot about it until today. I can proudly say I have read ever comic you have written.
just awesome Gab, the power of will
Hi ! Just a minor comment. That’s not NewZealand’s flag. The 3 red stars are missing. Awesome artwork though
aw this is awesome! Really inspirational and i love your drawings!
You make me think of my brother’s drawing which you might appreciate.
http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=§ion=&q=Sugaryashes
This picture could be the cover of a Tintin book. The style, the exotic location, even the lettering is perfect. Very nicely done!
Sir Hillary was a great person! He achieved the tallest part of the land but still he knew that he should work for sherpa community, and that was his greatest job, rather i say more important than everest summit!
I thought I could get a poster for this one! Is it someplace I am not looking? This is definitely my favorite of yours!