10. WILLIAM ERNEST HENLEY: Invictus
See what happens next … RUDYARD KIPLING: If and WALT WHITMAN: O me! O life!
William Ernest Henley (1849-1903) was an English poet who’s main claim to fame is writing this beautiful poem. Henley was diagnosed with tuberculosis and had one of his legs amputated when he was 17. In spite of this disability, Henley went on to live an active and successful life and used his experience to write Invictus when he was 26.
- This poem was introduced to me by a friend who cherishes it so much she has the word ‘Invictus’ tattooed on her shoulder.
- I know it would have been more inspiring if the boy DIDN’T fight back. If he used non-violence instead of more violence … but I’ve watched way too many samurai and kung-fu revenge movies for there not to be a final showdown at the end.
- The main bully was inspired by the mutant leader from The Dark Knight Returns.
ABOUT THIS SITE:
MOST POPULAR COMICS
- 50. NEIL GAIMAN: Make good art
- 100. CARL SAGAN: Pale blue dot
- 116. CAITLIN MORAN: We’re all dying
- 98. ALAN WATTS: What if money was no object?
- 90: IRA GLASS: Advice for beginners
- 52. PHIL PLAIT: Welcome to science
- 104. MALALA YOUSAFZAI: I have the right
- 92. CHRIS GUILLEBEAU: 11 ways to be average
- 94. The Two Wolves
- 42. NEIL deGRASSE TYSON: The most astounding fact
- 108. SOPHIE SCHOLL: The fire within
- 60. ROBERT FROST: The road not taken
- 97. CHARLES BUKOWSKI: Air and light and time and space
- 17. FRANK HERBERT: Litany against fear
- 89. STEPHEN FRY: Ultimate self-help book
Best of the rest
- 106. CHRIS HADFIELD: An astronaut's advice
- 12. CARL SAGAN: Make the most of this life
- 33. EDGAR MITCHELL: A global consciousness
- 36. BRUCE LEE: There are no limits
- 56. HENRY ROLLINS: Who's the crazier man?
- 65. MARIANNE WILLIAMSON: Our deepest fear
- 73. MARK TWAIN: An educational journey
- 8. THEODORE ROOSEVELT: The man in the arena
- 83. HOWARD THURMAN: Ask yourself
- 91. BILL HICKS: It's just a ride
HOSTED BY:
This one’s ace Gav – I’d love to see the next cell but I doubt there are enough red pixels in the screen! Great work bro, keep it up.
Alex, the next scene would look something like this (warning: EXTREME VIOLENCE)
Love that Oldboy scene!! Just give a man a hammer…
One of my favorite movies
) Couldn’t think of a better way to put it.
I’m with Alex on this one. Excellent strip Gavin, although I didn’t expect to see the “bloody” violence panel, although agree that it would be messy.
I hadn’t actually seen any of the Batman you refer to with the main bully; when I saw the teeth, I was reminded of the Hessian Horseman from Tin Burton’s Sleepy Hollow. I guess he was a bully too, just a bit more extreme.
Thanks David – that Batman villain I was referring to is from a comic book not a movie – it doesn’t matter, I just wanted the bully to look as nasty as possible!
Yeah, I knew it was a comic villain, so I should have used the verb “read” instead of “seen”, but then comics are a quite a visual medium, rather than books, a textual medium. But yes, my mistake, we “read” comics not “watch” them. ’nuff said, ‘avagoodone!
That’s cool David – a miscommunication!
Well seen works too, if you are only reading a comic you are missing half of it. Is it the leader of the mutants from Dark Night Return?
I know this an old thread, but you are vilified in your verbiage as that classic Frank Miller take on Batman IS a movie now and the villain looks spot-on. (Really good movie BTW! Does the comic great justice.)
Nice one Gav, I was wondering if there will be a new one today. lo and behold- my lucky day! Reminds me of Office Space gone brutal.
I am definitely loving this website… its on my favourite list- bookmark!
Thanks Em – new comics every M, W, F.
LOVE this Gav- nothing like watching the underdog rise on top. And a lil violence never went astray…
Thanks Morgs!
Your work on this site is very, very good. I’m glad to have found it!
is the story line yours too? this is by far your best work gav. thanks for this page
yes, the whole bullies vs little kid scenario was my idea – i think that’s what you mean
If by some miracle he managed to deal some damage with that hammer in a three-to-one fight with the far larger guys, he’s still in real trouble for bringing a weapon with the intent to use it.
He’d be better off carrying a black jack in case they came after him again, and then we’re still looking at one side with witnesses against the other with none.
we might find out what happens … hint hint
I shared thi sone on Google+, and added this joke in the comments:
So this scrawny guy is sitting at the counter in a truckstop and a big tough-looking guy grabs him and takes him into the back room. Everyone hears crashing and banging and cries of anguish. Presently the big guy comes out and announces, ” Karate from Korea!” Another big guy goes into the back room. Everyone hears crashing and banging and cries of anguish. Big guy number two comes out and announces, “Taikwando from Taiwan!” A third big guy goes into the room. Everyone hears crashing and banging and cries of anguish. Guy three comes out and announces, “Judo from Japan!” Presently the victim staggers out and leaves the dining room. After a while he comes back, and beckons the three toughs into the back room with him. Puzzled, they follow him in. Everyone hears crashing and banging and cries of anguish. The little guy comes out, alone, and announces, “Crowbar from Sears!”
Thank you.
I usually don’t enjoy reading poetry, because I tend to read it as one would read something else, say like a newspaper article. This makes most poems very uninteresting. Vicious circle probably; I don’t read poems because I don’t have any experience reading poems, because I don’t read them.
Your drawings made this immensely more accessible to me, and made it possible to enjoy a great poem I otherwise would most likely never have read.
I usually don’t write comments either, but this was so good that you really deserve to be told. I really hope you will make this available in a more printer-friendly format (as you have talked about in some other comment threads).
Again, thank you.
Thanks Henrik, cartoon violence makes everything more accessible
Awesome site, Gav. Love empowering quotes and the way you’re illustrating them.
This poem must have influenced the songwriting here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bg_pXpCr87M
Concealing a hammer in this situation is not very Zen like. But, then again, neither was the beating.
Wow, this is adorable and moving at the same time. You are awesome.
I don’t get it Gavin. Henley is talking about self central and remaining centred under the inevitable fluctuations of life. Yet you are really twisting the message badly here.
The illustrations are grand. But if you check the comments you are turning an opportunity to get your readers to think deeply about self control and turning it into a bit of lark. That may not be your intention yet that is where your comic leads.
Definitely nothing wrong with a good laugh, especially at oneself, but where is the point where you go from the inspiration you got from Henley and want to pass it on to twisting into revenge. Sorry Gavin, when your cartoons turn the great poems into a joke WITHOUT a moral what’s the point you’re aiming at?
$0.02
Thanks for the comment Cam. I didn’t intend to turn this great poem into a joke – I think one of the morals is standing up for yourself no matter what life throws your way.
I love The Dark Knight Returns. It’s my favorite graphic novel. I totally see it.
I cannot see the picture for this one or for ‘if’. Why is that?
Should be working now Jen
I cant be the only one who thinks this looks like a Mini-Rorschach.
Ha, you’re right – this is his origin story!
When I read it I was reminded of the thug from the Dark Knight comics. Lo and behold when I read the text underneath
Gav-
I’m very late to this party, but your work has grabbed hold of me… I was bullied as a boy, to the degree depicted here. And I so badly wanted, sometimes, to take a hammer to the bullies.
It would have been a deep wrong.
I ~did~ fight back, don’t get me wrong, and I ~did~ give back some of what I got…. but….
Instinctively I knew that, although they ~had~ endangered my life and body, if I took a hammer from someone who trusted me, and used it on people, even bad people, that I would have:
A) destroyed my trustworthiness to be around tools, and
B) Fallen to the level of my Enemies.
Some strong part of me still wants to take a hammer to The Bad Guys, though… so I cheer for your Little Rorschach…
I am just so very glad I never chose to follow that path…
you know?
thanks for your stuff, by the way… I’m almost done touring your site….
Personally, I feel that the kid coming back with a can of whoop ass was the better ending. Because no matter what they say, sometimes violence IS the answer.
Dad’s face just tear me into pieces.
Great saga! It took me into tears because it reminded me at some kind of bully situation, like a lot of people as children. The hammer-solution sounds to me as a little revenge, at least in my mind, which never happened for a number of reasons.
This poem is one of my life’s guiding forces. And to see it in your art is very inspiring! It’s also refreshing to see this poem in a new light(the violence part) and maybe, sometimes, that is the right way. Anyway, keep up the great work!
P.S. I’ve been reading your site’s content and I believe I don’t see one for “Desiderata” or I could be wrong. It would be awesome if Desiderata comes to life with your drawings(fanboy-mode) but you’ve great already so
Wow!
Artist of this comic, you win. End of this.
Hi Gav. thanks really for doing this. I live by the words of this poem. Thank you for making it more meaningful. I hope you have a long good way ahead of you. Keep it up! Love you and your works!
Thanks Robyn!
Concerning the idea that nonviolence would have been a more appropriate resolution… A friend of mine lives at a Buddhist monastery not far from me. When I was started to learn martial arts I asked him his opinion on the idea of fighting this is word for word what he said: “Martial Arts should only be used for fitness, defense, and instruction. However, we live in the real world. Fitness is a given, but, sometimes the defense of self or another must be proactive, because it is better that a wicked person be prevented from causing harm than avenging it, and as for instruction, there are some men who will not understand reason and only understand the language of violence, and those men cannot learn until they have been taught.” Just thought you might like that one.
Great story, thanks Brent.
I am the captain of my soul…
Hi Gavin! let me just point out something I just noticed.
There is a line where it said, “How charged with punishments the scroll”. I think it should be “How charged with punishments IS the scroll”
Just saying, I don’t know but that’s what my English teacher said. Okay Gavin haha keep it up. I love everything!!
This is still one of my favorite comics. I love the poem and the art matching it is brilliant. Like others I didn’t expect the bloody ending, but love that you follow up later!
Keep them coming love them all!
I love this website, just came across it today and have spent a long time on here. I just want to let you know that this is not only one of my favorite poems, but this is an amazing comic. Thank you so much!!
Thanks Thomas, glad u found the site
Well, you sure changed the meaning of that poem… :/
I am not a poet, and I don’t claim to fully understand the meaning of this poem, but I really feel like it is not at all about revenge. Maybe I am wrong, but this artwork seems to be sending a mixed message. To me, the poem is about staying strong through times of hardship. I know that not everybody agrees on this, but I don’t think that revenge is strength. I think that it is actually weakness. Like another commenter said, revenge kind of makes you fall to the level of the people who are hurting you. It takes a lot of strength to do what is right no matter what the circumstances, and this poem seems to be more about staying strong than giving in to anger and revenge. I don’t want to insult the artist here. This work has kind of a cool and unique visual style. I just think that the poem doesn’t fit with the cartoon. The cartoon is clearly a revenge story. Those can make fine entertainment, but the cartoon placed over the poem makes it seem like the artist is trying to state that strength can come in the form of revenge, and I don’t think that that’s true.
You are truly artistic Gav… God bless you.
My favorite one Gav
truly marvelous and inspiring. cant say much more. 5*
You Destroyed the very purpose of the poem that inspired the great, Nelson Mandela. You make great cartoons but sorry to say, you surely goofed this up.
Gav,
Great job.
I don’t usually comment on things but I would like to share my opinion here (no criticism, just sharing). =)
Nowdays we hear a lot of things like “violence is not the answer” and such. I wanna begin by saying I don’t fully subscribe to this point of view.
People fail to to see the big picture and tend to generalize, therefore I will just expose my point of view on one situation:
In many situations we see people that are plain mean and, trough superior strength or numbers, prey on the weaker.
Sometimes the best solution is not just be beaten and beaten, but fight back, being that the best outcome for your problem and soul. On the comic strip I see a good clear example of that.
We tend to say “life is not so simple” but sometimes it is!
Quick example:
I was a quiet and friendly guy in school, so of course I was targeted by some mean guys on some occasions..
I was 10 and studied on a huge school/club, so three bullies cut me of from heading back to class after break. I was alone on the club, far from help from school staff and friends. They shoved, slapped, punched a little… What could I do? I did little, since much resistance would only incite them further. I stood my ground thou (I was/am a proud guy).
Some days passed and guess what? I finally managed to get the “leader” of the trio alone in class. Revenge was taken, no witnesses, just me and him.
After that I couldn’t get the other two alone but guess what? The avoided me, I felt really good with myself, my circle of friend benefited from the “protection” and life carried on happily.
!! Note: If I could not deal with any of them alone I would ask the help of a friend, with no shame! The important for me was that the were mean, I was being harassed and the needed to be stopped, for good.
And today, 17 years later, that episode is a good memory and a lesson, simple as that…. not some trauma or life-turning event… just part of my childhood, my growing up…
Oh! And I can tell you that “telling the principal” or “telling my parents” would not bring the best results: solving the problem, putting the bullies in their place, feeling good with myself etc… Using violence in that case (and a few other occasions in life) didn’t made me a bad person. I have always been good at heart, playful, happy… There is no rage or wickedness here
So guys, that was my experience and thoughts on the matter.
And someday I will pass it on to my son, so he might be a good but not a weak person,. in overall! Character, will, mind and, why not, body (if he wants too. I, on the other hand, am lazy.. I prefer a couch and movie instead of gym =P But I trying to work out this month, let’s see were I’ll get with that)
Yeah… I think I wrote way too much.. lol.
See you guys, keep up the good work Gav.
Le
Thanks for sharing, great story
Dear Sir,
I have read this poem virtually everytime when I have felt dead and felt that I cannot stand up to battle again…the depiction is beautiful but there is something hauntingly magical in the last three panels… I cannot put it down in words but yes there is something…
It could have been nice if the ending was non-violent but here it is about pure rage, standing up to something that is wrong… and that steely gaze in his eyes in the second-last panel defines that…
It is a very well made strip… there is a story beyond the cartoon… I am glad you did it… i read this particular strip once in a while when I am writing a news story regarding terrible things and how people stand up against all odds… (and more often than not always win)…
thank you once again for it… it is wonderful and continues to give me a reason to stand up and fight back again and again,
best,
Rohan
Thanks Rohan
appreciate it
Dear Gav,
I just want to thank you for making this comic and opening my young eyes to the wonders of the universe and life. After I saw this comic on some website, I immediately came to zenpencils.com to see if there were others. I was pleasantly surprised when I did find the others. Every time that I feel like I need an extra push of encouragement or whatnot, I just recite this poem. Thank you for opening my eyes and giving others and myself the gift of wisdom.
-Clay
Watch the movie by the same name…..
whoooa! this is my favorite poem since i was in highschool!! skajfaksdjfhask
your drawing is so beautiful, matches the poem really well. WHOOO!
I cannot convey the courage this gives me in my low times, when people get terrible, I remember to stand up and not live a feared life. This comic is the best by far I think and the art is, what with the poem forms the essence. Nice work GAV.
I’m gonna have to disagree with your statement; “it would have been more inspiring if the boy DIDN’T fight back. If he used non-violence instead of more violence … ”
Speaking as one who has been bullied, I have learned that the only thing a bully understands is superior force. The only way to deal with a bully is to give them twice the violence they give you.
I love this strip and this quote! Keep up the excellent work!
Hey, I just wanted to say I love your work. I hope this doesn’t go completely unnoticed despite being an older comic, but I wanted to say I get shivers every time I read it. Whether that’s because of Henley or yourself is up for debate, but I tip towards a pretty even mixture of the two.
If this was made into a wallpaper it would be my background forever, guaranteed.
This is not a poem about revenge, but resilience.
I think some people are missing the point of the combination of the poem and the illustrations. It isn’t about revenge, it’s about not taking what you’re given and just accepting it, but rather being master of your own fate. The boy in this comic chooses not to just accept his beatings as part of life, as part of his childhood, but instead to take back his self-respect and dignity by fighting back against the bullies. It’s symbolic of the struggles we all face every day, to not settle for what someone gives us (good OR bad), but to take our lives into our own hands, to take control of our own actions and decisions (good OR bad), and to own them.
Because clearly the answer to all of life’s problems is violence.
Man, this history looks like Eminem, do you know him ? he made a music about, is called “Brain Damage” (you’re a genius)
That’s awful. The worst lesson you can give a young person. I read your clarifying remarks but the message is the same – initiate violence against someone if you feel like it.
Every time I feel like the world is crumbling down, I come back to this comic and read it out loud. Invictus itself is powerful piece of writing, but your comic brings it to life. The final panel will always be my favorite. Its not revenge, its taking a stand.