Vigilante Character Ideas

Press the button for one masked do-gooder: day job, what set them off, a rule, a signature and a suspect.

Vigilante Character Ideas: 30 vigilantes

By day, a night-shift baker who knows every delivery van. Put on the mask after finding a grandparent's old mask in a cookie tin. Will never start anything they cannot finish by dawn. Signature: humming the same tune slightly off-key. Suspected by a rival at work who wants the story to be true.

Padlock: keep a part. Arrows: change only that part.

  • Day jobnight-shift baker who knows every delivery van
  • What set them offfinding a grandparent's old mask in a cookie tin
  • Rule they keepstart anything they cannot finish by dawn
  • Signaturehumming the same tune slightly off-key
  • Who suspects thema rival at work who wants the story to be true
History (0)

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    Vigilante of the day

     

    1. By day, a night-shift baker who knows every delivery van. Put on the mask after finding a grandparent's old mask in a cookie tin. Will never start anything they cannot finish by dawn. Signature: humming the same tune slightly off-key. Suspected by a rival at work who wants the story to be true.
    2. By day, a call-center worker with a calm voice. Put on the mask after being mistaken for a masked hero and thanked. Will never embarrass a person in front of their family. Signature: a jar of homemade jam on the doorstep. Suspected by the cafeteria cook who saves them a plate unasked.
    3. By day, a bus driver on the last route out. Put on the mask after finding a grandparent's old mask in a cookie tin. Will never keep a reward. Signature: a thank-you card addressed to the victim. Suspected by a cousin sleeping on the couch for one week only.
    4. By day, a pet shop assistant trusted by every animal. Put on the mask after the corner store window was broken twice in a month. Will never leave someone worse off than they found them. Signature: a cape made from a stage curtain. Suspected by a twin who keeps being thanked by strangers.
    5. By day, a secondhand bookshop clerk. Put on the mask after the last pay phone on the block was smashed. Will never let the costume go a week unwashed. Signature: a thank-you card addressed to the victim. Suspected by a pickpocket caught twice who bears no grudge.
    6. By day, a secondhand bookshop clerk. Put on the mask after getting locked out and seeing the street from the roof. Will never let the costume go a week unwashed. Signature: a thank-you card addressed to the victim. Suspected by the intern who reads too many comics.
    7. By day, an elevator engineer who rides on top of the car. Put on the mask after someone kept dumping trash in the community garden. Will never skip the day job the morning after. Signature: a raincoat the yellow of a road sign. Suspected by a coworker who shares the locker room.
    8. By day, a newspaper delivery rider. Put on the mask after overhearing a bribe through a thin wall. Will never pass by a call for help to chase a bigger one. Signature: a typed note with one deliberate spelling mistake. Suspected by a rival at work who wants the story to be true.
    9. By day, a night-shift baker who knows every delivery van. Put on the mask after the corner store window was broken twice in a month. Will never lay a hand on anyone. Signature: a mask cut from an old umbrella. Suspected by a pickpocket caught twice who bears no grudge.
    10. By day, a newspaper delivery rider. Put on the mask after the same van turned up outside every break-in. Will never get in the way of the real police. Signature: a thank-you card addressed to the victim. Suspected by a father who recognizes his own old raincoat.
    11. By day, a plumber who has seen every basement in town. Put on the mask after the community hall was padlocked without a word. Will never leave someone worse off than they found them. Signature: a reversible jacket, plain side out for the walk home. Suspected by the mayor's very thorough secretary.
    12. By day, a bank teller who counts without looking. Put on the mask after a whole shift was paid in excuses. Will never go out angry. Signature: leaving every light on in the rooms they pass through. Suspected by a supervisor who is certain, and grateful.
    13. By day, a call-center worker with a calm voice. Put on the mask after finding a second set of books in the office safe. Will never say their real name aloud in costume. Signature: the forced lock mended better than before. Suspected by a schoolchild with a notebook of sightings.
    14. By day, a taxi dispatcher with the whole city in their head. Put on the mask after the streetlights went out and nobody came. Will never skip the day job the morning after. Signature: a scarf that hides all but the eyebrows. Suspected by the cleaner who found a mask in the wrong bin.
    15. By day, a taxi dispatcher with the whole city in their head. Put on the mask after a wrong number asked for help and they said yes. Will never act on the word of one witness alone. Signature: a polite cough from a rooftop. Suspected by a father who recognizes his own old raincoat.
    16. By day, a park gardener who locks the gates at dusk. Put on the mask after finding a second set of books in the office safe. Will never admit out loud that they enjoy it. Signature: a bad pun delivered with total calm. Suspected by a roommate who has seen the mud on the stairs.
    17. By day, a call-center worker with a calm voice. Put on the mask after a regular stopped coming in and nobody wondered. Will never climb in by a window when the door is open. Signature: the stolen thing returned in gift wrap. Suspected by a regular customer with a memory for voices.
    18. By day, a security guard at a museum nobody visits. Put on the mask after a masked stranger brought the cat home and left. Will never keep a reward. Signature: a two-note whistle before anything happens. Suspected by a regular customer with a memory for voices.
    19. By day, a hotel night clerk with a master key. Put on the mask after a whole shift was paid in excuses. Will never chase small fry just to look busy. Signature: arriving by the fire escape and leaving by the front door. Suspected by a landlady who knows a cape crease when she irons one.
    20. By day, a newspaper delivery rider. Put on the mask after overhearing a bribe through a thin wall. Will never wear the costume inside their own home. Signature: a cape made from a stage curtain. Suspected by the family dog, who is not fooled by masks.
    21. By day, a bank teller who counts without looking. Put on the mask after the food bank van lost all four wheels. Will never embarrass a person in front of their family. Signature: a polite cough from a rooftop. Suspected by a rival at work who wants the story to be true.
    22. By day, a ferry deckhand on the river crossing. Put on the mask after chasing their own stolen hat across six rooftops. Will never keep a reward. Signature: a library card stamped overdue. Suspected by a landlady who knows a cape crease when she irons one.
    23. By day, a town hall archivist. Put on the mask after an old neighbor was tricked out of her savings. Will never admit out loud that they enjoy it. Signature: a welder's visor with a smile painted on. Suspected by the mayor's very thorough secretary.
    24. By day, a hotel night clerk with a master key. Put on the mask after reading too many comics over one long dull winter. Will never chase small fry just to look busy. Signature: a bicycle helmet under a wide hat. Suspected by the dry cleaner who took in the cape and said nothing.
    25. By day, a bank teller who counts without looking. Put on the mask after someone kept dumping trash in the community garden. Will never break a lock they cannot repair. Signature: a thank-you card addressed to the victim. Suspected by the dry cleaner who took in the cape and said nothing.
    26. By day, an all-night diner cook who hears everything. Put on the mask after a customer left a note that said only help. Will never make a promise from behind the mask. Signature: a pressed flower in the culprit's mailbox. Suspected by the dry cleaner who took in the cape and said nothing.
    27. By day, an optician's assistant with a tray of spare frames. Put on the mask after overhearing a bribe through a thin wall. Will never chase small fry just to look busy. Signature: leaving every light on in the rooms they pass through. Suspected by the kid next door, who wants to be the sidekick.
    28. By day, a librarian who remembers what everyone borrows. Put on the mask after a masked stranger brought the cat home and left. Will never stay out past the last bus. Signature: a calling card that says only you know why. Suspected by a retired detective feeding pigeons.
    29. By day, a bank teller who counts without looking. Put on the mask after a landlord left the stairwell dark all winter. Will never act on the word of one witness alone. Signature: gloves in two different colors. Suspected by a twin who keeps being thanked by strangers.
    30. By day, a roofer who reads a street from above. Put on the mask after finding a second set of books in the office safe. Will never work on their own birthday. Signature: a polite cough from a rooftop. Suspected by a partner who leaves sandwiches by the window.

    Next step Draw the mask itselfPut this vigilante in a comic

    Day job: all 36 day jobs

    Night and shift work 12

    • all-night diner cook who hears everything An order pad in the back pocket, used at night for license plates.
    • bus driver on the last route out Draw the cap on the dashboard and the mask in the lunch box.
    • hospital porter who walks ten miles a shift Soft shoes. Give the costume the same quiet soles.
    • hotel night clerk with a master key A key ring on a retractable cord, clipped inside the coat.
    • laundromat attendant who folds strangers' sheets The costume is always the best-pressed thing in the panel.
    • newspaper delivery rider A canvas bag slung across the chest, worn the same way after dark.
    • night-shift baker who knows every delivery van Flour to the elbows by day. At night the same forearms wear dark gloves.
    • radio host of the small-hours request show Headphones round the neck in both lives. The voice is the giveaway.
    • security guard at a museum nobody visits A flashlight held overhand, the way the job taught.
    • street sweeper who sees the town before it wakes Bright vest by day, so the night outfit has no reflective strip at all.
    • streetcar depot cleaner Draw the depot as home base: rows of dark cars, one with a light on.
    • taxi dispatcher with the whole city in their head Put a hand-drawn street map on the wall behind them, stuck with pins.

    Desks and counters 12

    • bank teller who counts without looking Fingers drawn mid-riffle, even when the hands are empty.
    • call-center worker with a calm voice A headset mark in the hair that the mask strap sits in exactly.
    • elementary school music teacher A conductor's wrist: every gesture starts on a count of four.
    • florist with a van and a cold room Green thumbs, literally: stain the glove tips.
    • librarian who remembers what everyone borrows Reading glasses pushed up into the hair, mask or no mask.
    • optician's assistant with a tray of spare frames A different pair of glasses in every panel, never mentioned.
    • pet shop assistant trusted by every animal A pocket that always bulges with treats, in both outfits.
    • post office clerk who knows every address A rubber stamp on a cord. Draw it swinging when they run.
    • secondhand bookshop clerk A cardigan with a paperback in each pocket, pulling it out of shape.
    • tailor who does alterations while you wait The costume fits better than anyone else's clothes in the story.
    • tax clerk who reads ledgers for fun Sleeve garters by day. At night, the same neat cuffs.
    • town hall archivist Dust on one shoulder. Carry it over to the costume as a pale patch.

    Trades and outdoors 12

    • bike courier who knows the shortcuts One trouser leg rolled. Keep it rolled in costume.
    • dog walker with six leashes Six dogs fan out in front like a team. At night, one comes along.
    • elevator engineer who rides on top of the car Light them from below through a grille, in stripes.
    • ferry deckhand on the river crossing A coiled rope over one shoulder. It is the only tool they trust.
    • fruit seller at a market stall An apron pocket of loose change that jingles at the wrong moment.
    • locksmith who only opens doors for their owners A roll of picks they carry and pointedly do not use.
    • park gardener who locks the gates at dusk The gate key is the size of a hand. Hang it round the neck.
    • plumber who has seen every basement in town A wrench loop on the belt, holding a rolled-up map instead.
    • roofer who reads a street from above Knee pads, and a habit of crouching on any ridge line.
    • scaffolder who climbs faster than the stairs Draw the city as a set of ladders: poles, ledges, drainpipes.
    • school custodian with a ring of every key The key ring is muffled in a sock for night work.
    • window cleaner who is not afraid of heights Stage them from below, against the sky, bucket or no bucket.
    How this list was compiled

    Original list written for Draw This Next on 2026-10-09. Made up for this list: ordinary jobs that leave a person with a key, a route or a view of the town. None is a real person or a character from a comic, a film, a show or a game. The notes are our own drawing advice. Licence: own work

    What set them off: all 36 sparks

    On their own street 12

    • a landlord left the stairwell dark all winter A dead bulb in a cage. The first good deed is a ladder and a new one.
    • a masked stranger brought the cat home and left Show only the stranger's back and the cat's unimpressed face.
    • an old neighbor was tricked out of her savings A kitchen table, a teacup and a very official-looking letter.
    • the community hall was padlocked without a word A new chain on an old door, and a notice too small to read.
    • the corner store window was broken twice in a month Plywood over glass, with the opening hours rewritten on it by hand.
    • the food bank van lost all four wheels A van on bricks, with crates of cans still stacked inside.
    • the last pay phone on the block was smashed A dangling receiver. Later, the hero uses the booth to change.
    • the playground swings were sold for scrap overnight Two chains hanging from a frame, and a child looking up at them.
    • the school bus stop was moved a mile further off A line of small backpacks walking along a wide road.
    • someone kept dumping trash in the community garden Bean poles in the background, a split garbage bag in front.
    • the streetlights went out and nobody came One lit window in a dark row. That is the room where the idea starts.
    • the third bicycle vanished from the same rack An empty rack with one cut lock left hanging. Start the story there.

    At work 12

    • a coworker took the blame for the boss A cardboard box of desk things carried out past a closed door.
    • a customer left a note that said only help A folded receipt with four letters on the back.
    • a regular stopped coming in and nobody wondered An empty stool at a counter, with the usual order set out anyway.
    • a whole shift was paid in excuses Empty pay envelopes fanned out like a losing hand of cards.
    • being told in writing to look the other way A memo pinned to the inside of the costume, like a medal.
    • delivering a package to an address that is not there A parcel held at a gap between two houses.
    • finding a second set of books in the office safe Two identical ledgers side by side, one much thinner.
    • learning who really owns the empty buildings A file with the same signature on every page.
    • the night's cash went missing and nobody asked An open till drawn from above, with one coin left in it.
    • overhearing a bribe through a thin wall A glass held to wallpaper, and an ear to the glass.
    • the safety report was shredded in front of them Paper ribbons in a bin, and one strip rescued in a fist.
    • the same van turned up outside every break-in Three small panels, three streets, one van in each.

    By accident 12

    • a child asked why nobody does anything Crouch them to the child's eye level. The answer is the origin.
    • a costume shop sold them the wrong box Tissue paper everywhere, and a mask where a clown wig should be.
    • a dare at a costume party went too far Party streamers still caught on one shoulder, out in the street.
    • a scarf blew across their face at the right moment Wind lines, a scarf, two surprised eyes above it.
    • a wrong number asked for help and they said yes A phone cord stretched to its limit as they reach for a coat.
    • being mistaken for a masked hero and thanked A stranger shaking their hand while they look behind them.
    • chasing their own stolen hat across six rooftops The hat stays in every later panel, slightly crushed.
    • finding a grandparent's old mask in a cookie tin The mask is too big. They grow into it over the story.
    • getting locked out and seeing the street from the roof The high view, drawn once, becomes the view of every night scene.
    • reading too many comics over one long dull winter A stack of comics as tall as the bedside lamp.
    • stopping a runaway stroller and liking the feeling One hand on the handle, hair blown back, a grin arriving late.
    • winning a mask in a raffle the night the power failed A raffle ticket tucked in the hatband ever after.
    How this list was compiled

    Original list written for Draw This Next on 2026-10-09. Made up for this list: small wrongs on a street, things seen at work, and plain accidents. Nobody is hurt in any entry, nobody dies, and none refers to a real crime, a real event or the origin of a published hero. The notes are our own drawing advice. Licence: own work

    Rule they keep: all 36 rules

    About other people 12

    • chase small fry just to look busy Let a litterbug walk past while they watch a doorway.
    • embarrass a person in front of their family They wait under a streetlight until the porch empties.
    • frighten a child The mask comes up onto the forehead the moment a child appears.
    • keep a reward An envelope pushed back across a table with one finger.
    • lay a hand on anyone Draw them with hands open or behind the back. The plan does the work.
    • leave someone worse off than they found them The last panel of any scene is them tidying up.
    • let a bystander carry the risk One arm out, moving a passerby gently behind them.
    • lie to anyone who asks them straight A long pause drawn as an empty speech bubble.
    • make a promise from behind the mask A raised hand that stops short of an oath.
    • pass by a call for help to chase a bigger one Mid-stride, head turned back. The turn is the character.
    • take back more than was taken A careful count on the pavement: three wallets in, three wallets out.
    • unmask anybody else Two masked figures face to face, both keeping their hands down.

    About method 12

    • act on the word of one witness alone Two notebooks open side by side, being compared.
    • break a lock they cannot repair A small screwdriver and a spare hasp in the kit.
    • climb in by a window when the door is open They try the handle first, every time, and look pleased when it turns.
    • get in the way of the real police They step back into a doorway when the patrol car turns in.
    • leave without writing a receipt A receipt book with carbon paper, signed with a symbol.
    • make a mess they do not clean up A dustpan clipped to the belt where a gadget would be.
    • start anything they cannot finish by dawn A pale band of sky at the edge of every night panel, getting wider.
    • stay out past the last bus A bus timetable folded inside the glove.
    • touch evidence without gloves Gloves on before anything else. Draw that as its own small panel.
    • use the same route twice in a week A pocket diary with each night's route in a different ink.
    • work on their own birthday A paper party hat sitting on the folded costume.
    • work outside their own neighborhood A chalk line across a street corner that they stop at.

    About themselves 12

    • admit out loud that they enjoy it A smile hidden by the mask and betrayed by the eyes.
    • answer to the nickname the newspapers chose A headline held up, and a flat look over the top of the page.
    • call themselves a hero A wince, every time someone else says it.
    • go out angry They sit on the fire escape and count before climbing down.
    • let the costume go a week unwashed A cape on the clothesline between two ordinary shirts.
    • patrol on an empty stomach A sandwich in wax paper, eaten on a ledge with the mask rolled up.
    • repeat a mistake without writing it down A list on the fridge door headed Next Time.
    • say their real name aloud in costume A sentence that breaks off at the first syllable.
    • skip the day job the morning after Dark rings under the eyes and a uniform buttoned one hole wrong.
    • use the mask to settle a private grudge The costume left on its hook while they go to argue in plain clothes.
    • wear the costume inside their own home A doormat, and boots left beside it.
    • wear the mask for a photograph A hand over the lens, drawn from the camera's side.
    How this list was compiled

    Original list written for Draw This Next on 2026-10-09. Made up for this list: rules about other people, about method and about the character's own conduct. Each keeps the character on the gentle side of the line, so no result is violent. The notes are our own drawing advice. Licence: own work

    Signature: all 36 signatures

    Left behind 12

    • a chalk arrow pointing at the evidence White chalk on brick. Dust on the fingertips gives them away later.
    • a jar of homemade jam on the doorstep A handwritten label with the date and nothing else.
    • a knot nobody else in town can tie Draw the knot large once, as a diagram, so readers know it again.
    • a library card stamped overdue Slide it under a door, half in and half out.
    • a paper crane on the windowsill Fold it from that day's newspaper so the headline shows on a wing.
    • a pressed flower in the culprit's mailbox Keep the species the same all story, so readers learn to dread it.
    • a single left glove on the railings A drawer at home, full of right gloves.
    • a thank-you card addressed to the victim A stamp, a neat hand and no return address.
    • a typed note with one deliberate spelling mistake Show the typewriter once, with the same crooked letter e.
    • boot prints that stop in the middle of the street Ten clear prints, then clean pavement. Never explain it.
    • the forced lock mended better than before Fresh brass on an old door.
    • the stolen thing returned in gift wrap A bow on a bicycle. Make the paper too cheerful for the hour.

    Worn 12

    • a bicycle helmet under a wide hat The hat sits a little too high. Draw the gap.
    • a camping hat with a mosquito net veil The face is a soft gray shape behind mesh. Hatch it lightly.
    • a cape made from a stage curtain Heavy red velvet with brass rings left along the top edge.
    • a domino mask worn upside down The points turn down at the cheeks, which reads as sad and is not.
    • a mask cut from an old umbrella Black cloth with one rib seam still running across the brow.
    • a raincoat the yellow of a road sign The brightest shape in every night panel, on purpose.
    • a reversible jacket, plain side out for the walk home Two drawings, same pose, to show the turn.
    • a scarf that hides all but the eyebrows All the acting is in two short lines. Practice them angry, glad, tired.
    • a welder's visor with a smile painted on The painted smile never changes, whatever the body language says.
    • coveralls with every pocket labeled Tiny lettering: string, chalk, apples, spare string.
    • gloves in two different colors Readers track the hands, so use the pair to lead the eye.
    • odd socks, always showing One striped, one plain, at the gap above the boots.

    Heard or done 12

    • a bad pun delivered with total calm A straight-on face and a groan from everyone else in frame.
    • a bicycle bell rung three times Three rings as three small bursts along the alley wall.
    • a calling card that says only you know why A plain white card, held up between two fingers.
    • a kite flown over the scene the next morning A red diamond high above the rooftops, with the string leading nowhere.
    • a polite cough from a rooftop A tiny ahem in the top corner. Heads below turn up.
    • a salute to the nearest cat The cat does not return it. Give the cat the better spot in the frame.
    • a slow handclap for a failed getaway Hands only, lit from the side, in a dark doorway.
    • a tap-dance step on landing Draw the landing in two beats: heel, then toe, with a spark of sound.
    • a two-note whistle before anything happens Two small music notes drifting into the panel from off-page.
    • arriving by the fire escape and leaving by the front door End scenes on a door closing gently.
    • humming the same tune slightly off-key A wavering line of notes that bystanders recognize too late.
    • leaving every light on in the rooms they pass through A dark building lighting up window by window, left to right.
    How this list was compiled

    Original list written for Draw This Next on 2026-10-09. Made up for this list: things left behind, things worn, and things heard or done. None is a weapon, and none is the emblem, costume or calling card of a published hero. The notes are our own drawing advice. Licence: own work

    Who suspects them: all 36 suspects

    At home 12

    • a cousin sleeping on the couch for one week only One open eye above a blanket at three in the morning.
    • a father who recognizes his own old raincoat He looks at the coat hook, then at the newspaper, then at the hook.
    • a grandmother who says nothing and knits a spare mask Needles going, eyes on the television, mask shape growing.
    • a landlady who knows a cape crease when she irons one An ironing board, a raised eyebrow, a folded square of red.
    • a little sister who counts the socks in the wash A laundry basket, and a small finger pointing at the odd one.
    • a partner who leaves sandwiches by the window A plate on the sill with a note that says eat.
    • a roommate who has seen the mud on the stairs A trail of boot prints ending at one bedroom door.
    • a twin who keeps being thanked by strangers The same face, baffled, holding a bunch of flowers.
    • the family dog, who is not fooled by masks A wagging tail aimed at the hero in a crowd of strangers.
    • the kid next door, who wants to be the sidekick A homemade mask of cereal box, held on with a rubber band.
    • the neighbor's parrot, which repeats their whistle A cage by an open window, and two notes in a speech bubble.
    • the upstairs neighbor who never sleeps A curtain held back with one finger, three floors up.

    At the day job 12

    • a coworker who shares the locker room A locker door not quite shut on a corner of bright cloth.
    • a regular customer with a memory for voices A head tilted at a familiar thank you.
    • a rival at work who wants the story to be true Leaning on the doorframe with a newspaper and a grin.
    • a supervisor who is certain, and grateful A day off granted with a nod. No words in the panel.
    • a union rep who thinks it is a second job A clipboard, a frown and a leaflet about overtime.
    • the boss, who has noticed the yawning A coffee cup set down in front of them without comment.
    • the cafeteria cook who saves them a plate unasked A covered dish with a name on masking tape.
    • the cleaner who found a mask in the wrong bin A mask held up by one strap, at arm's length.
    • the intern who reads too many comics A clipping pinned beside a staff photo, with string between them.
    • the new hire, who also wears a mask at night Two people at a water cooler, each avoiding the other's eye.
    • the night watchman who waves and looks away A raised hand in a booth, and a newspaper lifted to cover the face.
    • the payroll clerk who logs every late arrival A time card with a column of red ink.

    Around town 12

    • a local reporter one fact short of a headline A notebook page with a circle round a blank space.
    • a pickpocket caught twice who bears no grudge A tipped hat from across the street.
    • a police sergeant who would rather not know A file closed gently and put at the bottom of the pile.
    • a retired detective feeding pigeons A park bench, a paper bag and eyes that follow the hero's shoes.
    • a rival vigilante from two streets over Two silhouettes on facing roofs, arms folded the same way.
    • a schoolchild with a notebook of sightings Columns for date, place and weather, in careful pencil.
    • the bell ringer with a view from the tower Seen from above: a tiny caped figure four streets away.
    • the conductor on the last run home A ticket punched without being asked for.
    • the dry cleaner who took in the cape and said nothing A ticket stub with the item written as curtain, large.
    • every pigeon on the block, apparently A row of birds on a wire, all facing the same window.
    • the mayor's very thorough secretary A map with pins, kept in a desk drawer under the stationery.
    • the newsdealer who sees who is out at four A kiosk shutter half up, and a look over the bundles of papers.
    How this list was compiled

    Original list written for Draw This Next on 2026-10-09. Made up for this list: people at home, people at the day job and people around town who have half guessed. None is a real person. The notes are our own drawing advice. Licence: own work

    How it works

    These vigilante character ideas come in five parts: a day job, what made them put on the mask, the one rule they will not break, a signature that is not a weapon, and the person who has half guessed.

    Read the full guide

    Vigilante comic book character ideas need a day job

    The job decides the skills. A window cleaner is not afraid of heights, a locksmith only opens doors for their owners, a night-shift baker knows every delivery van. Draw the work clothes first, then ask which piece of them survives into the costume.

    The rule is the plot

    A vigilante who will never lay a hand on anyone has to be clever, and one who will never stay out past the last bus has a clock in every scene. Put the rule under strain in the second act, and let the person who suspects them be watching.

    • Draw the signature as its own small panel: a chalk arrow pointing at the evidence needs no caption.

    Questions and answers

    What makes a good vigilante character?

    A limit. Each result here carries a rule the character keeps even when it costs them, such as never to keep a reward or work outside their own neighborhood. The story is the night that rule is hardest to keep.

    Are these vigilantes violent?

    No. The wrongs are street-sized: the third bicycle vanished from the same rack, a landlord left the stairwell dark all winter. Nobody is hurt in any list and no signature is a weapon. Darken a result yourself if your comic needs it.

    Are any of these from a published comic?

    No. Every part was made up for this page, and no hero, city or emblem from a comic, a film or a game is used. A result is yours to name, draw and publish.

    How do I turn one result into a comic?

    Use three beats. Open on the day job, show the moment that set them off, then end the first page on the signature with the suspect looking at it. The rule arrives on page two.

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