The Art of Ben Ochoa

Ink That Tells Your Story

Ben Ochoa did not ease his way into tattooing; he crashed through the door. At 23, after long days of warehouse work and a growing sense that time was slipping away, his wife gave him a challenge: “Learn to tattoo.” He was reluctant and afraid of ruining someone’s skin, but he picked up the machine, tattooed a couple of friends, and never looked back.

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This is not a story of safe choices or careful planning. It is one of fire, risk, and obsession. From sketching Spawn and Batman in his childhood notebooks to tagging graffiti and pushing himself in high school art classes, Ochoa built his craft in chaos and hero worship. “My goal with tattooing has always been to become better. I used to have an idea of becoming the best tattoo artist ever,” he says. Ambition has always burned at the center of his work.

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In Anaheim, he built his sanctuary, Manor No. 9, where every drop of ink carries weight. The name is part homage and part personal legend, blending Batman’s Wayne Manor with Ochoa’s own Nine Inch Nails tattoo. The shop stands as a reflection of both rebellion and legacy.

Ben’s artistry is rooted in pop culture but elevated by precision. He collects rare Batman and Spawn comics, studies their lore and color palettes, and channels that energy into skin. His tattoos are more than designs. They transport his clients back to the exact scene, the movie, or the moment that defined their love for a character.

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At the heart of his work is not only art but also defiance. Ochoa supports the “Save the Pigments” campaign, standing with artists and clients who refuse to let regulators erase tattooing. For him, ink is not optional. It is survival.