Real Life Superhero subculture by Ylja Band

Real Life Superheroes

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HISTORY MEMBERS CLOTHING BEHAVIOR INTERESTS TYPOGRAPHY THEIR INFLUENCE SELF PERCEPTION INTERVIEWS PUBLICATIONS PERSONAL ADDITION

History · 1970 untill now

History of the Real Life Superhero Culture Due to the popularity and availability of both the internet and social networks, there has been a sub culture of Real Life Superheroes. These costumed individuals act as amateur crime fighter or social crusaders using self created identities and outfits. This extremely bizarre culture seems to be growing more and more with the media becoming more interested in the lifestyle of these men and women; who seemly have taken a radical or abnormal approach to fighting “injustice.” Some “Real-Life Superheroes” or “RLSH” bestow the label of Superheroes upon themselves in an effort to describe their actions. Other RLSH have this title applied to them by news and media reporting the individual’s actions and motives. Whether or not the term “Superhero” applies to the misfit culture, it is a term that has been commonly coined. The first record of an RLSH featured an individual named The Fox, a.k.a. James Philips. The Fox was an environmental advocate during the early 1970’s who used flamboyant tactics to stop companies he felt were damaging the environment. The Fox’s exploits were recorded in a book called “Raising Kane: The Fox Chronicles. This book was published in 1999 by Kindred Spirits. Briefly, Captain Sticky defended the rights of consumers in the San Diego area1. The real-life-superhero movement began, the folklore goes, back in 1980, when someone by the name of the Night Rider published a book called How to Be a Superhero. But the phenomenon really took hold a few years later when a young man from New Orleans (whose true identity is still a closely guarded secret) built a silver suit, called himself Master Legend, and stepped out onto the streets. He was an influential if erratic inspiration to those that followed2. Operating in the 1980s were RLSH by the names of Night Rider, Ms. Mystery and Phantom Avenger. In Mexico, another RLSH by the name of Superbarrio became active. Superbarrio specialized in protecting the rights of residents of low-income neighborhoods. He (Superbarrio) lead rallies, filed petitions, and challenged court decisions. Another Mexican hero Mexico found new champions in the 1990’s in the form of Super Animal and Supergay. Late 90’s and at the turn of the century, people like Captain Jackson, the Eye and Terrifica patrolled sporadically. In England, Angle-Grinder Man fought against the police in a perceive

misuse of parking laws. In May of 2004, blogger Mark Schmidt crated a post titled “Calling All Superheroes!” In his post, Mr. Schmidt inquired about the existence of Real Life Superheroes. Kevlex creates a website titled “World Superhero Registry” along with an online forum for RLSH to network. Since the creation of the WSR (World Superhero Registry) different sites and forums came into existence. In 2006, Blitz, a 23 year old southern California resident, created a forum called the Hero Coalition. This was the first attempt in creating a mega network for Real Life Superheroes World Wide. The Alternates Forum (October 30, 2006) and the Heroes Network (March 1, 2007) were created. Eventually the Heroes Network became the primary communication network for RLSH worldwide. In 2008, a group of RLSH decided to create a website to archive and research all information pertaining to the Real Life Superheroes culture. This site is located at http://www.reallifesuperheroes.org. The goal of the site was to provide the public better information about the Real Life Superhero Culture. September 25, 2009 Hollywood Photographer Peter Tangen created a photo project called “The The Real Life Super Hero Project” or “Past the Mask.” The project, located at http://www.reallifesuperheroes. com, is a “launching pad” for positive forces to be inspired to be the change we all can be. It is a online gallery exhibit introducing the world to various leaders within the RLSH culture1.

1. Reallifesuperheroes. (2011) History of the Real Life Superhero Culture Accessed March 24. http://www. reallifesuperheroes.org/wiki/history-of-the-real-life-superhero-culture/ 2. Wikipedia. (2011) James F. Philips Accessed March 24. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_F._Phillips

Photo/Captain Jackson, Pierre Elie de Pibrac

MASTER LEGEND, sort of the grandaddy of American Real Life Superheroes has been active for the better part of the decade. Master Legend received national recognition in December, 2008, when Rolling Stone ran a feature story and pictorial on the superhero clad in a silver and black uniform with a German World War II helmet. Though Legend is little more than a middle-aged man in a costume, he’s garnered the support of his community by patrolling the streets, fighting for causes he deems worthy, and working for charity. Master Legend is based in the Orlando suburb of Winter Park.3

Master Legend

CAPTAIN STICKY is a consumer rights/ quality of living activist from San Diego, active in the 70s and 80s. Died in 2003. Captain Sticky used his flashy appearance to draw attention to issues like abusive nursing homes, slum lords, unhealthy or unsafe products. His name comes from his love of peanut butter. New Musical Express was a British music newspaper, somewhat similar to the early days of Rolling Stone. In this 1975 issue, featuring a cover story on Bob Marley, writer Stan Findelle pens a two page story on Captain Sticky. Operated out of: San Diego, CA. Died 2003. 2

Superbarrio

THE FOX, a.k.a. James F. Phillips was an environmental activist who was known in the Chicago area during the 1970s for his direct action activities under the pseudonym The Fox. Born in Aurora, Illinois, Phillips was first motivated in the 1960s to plug a sewage outfall after seeing dead ducks in the Fox River. In the following years, his activism included leaving signs around town criticizing US Steel, plugging sewer outlets, placing caps on top of smoke stacks, leaving skunks on the doorsteps of the owners of polluting companies, and, in one case, transporting 50 pounds of sewage from Lake Michigan into the reception room of the company that discharged it. His direct-action techniques were later copied by Greenpeace and other environmental action organizations. In his daily life, Phillips was a middle school science teacher and, later, a field inspector for the Kane County Environmental Department. Although he never admitted to his role as the Fox, family and friends confirmed this identity. Reactions to his activities were mixed. One federal official suggested that the Fox’s activities represented a challenge as to whether “we, as individuals in a technological society, have the will to control and prevent the degradation of our environment.” The Fox lived from November 20, 1930 – October 3, 2001.1

Captain Sticky

History · 1970 untill now

Super Animal

SUPERBARRIO GÓMEZ is a Mexican “real-life superhero,” celebrity, satirist, and organizer. Superbarrio, a high school dropout, wears red tights and a red and yellow wrestler’s mask. Rather than fight crime and corruption with violence, he uses his image to organize labor rallies and protests, and file petitions. His

Super Gay

real identity was unknown for a long time, but he has been revealed to be Marco Rascón Córdova. In 1996 Superbarrio declared himself a “candidate” for the 1996 United States Presidential Election.4 SUPER ANIMAL (along with a sidekick- Super Animalito) fought for animal rights, particularly against bull fighting. Super Animal once got arrested trying to enter a bullfighting ring to challenge the matadors to fight him to the death instead of the bulls. And once he dumped bull intestines and bones on the front stairs of City Hall during a city council session. He even has a Super Animal-mobile- a black VW bug with the outline of a bull painted on the hood. Super Animal is based in Mexico City.5

Captain Jackson

SUPER GAY, sports a rainbow striped luchador mask. His origin is that he had a boyfriend that was beaten to death and after that his mission was to stand up to gay bashers. He makes appearances at gay pride events and works as a counselor to those who have suffered from homophobia. Ecologista Universal makes a great 200 mile pilgrimage by foot in the film and battles environmental destruction, protesting deforestation of pines for Christmas trees and wasteful packaging. Super Gay is based in Mexico.6 CAPTAIN JACKSONS career ran into a snag in 2004 when he was charged with “impaired driving”. The local newspaper subsequently ran an article about the incident and published the Captains real life identity. After a two-year hiatus, it seemed that he was back in active-duty at community events and online. In the past year though, there seems to be little to report on this masked man, but we may not have seen the last of Michigan’s own, Captain Jackson.7

Terrifica

The Eye

THE EYE patrols the streets of Mountain View California. “A street-level, practical crime fighter, who uses various electronic and other means to prevent crime.”- Quoting From The Eye’s Site. TERRIFICA doesn’t want the ladies of New York City acting like her either. Born in the fires of a nasty hump-and-dump, a young Brooklynite known only as Sarah forged a secret identity in order to steer drunken young lasses away from regrettable hook-ups from the city’s Lotharios. Terrifica is based in Brooklyn Heights.8

1. Wikipedia. (2011) James F. Philips Accessed March 24. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_F._Phillips 2. HEROES IN THE NIGHT. (2011) RLSH Historical Artifacts Accessed March 24. http://heroesinthenight. blogspot.com/2011/09/rlsh-historical-artifacts.html 3. Zimbio. (2009) #4 Master Legend Accessed March 24. http://www.zimbio.com/10+real+life+ superheroes+who+have+actually+made+a+difference/articles/cQfo40TLWM7/4+Master+Legend 4. Wikipedia. (2011) Superbarrio Gómez Accessed March 24. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Superbarrio_G%C3%B3mez 5. HEROES IN THE NIGHT. (2010) Super Amigos Documentary Accessed March 24. http://heroesinthenight. blogspot.com/search?q=super+animal 6. Laughingsquid. (2010) Captain Jackson, Michigan’s Real-Life Superhero Accessed March 25. http:// laughingsquid.com/captain-jackson-michigan-real-life-superhero/ 7. Mania. (2010) 5 KICK-ASS Real World Heroes Accessed March 24. http://www.mania.com/5-kickass-realworld-heroes_article_121849.html

Members · Individuals

As in every subculture also the Real Life Superhero culture has members. They can be devided in groups and individuals and are located all over the world. AUSTRALIA

Real Life Superheroes documented in the news media include; • Captain Australia, featured in the MX and then the Courier Mail and on television’s A Current Affair is based in the Queensland capital Brisbane. He wears a green suit and mask similar to The Flash with an @ symbol on his chest and a Batman styled utility belt. He also maintains his own blog, “CaptainAustralia.net”. Police have expressed their preference that Captain Australia not intervene in incidents any more.

EUROPE

France • Captain Ozone, featured in the French edition of Max magazine, and Koikispass magazine, as well as the German edition of FHM magazine. Czech Republic • Super Vaclav is a promotional figure for a Czech webhosting company. He purports to combat antisocial behavior of Prague citizens, by pouring buckets of water on individuals smoking near public transport stops. He also assaults dog owners with their own animal’s excrement if it is left behind on a lawn. Italy • La Repubblica featured Entomo The Insect-Man, a masked patroller and activist. In February 2009, Rai 4 filmed a night-time patrol and interview with Entomo at the abandoned Italsider factory in - Naples, aired on the TV program ‘Sugo’. Following an extensive interview on Il Riformista, Entomo was depicted in major Italian and Spanish newspapers, such as Il Mattino and Panorama. Norway • The December 31, 2009 Norwegian publication, Aftenposten featured an article and photos of Real-Life Superheroes. The article included Life, Geist, The Deaths Head Moth, Dreizehn, Entomo and Superhero.

UNITED KINGDOM

• The British tabloid The Sun ran an article on the country’s Real-Life Superheroes, including The Statesman, Vague, Swift, Black Arrow, Lionheart and Terrorvision. • The BBC reported on Angle-Grinder Man, a British self-described “wheelclamp superhero” who claims to use an angle grinder to illegally cut wheel clamps off vehicles which have been clamped in by police and parking officials in Kent and London. Police indicate that they have received no

Photo/Skyman, Pierre Elie de Pibrac

Members

word or complaint of his actions. numberThe newspaper This is Local London featured an article on SOS (whose real name is Steve Sale), a UK superhero who crashed the premiere of the film Kick-Ass. • Knight Warrior (whose real name is Roger Hayhurst) is a 19 year old who wears a costume and attempts to break up fights in the Manchester area. His mother has expressed concern for his safety. • In August 2011, the BBC reported on Shadow (real name Ken Andre) who patrols in Yeovil. NORTH AMERICA

Canada • The Age described Polarman of Iqaluit, Nunavut, whose primary interests are shovelling the snow off sidewalks during the day, and patrolling the streets for criminals at night. •Thanatos of Vancouver, British Columbia, a person who dresses in a costume and distributes goods and goodwill to the homeless.

UNITED STATES

Mexico • Super Barrio of Mexico City CNN covered Mexico City’s Superbarrio, who is a highschool dropout who wears red tights and a red and yellow wrestler’s mask. He uses his unique image to organize labour rallies, protest, and file petitions to prevent families from being evicted. • Real-life superheroes are notably prevalent in the USA compared to other countries, which may be attributed to the greater popularity of superhero comic books. • TreeHugger reported on Captain Ozone starring in ecological television PSA’s, making appearances at grade schools and hemp festivals, creating a video documentary on environmentalism, and also organizing a public demonstration for renewable energy.

• The Watchman and Moon Dragon were featured in the August 2009 issue of Milwaukee Magazine. • WTOP-FM, a radio station in Washington DC, reported on Metro Woman, a short lived publicity stunt intended to gather support for the Washington purple line metro project. • ABC’s Nightline news program interviewed real-life superheroes Squeegeeman and Captain Xavier Obvious, who patrol New York City. The heroes have also been documented in Radar Magazine, Time Out New York, and HDNet’s Deadline!. • ABC News and NPR’s Wait Wait... Don’t Tell Me! radio program interviewed Terrifica, a New York City-based woman who patrols bars and parties in an effort to prevent inebriated women from being taken advantage of by men. Since the mid-1990s, Terrifica has donned a mask, blonde wig, red boots and cape, because in her words woman “need to be protected from themselves”. • Jack Brinatte, known as Razorhawk, appeared on Fox News America Newsroom. • WITI (TV) interviewed The Watchman and showed him on a patrol of the city.

• The San Diego Union-Tribune and UPI wrote about heroes like Mr. Xtreme, a security guard who moonlights as a “costumed crime fighter” handing out food and juice in Clearwater, Florida. • Captain Prospect and Sparks were featured on NPR Intern Edition for spring of 2009. • Captain Oyster aka Liam Davenport was featured on Sirius XM Radio’s The Ron & Fez Show in October 2011. He described patrolling his Queens neighborhood looking for late-night crimes to solve through “intimidation and intellectual discourse”. • Thanatos, Life and Phantom Zero were featured in an article by Globe and Mail.[38] They discussed their different views and methods on being Real Life Superheroes. • CBS Atlanta reports Crimson Fist patrols Atlanta twice a month to help those in need. • Wall Creeper and Zen Blade were featured on Westword, Denver’s alternative weekly publiciation. • MSN mentions Tothian’, Master Legend, Captain Prospect, Geist, Captain Jackson, Nyx, and Michael Brinatte, owner of Hero-gear.net in an online article. • Cincinnati, Ohio-based NBC affiliate News 5 WLWT reported on Shadow Hare, a 21 year old from - Milford who dresses up like a superhero. This was later rebroadcast on CNN • Empire Magazine featured Geist in a sidebar article, “The Real Kick-Ass”. • NBC News ran a story documenting a 20 year old Columbia Tennessee resident being stopped by police for patrolling the streets after midnight in a black and green mask and costume. The man referred to himself as The Viper, and claimed that he was “just a guy trying to do what was right in tights”. • The Sunday Paper ran an article on about Two Real Life Superheroes Crimson Fist & Metadata in Atlanta that help the homeless in their area. • Telemundo ran a news piece about Dragonheart, a bilingual Real-Life Superhero who operates in Miami, Florida. • On 8/4/2011 GQ magazine ran an article called Seven Real Life Superheroes featuring Mr.Extreme, Superhero, Geist, Life, Master legend,

Photo/Captain Prospect, Pierre Elie de Pibrac

Members · Individuals

and Insignis • On 10/31/2011 federalwaymirror.com ran a article about Skyman (real name Skyler Nichols), a Federal Way based Real Life Superhero who is interested in helping people. His personal experience being homeless and on drugs in the past has led him to his current actions. SOUTH AMERICA

Argentina • Menganno works at the east side of Lanús. He wears blue clothing, a helmet and a shield similar to Captain America’s shield. Brazil • Superinteressante magazine posted an article on The Real Life Superheroes The Eye, Entomo, Terrifica, Superhero and Superbarrio.

AFRICA

• The only known superhero in Africa is Lion Heart. Lion Heart has helped saved the lives of many villagers by teaching important but simple things. He has started a grass roots movement in Africa with many people helping out.

Source: Wikipedia. (2012) Real-life superhero Accessed March 16. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real-life_ superhero

Members 路 Groups

Great Lakes hero City Guild

Source: World Superhero registry. (?) Real-Life Super-Hero Orginazations Accessed March 26. http://www.worldsuperheroregistry.com/world_ superhero_registry_organizations.htm

Photo/Heroesinthenight

麓Deeds not words!`

Mission Statement: We are the newest RLSH or Real Life Superhero group based out of Minnesota and Wisconsin. Our goals are to protect and serve our area both in helping people in need and preventing crime. Our intentions are simple. Make out part of the world a better place, by helping people during tough times, and by keeping them safe from those who might prey upon them. If you have suggestions of places where people need assistance, or where there has been a personal crime committed in our territory, feel free to contact us here and let us know. We have agents in two states so far and hope to add more as time goes by. Each has their specialty from charity, to awareness, to crime prevention. We are all about working to protect and serve the good people of our region. http://glhg.webs.com

RazorHawk

Doc Spectral

Nyx

Fox Fire

The Watchman

Geist

Deathâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Head Moth

Heroes Network The Heroes Network was founded by Tothian, co-founded by Master Legend, Superhero, Phoenix, and Gogglehead. It was launched on February 22nd, 2007. A lot of the ideas for the website and forum were inspired by the Earth Agents, which was founded by Earth Agent Superman. In mid-March, 2008, Zetaman offered his skills to give the Heroes Network Forum a popular new design. What Tothian and other founding members had decided upon, was a place where despite the Admins having the final say on things, they wanted the members to have a say on how things were to be run. Too many previous forums had strict rules, but Tothian had wished for the Heroes Network to not be too strict, to try to be as fair and reasonable as possible with others who were willing to be. A place to socialize and joke around, to in a way be a type of lounge for those who go out to risk their lives to fight crime and protect others. They didn’t always necessarily have to talk about crimefighting all the time, as there were sections like Whatever Topics, or Introductions, where people could often joke around, since Tothian believed that joking around was a good balance for a serious lifestyle. Since the forum was founded upon the ideals primarily centered around crime fighting and protecting people, there were sections to talk about crimes, such as the Crime Information section. There was a Journal section, where people could talk about either their patrols, or just anything going on in their lives. There was a Books section for all kinds of books, be they relevant to crime fighting or not. There was even a dreams section, for people to talk about any kind of dream they had where they could get responses

Photo/Kansas City meeting 2009, Reallifesuperheroes

Members · Groups

It takes alot to be a superhero these days

from others about how cool or funny they were, or why the person may have had that dream. There was also a Category for teams. Each team was offered both or either a section private to only HN Administrators and team members, or open to the rest of the forum. www.freewebs.com/heroesnetwork Source: Real Life Superheroes. (2011) Heroes Network Accessed March 24. http://www.reallifesuperheroes.org/wiki/heroes-network/

Zimmer (president)

Geist

Entomo

Fox Fire

Red Arrow

Tothian

Firebird

Black Arrow

Captain Champion

Nostrum

Members 路 Groups

The Black Monday Society

Voodoo

Renegade

Source: 1. Black Monday Society. (2012) The Black Monday Society Accessed April 9. http://blackmondaysociety.webs.com/

Photo/The Salt Lake Tribune, Chris Detrick

It is a group of Real Life Superheroes or Costumed Crime Fighters from Salt Lake City, Utah. The group started in 2006. The BMS go out and patrol the streets of Salt Lake to inspire the people and the community to better society. www.blackmondaysociety.webs.com

Nihilist

Renegade

Red Voltage

Ghost

Lunar Wolf

Hellhawk

Fool King

Professor Midnight

Flamewing

Krom

Asylum

Ironhead

Â´Everyone in the Black Monday Society after about three to four patrols, gets the BMS tattoo of their choice.`

Members · Groups

Other small groups THE ALTERNATES

Category: Public Service http://thealternates.5u.com/index.html Members • Zetaman • Ravenblade • Apocalypse Meow • Phantom Zero • Agent Null Category: Humanitarian aid and public service Base of operation: Massachusetts Mission Statement: Our members work on various volunteer and community activities, dressed always in unique superhero personas with realistic goals to change our world for the better.

www.myspace.com/theoracleteam Members • Entomo • Foxfire

SUPERHEROES ANONYMOUS

www.superheroesanonymous.com Members • Life • Civitron

Category: Crime-Fighting Base of operation: OCALA, Florida, US Mission Statement: We are a Female Real Life Superhero Team. Central Website: MySpace Profile for The Vixens of Valour Members • Amazonia • Nyx • Driezehn • Riff • Venera • Solaris • Angelheart • Zimmer (Honorary Member)

THE NEW JUSTICE LEAGUE

Members • Phoenix • Deadeas • Shade • Ramsese The Bat • Nightwing • Oracle

THE BOISE BRIGADE

Base of operation: Ohio Members • Nightfall • Freya • Isitoph • Exemplar • Krieger

www.myspace.com/justice_guild Members • Firebird

THE JUSTICE SOCIETY OF JUSTICE

Members • Doktor DiscorD • Mr Silent

THE MOONLIGHT CLUB

Category: Crime Fighting Base of operation: American Southwest Mission Statement: The Moonlight club protects the innocent and hunts those who prey upon the helpless. Member List Private

THETA FORCE

www.myspace.com/theta_force Member • Entomo

UNION OF JUSTICE

Members • Black Arrow • Red Arrow • Captain Champion

ORACLE TEAM

VIXENS OF VALOUR

JUSTICE GUILD

• Green Scorpion • Dark Guardian • Enchanted Girl • The Aleph • Foxfire • The Eye • Ragensi • American Corpse • Grendel Ferox EARTH AGENTS

http://www.earthagents.official.ws/ Members • The Web Master • Golden Eye • The Force • Omega X • Gollum • Lady Liberty • Radio Man • Venus • Captain Ozone • The Watcher • Squeegee Man • Captain Britian • Zetaman • Thanatos • DC’s Guardian

XTREME JUSTICE LEAGUE

www.myspace.com/sdcrimefighters Member • Mr. Xtreme • Urban Avenger • Vigilante Spider • Radnor • Rouroni • Bearman • Grim • Living Justice • Shade

TEAM JUSTICE

www.myspace.com/allizlad Members • Super Hero • Master Legend • Night Angel • Symbiote

Source: • World Superhero Registry. (?) Real-Life SUper-Hero Orginazation Accessed March 19. http://www.world • Facebook. (2012) About Accesssed April 9. http://www.facebook.com/XtremeJusticeLeague/info

Clothing · Costume

Clothing Because there are so many different Real Life Superheroes I narrowed them down to eight Heroes from The Real Life Super Hero Project. To get an overview of their looks I added the portraits and colour schemes from the other RLSH Project members. The costume and it’s functionalities The cape has been a staple of the superhero costume, but functionalitywise it serves no purpose. If symbolism explains the abstract purpose of the costume, functionality explains its practical purpose. Functionality refers to how your costume directly aids you in your missions. For crime-fighting superheroes, your costume may play a vital role in ensuring the success of your efforts: bullet-proof vests protect you from harm; masks conceal your identity; pockets and pouches can hold your gadgets. Functionality should be taken into account for all superheroes, not just crime-fighters. This can range from making sure the material that you use in your costume is strong and flexible, to simply avoiding heavy fabrics if you live in a hot area. Additionally, if you are involved in activities such as street outreach, making sure that you have pouches or a bag to hold supplies in is one of the simplest expressions of functionality. The bottom line: practicality must always be taken into consideration when designing your costume. Keep in mind that certain aspects of the classic superhero costume don’t quite translate all that well into the real world. Capes, for instance, more than any other accessory embodies the image of a superhero, but Real Life Superheroes have consistently run into problems when trying to incorporate the cape as part of their costume. Capes can be unwieldy, annoying, and even dangerous as they run the risk of getting stuck in

escalators, caught in doors, or stepped on – by you or someone else. So, for functionality purposes, the cape is almost entirely useless. But for symbolic purposes, the cape remains a very desirable accessory – precisely because it immediately evokes the classic image of the superhero. That’s why capes still remain popular additions to costumes of Real Life Superheroes involved in volunteerism, homeless outreach, and, especially, public speaking. In fact, the symbolism of the cape in making the superhero can be so strong that the cape alone can identify someone as a superhero, which is why we highly recommend making it a part of your costume if you are involved in any non-crimefighting activities and need that extra bit of superhero seasoning.

Source: Superheroes Anonymous. (2010) The Costume: Functionality Accessed April 12. http:// superheroesanonymous.com/?cat=37

Photo/courtesy of martinboz

The cape has been a staple of the superhero costume, but functionality-wise it serves no purpose.

Symbolism may be the most important feature of a superheroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s costume

Clothing · Costume

The costume and it’s symbolism Perhaps the most universal reason that we wear the costume is for the symbolism. The costume allows us to be transformed into another person entirely – a superhero. By becoming this other identity, we can shed the weight of our past selves and start anew. In starting over, we are allowed to shape ourselves to represent a cause – and become a symbol for the world. You’ll soon see that the effects of such a symbol are astounding. When handing out food to the homeless, or volunteering at a local shelter, you will find total strangers approaching you to ask what exactly it is that you are. People who would have otherwise gone on about their day without taking a moment to stop suddenly will engage in a conversation with a real life superhero! “What do you mean, real life superhero?” they’ll ask. They’ll be giddy, want to know more, and, most importantly – they’ll want to know how they can help. A Real Life Superhero stands out in a crowd of people like the Batmobile in a parking lot. People in society are so used to associating superheroes with the pages of comic books or the screens of movie theaters that when they see us walking among them, they react as though they have spotted the Loch Ness monster taking a stroll down the street. And this is ultimately where we draw some of our greatest power from as a superhero – the ability to draw attention to what it is we represent. While no doubt a few will be incredulous and, perhaps, even hostile, far more often people will gasp in disbelief, choke back a torrent of hopeful tears, throw their arms around you and hug you tightly, repeating over and over again, “I knew superheroes were real!” With this attention comes great responsibility. You should be prepared to not only inspire these people, but to also have outlets and materials that tell them how to get involved if they are interested. But sometimes being that symbol also provides opportunities to help in addition to inspiring others. One particular story that comes to mind

occurred during a road trip from New York to New Orleans for the second annual conference of Superheroes Anonymous. On this trip, 10 superheroes piled into an R.V. and set off from New York, picking up superheroes all along the way to New Orleans. At every gas station and at every restaurant the superheroes would be dressed in full regalia, eliciting questions and stares in equal measure. However, while stopped in West Virginia to restock on snacks and to stretch our legs, we were flagged down by a woman across the streets who saw the banner on the R.V. which clearly read “SUPERHEROES ANONYMOUS.” At seeing this banner and then seeing a bunch of costumed superheroes idling around, she started to wave at us yelling “Are you guys really superheroes?!” We crossed the street to talk to her and see what’s up, telling her “We are indeed superheroes. Real Life Superheroes to be exact.” “Oh thank God!” she exclaimed before going on to explain. “I just moved in to this house behind me and there’s a wild squirrel inside. I’ve called animal control and the police but nobody has come to help!” Well, she was in luck because not only did we help her remove the squirrel but we were also able to help her fix a hole in her fence as well so her dogs couldn’t escape. When all was said and done she hugged the superheroes and gave a tearful “farewell” and wished us a safe journey to New Orleans. She has kept in touch with us to this day. The point of this story is that without the superhero costume, she never would have known that she could turn to us for help. In that way, wearing your superhero costume can turn you into a pillar on which people in need will lean.1 By Ben Goldman

Clothing · Logo

Designing a superhero logo One of the most defining features of a superhero’s costume is the chevron. A chevron is that triangular symbol you see on Superman’s chest, the logo that’s projected onto the sky when Gotham needs Batman, and that little ornament that crowns the hood of every Mercedes Benz. Examples of logo’s

A chevron is a brand and for Mercedes, they hope that brand represents a beautiful car. For a superhero, we hope that brand represents a beautiful cause. That’s why designing a cool chevron can be one of the most important forms of identity for a superhero. The Superheroes Anonymous logo was designed before the project even began. That logo can now be seen on business cards, flags, pins, banners, paintings and even carved into a podium. A chevron allows for something to be immediately branded and creates a unique sense of ownership and it’s important for any Real Life Superhero to have. Here are the three S’s that make for an effective chevron (or logo): SELF-CONTAINED The image should be self-contained and easily reproducible in multiple formats. For example, the logo should be relatively equal in diameter since if its dimensions are too disproportionate, it will be harder to translate across any medium. SIMPLE Superman was onto something with his simple yet creative use of the letter “S.” The simpler the image, the more likely it is to be memorable. If a chevron is too busy, it will be hard to recreate and hard to remember. SYMBOLIC Don’t let the symbolism of your superhero be lost in translation. Make sure your chevron accurately reflects your superhero persona. Don’t just go with the coolest drawing you can think of. Though following the rules of the three S’s is the easiest way to ensure a good chevron, they don’t need to be followed to a T. As we said above, creativity is essential in creating your superhero persona. Feel free to experiment and try out several different variations and go with what your gut tells you.2

1. Superheroes Anonymous. (2010) The Costume: Symbolism Accessed April 12. http://superheroesanonymous.com/?cat=37 2. Superheroes Anonymous. (2010) Designing a Superhero Logo Accessed April 12. http://superheroesanonymous.com/?cat=37

Clothing · Functionality

Functionality vs. Flair The superhero Citizen Prime spent over $8,000 on designing a costume that is bullet-proof, stab-proof, fire-proof and pretty much everything-proof. However, while one might think that his costume is an exercise in functionality, it actually is better categorized as an exercise in flair. This is because Citizen Prime doesn’t actually fight crime. Rather, he focuses on inspiring kids, volunteering in his community and raising money for causes. So why would he spend so much money on creating such a protective costume? Because it looks awesome! Functionality and flair are both important characteristics for a costume to have, but depending on what kind of superhero you are trying to be you will either lean one way or the other. Civitron has a bright costume that incorporates the colors red, blue, yellow and black. He also wears a sleek pair of shades, combat boots and silvery armbands. While he has never needed to block a punch with his armbands, they do add a touch of detail to his costume thereby making it more eye-catching. For Civitron, who is more of a volunteer superhero, having a bright, colorful and cool costume helps him draw attention to his causes. On the other hand, a superhero like Dark Guardian wears a full body leather motorcycle suit on top of a bullet proof vest, arm bands and knee pads. He also has a belt equipped with mace, a flashlight, first aid materials and other crime-fighting tools. The only two colors in his costume are red and black. This is because he doesn’t want the drug dealers he’s busting to spot him from a mile away. Though his costume isn’t as visually impressive as someone like Citizen Prime’s, it’s much more effective for what he does since it is not weighed down with unnecessary features such as fire-proof helmets.1

(Superheroes Anonymous. (2010) The Costume: Functionality vs. Flair Accessed April 12. http://superheroesanonymous.com/?cat=37)

Clothing · Individuals

Mr. Xtreme From his formidable body armor (“It’s kind of a hodgepodge”), to his daunting pinhole goggles (“It definitely takes some adjusting to,” he admits), everything about him is extreme. Like his belief in the power of the individual. His engaging at every level in the affairs and well-being of his community. Or his passion for preventing violent crime—and easing the suffering of its victims. Because while he may have derived his basic inspiration from the comic books, TV shows and movies every Superhero cites, the deeper reasons for his taking to the streets are intensely personal.1 Dressed in his handmade costume, which takes inspiration from Batman and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Mr. Xtreme passes out recruitment flyers to amused passerby on the street, hoping to find others who will join his “Xtreme Justice League”- though as of now he’s the sole member.3

“ I drew the influences from the Power Rangers and the Ninja Turtles. It’s meant to look outrageous and ridiculous and silly-it’s designed for high visibility because I’d rather deter crime than have violence. It’s 30 pounds of gear and offers quite a bit of protection.” 2

1. The Real Life Super Hero Project. (2011) Mr. Xtreme Accessed 24 March. http://www.reallifesuperheroes. com/2011/12/15/mr-xtreme/ 2. Boxoffice Magazine. (2011) Meet the REAL Captain Americas: California’s Mr. Xtreme Accessed 25 March. http:// www.boxofficemagazine.com/articles/2011-07-meet-the-real-captain-americas-californias-mr-xtreme 3. HBO. (2012) Synopsis Accessed 2 April. http://www.hbo.com/documentaries/superheroes/synopsis.html

Photo/Peter Tangen

Clothing · Individuals

Mr. Xtreme’s accessoiries 1. Double stungun created to double your chances of making cotact with the bad guy and stop the attack 2. Various Cell Phones 3. Pepperspray a chemical compound that

irritates the eyes to cause tears, pain, and even temporary blindness Mr. Xtreme wears different sorts of camouflage shorts or black trousers.

Inspired by

THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (abbreviated as TMNT and simplified as Ninja Turtles) are a team of four teenage anthropomorphic turtles, who were trained by their anthropomorphic rat sensei in the art of ninjutsu and named after four Renaissance artists. From their home in the storm sewers of New York City, they battle petty criminals, evil megalomaniacs, and alien invaders, all while remaining isolated from society-at-large. The characters initially appeared in comic books before being licensed for toys, cartoons, video games, films, and other merchandise. During the peak of its popularity in the late 1980s through early 1990s, the franchise gained considerable worldwide success and fame. 1

POWER RANGERS is a long-running American entertainment and merchandising franchise built around a live action childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s television series featuring teams of costumed heroes. Produced first by Saban Entertainment, later by BVS Entertainment, and currently by SCG Power Rangers LLC, the series took its initial premise and much of its footage from the Japanese tokusatsu Super Sentai franchise. Its first entry, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, debuted on August 28, 1993, and helped launch the Fox Kids programming block of the 1990s, during which it catapulted into popular culture along with a line of action figures and other toys by Bandai. Despite initial criticism for its action violence targeted to child audiences, the franchise has continued, and as of 2011 the show consists of 19 television seasons of 16 different series and two theatrical films. Creator Haim Saban regained ownership of the franchise in 2010 after seven years under The Walt Disney Company. The current season Power Rangers Samurai debuted in the United States on February 7, 2011. 2

1. Wikipedia. (2012) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Accessed April 2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teenage_Mutant_Ninja_Turtles 2. Wikipedia (2012) Power Rangers Accessed April 2. http://en.wikipedia. org/wiki/Power_rangers

Clothing · Individuals

The Vigilante Spider What’s in a name? Quite a bit, especially in the case of The Vigilante Spider. Like spirit. And resolve. And personality—lots of personality. And while his chosen name may suggest otherwise, his interests lie not in cracking heads, but rather in opening hearts. And eyes. And minds—as many, and as young as possible. Working in and around San Diego, CA, The Vigilante Spider has been active for over 11 years, a relatively lengthy career as a Real Life Superhero. “I was a young man when I started,” he says, “though not always costumed, and as ‘The Vigilante Spider. ’I really didn’t adapt into that until after high school, but I did exactly then what I’m doing now—reaching out to my community to stop violence, help with graffiti, and such.” As most of the heroes, The Vigilante Spider was influenced early on by comic books and the characters that populated them—but to a point. “I never really was comfortable with the classic comic book stance that ‘Might Is Right,’ because in real life, when it comes to that, it’s not what people expect.” But what of his name then, feeding the common misperception of Real Life Superheroes metering out extralegal punishment at their sole discretion? “I call people out on doing things they shouldn’t be doing, and my tactics usually include shining bright lights, sneaking up on people, appearing where people least expect me. Violence is always a last resort,” he emphasizes. Still, he doesn’t see the need to change his name in any way. “I still feel that what I was doing as a teenager—taking matters into my own hands without apologizing or consulting anybody—hasn’t changed, though my tactics certainly have” he continues, “So now, it’s a reminder to me of who I am and what I stand for, of what I can and cannot do. Besides, I like to keep people guessing just a little bit.” 1

“ We live in a fast-food nation, where everything is done at the speed of thought—we never think past that. We should invest in others. It’s not about us, after all, it’s about our kids, it’s about them.”

1. The Real Life Super Hero Project. (2010) The Vigilante Spider Accessed March 24. http://www.reallifesuperheroes.com/2011/01/04/the-vigilante-spider/

Photo/Peter Tangen

Clothing · Individuals

The Vigilante Spider’s accessoiries The Vigilante Spider doesn’t have any accessories. He makes use of two masks.

Inspired by

SPIDER-MAN THE MANGA is a Japanese manga illustrated by Ryoichi Ikegami which retold the story of Spider-Man in a Japanese setting. It was originally published in Japan from January 1970 to September 1971 in Monthly Shōnen Magazine. 1 The Marvel Mangaverse is a series of comic books published by Marvel Comics from 2000 to 2002. The series depicts an alternate (or possibly two alternates, see below) Marvel universe, its characters drawn and portrayed in a Mangalike style. Three volumes were published for the series, two of which were connected by a continuing story arc with multiple Marvel characters, while the third and fourth series each started a new story and focused on a single character, which were Spider-Man Mangaverse and Jean Grey of an alternate version (apparently) of X-Men Mangaverse.

ORIGINAL SPIDERMAN (Peter Benjamin Parker) Aliases Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, the Amazing Spider-Man, the Sensational SpiderMan, the Spectacular Spider-Man, “Tiger,” Spidey, Webhead, Webslinger, Wall-crawler, “Little Man”; formerly “the Amazing OctoSpidey”, Bag-Man, “Bookworm,” Captain Universe, Dusk, Hornet, Mad Dog #336, ManSpider, Prodigy, “Puny Parker,” Ricochet, Scarlet Spider, Spider-Hulk, Spider-Phoenix. 3

1. Wikipedia. (2012) Spider-Man: The Manga Accessed March 24. http:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spider-Man:_The_Manga 2. Wikipedia. (2012) Marvel Mangaverse Accessed March 19. http:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvel_Mangaverse 3. Marvel. (2011) Spider-Man (Peter Parker) Accessed March 24. http:// marvel.com/universe/Spider-Man_(Peter_Parker)

Clothing · Individuals

Thanatos There are good reasons to be afraid of the dark, but Thanatos, The Dark Avenger, isn’t one of them. Still, make no mistake—he will not go gently into that good night. Rather, he regularly plunges headlong into a pitched battle he characterizes as “a war for good against evil,” in the whirling vortex that is Vancouver, B.C.’s notorious intersection of Hastings and Main streets. There are no tourists or sightseers there, no casual passersby. No, this is where the city has rounded up and corralled the disenfranchised, the disillusioned, the despairing men and women for whom life holds little hope beyond the next fix. And there, in that devastating mix of the half-waking, half-dead, Thanatos makes his rounds. Delivering his “bundles” of plastic sheets to protect against the cold and rain, dry socks, jars of peanut butter and jam, perhaps a can of meat that can be opened by hand—the most basic of basic human necessities. “I’ve always been a person who steps in and does something when it needs to be done,” he says, “I saw that these people had nothing better to live for, something needed to happen, something had to change.” In return, his “Friends,” the addicts and dealers, prostitutes and pimps, runaways and the homeless he meets, talk to him candidly about their lives. He asks them about their circumstances, their needs, and they answer him back. “They’re not stupid,” he says, “they have well-thought out solutions for the problems of people on the street. I don’t judge, I just try to help.” The name Thanatos comes from ancient Greek mythology, the personification of Death itself, a rather dark choice for someone who leaves such light in his wake. “I have taken on the persona of death.” And through it all, an unusual metamorphosis has taken place, leading to the blurring of the line between the man he was born, and the Real Life Superhero he’s become. In his words, “I find that the ‘me’ is starting to become more of a mask I wear, and Thanatos is more and more of what I truly am.” 1

“Because I was told by a police officer that all the people living on the street had nothing better to look forward to than death. So if that’s the case, maybe death ought to start taking care of these people—and it might send a message. They’re getting it, they’re getting the message.”

1. The Real Life Super Hero Project. (2011) Thanatos Accessed 24 March. http://www.reallifesuperheroes. com/2011/07/13/thanatos/

Photo/Peter Tangen

Clothing · Individuals

Thanatos’s accessoiries 1. Crime Kit 2. Flashlight 3. Phone 4. Zip Ties 5. 9 ouncee SAP gloves

6. First Aid Kit 7. Hand Cuffs 8. Twin 16 inch Extendable Batons 9. Body Armor

Inspired by

THANATOS (death) In Greek mythology, Thanatos was the daemon personification of death. He was a minor figure in Greek mythology, often referred to but rarely appearing in person. His name is transliterated in Latin as Thanatus, but his equivalent in Roman mythology is Mors or Letus/Letum, and he is sometimes identified erroneously with Orcus (Orcus himself had a Greek equivalent in the form of Horkos, God of the Oath). 1

THANATOS (noun) A term associated with Freud (and actually invented by his secretary) for a subconscious desire for self-destruction and/or suicide. Often employed, fittingly, in tragedy. Example: “Reading Let the Right One In encouraged me to ask myself: ‘Can vampires experience a sense of Thanatos, or is it a feeling only reserved for the corporally alive?’” 2

1. Wikipedia. (2012) Thanatos Accessed March 24. http://en.wikipedia. org/wiki/Thanatos 2. Quercus Books. (2012) The 2012 Word Nerds Begin! Accessed April 9. http://www.quercusbooks.co.uk/blog/2012/01/06/the-2012-wordnerds-begin/

Clothing · Individuals

Nyx The night has many faces, but none more intriguing that that of Nyx, a Real Life Superhero who is active in and around the New York City and Northern New Jersey areas. Clad in black, with striped leggings and a distinctive red mask, Nyx sets out to do her patrols and homeless outreach in a mysterious, stealth-like manner. “Like the night, I cannot be proven or disproven to certain degrees; and also much like the night, when morning comes, there will be no trace of me.” Nyx made her initial, tentative steps into the movement at 16, after considering it for many years (during which time she frequently changed her name—from “Hellcat” to “Felinity” to “Sphynx,” before setting on her present moniker—“I had a penchant for name changes,” she says, simply). A series of life-changing events came to provide her with a new perspective, and helped crystallize her goals. After discovering the active online Real Life Superhero community in 2006, and visiting New York to meet up with her online confidantes on her first patrol in March of 2007, the die was cast. Defense of those in need. Lessons she learned from her greatest hero, her mother. “Whenever I go looking for the best parts of myself, I always find her there. I want to live the life she never had. I live for her name.” To that end, Nyx concentrates her efforts on behalf of those society has forgotten or worse yet, are made too uncomfortable to acknowledge, the homeless. “There’s a huge homeless population in New Jersey,” she says, “and I found I couldn’t just sit idly by.” Recognizing that poor people must often make hard choices between housing, food, child care, health care and education, she knew she had to act “Being poor means being an illness, an accident or a paycheck away from living on the streets,” she says, “and that makes the homeless easy targets on many levels.” Which is why she feels the strong need to protect these vulnerable individuals any way she can, from car patrols to foot patrols, to anonymous reporting to the city police department. Nyx also recognizes that as a Real Life Superhero, she is part of a collective largely dominated by men, who, while acting on their best altruistic impulses, may also have a tendency to overlook and undervalue the efforts of their female counterparts. “We can do just as good a job,” she points out, “so it’s important to be viewed as a person, not just some chick.” 1

“ Whenever I go looking for the best parts of myself, I always find her there. I want to live the life she never had. I live for her name.”

1. The Real Life Super Hero Project. (2011) Nyx Accessed 24 March. http://www.reallifesuperheroes. com/2011/07/05/nyx/

Photo/Peter Tangen

Clothing · Individuals

Nyx’s accessoiries 1. Bear Mace 2. Cellphone 3. Bright Pink Tazer 4. Extending Maji Tine Baton

Inspired by ANY AND ALL WHO ARE WILLING TO STEP UP

HER MOTHER Contemplative and highly-intuitive, Nyx possesses a deep respect for any and all who are willing to step up, stand out and come to the aid and defense of those in need. Lessons she learned from her greatest hero, her mother. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whenever I go looking for the best parts of myself, I always find her there. I want to live the life she never had. I live for her name.â&#x20AC;? 1

1. The Real Life Super Hero Project. (2011) Nyx Accessed 24 March. http://www.reallifesuperheroes.com/2011/07/05/nyx/

Clothing · Individuals

Geist While he may be a man of few words, Geist reserves his strongest ones for those who are considering donning the gear and joining the movement. “Wanna become a Real-Life Superhero?,” he asks, “COOL! But get ready to pay the price for all the secrets you’re gonna have to keep.” Working to protect the people of southeastern Minnesota, kitted out in what can only be described as “green Space-Cowboy chic,” Geist focuses his efforts on those who need it the most; the victims of tragedy, the homeless, and various non-political local charities, getting in quickly and quietly, and getting out the same way, much like the ghost from which he takes his name. He devotes a considerable amount of time running crime deterrence patrols—fully cognizant of the boundaries between his work and that of the police—and is prepared to make a Citizen’s Arrest, if necessary. “I’m basically just a guy who tries to do some good things,” he says. “I’ve succeeded at some, had marginal success at others, and have had my fair share of total screw-ups.” A relative newcomer to the world of Real Life Superheroes, Geist has quickly become admired and respected by his compatriots, which explains why so many potential Superheroes seek him out for advice. Eager to hit the streets swinging, they are quickly met with Geist’s own brand of tough love, actively discouraging such newcomers from taking on what he characterizes as a highlycompartmentalized life. “I keep my identity a secret among a few close friends. The rest [of my former friends] don’t think I like them anymore, and I’ve given them a lot of good reasons to keep away.” That said, once a neophyte demonstrates a sincere commitment to the principles of life as a Superhero, Geist is there for them 100%. “I’ll do anything to talk them out of it, but then, I want to help them do it any way I can.” Serving as a symbol to encourage others to think about—and act upon— what they can do to make their world a better place, without wearing a uniform, Geist readily admits to the transformative effect of suiting up and going to work. “You have to be pure, and when the costume goes on, it becomes pure. It’s the best thing you can possibly be, it’s the best I can possibly be. And every moment that costume is on, I am the best that I can possibly be.”1

“I keep my identity a secret among a few close friends. The rest (of my former friends) don’t think I like them anymore, and I’ve given them a lot of good reasons to keep away.”

1. The Real Life Super Hero Project. (2011) Geist Accessed 24 March. http://www.reallifesuperheroes. com/2011/06/21/geist/

Photo/Peter Tangen

Clothing · Individuals

Geist’s accessoiries 1. Binoculars 2. Collapsible Flex-Baton 3. Stun Baton 4. Minnesota-Legal Pyrotechnics 5. Flashlight 6. Multi Tools

7. Bolas 8. Fighting Sticks 9. Jo Staff 10. Mini Stun Gun 11. Pepper Spray 12. Wrist-Rocket

2 9 3

Inspired by

COWBOYS A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the vaquero traditions of northern Mexico and became a figure of special significance and legend. A subtype, called a wrangler, specifically tends the horses used to work cattle. Cowgirls, first defined as such in the late 19th century, had a less-well documented historical role, but in the modern world have established the ability to work at virtually identical tasks and obtained considerable respect for their achievements. There are also cattle handlers in many other parts of the world, particularly South America and Australia, who perform work similar to the cowboy in their respective nations. The cowboy has deep historic roots tracing back to Spain and the earliest European settlers of the Americas. Over the centuries, differences in terrain, climate and the influence of cattlehandling traditions from multiple cultures created several distinct styles of equipment, clothing and animal handling. As the everpractical cowboy adapted to the modern world, the cowboyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s equipment and techniques also adapted to some degree, though many classic traditions are still preserved today. 1

NELSON MANDELLA, ALBERT EINSTEIN, OPRAH WINFREY, JOHN F. KENNEDY, FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT, ANGELINA JOLIE, JIMMY CARTER, MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

1. Wikipedia. (2012) Cowboy Accessed March 24. http://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Cowboy

Clothing · Individuals

Zimmer Young and restless in the best, most productive sense, his work combines his deep interest in technology and computer science, with his impassioned sense of justice that leads him to patrols on the meaner streets of his adopted home in Brooklyn, NY. First learning of the movement as a teenager in Texas, he knew he wasn’t fully prepared to jump into the role of hero—not before he could learn more about martial arts, gymnastics, and other creative methods of self-defense. “So when I turned 18, I began patrolling in my hometown. But I knew there was exciting stuff going on in New York, and I had always wanted to live there,” he says. With the movement’s critical mass of heroes living and working in and around the Tri-State Area, moving there became Zimmer’s goal. “There’s only so much you can do on your own,” he continues, “I wanted to learn more, and being part of a larger team was the next step.” The other major crucible of Zimmer’s life was defined by an even deeper struggle. “I came out in high school, and that was definitely an experience,” he says candidly, “It’s a huge change, not hiding something that’s integral to who you are.” And his involvement in LGBT issues blends seamlessly with his superhero identity. “I don’t hide behind a mask,” he asserts, “that just feels like I’m being pushed back into the closeth.’ Instead, he works presenting his face to the world, and under his real name. “I’ve had such a positive experience that way. Without the burden of a secret identity, I’ve found I can talk to all kinds of people.” eared-up in jeans with built-in padding, and a t-shirt with the binary code for the first letter of his name (“01011010”) emblazoned down the side, he hit the patrolling scene as a part of the original New York Initiative, where his skills as an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician), made him a highlyvalued member of the team. He also became administrator of The Heroes Network, one of the major online forums of the superhero community, marrying his expertise in computer technology to his work on the streets.1

“ There’s only so much you can do on your own, I wanted to learn more, and being part of a larger team was the next step.”

1. The Real Life Super Hero Project. (2011) Zimmer Accessed 24 March. http://www.reallifesuperheroes. com/2011/05/24/zimmer/

Photo/Peter Tangen

Clothing · Individuals

Zimmer’s accessoiries None

Inspired by

BINARY Zimmer has a Binary themed top. And uses the frase: The Code Of Jutice. Binary means composed of two pieces or two parts and may refer to: • Mathematics Binary numeral system, a representation for numbers using only two digits (0 and 1) Binary function, a function in mathematics that takes two arguments • Computing Binary file, composed of something -other than human- readable text Executable, a type of binary file that contains machine code for the computer to execute Binary code, the digital representation of text and data • Science Binary compound, a chemical compound containing two different chemical elements Binary explosive, an explosive made of two components that become explosive when mixed Binary chemical weapon, containing two chemicals that when combined make a toxic agentBinary fission, the splitting of a singlecelled organism into two daughter cells. Binary star, a star system with two stars in it. Binary planet, two planetary bodies of comparable mass orbiting each other. Binary asteroid, two asteroids orbiting each other. 1

1. Wikipedia. (2012) Binary Accessed March 24. http://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Binary

Clothing · Individuals

Soundwave & Jetstorm It’s said that heroes come in all sizes—and Soundwave and Jetstorm are testimony to that. Whereas many Real Life Superheroes cite their childhoods as the genesis of what would become their adult activities, these two have chosen to exercise their altruistic impulses while they’re kids. And Jetstorm is quick to agree, adding, “Anyone can do it. Except babies, of course.” Real Life Superheroes (and real-life siblings), Soundwave and Jetstorm began their community activism in 2007 and 2008, respectively. Members of the Skiffytown League of Heroes, they are usually to be found at a variety of charitable events, from blood drives to Independence Day celebrations, from visiting at VA hospitals to hitting the streets for the Walk For Cystic Fibrosis. And yes, their parents know what they’re doing. Originally a way to help break out of her shell, Soundwave created her character around her personality. “I was really shy, so I made my character fit me,” she says, “It gave me an excuse not to talk too much, but still do something.” And that typically takes the form of personal appearances where she can perform her unique outreach. “I carry marbles—since as Soundwave I have voice power, and it’s really, really hard to break a marble—and I hand them out to people and tell them I’ve put the Pledge of Allegiance into it, so they can remember to love our country,” she explains. “At first it’s weird, people actually remember you, but once you get used to it, it’s kind of like ‘Hey, I can really do something’.” And while Jetstorm may have a lot in common with his older sibling, particularly as regards community service, there is nothing at all shy about this sheer bundle of energy. “I like working with kids, giving people food, toys, making sure they have power in their houses… and running so fast, even a race car can’t beat me,” he declares with his usual enthusiasm. And what does he like best about life as a hero? “I like my costume, the cape— the silver and blue look really cool—the sunglasses, because they protect my eyes, and when I take them off and look at the sun, it’s too bright—I like it all!” Still, at the end of the day, these two are an object lesson in teaching your children well. “I want to help put the smile on people’s face and show other kids they can do something, even if they’re young.” 1

“ I want to help put the smile on people’s face and show other kids they can do something, even if they’re young”

1. 1. The Real Life Super Hero Project. (2011) Soundwave and Jetstorm Accessed 28 March. http://www.reallifesuperheroes.com/2010/12/21/soundwave-and-jetstorm/

Photos/Peter Tangen

Clothing · Individuals

Soundwave and Jetstorm’s accessoiries None

Soundwave

Jetstorm

Inspired by

SOUNDWAVE Soundwave is the name of several characters in the various series Transformers series. His most famous disguise is that of a microcassette recorder and has an iconic voice done by a vocoder and his most famous vehicle disguise is a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG.These kind of toys are “Rarely” found in the stores now. • Generation 1 Soundwave is one of the most recognizable characters from the original Transformers line. He had a alternate mode - a microcassette recorder - and possessed a distinctive monotone, computerized voice. Soundwave is able to detect and jam transmissions across the entire energy spectrum, a talent that makes him suited to his position as Decepticon Communications Officer. Soundwave is physically strong compared to most Transformers. Within the tape compartment, which becomes his chest in robot mode, he stores a variety of Decepticon spies, all of which take the alternative form of a microcassette. These spy characters include Ravage, Laserbeak, Buzzsaw, Ratbat, Rumble, Frenzy, Slugfest, and Overkill, all of whom are under Soundwave’s command in the original television series. Squawktalk, and Beastbox were additional cassette characters under Soundwave’s control in the US toyline, but never appeared in animation. 1

JETSTORM Jetstorm is the name of several characters in the fictional Transformers universes. • Generation 1 Motto: “Give me more action! It’s no fun unless I can see the whites of their eyes.” • Generation 2 Available in 1993, but only in Europe, was another, different Jetstorm toy also of the Deluxe size. This character was an Autobot who transformed into a rally car. Although considered simple compared to many Transformers of the same size, Jetstorm is at least able to bend his legs at his knees as well as at his elbows unlike the Decepticon Jetstorm, however this is most likely only because his transformation requires it. His biography indicated that he was a strategy expert and highly intelligent, however he was described as impetuous and brash. He is brilliant at devising new defense methods against the Decepticons. This character has not appeared in any fiction. 2

1. Wikipedia. (2012) Soundwave Accessed April 4. http://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Soundwave_(Transformers) 2. Wikipedia. (2012) The 2012 Jetstorm Accessed April 4. http:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jetstorm

Clothing · Individuals

DC’s Guardian Some missions we choose. Others, choose us. For DC’s Guardian, that call came at an early age. Growing up at the knees of WWII, Korean War and Vietnam veterans, he learned that the freedoms and advantages we take for granted as Americans come at a price. And if we forget that price, we are bound to lose all that comes with it. Clad in a striking uniform of red, white and blue, an intentional nod to another childhood influence, Captain America, DC patrols the metro area of our nation’s capitol, dispensing pocket copies of our Constitution, Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence, as a reminder of all we stand for as a nation. But before he put this uniform on, he traveled the globe in that of the U.S. military. “I saw what the world was really like, the good and the bad, and realized that America has a lot to offer—if its people stand up for the foundation it was built upon.” As with all of his actions, everything about DC’s uniform is deliberate. Featuring the colors of the flag, in honor of those “who’ve gone before,” 13 stars, one for each of the original 13 colonies, and red “wings,” in deference to his comic book inspiration, DC is careful to cover every inch of his 6’2 frame. This, he reasons, is to allow everyone he meets to see themselves behind the mask—white, Hispanic, black, Asian— because under the mask we are all the same, with shared goals, aspirations and the desire to see our communities thrive by doing good. “The uniform is a great conversation-starter,” he says, “and the basic conversation is always the same: Helping people find their own ways of showing their love for their country, and the way it started out.” “We have worked to give back to our communities,” he says, “especially to the kids. They are our future, they are our legacy.” For DC, it’s not all about wearing uniforms, but about simply deciding to act, and in so doing, taking a role in creating the country—the world—we all want to live in. “People have forgotten to stand up and speak out for what’s right. You know that lump in your throat you get when you’re about to do something risky? The right decision is always the easy part, acting on it is hard. But once you try it, you realize it isn’t so hard after all.” 1

“ We have worked to give back to our communities, especially to the kids. They are our future, they are our legacy.”

1. The Real Life Super Hero Project. (2011) DC’s Guardian Accessed 24 March. http://www.reallifesuperheroes. com/2010/11/17/dcs-guardian/

Photo/Peter Tangen

Clothing · Individuals

DC’s Guardian’s accessoiries None

As an addition to his costume, he wears a belt with pockets, to carry useful stuff with him.

Inspired by

DC COMICS, Inc. (founded in 1935 as National Allied Publications) is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner. DC Comics produces material featuring a large number of well-known characters, including Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Robin, Aquaman, Nightwing, Green Arrow, Martian Manhunter, Green Lantern and the Flash, along with superhero teams Justice Society, the Justice League, the Teen Titans, and the Doom Patrol as well as antagonists such as Lex Luthor, the Joker, the Riddler, Mr. Freeze, Catwoman, Sinestro, the Penguin, Two-Face, General Zod, Brainiac, Harley Quinn, Darkseid, and Lobo. The initials DC came from the company’s popular series Detective Comics. The title can be considered a redundant initialism. Random House distributes DC Comics’ books to the bookstore market, while Diamond Comic Distributors supplies the comics shop specialty market. DC Comics and its major, longtime competitor Marvel Comics (currently owned by Time Warner’s main rival The Walt Disney Company) together shared over 80% of the American comic-book market as of 2008.1

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (also called the United States, the U.S., the USA, America, and the States) is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its forty-eight contiguous states and Washington, D.C., the capital district, lie between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, bordered by Canada to the north and Mexico to the south. The state of Alaska is in the northwest of the continent, with Canada to the east and Russia to the west, across the Bering Strait. The state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific. The country also possesses several territories in the Pacific and Caribbean. 2

1. Wikipedia. (2012) DC Comics April 5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ DC_Comics 2. Wikipedia. (2012) The 2012 United States Accessed April 5. http:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_of_America

All portrait photos are taken by Peter Tangen

Ragensi

Super Hero

Knight Owl

Civitron

Phantom Zero

Zetaman

KnightVigil

The Crimson

Urban Avenger

Samaritan

Motor Mouth

RazorHawk

Good Samaritan

Citizen Prime

Life

Master Legend

Mutinous Angel

Deathâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Head Moth

Impression of other Real Life Superheroes Photos/ Real Life Superheroes bar hop to promote their existence, from Gallery | Superheroes Pub Crawl

Behaviour · General

Behaviour A real life superhero is a person who selflessly serves a positive pro-social mission while in a heroic identity or motif inspired and influenced by comic book super heroes. Real life super heroes seek to serve the public trust. As real life super heroes, we seek to inform, and, most importantly, inspire. We believe that the power to enact change lies within each and every individual, and as citizens ourselves, we work to that end. It is the civic duty of every citizen to uphold the law, and real life super heroes are no exception. Real Life Superheroes always seek to work within the confines of the law. Real Life Superheroes believe in due process. Real Life Superheroes do not take the law into our own hands. Real Life Superheroes have no desire to endanger the public or ourselves. This doesn’t mean that real life super heroes are powerless to stop crime. Many real life super heroes help fight crime by doing safety patrols, raising awareness, starting or joining neighborhood watches, and by supporting their local law enforcement in any way they can. From taking on drug dealers to doing safety patrols real life superheroes seek to uphold the law and work within the confines of the law to fight and deter crime. Many real life superheroes focus more on charity work and civic activities. If Real life Superheroes were to come across a crime, they would report it to the authorities and do what we could to help the situation. Real life Superheroes wear costumes to stand out. Real life Superheroes

are working to bring superheroes to life. While you don’t need a costume to help make a difference, they draw attention to Real life Superheroes’s causes and deeds. You probably wouldn’t be reading this now if they didn’t wear costumes. Real life Superheroes use the costumes to become more than just some person trying to help others. Real life Superheroes are working to become a symbol of the hero inside us all. Real life super heroes adopt the costumes and certain ideals super heroes represent. We don’t have any of the powers that super heroes have. Anyone who thinks that they have super powers should seek professional help. Many real life superheroes have skills such as martial arts, parkour, and first aid. Many individual have different specialized skill sets. Their skills range from martial arts to first-aid. All our members seek to use their knowledge to help others. Due to the publicity and the novelty of this ideal, there has been some public recognition. Real Life Superheroes strive to work with law enforcement officials and not to hinder their important public service. Some RLSH have a secret identity. However, group members know at least on other members’ real identity.1

1. Real Life Superheroes. (2011) What is a RLSH? Accessed March 24. http://www.reallifesuperheroes.org/about/ faq/

Photos/The Knight Warrior, Stills from Roger The Real Life Superhero, directed by CATHY MacDONALD

Behaviour · General

How to Act Like a Superhero In comic books, superheroes are the idols of many and often represent what is best about humanity. Although it’s more than unlikely you will gain powers similar to comic book heroes, you can be a superhero none-the-less by following their ideals. Here are just a few methods you can be a real life superhero. 1. Respect and love your family. Superheroes are not just heroes to strangers; they are heroes to their families. Respect your elders. Obey your parents even when you think they are wrong. Tell your family you love them every day. 2. Be polite to others. Always mind your manners. This will improve your standing and elevate you in the minds of others. 3. Obey the law. A superhero understands that laws are meant to protect people. The only time a superhero should not obey the law is if it hurts someone or deprives people of their rights. Even in this case, a superhero will challenge the law legally. Never disobey the law unless absolutely necessary as if someone’s life depended on it.

7. Do community service. Superheroes help their community. This can be as easy as picking up litter on your street or volunteering for a food drive. 8. Help out in emergency situations. If there was a crash or a house fire, you wouldn’t have super powers to swoop in and save the day, but you do have the power to act for good. Call the authorities if you have just witnessed an emergency, check on people to see if they are ok, or perform first aid. If the authorities have arrived, stay out of their way. 9. Be a role model to children. Children look up to superheroes. Even when you are not doing something super heroic, watch how you act. Children will copy you. 10. Stand up for what you believe in. If there is a wrong in society, speak up and be heard. Legally protest immoral laws or write letters to government officials for any wrong you spot in society.

4. Contribute to those less fortunate. A superhero is only one person. Even if you had the powers of those heroes in the comic books, you can still only hope to help a few. Fortunately the superhero is not alone. If you have more than others, contribute what you have to charity. A charity has the capability to help potentially millions more than you could help on your own.

6. Join a volunteer fire department. Firefighters and other emergency personnel are real life heroes. What could be a better way to be a hero yourself if you are truly dedicated? Instead of volunteering, you could get a paid job, but a superhero does not look for compensation for his efforts.

Stand up for what you believe in Photo/From laweekly

5. Help those in need. If you see someone having trouble, offer to help. Even the simplest of good deeds can have a ripple effect in goodwill. Try helping someone pick up something they dropped, or lend someone who is just short of money enough to complete their transaction. You can totally make a person’s day.

1. Wiki How. (2011) How To Act Like A Superhero Accessed March 28. http://www.wikihow.com/Act-Like-aSuperhero

How to Behave Like a Superhero The phenomenon of real life superheroes is one that has been growing over the past few years. These people usually disguise themselves in some kind of costume and fight crime.

You don’t necessarily have to have been bitten by a magical spider to become a hero. Although rich, Batman has no powers. If you wish to become a superhero, follow these instructions. Note that wikiHow or the author(s) of this page are not liable for any damage sustained while attempting to follow these instructions. The reader will take full responsibility for damages and/or other events which come with the following of these instructions. 1. First, you must become physically prepared. Get yourself into good physical condition. You should run, lift weights, train in martial arts etc. Become physically prepared for the rigors of the street. 2. Learn to fight- this is necessary. Become aware of all martial arts, so you know how to fight them. Examples; kung fu, tae kwon do, boxing, muay thai, kick boxing, jit jsu, ninjutsu etc. One must know you’re enemies tactics, should the time arise that you would face a worthy adversary.

3. Become familiar with firearms-though you should never carry one, especially without a license, it is worth your while to learn how to use a gun, just in case. Even if you are under 21, most gun clubs will give you the instruction necessary to become familiar with firearms, but that does NOT make it ok to carry one, especially if you are unlicensed. 4. First Aid, and CPR are two very important skills to know, both for yourself and others. Learn how to stabilize someone who is critically injured so they have a better chance of survival. 5. Read up on criminology and criminal psychology to learn how a criminal might think. The more you know, the more likely it is that you will do well 6. Make a costume, but don’t make it silly and impractical. A superhero uniform should provide a disguise, a symbol, and protection. Good materials are Kevlar and leather. Avoid spandex and anything highly flammable. All will require some money, but leather is usually the cheapest. Wear elbow pads, knee pads, and a helmet if you plan on riding a vehicle. You may need to make a quick run and you might fall.

Photo/Dulce Pinzón

7. Get a utility belt. It doesn’t need to have all Batman’s gadgets, but it should include a first aid kit, a flashlight, binoculars, some form of a less than lethal weapon, and a Swiss Army Knife.

You don’t necessary have to be bitten by a magical spider to become a superhero

(Wiki How. (2011) How To Behave Like A Superhero Accessed March 28. http://www.wikihow.com/Behave-Likea-Superhero)

Behaviour · American

American Real Life Superhero behavior

They bridge the gap between the fantastic and the practical. They combat crime, hand out supplies to the homeless, comforting the sick or just cleaning up their neighborhood. Of course The Real Life Superheroes have no supernatural power. They have tear gas, taser, a bit of self-defense and the will to change something. But who are these modern heroes? Everyone could be one of them. They are every kind of people – clerical assistants, doctors, streetworker, politicians or ex-junkies. It is irrespective of the sex, the profession, the status or what ever. Their actions serve as reminders. People have blinded themselves to simple principles and goodwill. They lost their readiness to help others. The different Superheroes focus on different actions and locations. Terrifica for example is roaming the streets, clubs and bars of New York. She got her tear gas, mobile phone and camera with her and. The thirty year old woman with blond hair and red battle dress wants to defend young woman against violation of men. In case of doubt she uses her camera to be able to proof the criminal act. Geist acts in Minnesota. He is there where the police just no longer get. He appears out of the blue, doing good deeds and disappears again. He helps the homeless, victims of violence and homeless animals. Thantos is a sixty two years old Superhero helping drug addicted people in the streets of Vancouver. He shares out blankets, clothes and food wearing a green mask, a black trench coat and a tie with skulls. The The Real Life Super Hero Project first should make people recognize this new breed of activism and altruism. But more and more people get interested and the scope and purpose expanded very fast. Due to the financial crisis many people lost a lot of money, their jobs and even their homes. Their desire for security increases. In the middle of instability and political uncertainty those heroes offer a bit stability to the people. There are those benefactors in disguise who dispread optimism and confidence through their brave. That is – as it seems – what America needs right now. It started as a gallery exhibit but it became the base of something much greater. The The Real Life Super Hero Project is a living community which

Photo/DC’s Guardian, pierreeliedepibrac

There are men and women wearing costumes, adopting pseudonyms and doing good deeds. The Real Life Superheroes. They act anonymous and selfless and try to make Americas streets a bit more secure and the world a bit better.

Let’s find the hero in all of us

inspires the general public to be part of the positive flow to change something in the world we all have to live in. Thereby they could become more active, more involved, stronger and a little bit more “super”. Their gain is to help the poor and underdogs and to make other people help too. The Real Life Superheroes have a website where they explain the world who they are, what they do and what they want. At the end there is that one sentence we all should keep in mind. “And hopefully, you will come to realize that it doesn’t take a cape to go out and help someone, just the desire to become an active force in your own life, and see how that can affect others.” So, do you think superheroes really exist? It doesn’t matter how we call them it’s about what they do. We all are able to be a kind of superhero. So why don’t we start? Today there are twenty nine of those Real Life Superheroes in America. Maybe even tomorrow there will be more.1

1. Real Life Superheroes. (2011) Real Life Superheroes Accessed April 2. http://www.reallifesuperheroes. org/2011/11/18/real-life-superheroes-10/

Interests 路 General

Interests Apparently being a Real Life Superhero does not mean that you like the same music or have the same hobbies.

Photo/Crossfire The Crusader, From Blastzneonline

Although all Real Life Superheroes are individuals and have their own taste, there are common things they like. Most of them like sci-fy, literature and fantasy books. Geist for example reads Hermann Hesse, Franz Kahfka, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Arthur Conan Doyle is know for the Sherlock Holmes stories and they are all literature writers. Real Life Superhero Arsenul especially likes fictional books.

And Artisteroi the Real Life Superhero Gadgeteer is a fan of Heinlein, Asimov, Bradbury, Tolkien. The first three are sci-fy writers and Tolkien is a fantasy writer. Their music taste varies from dub step to Michael Bublee and from the progressive rock to Bob Marly. And Also their hobbies are varied. The most common hobbies are martial arts and fitness training, but even that is not practiced by every hero.

Photo/Master Legend, pierreeliedepibrac

Photo/The Conundrum, pierreeliedepibrac

Interests · Movies

Movies X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE A look at Wolverine’s early life, in particular his time with the government squad Weapon and the impact it will have on his later years.

IRON MAN When wealthy industrialist Tony Stark is forced to build an armored suit after a lifethreatening incident, he ultimately decides to use its technology to fight against evil.

2009 Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

2008 Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

SPIDER-MAN When bitten by a genetically modified spider, a nerdy, shy, and awkward high school student gains spider-like abilities that he eventually must use to fight evil as a superhero after tragedy befalls his family.

IRON MAN 2 Because of his superhero alter ego, Tony Stark must contend with deadly issues involving the government, his own friends and new enemies.

2002 Action | Adventure | Fantasy

2010 Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

THOR The powerful but arrogant warrior Thor is cast out of the fantastic realm of Asgard and sent to live amongst humans on Earth, where he soon becomes one of their finest defenders. 2011 Action | Adventure | Fantasy

WATCHMEN In an alternate 1985 where former superheroes exist, the murder of a colleague sends active vigilante Rorschach into his own sprawling investigation, uncovering something that could completely change the course of history as we know it. 2009 Action | Mystery | Sky-Fi

Kick-Ass Dave Lizewski is an unnoticed high school student and comic book fan who one day decides to become a super-hero, even though he has no powers, training or meaningful reason to do so. Due to Kick-Ass Real Life Superheroes became more mainstream 2009 Action | Mystery | Sky-Fi

THE ROCKETEER A young pilot stumbles onto a prototype jetpack that allows him to become a high flying masked hero. 1991 Action | Adventure | Family

Interests 路 Movies

BATMAN The Dark Knight of Gotham City begins his war on crime with his first major enemy being the clownishly homicidal Joker. 1989 Thriller | Crime | Fantasy

BATMAN BEGINS Bruce Wayne loses his philanthropic parents to a senseless crime, and years later becomes the Batman to save the crime-ridden Gotham City on the verge of destruction by an ancient order. 2005 Action | Crime | Drama

BATMAN RETURNS When a corrupt businessman and the grotesque Penguin plot to take control of Gotham City, only Batman can stop them, while the Catwoman has her own agenda. 1992 Action | Crime | Fantasy

THE DARK KNIGHT When Batman, Gordon and Harvey Dent launch an assault on the mob, they let the clown out of the box, the Joker, bent on turning Gotham on itself and bringing any heroes down to his level. 2008 Action | Crime | Drama

CAPTAIN AMERICA After being deemed unfit for military service, Steve Rogers volunteers for a top secret research project that turns him into Captain America, a superhero dedicated to defending the USAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ideals.

THE AVENGERS Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. brings together a team of super humans to form The Avengers to help save the Earth from Loki and his army. 2012 Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

2011 Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON The Autobots learn of a Cybertronian spacecraft hidden on the moon, and race against the Decepticons to reach it and to learn its secrets. 2011 Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

HBOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S DOCUMENTARY: SUPERHEROES A journey inside the world of real life caped crusaders. From all over America, these self-proclaimed crime fighters, don masks, homemade costumes and elaborate utility belts in an attempt to bring justice to evildoers everywhere. 2011 Documentary | Action | Comedy

Interests 路 Magazines

Magazines

Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media. In 2009, The Walt Disney Company acquired Marvel Entertainment, Marvel Worldwide’s parent company, for $4.24 billion. Marvel started in 1939 as Timely Publications, and by the early 1950s had generally become known as Atlas Comics. Marvel’s modern incarnation dates from 1961, the year that the company launched Fantastic Four and other superhero titles created by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and others. Marvel counts among its characters such wellknown properties as Spider-Man, the X-Men, Iron Man, the Hulk, Avengers, Fantastic Four, Thor and Captain America; antagonists such as Doctor Doom, the Green Goblin, Magneto, Galactus, Loki, and the Red Skull. Most of Marvel’s fictional characters operate in a single reality known as the Marvel Universe, with locations that mirror real-life cities such as New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. Martin Goodman founded the company later known as Marvel Comics under the name Timely Publications in 1939,[4] publishing comic books under the imprint Timely Comics.[5] Goodman, a pulp magazine publisher who had started with a Western pulp in 1933, was expanding into the emerging—and by then already highly popular—new medium of comic books. Launching his new line from

his existing company’s offices at 330 West 42nd Street, New York City, New York, he officially held the titles of editor, managing editor, and business manager, with Abraham Goodman officially listed as publisher The first modern comic books under the Marvel Comics brand were the sciencefiction anthology Journey into Mystery #69 and the teen-humor title Patsy Walker #95 (both cover dated June 1961), which each displayed an MC box on its cover Then, in the wake of DC Comics’ success in reviving superheroes in the late 1950s and early 1960s, particularly with the Flash, Green Lantern, and other members of the team the Justice League of America, Marvel followed suit.[19] The introduction of modern Marvel’s first superhero team, in The Fantastic Four #1, (Nov. 1961), began establishing the company’s reputation. With the new millennium, Marvel Comics escaped from bankruptcy and again began diversifying its offerings. In 2001, Marvel withdrew from the Comics Code Authority and established its own Marvel Rating System for comics. The first title from this era to not have the code was X-Force #119 (October 2001). Marvel also created new imprints, such as MAX (an explicit-content line) and Marvel Adventures (developed for child audiences). In addition, the company created an alternate universe imprint, Ultimate Marvel, that allowed the company to reboot its major titles by revising and updating its characters to introduce to a new generation.1

1. Wikipedia. (2012) Marvel Comics April 5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Marvel_Comics

Interests 路 Magazines

Some examples of DC comics

DC Comics, Inc. (founded in 1934 as National Allied Publications) is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner. DC Comics produces material featuring a large number of well-known characters, including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Robin, Aquaman, Hawkman, Green Arrow, Martian Manhunter, Green Lantern and the Flash, along with superhero teams Justice Society, the Justice League, the Teen Titans, and the Doom Patrol as well as antagonists such as Lex Luthor, the Joker, the Riddler, Mr. Freeze, Catwoman, Sinestro, the Penguin, Two-Face, General Zod, Brainiac, Harley Quinn, Darkseid, and Lobo. The initials DC came from the company’s popular series Detective Comics, which featured Batman’s debut and subsequently became part of the company’s name. The title can be considered a redundant initialism. Originally in Manhattan at 432 Fourth Avenue, the DC Comics offices have been located at 480 and later 575 Lexington Avenue; 909 Third Avenue; 75 Rockefeller Plaza; 666 Fifth Avenue; and 1325 Avenue of the Americas. DC currently has its headquarters at 1700 Broadway, Midtown Manhattan, New York City. Random House distributes DC Comics’ books to the bookstore market, while Diamond Comic Distributors supplies the comics shop specialty

market. DC Comics and its major, longtime competitor Marvel Comics (currently owned by Time Warner’s main rival The Walt Disney Company) together shared over 80% of the American comic-book market as of 2008. In March 2003, DC acquired publishing and merchandising rights to the long-running fantasy series Elfquest, previously self-published by creators Wendy and Richard Pini under their WaRP Graphics publication banner. This series then followed another non-DC title, Tower Comics’ series T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, in collection into DC Archive Editions. In 2004, DC temporarily acquired the North American publishing rights to graphic novels from European publishers 2000 AD and Humanoids. It also rebranded its younger-audience titles with the mascot Johnny DC, and established the CMX imprint to reprint translated manga. In 2006, CMX took over from Dark Horse Comics publication of the webcomic Megatokyo in print form. DC also took advantage of the demise of Kitchen Sink Press and acquired the rights to much of the work of Will Eisner, such as his The Spirit series and his graphic novels. DC Entertainment In September 2009, Warner Bros. announced that DC Comics would become a subsidiary of DC Entertainment, Inc., with Diane Nelson, President of Warner Premiere, becoming president of the newly formed company and DC Comics President and Publisher Paul Levitz moving to the position of Contributing Editor and Overall Consultant there.1

1. Wikipedia. (2012) DC Comics April 5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ DC_Comics

Interests · Books

CLINT MAGAZINE

The second issue of CLiNT, Mark Millar and Titan Magazines’ British news stand anthology, mixing comics with a range of features that include a focus on ‘real-life superheroes’ and an interview with Charlie Brooker, is a much-improved mix on the launch issue. Maintaining an edgy, Nuts/Zoo style feel to the format, which rankles with some comics fans but should appeal to the magazine’s teen target audience, strip-wise, this issue continues Kick Ass 2 and delivers more chapters of Jonathan Ross’ Turf, Frankie Boyle’s bonkers Rex Royd, Nemesis and a fun three-page ‘Space Oddity’. Pit Stop by Mateus Santolouco is one of many great pitches to the mag made via the MillarWorld forum and a good choice. Also this issue -- the first slice of Mark Millar’s American Jesus, already published in the US but which I gather is part of a trilogy of planned stories being released by Image in the US. Of these, despite the vicious content, Nemesis proves the surprise hit of the issue for me, with a brilliant chase scene and some truly nasty developments as the super villain storms the Pentagon. Steve McNiven’s art is superb throughout. There were mixed reviews of Frankie Boyle’s Rex Royd - and I’m afraid the writing is again disappointing and the content of this tale the most potentially offensive to the kind of religious types, that frankly, Frank, you really don’t want to upset. The titular ‘hero’(?) continues his crusade against superheroes and super beings, this time taking down God in the Garden of Eden after God performs a pretty monstrous act on Eve. It’s all very shocking and will no doubt have Daily Mail readers up in arms, but at the

end of the day, how many of CLiNT’s target audience even know who God is and will really take in the import of such a ridiculous storyline? American Jesus, with terrific art from Peter Gross is definitely intriguing - I’m curious to see how this develops, although I could of course simply pick up the collection. And then of course there’s the ‘headline act’ - the second part of Kick Ass 2, as Millar and Romita’s would-be superhero takes a stroll in Times Square with another costumed hero whose only weapon is a silver-foil covered baseball bat. There’s some fun dialogue for comic fans - a teen admitting he fancies Aunt May - and Kick Ass revealing his life’s desire is to be part of the Justice League. But the story also exposes what might be a critical flaw in Millar’s masterplan to break comics out of what he sees as something of a ghetto on the news stand - much of the humour is dependent on knowing something about the comics the target audience, allegedly, have never heard of. (Although of course, they may well have heard of their film and cartoon incarnations, to which Millar is careful to refer). Overall, though, CLiNT #2 is a well rounded and much stronger issue than the launch, and some of the features are hilarious, such as the ‘Save Money on your Mobile’ spoof ad and the full page iPad gag. The longer features are stronger, too - especially the real superhero feature - and seem a better fit this time around. Yes, you’ve still got the Zoo-inspired stuff like a ‘Sexy Chavs’ pin up, which is sure to annoy comic fans but once again, this title is aimed at a teen audience that loves this stuff.1

1. Blogspot. (2010) In Review: Clint #2 - real life superheroes and Kick Ass 2 Accessed March 21. http://downthetubescomics.blogspot. com/2010/09/in-review-clint-2-real-life-superheroes.html

Interests · Books

Books THE NIGHT RIDER GRAIL

• Fun Fact Night Rider’s book was published two years before the David Hasselhoff/ talking car TV show Knight Rider aired in 1982.

// By Tea Krulos I think first heard about the “Night Rider book” as it’s usually referred to, in Vancouver from Knight Owl while cruising around in the Thanavan. What I was hearing was that an individual had written a guide book to be a real life superhero…in 1980. I talked with Zimmer about this book again when I was in NYC, and of course both times I discussed it, I realized that it was important to me to read this book. I finally got a chance to read it a rare opportunity, and some details on the book will tell you why. -The book actually titled “How to be a Superhero” by The Night Rider, was published in 1980 by GEM Enterprises with a PO Box in Morgantown, WV listed as the address. Judging from the lay out, style, and typos my guess is that this enterprise was a name Night Rider used to self publish the book himself or with a small group of people. This sort of thing is easy to do now with Lulu and other sites, but was significantly more difficult back then- you had to commit to a certain print run for you bookranging from a very small one to a few thousand. • Point being: No one but Night Rider and his publishing partners know how many copies of this book were printed. • The only known copy of this book is in the special collections department of the Michigan State University Library. It can’t be checked out or even taken out of the small reading room in the special collections. Tracking it down took an international RLSH effort- Toronto based detective Wolf located the book and then RLSH worked together and got Blue Lightning to go to the library, convinced the librarians that he needed to photocopy the

entire book (they usually allow only 5 pages copied for copyright reasons) for scholarly reasons. They agreed and he photocopied the whole thing- the book is only 54 pages- and then scanned the pages. CONTENTS Night Rider provides chapters on physical and mental training (mostly “visualize yourself as the person you want to be” type techniques) a chapter on selecting an effective “uniform,” a chapter on weapons- mostly talking about different ninja weapons; nunchucks, bo, sai, tonfa, manriki-gusari, etc. I think the most interesting is the last chapter, titled “More True Stories of Real-life Superheroes.” Yes, Night Rider uses this term a few times in his book, 30 years ago! According to Night Rider, he was not alone out there and gives short accounts of the Phantom Avenger and Ms. Mystery. The Phantom Avenger, he says, swung into action after a friend of he and his wife came to them for shelter from her abusive husband. The book gives an account of what happened next. Betty(woman being beaten)’s husband pulled up the driveway and exited his car, an expensive white Continental. As he opened his front door, Jim(aka the Phantom Avenger!)hit him with a flying tackle that carried them both into the living room. Betty’s husband looked up at Jim and cried, “Who are you? “I’m the Phantom Avenger and I’m going to teach you a lesson you’ll never forget!” With that, Jim hit his opponent with a terrific right that sent him sprawling over the coffee table. Pouncing on him, he raised him up to his feet by gripping the man’s throat.

Interests · Books

He tried unsuccessfully to fight back, but The Phantom Avenger was too much for him. A flurry of blows knocked the wifebeater across the room, each one hitting the mark. His mouth was bubbling red. “You like slapping women around, eh?”, the Phantom Avenger asked. “Well, get this. If you try to get at Betty at June and Jim’s house or anywhere else, I’ll be back to give you a real sample of what I can do” Night Rider said the Phantom Avenger continued his quest: And occasionally, a drunken and violent wifebeater is found tied to a tree with a sign around his neck: “THE PHANTOM AVENGER HATES WOMAN BEATERS!” Up next is Ms. Mystery, who in a similar fashion decided to bring street justice to her boss. Ms. Mystery’s secret identity worked as a secretary, and her and her fellow secretaries were being assaulted at the workplace by their sexist boss and his horny hands. She called the boss and without revealing who she was told him to meet her in the office, luring him with a sexy, suggestive voice. When he arrived, she was dressed in a disguise, hit him in the shins with her nunchucks and handcuffed him to his desk, leaving a note in the typewriter: REMEMBER WHAT I TOLD YOU. IF YOU GET FRESH WITH ANY OF THE GIRLS, I’LL COME BACK AND BREAK BOTH YOUR ARMS! --MS. MYSTERY It is unclear as to whether she operated as Ms. Mystery outside of that incident. Although these stories are interesting, nothing supports these stories except Night Rider’s book, so we have to take his word. Two other

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people he mentions, however, do have a lot of documentation: Curtis Sliwa and The Fox. Night Rider talks about Curtis Sliwa and his first organization, the Magnificent 13. This group did street and subway patrols together in a group. Membership rapidly expanded and Sliwa renamed the group the Guardian Angels, identified by their red berets and jackets. At first the Angels faced some controversy, and occasionally still do, but have been recognized and awarded by a few mayors of New York City, American presidents, and other world leaders. They have chapters in 140 cities in 14 countries. Sliwa is still active with the group. The Fox was an environmental activist at the very beginning of the environmental movement, before the term came into use. The name is clever in its simplicity- The Fox became active after seeing pollution, mostly unregulated, damaging the Fox River. Zorro also translates as “fox,” and The Fox became a Robin Hood or Zorro figure, especially to environmentalists. The Fox was an environmental science teacher and lived on a farm in northern Illinois. His first action as The Fox was trying to plug up a sewage drain that was pouring waste from a soap factory into the Fox River. The Fox returned to see if the drain had been unplugged. It had. He describes the scene in his autobiography, Raising Kane: The Fox Chronicles. “Before me lay a mini-disaster. Bankto-bank soap curds filled the water from the dam back to the sewer. Looking into the pool, my heart sank. “Floating upside down, with their orange legs relaxed in death, was the mallard hen and all of her baby ducks. The shock of seeing such carnage gave way to sorrow and then rage. Wading into

the glop, I saw one tiny duckling’s foot feebly kick. Scooping it up and stripping soap waste off its partly fuzzy body, I tried to open its little beak and blow breath into its lungs. The little body went limp in my hand as the final spark of life flickered out. Everything got blurry as tears of sorrow and anger rolled down my cheeks.” The Fox decided to fight back against companies like this with direct action. When companies were polluting the air, he would put caps on their smokestacks or leave dead skunks by the doorway to the factory. In one case he walked into the reception area of a company and dumped several gallons of their chemical onto the carpet of the floor. At one point, he held a mock funeral for the Fox River. He fought back with signs, delivering sewage, plugging up drains and pipes, and dead skunks. He left messages at all of these scenes, signed with his calling cardthe word FOX with a cartoon fox face peering through the “O.” At one point, he held a mock funeral for the Fox River. He caught the ear of Chicago newspaper columnist Mike Royko*, who wrote about The Fox several times, leading to wider media interest. The Fox died in 2001,at age 70, and his supporters held a memorial service on the banks of the Fox River. If The Fox were around today, do you think he might dump gallons of oil in the offices of BP? And do you think most people would view him as a hero?1

1. HEROES IN THE NIGHT. (2010) THE NIGHT RIDER GRAIL Accessed March 24. http://heroesinthenight.blogspot.com/2010/06/night-ridergrail.html

Interests · Books

THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF PHOENIX JONES

Phoenix Jones has been stabbed, punched and held up at gunpoint. He’s been bludgeoned with a baseball bat and lacerated with a key — all in his capacity as self-appointed savior of the Seattle streets. Phoenix is a self-designated superhero and the fascinating subject of Jon Ronson’s new e-book, The Amazing Adventures of Phoenix Jones. Ronson, author of The Men Who Stare at Goats and The Psychopath Test, has long been drawn to the extreme and outre. Investigating the superhero subculture, he found these qualities in abundance, as well as a flourishing — if hidden — community. “There are hundreds of superheroes all across America,” Ronson tells NPR’s Robert Siegel. “They come from all walks of life, and they dress up in supersuits and go off in the dead of night fighting crime. And it’s been going for quite a long time without too much fanfare.” The fanfare might be quiet, but the costumes are decidedly not. Phoenix prefers a black-and-gold outfit and a bulletproof vest — which came in handy when he and Ronson found themselves confronting crack dealers in the Belltown neighborhood of Seattle at 4 a.m. The dealers were trying to clear Phoenix and Ronson off a particular corner — not least because they were irritated by Phoenix’s outlandish get-up. “They were saying, ‘If you don’t leave, we’re gonna kill you,’ “ Ronson recalls. “And Phoenix was saying, ‘Do we stand or do we leave? We stand.’ And these guys [began] walking toward Phoenix. It was a moment of incredible bravery.” For all his eccentricities, Phoenix is undeniably brave. The first time Ronson met his

subject, Phoenix was in the hospital after being beaten too many times. He was hooked up to IVs and still wearing his superhero mask to protect his identity. Barney Poole Jon Ronson’s previous books include Them: Adventures with Extremists and The Men Who Stare at Goats. He lives in London. He suffers injuries and indignities with equanimity, saying, “If I have to take a little bit of punishment to make sure that my citizens don’t get hurt, I guess I have to.” And while superheroes aren’t especially intrepid or skilled — most are “happy to hand out sandwiches to the homeless, do little acts of philanthropy,” Ronson says — Phoenix is an exception. Despite being regarded by law enforcement as both lunatic and liability, he’s a surprisingly effective crime fighter — when he’s not being impeded by fans. “If he’s on his way to thwart a crime and somebody recognizes him from YouTube, he’ll quite often stop and have his picture taken, and by which time the criminal has vanished,” Ronson says. Just your typical celebrity superhero occupational hazard.1

1. npr books. (2011) The Real Mr. Incredible: Self-Styled ‘Superheroes’ Accessed April 9. http://www.npr.org/2011/11/22/142652242/the-real-mrincredible-self-styled-superheroes

Interests · Websites

CRIME FIGHTING WEBSITES

www.aboutmeganslaw.com A list of links to exact state search sites (national database search elsewhere on the same page). http://codeamber.org America’s Most Wanted and CANS Amber Alert Feed Online Amber Alert feed for websites www.crimereports.com Working with more than 600 agencies across North America, CrimeReports is the largest online resource for accurate, up-to-date crime information www.everyblock.com EveryBlock is a new experiment in online journalism, offering a news feed for every city block in 15 cities www.familywatchdog.us An impressive visual tool mapping by location with a Google-style map and overlay icons indicating the SO’s home and workplaces. Also, search by name. www.fbi.gov The Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program was conceived in 1929 by the International Association of Chiefs of Police to meet a need for reliable, uniform crime statistics for the nation. www.homefacts.com/offenders and http://klaaskids.org Listed resource links by type of search, some state-specific. http://registeredoffenderslist.org Enter a zip code, find SO’s in your area. Many excellent resources for concerned citizens working with this information. www.sexualoffenders.com Detailed and localized listings of resource sites. www.spotcrime.com Online registry of crime by state

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(Real Life Superheroes. (2011) Crime fighting Accessed March 19. http://www.reallifesuperheroes.org/links/ crime-fighting/)

various crime fighting websites

An impression of

Interests 路 Websites

EQUIPMENT WEBSITES

http://hero-gear.org The Official Real Life Superhero Uniform Site Body armor www.bulletproofme.com Retail Outlet including Police Surplus Body Armor www.d3o.com Shock Asorbing Gear www.paintballwizard.com Paint ball accessories www.safariland.com Stab and bullet resistant vests Cloting www.customcloaks.com Costumed Cloaks and Capes www.newrockstore.com Costumed Boots www.pimpinshoes.com Costume Boots and Shoes www.ppss-group.com For blade resistant clothing www.underarmour.com Sports and Athletic Clothing Equipment www.approvedgasmask.com Gas Mask, Safety Equipment and Safety Gear www.cheaperthandirt.com Shooting Sports Equpiment Discounter www.criticaltool.com Low Priced Safety Equipment www.distasterstuff.com Disaster Stuff is a leading supplier of Berkey Water filters, CERT Kits, and Survival Kit Supplies in the United States. www.spyassociates.com Spy equipment and surveillance products Gear www.mcdavidusa.com High Performace Sports Gear www.rangerjoes.com Military and Law Enforcement Gear Leather clothing www.jackets4bikes.com Quality Motorcycle Gear for 50% to 70% off Retail Self defense products www.buy-pepper-spray-today.com We specialize in Pepper Spray. www.copquest.com Low Priced Police Equipment www.defensedevices.com Self Defense Products

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ment/) (Real Life Superheroes. (2011) Equipment Accessed March 19. http://www.reallifesuperheroes.org/links/equip-

An impression of various equipment websites

Interests 路 Websites

POLICE SCANNER FEEDS WEBSITES

http://www.bigbearscanner.com Big Bear Lake & Surrounding Area Scanner Feed http://www.thenet411.net/listen.html Butte County Public Safety Police Scanner http://www.mymotherlode.com/multimedia/scanner911 Tuolumne, Calaveras, & Amador County Scanner Feeds http://www.scansandiego.net San Diego Police & Fire Scanner Feed http://sqfd.org/id15.html New York Fire Scanner Feed

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(Real Life Superheroes. (2011) Police Scanner Feeds Accessed March 19. http://www.reallifesuperheroes.org/ links/police-scanner-feeds/)

Bigbear Scanner

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Scandiego

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Scandiego

The Net 411

My Motherlode

Bigbear Scanner

Interests · Websites

WEBSITES WITH INFORMATION AND NEWS UPDATES ABOUT REAL LIFE SUPERHEROES

www.reallifesuperheroes.org The website contains fan art, galleries, essays, blogs, events, a forum, groups, links, members, news, video’s and more. www.worldsuperheroregistry.com The website contains a superhero registry, superhero groups, hero support, a discussion board and more. www.superheroesanonymous.com Superheroes Anonymous is a collective of Real Life Superheroes who aim to do good in the world and inspire others. Originally founded in 2007 by Ben Goldman and Chaim Lazaros. http://heroesinthenight.blogspot.com Is a popular blog with the latest updates about Real Life Superheroes. www.reallifesuperheroes.com A website about The The Real Life Super Hero Project. The website contains information about the project, information about the attending heroes and beautiful photos by photographer Peter Tangen

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The The Real Life Super Hero Project

Worl Superhero Registry

Heroes In The Night

Superheroes Anonymous

Heroes In The Night

Real Life Superheroes

Typography â&#x20AC;˘ Magazines

Typography Almost everybody knows the unformal typefaces used in comics. Not only comics have their own typeface, also some of the Real Life Superheroes made their own logo. GOTHAM FROM THE NEW DC COMICS LOGO

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MCCHESNEY

This is not the official Marvel typeface, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a bit similar.

Typography • Magazines

DC UNIVERSE FONT FROM THE FORMER DC COMICS LOGO

AMAZING SPIDER MAN FONT

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BATMAN FOREVER FONT

Typography • Magazines

Fonts from the BATMAN & ROBIN ADVENTURES Developed by Comicraft’s Dutch Masters to give DC’s BATMAN & ROBIN ADVENTURES a crisp, clean, Art Deco look, all four pints of DUTCH COURAGE are available as one font family. Please refrain from operating heavy machinery within one hour of partaking of these intoxicating fonts.

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The official JOE KUBERT FONT The official Joe Kubert font has been digitally mastered by John ‘JG’ Roshell based on Joe’s own specifications for an upcoming SGT ROCK project for DC Comics. Pull up a chair at our Thanksgiving table and marvel at Joe’s legendary work in comics ranging from TOR to FAX FROM SARAJEVO.

Typography â&#x20AC;˘ Magazines

LAFFAYETTE COMIC PRO Free font for commercial use.

VTC LETTERER PRO Free font for commercial use.

YEAR SUPPLY OF FAIRY CAKES Free font for commercial use.

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EVIL GENIUS Free font for commercial use.

UNMASKED Free font for commercial use.

CRIME FIGHTER Free font for commercial use.

Typography • Funtype

ABCSUPERHEROES BY FABIAN GONZALEZ FROM AQUAMAN TO ZORRO

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Typography • Logo’s

Typography related to logo’s

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Typography â&#x20AC;˘ Posters

Typography related to posters

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Typography â&#x20AC;˘ Posters

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All posters are from The Real Life Super Hero Project website. Photoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s by Peter Tangen.

Typography â&#x20AC;˘ Websites

Typography related to websites

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Influence · General

Their Influence From Real Life Superhero Crossifres perspective Superheroes first have influence on themselves, then their family, their community, the country and finally might influence the world. Concentric Circles of Influence for the RLSH Basically, the circles represent the areas in which we have influence, and place them in order based on the amount of influence we have in a given area. Understanding these areas in our lives allows us to focus our efforts in the areas most likely to have the greatest impact. As an RLSH, our concentric circles are not that different than anyone else. We may dress weird, do things that others consider crazy, and live in a world one step from complete fantasy, but we still seek to impact the world around. It doesnt matter if you choose to be a charity hero or a crimefighter, this is a way you can focus your efforts in the areas they will do the most good. FIRST CIRCLE In the bullseye of our target is a mirror. The center of the concentric circles is always me. Not me, as in Crossfire, but ME as in the person you see in the mirror everyday. The one area you will have the most ability to affect is yourself. And thats one area you should never neglect. Before you can impact the world around you, you have to be sure that YOU are well taken care of. You can’t feed the homeless if you are unable to feed yourself. You can’t fight crime if you are unable to protect yourself. You cant be effective at anything if you let your own self fall to pieces. In other words. Charity starts at home. This is one of the things I’ve personally had to face recently and one of the reasons for the current happenings in the drop zone. The one year fitness challenge is one step in my own effort to impact the center circle of my concentric circles.

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You need to consider your physical fitness and health before you begin looking for ways to serve others. Make sure you are eating enough. Exercise daily. Get plenty of rest. Take time to relax also. An hour or two every week devoted to a hobby can help you more than you will ever know. And aside from just doing the things necessary to maintain your good health, you need to do things to improve yourself. read a book. Take a college course. Take martial arts classes. Invest some time in making you more prepared for the world around you. It is very important to make sure you are taken care of. Because if you neglect yourself, then eventually you will be unable to help anyone else. And don’t put your RLSH activities ahead of your job or career. You need that career to support your activities and your life. You don’t have to set at your desk and ignore a crime going on outside your window – you aren’t Bob Parr and this isn’t The Incredibles – but you don’t want to walk away from a good job just to patrol. Remember – you can’t help anyone else if you can’t help yourself. The next thing you need to consider in the center circle is being prepared. Make sure you have the proper equipment for what you are planning to do when you step into that next circle. If you are going to be doing something dangerous, then have the appropriate body armor or equipment. Make sure your vehicle is running. Make sure your equipment is maintained properly. And part of being prepared is planning things out. If you are going into an area to patrol at night, walk that area in the daylight first. Ask yourself where criminals might hide to ambush their victims. Look for ways to escape if things get out of control. Make note of terrain features that might cause problems at night.

Self Family Community Country State Nation World

Influence · General

SECOND CIRCLE The next circle is your family. This includes people you are related to by blood and those friends who are close enough to be blood. These are the people who if they were any closer you would have to share the same skin. Not all relatives are found in the second circle, nor are all friends. These are the people who know all your deepest secrets. When you are trying to save the world, these are the people you think of first: Your parents, your spouse, your children, your siblings, your closest friends. The decision between helping your second circle and someone else should be simple. This might mean cancelling a patrol because your child is sick. It might mean taking a few weeks off from RLSH activities because

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a parent is in the hospital. I might mean postponing something for an hour so you can go help your best friend when his junky old car leaves him stranded somewhere. When you put these people first in your priorities, they will return the favor. And that helps YOU to be better able to do what it is that you do. THIRD CIRCLE The third circle is two parts: 1) Your extended friends and family 2) Your neighborhood These are people you have a bond with in some way. Distant relative, old friends, acquantances, former co-workers, and neighbors are people with whom you have a mild familiarity if not a strong relationship. However, this minor connection gives you an opening to be helpful to them. Imagine an elderly person falls down in front of you. You rush to their aid, but they refuse and possibly become combattive because they don’t know you. I’ve had it happen to me. Now imagine that same person falls, but someone else rushes up to them and offers to help…only this time its someone they know. “You’re Bob’s son?” The elderly person says as they are helped back to their feet. The connection here allows you a little more freedom than a complete stranger. Photo, kryptonradio.com

When you return that night, you will find it much easier to patrol if you know the area already. Let me give an example of WHY this is a good idea. Several years ago I was working security at a hospital. One of the posts I worked was a building that was under construction. The building had no lights and I would have to navigate through a maze of tools, supplies, and half finished projects every night using just my mini mag light to make sure the building was secure. One night I was making my rounds with the flashlight on the ground watcing for trip hazards when I walked into a piece of duct work that was hanging low in the center of the room. The workers left it dangling about 5 feet off the ground at the end of the day which put it right at face level for me. I was moving at a pretty good pace when I smashed into this duct with my face. My feet kept going and my back met the hard concrete floor before I realized what had happened. After regaining my senses, I finished my rounds and went back to the security office. My partner then informed me that I had blood on my face. They checked me out and found no major injury, just a minor scrape that bled a little. I did a report about the accident/injury and wrote it in the pass-down log. Later that night my partner was making rounds in the same building and almost ran into the same duct. The only reason he missed was because he knew to watch for it. He knew what had happened to me and still almost ran into it. Had I known to watch for it, I might not have crashed into it that night. Now imagine if you were trying to run away from or after someone in the dark and you didnt know about a particular obstacle…You don’t want to run face first into a low hanging duct during a life or death situation. Research crime rates in the areas you are partolling. Know the bar schedules. Keep a list of emergency numbers in your cell phone. And most of all. Let someone know where you are. If something bad happens then someone needs to know where to start looking for you.

The neighborhood is included in this because the connection between you and where you live is just as important. You live there and as a result you become familiar with things there. You know which cars belong and which ones do not. You know the people who live there. Its the easiest area to learn because you are always there. It was this familiarity that led to my stopping a murder attempt last year. Hows that for impact. FOURTH CIRCLE The fourth circle would be the city and county in which you live. This is where you reach random people, but still have a familiarity with the area. The fifth circle would be the counties surrounding you. These are areas you are less familiar with, but still close enough to make a difference occasionally

The Dark Knight joined Wonder Woman and Spiderman at Georgetown where their superhero powers comforted children fighting lifethreatening illnesses.

THE SIXTH CIRCLE The sixth circle is your state, or a states sized area around where you reside. For example – a RLSH in Texarkana Arkansas would count parts of Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma in his sixth circle. When you start spreading out into these areas you are going to be in areas that are sometimes familiar but often times not. This is an area where you will face more problems and have less ability to make a difference. THE SEVENTH CIRCLE The seventh circle would be your nation – You still have some freedom to operate in your own country. Your influence here is probably not that great. And your efforts here are not going to gather results nearly as fast. THE FINAL CIRCLE And the final circle – is the rest of the world. Extending yourself beyond the borders of your nation will stretch you to amazing lengths. Your impact on these areas will most likely not be very great. It will take a great deal of difficulty to make a difference at this level.1

1. Real Life Superheroes. (2011) Concentric Circles of Influence for the RLSH Accessed April 4. http://www. reallifesuperheroes.org/2011/10/08/6074/

Influence · Environment

Green Superheroes Superheroes have for many years fought for causes and faced up to threats that are too large, too complicated or too politically sensitive for us to stand up to in real life. This way they provide a great sense of escapism, of wish fulfillment and of inspiration, and they provide a great influence in some cases on how we live our lives.

Back then though, going green was not as much of a hot topic and there was much less understanding about global warming or the energy crisis. In Superman 4 though, Christopher Reeves made a statement on world peace (with eco-consequences) by confiscating the world’s nuclear arsenal and launching them into space (reportedly Christopher Reeves’ own idea). This was taken further when Superman later fought a nemesis by the name of Nuclear Man. Interestingly this behavior directly went against the rules and laws that the Superman franchise set for him in the first film – that he could not interfere with the larger affairs of man. To do so would be to impose his will on us and to therefore mis-use his powers. This is a stance taken by many superheroes, which is perhaps why there are relatively few green superheroes. One superhero who has tackled the subject more head-on in recent times though is Iron Man – perhaps one of the more surprising green superheroes. Iron Man’s alter-ego Tony Stark is an inventive genius who uses his incredible intellect to tackle the world’s problems. Under writer Matt Fraction’s reigns, Tony Stark has taken it up himself to provide the

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Photos/Tree Song, http://treesong.org

In these moments superheroes transcend their medium and become something bigger, using their iconic status to interpret and even direct the course of real world events. Thus it only makes sense that heroes should take on board one of the biggest issues of the 21st century and look at the environment. So what do green superheroes have to say about global warming and other eco-issues. There are many green superheroes in terms of color. The Green Lantern for instance, Green Arrow, The Incredible Hulk and Swamp Thing. Part of the reason for this was that in those days, green superheroes were easy and cheap to color, and would stand out against the other colors on the page (also the reason that almost every female Marvel character had red hair). These green superheroes had nothing really to do with the environment – though Green Arrow had a decidedly eco-friendly origin story as he learned to work with his surroundings for survival when stranded on an island. This story was re-told most recently in the TV series Smallville.

world with free clean energy having invented such a power source; the ‘repulsor’. He starts by targeting car manufacturers and by creating his own vehicle for public consumption called the ‘Stark Resilient’. He is certainly one of the more proactive green superheroes, but as is the nature of any comic he is not without those trying to scupper his plans. Another superhero whose whole schtick was about being good to the planet was star of a Saturday morning children’s cartoon somewhat before his time. ‘Captain Planet’ was one of the green superheroes, and drew his power from the Earth itself in order to prevent pollution and corruption of his home. Many other characters in comics such as Swamp Thing, Wonder Woman and Namor have dealt with issues surrounding pollution and global warming – and all superheroes are green superheroes in a way.1

1. Enjoy Going Green. (2011) Green Superheroes Accessed March 21. http://www.enjoygoinggreen.com/all/ green-superheroes/

Self-perception · quotes

Self-perception As a conclusion to many articles I read most superheroes just want to help others. They don’t see themselves as famous or more important than others. They want to inspire others to do good. Below you see some quotes from Real Life Superheroes about how they see themselves.

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THE MOON KNIGHT

“Those who are in need, I will come to your aid. Those who need a hand, I will be your hand. Though I wear the uniform of a superhero, i do not see myself as one. I just see myself as one of the few in this world who takes a stand for the right thing, and to be a symbol in hopes that others will see hope and do the right thing. My statement, stand up for the right thing and defend the innocent when there is no one to defend them. Dont wait for someone else to act, be someones hero.” 1

GEIST

“I am just a guy trying to help. And that’s important for others to know that it could be them helping instead of me. Any of us can help others whether we wear a costume or not.”

ARSENUL

“I just want to be remembered by the current real life superheroes. I believe in reincarnation and I would love to be reincarnated and research Arsenul RLSH and just smile at how my past life was. It’s something that makes me smile on the inside. I also want others to know that I’m not a complete weapons gun. I really don’t like fighting but if I have to, then I will take someone down and arrest them.”

ARTISTEROI GADGETEER

“A smart helper and trusted mentor.”

1. Real Life Superheroes. (2011) SUMMARY-MOONKNIGHT Accessed March 20. http://board. reallifesuperheroes.org/?vasthtmlaction=profile&id=434

Photo/Citizen Change, pierreeliedepibrac

Photo/Good Samaritan, pierreeliedepibrac

Interviews · Stéphanie Estournet

Interviews Under cover of darkness, Chaim Lazaros works the streets of New York City disguised as Life, a real life superhero with a mission to help the homeless. He’s not alone. The U.S. is now home to some 300 wannabe urban vigilantes determined to help their fellow citizens. INTERVIEW WITH A SUPERHERO: A RABBI’S SON TRANSFORMS INTO A MASKED CRUSADER By Stéphanie Estournet

MAXÉVILLE -- I have to admit that going into the interview I found the whole situation more than a bit amusing. But now that I’m actually here, at the Totem – an abandoned brewery in Maxéville, near Nancy, in the east of France – I realize I’m already letting my imagination run a bit wild. I almost expect to see Batman jump off the main building’s brick chimney. Or Spiderman dangling from his web behind an old billboard near that bright yellow wall. The person who pops out instead is Chaim Lazaros, a laid-back looking 26-year-old armed with a netbook, a boyish smile and distinct New York accent. Lazaros is a freelance film and radio producer. He’s also a real-life superhero (RLSH). Once a week, he transforms himself into “Life,” a dogooder character of his own creation. The transformation begins, of course, with a superhero costume – in this case a white shirt, dark trousers and a black domino mask. Lazaros then heads to the streets of New York, where he can be seen – in summer and winter alike – talking to the homeless and distributing toothbrushes, teeshirts and socks. Most of all, he gives the down-and-out “something human,” he adds while putting his hand over mine. The gesture makes quite an impression – message received. “He gives them advice about hygiene, but as for the rest, I don’t know

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what he tells them,” says photographer Pierre-Elie de Pibrac, who followed the RLSH for two months in the United States. “Life remains extremely discreet about it. But he does take the time to talk to them.” The whole thing is reminiscent of post-9/11 stories, of heroes rising from the ashes like those Jay McInerney described in The Good Life. “They are inspired by firemen, Red Cross volunteers,” says Pierre-Elie de Pibrac. But unlike traditional philanthropists who wear casual clothes or mandatory uniforms, Chaim Lazaros has chosen to go about his benevolent business in costume. Life’s superhero look was inspired by the masked vigilante called Green Hornet. Lazaros, a practicing Jew, was also inspired by his parents. “My father is a rabbi and my mother a nurse, so I was almost destined to disguise myself to do good.” Lazaros says the disguise helps people see him not as a particular person. Instead they “look at what I stand for,” he says. “Here’s what matters: when I put on my costume, I leave evil in the closet. And when someone who’s not an English-speaker sees me, he knows I’m not a threat. They think it’s funny, and it creates a bond.” The making of a movement Lazaros discovered the RLSH movement by chance about five years ago – on the Internet. At the time, America’s real life super heroes hadn’t yet gained much attention. Lazaros went about linking up with other RLSHs and created a website called superheroesanonymous.com in an attempt to take a nationwide census of urban super heroes. “As of today, there are about 300 of us in the United States. The numbers have increased significantly over the past few years.” They come in all shapes and sizes -- with all sorts of missions. Some try to prevent violent crimes by dismantling drug cartels, for example. Others

Photo/Life, pierreeliedepibrac

tackle poverty. One particularly patriotic hero named DC Guardian travels the United States preaching “American values” and the essential principles of the Constitution. Another RLSH, Direction Man, uses an arsenal of maps to help out lost tourists. But even the most experienced superheroes can find themselves in tricky – and even dangerous – situations. “You have to understand that homeless people don’t have anything to protect,” Lazaros says. “They only have themselves. So when we feel threatened, we just step back and lay low. I don’t have any weapon, obviously.” What about the police then? How do they react to these caped crimefighters? “That’s the thing: We’re not crime-fighters,” Lazaros explains. “If I witness a crime, I call 911. As long as we obey the law and stay true to our humanitarian role, everything’s fine.” Lazaros is now at the core of

what looks more and more like a genuine movement. Real life superheroes even have an annual convention. They also have some influential fans, like photographer Peter Tangen, who worked on Christopher Nolan’s Batman movies. Tangen cowrote The 12 Steps To Superheroism, a list of rules modeled after the well-known Alcoholics Anonymous program. “We’ve been organizing gatherings every month for a year now. We meet up to talk about what our philosophy entails. Then we brainstorm about costumes for our new volunteers,” says Lazaros. That would make him a trainer, in addition to being a crusader, webmaster and spokesperson. One thing he’s not, however, is a leader. “A superhero’s only master is his own conscience. That’s the reason why I’m not part of any registered charity,” he says. “Like every RLSH, I’m my own boss.”1

1. Worldcrunch. ( 2011) INTERVIEW WITH A SUPERHERO: A RABBI’S SON TRANSFORMS INTO A MASKED CRUSADER Accessed March 19. http://worldcrunch.com/interview-superhero-rabbis-son-transforms-maskedcrusader/4188

Interviews · Dvora Meyers

If they ask, “Why are you helping us?” I just have to point to my mask and say, “Because I’m a superhero.’’ REPAIR INTERVIEW: A SUPERHERO UNMASKED By Dvora Meyers

Superheroes Anonymous began in 2007 when Ben Goldman saw a flyer in a comic book shop, which advertised a meeting for real-life superheroes. He and Chaim Lazaros, who were then Columbia University film students, had been searching for a project and decided to do a documentary about average people who put on costumes and perform service around their respective communities — whether it is keeping the streets clean, patrolling to ensure safety or reaching out to homeless people. They found many of these real life “superheroes” on the Internet through their Myspace profiles. The pair convened the “superheroes” in New York’s Time Square in 2007, which also marked the founding of Goldman and Lazaros’ group, Superheroes Anonymous. And it was at this meeting that Lazaros, now 26 years old, first appeared as his superhero alter ego, “Life” though in his unmasked day-to-day activities, works at a nonprofit and lives in Harlem. Why did you decide to bring all the Superheroes together? We started doing this documentary on them for real life superheroes but we didn’t have the resources…I got the idea of bringing all the superheroes together for a meeting. I figured that if I did that, I would could make this contribution to the real life superhero community and at the same time I could make a documentary in a day. I wanted to have a conference because in the press these people have been thrown off, treated like they were crazy. I wanted to show people that it was a positive movement. Why did you assume “Life” as you superhero name? And can you talk about your costume? Life is the Hebrew translation of my name. [As for the costume] what I do is very organizational. I had to sit down with Times Square Alliance guys and government representatives. And I had to pull off this thing off and not have them laugh me out of the room. My costume is very classic super-

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hero, like those first early superheroes. It’s not spandex and a cape. It’s not ridiculous, it’s not silly. If I go and sit down with lawyers, I can take off the mask and it’s almost like I’m wearing a business suit. I was looking for something very functional and utilitarian, something based on superhero iconography but not too flashy. I’m a jeans and t-shirt type guy. Why did you choose homeless outreach as your superhero mission? That’s what I could be most effective at. There’s all this talk in the real life superhero community about going out on neighborhood watch type crime patrols. But New York is a very safe city but we do have a huge problem with — and it’s only gotten worse since the Great Recession hit — homelessness. People needed help. I started going over to homeless people with grain bars. They would say, ‘Hey man, do you have a pair of socks? Or a shaving blade?’ I’d get them deodorant or soap. I eventually learned what homeless people needed the most because it’s not actually food. There are a lot of places where homeless people can get food. It’s actually a lot of these other things we take for granted, like toiletries. On a given night, I go to Coalition for the Homeless drop off points where they give out food. Homeless people tend to congregate in very specific areas and at very specific times. I know these areas and I know these times and I’ll get there early when they’re waiting for the truck. And I will talk to them and give them whatever goodies I might have. Do the costumes help outreach efforts? They definitely help. They draw attention to the cause. The reason why we use the iconography of the superhero-and I only realized this after doing it for many years — is because it is an immediately recognizable symbol of good. I can be dealing with these Mexican homeless dudes and if they ask, “Why are you helping us?” I just have to point to my mask and say, “Because I’m a superhero.” It’s immediately understood. Even the smallest child knows that a superhero does good. I’m not representing a government agency. I’m not trying to get them into a shelter. I don’t have quotas, I don’t have a boss. I’m just there to help them out and provide whatever I can. The iconography of superheroes allows me to do this. How many people are involved and what sort of things does

Photo/Life, Superhero Anonymous

Superheroes Anonymous do as a group? About 250, majority men. I’d say the ratio of men to women is 70/30. We’ve had crime patrols, toy drops at the children’s hospital. A concert to raise money for a shelter, food drives, self-defense classes. We just got back from Portland, where we gave blood, did a coat drive, worked in a soup kitchen and did a CPR certification with the Red Cross. We’ve been having these monthly meetings our costume creation workshops. They take place in Spacecraft Brooklyn, which is in Williamsburg. It’s a crafting place where they can make anything. Basically it’s this forum for people who are all levels of real life superhero-ness to get together.

Life at a Superhero Anonymous meeting. Speeking in front of 30 aspiring superheroes in attendance

It’s a really casual environment where you can sit down and ask a person — what do you want to accomplish? How do you want to represent yourself? They can totally come in with ideas for their uniform and start making stuff right there. At these meetings, I’ve given out homeless outreach supplies and spoken about safe and effective homeless outreach. What do you have planned for the future? I have a lawyer — we’re assembling a board — founding legit 501c3 nonprofit so we can get monetary donations.1

1. Repair The World. (2010) Repair Interview: A Superhero Unmasked Accessed March 20. http://werepair.org/ blog/repair-interview-a-superhero-unmasked/3281

Interviews · Murray

“ I am not insane. I am sincerely committed to being the masked hero.” CAPTAIN AUSTRALIA REAL LIFE SUPERHERO INTERVIEW By Murray

Captain Australia tell me about your blog and what you are doing? I use my blog to keep a public journal of my experiences as a masked crime fighter. In September of this year, I decided to assume the identity of “Captain Australia”, and set out to fight evil. That’s essentially my goal, to fight evil in all it’s forms, criminality, deceit and apathy. The blog sets out my experiences and invites open participation from visitors, in the hope that my example will inspire others. I am going to ask it here so you can deal with it, lots of people must thing you’re a little strange, wired or this is a hoxe website, what do you say to cynics? (This is an extreme version of the challenge that every company has in proving that they really are good a the services they deliver.) I’ll start by saying this: I am not insane. (Of course, most people who use that phrase can be relied on to be barking mad lunatics). I am sincerely committed to being the masked hero, Captain Australia. Credibility is something that I have thought about alot, and I’ve posed this question to myself a number of times in my journal, the excerpt below pretty much explains where I stand, but it’s definitely not a hoax, not a game or a joke. I’m concerned about my credibility, and I want you to understand that this is not a joke. I believe that society is slowly eating itself, but the cannibalism is reversible. I am putting my own personal safety on the line, making a stand against this slow erosion of social values. I’m trying to fight crime, depression and apathy: I am trying to be your hero, and I am completely serious. Captain Australia why did you start your blog and who do you want to communicate with? My mission is simple: 1) patrol my city (and cities I visit) to intimidate the criminal element, thus preventing crime 2) investigate and solve any crimes I become aware of, directly intervene if I witness criminal activity 3) engage in constructive social work, donating my time to suitable chari-

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ties or directly helping homeless (or anyone that I feel I can reach out to and help) 4)inspire people with my courage & righteousness, aspire to a level of moral excellence that will serve as an example to people who become aware of my activities As I worked out my mission, I realised that being in the public eye was important, as was gaining credibility, making people understand how deeply serious I am about what I’m trying to do. That’s why I keep my journal public – it contains all my worries, thoughts and musings. I’m on a Quest, but I don’t have a map: my journal also helps me adjust my moral compass, and work out which path to take. (And hopefully invites readers to give me advice, or share information on criminal activity). What kinds of feedback do you get via your blog? So far, readership is fairly small. The daily average is around 60- 80 visitors, primarily in my home city, Brisbane. (This as a result of handing interested people ‘calling cards’ while I’m out on crime patrol). Interestingly, the stats indicate people stay for an average of 8 minutes – but so far not many comment. As I’ve realised that I should try to use the web to connect to more people, I’ve found more comments on my site – including a couple of local musicians who wrote me a theme song. I do have the occassional challenger: for example I posted on a blog of a brave young Aussie named Jessica Watson who is aiming to be the youngest person (15) to sail around the world. I applauded her courage and cautioned her to be wary about disclosing her exact position, considering indonesian pirates, etc .. this man came to my site from there and ranted that I should not have made a post like that. But after an exchange of views, he left a remark along the lines of “I understand now .. you really are a hero. I’m sorry” Captain Australia you contacted me for an interview, tell me more about your blogger outreach program? You’re probably giving me too much credit there, Murray. I’m not interested in money, so my basic goal is to spread my message, and as I’ve noticed people visiting my journal from around the world, I’ve realised that I should not just focus on my home city. Although to fight crime I need my strength, agility and martial skills – to inspire people, and to share my ideals – all I need is a computer and an internet connection. So basically, I’ve been browsing around, and participating in online dialogue in blogs that I like, trying to spread my message. I won’t compromise my secret identity

Photo/Captain Australia, vapersforum.com

by giving too much detail, but I’d actually looked at your blog previously, out of professional interest: so I thought I’d reach out. How successful has your blogger outreach program been? Well, as the Carpenters once sang “We’ve only just begun…”. I have noticed that since doing some active blogging this weekend, I’m attracting about 20 additional visitors per day. So I think I’m on the right track. Do you use any social media monitoring tools such as Google alerts? Actually, no. I’m trying to learn as much as I can, to be as effective as possible (while at the same time balancing some intensive physical training, my alter-ego working life, my home life, and a night study course I’m doing on first aid). With respect to the internet, I’m kind of learning as I go – so far I’m using my Blog, YouTube, Twitter & Google Analytics.

What have you found works best when contacting bloggers? I don’t have enough experience yet to say. As I browse around, I’ll be honest: I see a lot of superficial regurgitation. I’d theorise then, that in order to get a result, you should base your online communication just as you would your RL : be genuine and honest – try to cut through the bull. Who would you like to hear from? I’d be very happy to engage anyone who is interested in what I’m doing, I’m interested to take on-board all feedback, positive and negative. Anyone who looks at my blog/journal will see that I’m working this out as I go along, and often grapple with trying to find the best approach. What is one thing people can do for you? Learn about my mission. If it resonates with you – spread my message. 1

1. Murray Newlands. (2009) Csptain Australia Real Life Superhero An Interview Accessed March 19. http://www. murraynewlands.com/2009/10/captain-australia-real-life-superhero/

Interviews · By Michael Wilkerson

“ In the fictional world, Crossfire the Crusader is a superhero powerd by the Holy Spirit.” INTERVIEW WITH REAL LIFE SUPERHERO CROSSFIRE THE CRUSADER By Michael Wilkerson

Please introduce yourself. This could be a long answer. I am known by many names. I am Crossfire the Crusader, but Crossfire is only one of my personas. I am a children’s entertainer and I appear publicly as Gizmoe the Clown, Gilroy the Jester, Jack Rabbit the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus, as well as Crossfire the Crusader. (My real name is not a secret, but I prefer not to release unless necessary.) How did Crossfire the Crusader come about? I first devised the character that would become Crossfire when I was working with children in our church. I wanted a costumed character that was easy to change into and out of in the middle of a service. A superhero seemed the natural choice. For months I tossed around ideas for this character but never followed through on the ideas. The character went through several incarnations during this planning time. At one point he was going to be called Turtle Man. Later I changed the name to Good Guy. I even tested the idea of having him on roller blades and calling him Holy Roller. But through all that, the character remained a series of sketches and notes in my folders. Then I had the opportunity to audition for a reality show called “WHO WANTS TO BE A SUPER HERO.” I got serious about creating this character and ultimately decided on the name Crossfire the Crusader. After the auditions I began to look for opportunities to use the new character. I began attending charity events and church functions as Crossfire the Crusader and eventually found my way into the Real Life Superhero (RLSH) community. I have since operated mainly as a charity hero and hero support. I do want to point out one thing…Of all the characters I appear as, Crossfire is the only one I refuse to accept pay for. When I suit up as Crossfire I do so to serve the world. The other characters (Gizmoe, Gilroy, etc) are “for hire” and the money I earn in those personas is used to fund the activities of Crossfire. Tell me all about Crossfire the Crusader.

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Crossfire the Crusader was originally devised as a teaching tool. The costume is based on the Armor of God verses found in the book of Ephesians. At the time of the auditions I literally had enough items on the utility belt and costume that I could have taught a year worth of children’s church lessons. In the fictional world, Crossfire the Crusader is a superhero powered by the Holy Spirit. The power manifests in the form of Holy Fire which gives Crossfire super powers like flight, super strength, and much more. I hope someday to turn the fictional stories I have written for Crossfire into a series of comics that can be sold to help raise money for charity. Since taking Crossfire into the real world, I have had to modify the costume. I am currently upgrading the armor form the costume I auditioned in to a more functional armor that will actually be able to protect me from harm if necessary. Some items like my sword and shield were originally just stage props and have been replaced with more functional items. The sword is being replaced with a practice blade…I don’t want to cut anyone and it’s still mostly ceremonial. I am also involved in a one year fitness challenge to get myself in better shape for work on the streets. Each week I host a blog talk radio show called SUPERHERO ACADEMY in which I and other members of the RLSH community discuss ways to impact the world for the better. I maintain three blogs – The Crossfire Academy for Superheroes, Fire by Knight, and The Superhero Bible Study – as well as being a blogger on the RLSH.org website. Where do you fight crime? I operate out of Central Arkansas, but, I’m not actually a crime fighter. My focus is more directed to what I call street ministry. I feel it’s better to focus my efforts on helping people than fighting crime. What that means is when I go out to do something I am more concerned with the needs of those around than actually trying to seek out and capture criminals. In doing this, I have encountered my fair share of crime. I have a background in private security and have worked in the prison system, so I am prepared when I have to intervene in a situation. I have stopped fights, assaults, and even an attempted murder…all of which when out of costume. The costume/armor is used only for special occasions like charity events. Tell me about one of your times fighting crime. The incident that comes to mind is the day I stopped the murder. I wasn’t on patrol when it happened. I was actually trying to get some sleep be-

cause I had to work in a few hours. I had just drifted off when I heard the commotion across the hall. I knew immediately what was going on. Our neighbor had been attacked a few days earlier by her ex- boyfriend and we were watching to make sure he didn’t return. I grabbed a pair of running shorts and my nightstick and ran across the hall to help. As I stepped out the door I instructed another neighbor to call the police. I banged on the door with my nightstick and told them to let me in. My neighbor opened the door and said “help us.” She had been cut on one hand and blood was running down her arm. I ran in and found her boyfriend and the fiancé locked together on the couch. The boyfriend had the ex pinned to the couch and was fighting to keep from getting cut by a huge knife the ex was wielding. The knife had actually penetrated the boyfriend’s tee shirt and scratched his skin but had not yet cut him. I shoved my nightstick between the blade and the boyfriends’ chest and told the ex to release the knife. For a moment the ex seemed as if he was going to comply. I told the girlfriend to try and reach in to get the knife while held the baton between them. When she did, the ex grabbed the knife again. I then pulled the nightstick out and placed it on his forehead and ordered him “drop the knife NOW!” He released the knife and put his hands out to the side as if to surrender. We then wrested him to the floor and waited for the police to arrive. I gave a full statement to the police afterward and the ex boyfriend was taken into custody. He eventually was sentenced to twenty years in prison for the attack. What does it mean to be a Real Life Superhero? A Real Life Superhero (RLSH) is a person who has adopted a separate persona for the purpose of trying to make the world a better place. Some RLSH are crime fighters; others are charity workers; and others do a little of both. The one thing they have in common is a desire to help make the world a better place and a creativity that manifests itself in their methods – like the costumes.

What other superheroes do you know? I know quite a few. I am a moderator on one of the major RLSH message boards, and host of a popular RLSH blog talk radio show. As a result of those two, I have made many friendships with people in the RLSH community. Odds are if you find a person in the community, then I know them or they know of me. Those closest to me go by the names, Silver Sentinel, Skyman, Midnight Detective, Amazonia, Golden Valkyrie, Superhero, Master Legend, Artisteroi, Dark Wolf, & Lunar Veil…and I could go on for a while naming those I consider friends, acquaintances, and even a few friendly rivals. Did you make your superhero suit yourself? Yes I did…I did have some help sewing. My mother assisted me in creating the original Crossfire suit. I have since made small upgrades on my own. The current upgrade project will replace the breastplate portion of my costume with a Roman style Lorica Segmatta armor which will provide me a higher degree of protection from harm. What would you like to say in closing? I know most people look at a costumed activist like me and perhaps chuckle…most laugh right out. But in the past few years, since donning this super suit, I have been able to help raise funds for the Make-a Wish foundation, Heart Heroes, The Salvation Army, and for a four year old child who was battling cancer. I’ve helped find a power wheelchair for a lady who could not afford one. I’ve helped several people find their way off the street, into jobs and homes. I’ve stopped assaults and a murder attempt, and even cleaned up a motel that was overrun with drug dealers and addicts. It’s been tough at times, but I wouldn’t give anything for this journey. I would encourage anyone to follow my simple three step plan to becoming a successful superhero. 1) Find a need. 2) Find a way to meet that need. And 3) Be creative and have fun while doing it. And please, tune into my show SUPERHERO ACADEMY every Sunday Afternoon at 5pm US Central time. SUPERHERO ACADEMY is a place where we all have something to teach and we all have things to learn…We’re overcoming the negative in the world by strengthening the positive.1

Do you feel the world needs more superheroes? Yes. I do. The world needs people who will step up and try to make a difference. Superheroes do just that and while doing that, they also inspire others to do the same.

1. Blastzone Online. (2011) Interview With Real Life Superhero Crossfire The Crusader Accessed March 18. http:// blastzoneonline.wordpress.com/2011/10/14/interview-with-real-life-superhero-crossfire-the-crusader/

Interviews · By Michael Wilkerson

“ I feel the world needs more real superheroes.” INTERVIEW WITH REAL LIFE SUPERHERO IRONHEAD By Michael Wilkerson

Please introduce yourself. My name is Iron Head and I am one of the members of the southern branch of the Black Monday Society How did Ironhead come about? I’ve always had this fantasy ever since I was a child but figured that it was just idiotic to attempt. Then I saw a news article about an RLSH in another state who did the same thing so I figured, “hey, if he does it, why not me?” so I did some research and found the RLSH community through multiple websites and I became acquainted with the Black Monday Society. I went on a few patrols with them and about four months later, I was welcomed in as a new member. Tell me all about Ironhead. My Iron Head persona comes from my love of heavy metal music. The name, is taken from a song by Rob Zombie who is my favorite musician. My outfit almost looks like something you would see in a heavy metal music video. Lots of black, and spikes everywhere. I would say the influences that helped create this particular incarnation of Iron Head are: Judas Priest (band), Ghost Rider, Mick Thompson (guitar player in Slipknot), Alice Cooper, and the Punisher. Where do you fight crime? When I patrol with the Black Monday Society, we are usually patrolling downtown Salt Lake or Ogden. I go on my own solo patrols in my home neighborhood of Kearns. Tell me about one of your times fighting crime. I haven’t stumbled onto anything particularly eventful while on patrol with the Black Monday Society but I have stopped someone from getting attacked in my neighborhood. He was sprinting like Satan was after him and there was a group of about four men after him. I intercepted and upon seeing me, they got kind of freaked out and backed off ha ha. One tried to attack me for letting their would have been victim get away. He tried to hit me but I simply blocked it and his fist ended up striking my multi-spiked wristband which I wear on both forearms. After seeing how much pain I

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caused their comrade, and how determined I was in my cause, they left. The man who was being chased thanked me and he was able to return home safely. What does it mean to be a Real Life Superhero? Being a real life superhero means standing up when no one else will. Not giving in to the bystander effect and actually taking initiative. It also means being a role model and symbol to those who look up to you. When you put on that mask, the multitudes are watching and you have to be a better person than who you are. It means helping your fellow man in need and just being an example to others. Do you feel the world needs more superheroes? I feel the world needs more REAL superheroes. What I mean by that is, there is a huge amount of individuals in this movement but not all of them are legit or true. A huge number of them just want to hop on the band wagon to gain attention from the media or use the mask and try to pick up on women. They abuse the term real life super hero and it makes me sick when someone claims to be a hero but have intentions that the polar opposite of it. What other superheroes do you know? I know all of the Black Monday Society naturally. I’ve also become acquainted with the Lake Town Vigilantes who are another RLSH group here in Utah. I am also good friends with a solo Utah RLSH named Gear and another one from Missouri named Voodoo who I am also good friends with. Did you make your superhero suit yourself? Most of it no. Nihilist, the leader of the north branch of the Black Monday Society, gave me some old garbs of his he no longer wore. Then he gave me some spray paint and fabric glue and told me to give the outfit my own special touch. So I took off the shoulder and leg plates that were originally on them and replaced them with spikes and studs. I designed my mask but Red Voltage made it. I am however, designing a new one and Nihilist is going to assist me in making it so I can make my own gear in the future. What would you like to say in closing? I would like to close with wishing you a great day from the Black Monday Society and stay safe! Also ROCK ON!1

1. Blastzone Online. (2011) Interview With Real Life Superhero Ironhead Accessed March 18. http:// blastzoneonline.wordpress.com/2011/10/23/interview-with-real-life-superhero-ironhead

“ The name came about because of my eyes.” INTERVIEW WITH REAL LIFE SUPERHERO BLUE

Yes I feel we need more super heroes. You can never have enough good deeds done for others.

By Michael Wilkerson

Please introduce yourself. Hi I’m Blue and I’m a real life super hero from Minnesota. How did Blue come about? My name came about as a nick name from three children who lost their dad in a car crash. I was friends with their mother at work. The name came about because of my eyes. The mother had married an abusive man shortly after the death of her husband. I wanted the children to have a male role model. Tell me all about Blue. The key to being blue is protecting children and standing for the American Flag. Standing for what is right with justice, loyalty, and perseverance. I visit children in hospitals, try to support and be a roll model for the kids in the local area, do several homeless/shelf drop offs to both shelters and people. I put up posters when I have time to support safe driving.

What other superheroes do you know? So many it would take me way to long to type them all. My closest are Geist, Razor Hawk, Arctic Knight, Misery White, Sting Ray. All members of the Great Lakes Alliance in the state of Minnesota. Tell me about a day in your life. Most part here I’m a typical geek (watch the Big Bang Theory TV show). I work I come home I play games, collect action figures, practice martial arts, try to work out when I can, search for new ways to help people using the internet, read newspapers and see if anyone needs help in any way I can assist when I have the resources. I’m very close to my friends and family. Did you make your superhero suit yourself? I have two outfits, One I made and the other Razor Hawk made. What would you like to say in closing? Remember you never have to be blue because I will be blue for you. Stay safe kids.2

Where do you fight crime? Twin cities and near my home that is 3 hours away from the twin cities is where I patrol. I sometimes will just patrol a random city in my state. I do both charity and crime fighting. Because of the winter months and my location, charity is most often done. During two of my times out I was able to do a heroic deed. Once after coming home from a patrol I saved a little 4 or 5 year old girl from getting hit by traffic on her bicycle. I got her out of the road by asking her to race me back to her home and I shielded her as I followed her a block and a half away from the road she was on. The second incident was a drug deal going on in Minneapolis where I was with Razor Hawk and my fiancée Misery White. We reported the crime to the police. Police did come and patrol the area for whatever was going on. This Christmas I was able to do a pretty good toy run for kids. What does it mean to be a Real Life Superhero? B: To me being a real life super hero is just being available to the public and doing awesome good deeds to help people who are in need. Do you feel the world needs more Superheroes?

2. Blastzone Online. (2011) Interview With Real Life Superhero Blue Accessed March 18. http://blastzoneonline. wordpress.com/2012/01/02/interview-with-real-life-superhero-blue/

Interviews · By Michael Wilkerson

“ Police work, firefighting, life guarding, they are all helpful, we take them for granted without even really thinking about what they do.’’ INTERVIEW WITH REAL LIFE SUPERHERO MOON KNIGHT By Michael Wilkerson

Please introduce yourself. Hello, I am Moon Knight, a Chicago based Real Life Superhero. I have always wanted to help people, but in my own way. Police work, firefighting, life guarding, they are all helpful, but we take them for granted without even really thinking about what they do. I think it was in a Peoples magazine. There was a article About superheroes in real life. This naturally intrigued me, and this is what planted the actual idea in my head. Years later I frequently cosplayed as my favorite comic book character, Moon Knight. Tell me all about Moon Knight. Moon Knight is just my second skin, a symbol that can bring awareness to issues and get people to think. Everything I express and do as moon knight is in hopes that others will ask questions. I mean, when you see someone helping pick up trash, you would most likely think about it for two minutes and then it would escape your mind. Crime prevention is only part of My message, but it is a big part of it. Tell me about one of your times fighting crime. My most memorable experience as a RlSH was my first meeting with the police .time I was in the city, I got a few of my friends together(non RLSH) and had them dress up with me to go try and paint over some graffiti, it didn’t take police very long to show up to ask questions, but it was the way they handled it that made it memorable. I felt insulted when the officer told us that we were doing his job, and that we would be arrested if we continued dressing up and do good deeds. I was still a naive hero at that time and did not know all the ordinances for town. Eventually we were taken to the station and held for a short time to answer some questions, Friendly questions. What does it mean to be a Real Life Superhero?

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Officially, a Real Life Superhero is a individual who dresses up in in a costume and goes around doing good trying to make the world a better place. But the term “Superhero” can mean different things to different people. Some believe that superheroes are Police and doctors, while others believe that to be a superhero you must fight crime and have powers. To me, a RLSH is a average person who can make a positive difference in his community. What other superheros do you know? The team I work with in cook county consists of two other RLSH, Abyss and Seraph. Last summer I had the chance to meet up with many other A list heroes at HOPE, a homeless outreach program set up by Razorhawk. Many heroes from around the country where there, including many A list heroes such as Geist, DCs Guardian, Mr Extreme, Superhero, and Urban avenger. That was a great team up indeed. Did you make your superhero suit yourself? If you mean made by me then no. The suit that I wear now consists of ex riot armor and motorcycle armor that I bought off of ebay, the cape was custom made by a friend of mine. When I first started the superhero gimmick, I had only my cosplay moon knight outfit that only consisted of white spandex and my badly sewn cape/hood was made out of a blanket that I had been wearing to comic conventions for 2 years. So I browsed on ebay every night for good gear that I could buy and use. I did make some parts of my present day uniform, such as my crescent emblem. The crecent is detachable and can be used as a tool, in the right circumstances, it is just a piece of metal. What would you like to say in closing? The superhero community is bound by one common goal, to help others. We are people just like you trying to make the world a better place, one person at a time.determined I was in my cause, they left. The man who was being chased.1

1. Blastzone Online. (2011) Interview With Real Life Superhero Moon Knight Accessed March 18. http:// blastzoneonline.wordpress.com/2011/10/13/interview-with-real-life-superhero-moon-knight/

“ I took the name “Revenant” for many reasons. Not because I am undead, or a ghost, or anything supernatural.” INTERVIEW WITH REAL LIFE SUPERHERO REVENANT

It is not about media or fame, the goal is justice. Not a perfect world, but justice.

By Michael Wilkerson

Please introduce yourself. I am the Revenant, the hand of justice. I protect those who cannot protect themselves and offer a slight balance in the world.

Do you feel the world needs more superheroes? I believe that the world needs better moralities and judgement. If we had that, superheroes would not be needed as they are today. What other superheroes do you know? I have not met any other heroes in person, yet. I have not any others in my area aside from myself.

How did Revenant come about? When one can see such corruption and injustice firsthand as I have, you cannot shy away from becoming its arbiter of salvation.

Tell me about a day in your life. Most of my days are less than eventful. They consist mostly of bi-nightly patrols and investigations on ongoing crimes.

Tell me all about Revenant. I have been combating injustice for close to a year. I patrol mostly in the dusk of night, as to use the colors of my uniform to my advantage. Furthermore, more crime appears to occur in the later hours, so I may be there to prevent and protect. Took the name “Revenant” for many reasons. Not because I am undead, or a ghost, or anything supernatural. But because I show the reflections of the innocent whom have been murdered unfairly. I take the vengeance that they could not. Avenge them when they cannot themselves.

Did you make your superhero suit yourself? Yes, in fact, I did. It was made myself from what I had. I am planning more upgrades, but for now, I am to stay with my current uniform.2

Where do you fight crime? I patrol in a smaller city near Toronto, Ontario, known as Whitby. Tell me about one of your times fighting crime? In one of my patrols, I was stopped by a citizen in the dead of night. He was prepared to hit me with his car, but his friend had stopped him. He told me I looked not unlike the devil, and said that his area did not need protection. Several months later, there was a rape in the area they claimed was safe. What does it mean to be a Real Life Superhero? To be one who fights crime is a true service to the community. It is an honor that many cannot uphold. But those who do uphold it with passion.

2.Blastzone Online. (2011) Interview With Real Life Superhero Revenant Accessed March 18. http:// blastzoneonline.wordpress.com/2011/10/28/interview-with-real-life-superhero-revenant/

Interviews · By Michael Wilkerson

“ Lets all change the world for better.” INTERVIEW WITH REAL LIFE SUPERHERO RED VOLTAGE By Michael Wilkerson

Please introduce yourself. I am Red Voltage and I lead a group of Real life superheroes out of Salt Lake City called The Black Monday Society. We have been called the X-men of the real life superhero community, me getting compared to Cyclops as team lead, but we are much darker than that. With dark personas, dressed up in creepy and or villainous looking garb our look alone diffuses most situations. I joined the group in 2009, and the BMS started back in 2006. How did Red Voltage come about? Red Voltage the name comes from an odd place, I always like the superheroes who have their own mobile, like the bat mobile, or the bat pod. Stuff like that; I drive a red dodge charger and thought that red charger/red voltage worked nicely. In the beginning I normally went out with my stun baton which emits massive volts, not anymore, but that was also a contributor to the name. My first patrol was back in 2009 with Professor Midnight and the now retired Locust/Darkowl. This movement is something I feel fulfilled doing, and I feel is a calling in my life. I am in it for the love of justice and inspirational efforts. Who knows, if we all did something instead of sitting on our butts and being apathetic, and criticizing others for at least doing something positive , if we all did something, the world would be a much better place and people would be able to rely on one another in tough times. Tell me all about Red Voltage. Red Voltage is my superhero persona, but my every day life encompasses the same life beliefs in helping one another. Red Voltage is in an extravagant suit so that citizens in need and criminals alike know that this is the real deal. After all you show up in a superhero looking suit, its going to be a lot more memorable and stick in your brain, maybe just maybe enough to inspire others, that there are still good people in the world. Tell me about one of your times fighting crime. We really only had one close call. It was a night when we were only 2 men. Professor Midnight and I were walking down Main Street close to the trax station and we were about to cross the road when we heard some commotion. There was a fight between at least 5 guys, after a moment

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of gauging the situation, a bystander asked the “Superheroes” to help. Midnight ran towards the fight and the guy who started the fight took off on his weapon…his skate board headed towards the alleyway close by. I chased him down the alleyway, Midnight followed. The guy was hiding behind the dumpster and came out to talk with us, after deciding that we weren’t going to perform a citizens arrest because of his story. We let him go and went back to the site of the fight, where the police had arrived. We walked up and greeted the police they all shook our hands, thanked us for our help and we interviewed a few of the others guys in the fight. I know that some of the other BMS guys like Insignis and Ghost have been through some fights and things since their days back in 2006 as well, I don’t know any stories off the top of my head. What does it mean to be a Real Life Superhero? It means that you have vowed to do something to help others, anyone helping others in my opinion is a superhero in someone else’s eyes. Do you feel the world needs more superheroes? We have a lot as of now, but the numbers of those who are actually out there and not just talking themselves up, is up in the air. The more the merrier, if every person did one thing in the world, it would take the most positive turn. What other superheroes do you know? Everyone in the community, I have at least spoken to once, this community constantly changes, but luckily we have social media. Tell me about a day in your life. Its pretty normal I work in a high stress environment, have a great family who supports my efforts and other people who care about me. I live my life on a day by day basis, I kind of have to, but I have passions outside the real life superhero community, it really is kinda a day and night type of thing. Did you make your superhero suit yourself? I worked with Insignis on my mask, I made it out of ABS. the Suit was entirely designed by me and my body suit was created by a seamstress that works with the BMS. What would you like to say in closing? Lets all change the world for better. Love not hate. You aint seen nothing yet, Red Voltage “Electrifying for Good”R: I have not met any other heroes in person, yet. I have not any others in my area aside from myself.1

1. Blastzone Online. (2011) Interview With Real Life Superhero Red Voltage Accessed March 18. http:// blastzoneonline.wordpress.com/2011/10/18/interview-with-real-life-superhero-red-voltage/

“ The instability of life was frightening to me.” INTERVIEW WITH REAL LIFE SUPERHERO CRIMSON TIE By Michael Wilkerson

Please introduce yourself. Hello! My name is the Crimson Tie, I am a Real Life Superhero based in the Asheville/Hendersonville/Fletcher Area. How did Crimson Tie come about? Crimson Tie has always been inside of me. He is the hero inside me that I showed in actions. Stopping fights, saving a drowning boy. Helping the homeless. Going to charities to help. I took a trip to Florida that my friend paid for when I was broke. and met a homeless women and her dog on a walk. She had no food and I had nothing. I felt useless in that situation. I stayed with her for a while. During the trip that encounter really effected me. I had never met someone in that bad of condition and it really changed me. I thought about it the whole trip and tried to find her later to no avail. Towards the end I was attacked by a shark while in the water and got away with no series damage. The instability of life was frightening to me. I decided that I was not doing enough and that I had to push myself to go the extra mile. When he returned from the trip he soon learned about the real life superheroes and began his transformation. Tell me all about Crimson Tie. Crimson Tie was born in early spring of 2011 after his visit to Florida. Tell me about one of your times fighting crime? Fighting Crime is a weird way to put it. My type of heroism is more on the passionate side. I haven’t stopped a bomb from hitting city hall or anything like that. I feed the homeless, help charities, depressed individuals, and support many other causes. Fighting crime wise, its not too eventful in my city. I’ve seen shoplifters and warned them to stop. I call the police on drug dealers if they don’t leave when I warn them. Besides that I’ve only had one run in with a robber that I failed to stop. I sprained my ankle running after them and they got away in their car. Nothing very extravagant.

What does it mean to be a Real Life Superhero? A real life superhero is anyone that dresses in there own creative theme or one that has been made before and goes out and helps people to the best of their abilities. A hero on the other hand does that without a costume. Do you feel the world needs more superheroes? Its like saying do we need more active good people in the world. Always. People keep saying “I wish there was something I could do. I wish I could change the world.” Wishing wishing wishing, but they never get up and do anything. Sometimes you just need to force yourselves to make a change and others will follow you. Tell me about a day in your life. I work 5 days a week. At the end of a work day I go around in costume and look for homeless in what I call “hot-spot areas” that I have marked. We meet people, ask where they will be in an hour and meet them there with a fresh hot meal prepared by yours truly and then make sure they have a place for the night. We also collect blankets and and other things that would be useful. Then there is events and charities I try to go to and meet people and get connections to things I can help out with that I might not be aware of. For instance a few weeks ago I went to a social gathering, met the person’s neighbor, got invited to talk to kids about a food bank and talk about what I do. And I also got invited to help out with a shelter. Just from that one event sparked may opportunities to help. And the costume raises questions that help that. Did you make your superhero suit yourself? I bought everything except the hat (tailor made) and the mask which I made in 2 weeks of sewing. I also had a bug costume I made in high school for my first superhero bug man, but that never took off because I thought it was crazy…then 3 years later here I am doing my think as crimson tie. What would you like to say in closing? The world is filled with many supporting cast you will meet and leave. You are the main character in your story and you have to go out and find your purpose and make the best hero you can.2

2. Blastzone Online. (2011) Interview With Real Life Superhero Crimson Tie Accessed March 18. http:// blastzoneonline.wordpress.com/2011/11/01/interview-with-real-life-superhero-crimson-tie/

Interviews · By Ylja Band

“ I’m mostly a night time superhero but if there is a event that calls for it, then I’ll be a day time superhero also.” INTERVIEW WITH REAL LIFE SUPERHERO ARSENUL By Ylja Band

How did you chose your name, your goals and your outfit? I chose my name because I love weapons. All types. It’s something I like to do and research. I chose my goals based on what I normally do. I help the homeless, people in accidents, try and stop crime, and do what ever I can to help people. Even if that means a smile on their face. My outfit was designed from my imagination and what I could find online. It’s water proof, wind proof, can take a knife or sword slash, has plenty of pockets for gadgets, and looks awesome.

Where and how do you live? I live in Michigan, which is in the United States. I live like every day is my last and I enjoy it by training and patrolling the streets with hope and honor. How does your day look like? I get up, go out and barefoot run, I train all day, come home and check my stuff online, put my suit on, go out and patrol, and come home and sleep. What influence do you have on the people around you? I honestly don’t know. I sure would love to find out though. What are the important behaviors of you as a superhero? Maturity, activeness, a sense of humor, and honor.

What inspired you and made you decide to become a real life superhero? One night my neighbor’s house had a fire, it was terrible. The entire time it was happening all I did was hose the side of our house to keep it from catching on fire but I knew the neighbor was still in the house. I could have acted but I was to scared to. He died in there trying to save his dogs. But I was to scared to help him.

How do you want others to see you? I just want to be remembered by the current real life superheroes. I believe in reincarnation and I would love to be reincarnated and research Arsenul RLSH and just smile at how my past life was. It’s something that makes me smile on the inside. I also want them to know that I’m not a complete weapons gun. I really don’t like fighting but if I have to, then I will take someone down and arrest them.

How does it feel like to go on the street and help people out? It feels amazing. The first time I helped someone, it was during a car accident. Me and another real life superhero were first on the scene. I took out my first aid and we took care of the people. When that was done we got their personal effects from the car and made sure that no sparks work catch the car on fire. It was a amazing night. What does your costume say about you? Prepared, ready, smart, fearful.

Are you a super hero during day and night? And who are you when you are superhero-off? I’m mostly a night time superhero but if there is a event that calls for it, then I’ll be a day time superhero also. When I’m not a superhero, I’m just a guy learning how to survive. I believe in the zombie apocalypse and I prepare for it. My suit is zombie proof too. I play video games like Minecraft or Ace of Spades and I go out hiking and rock climbing. I’m a normal person, just when the sun sets, I dress up as a superhero and help people.

Who is/ are your hero(es)? Batman was a hero for me for a long time. But a father like figure who is now a country singer is my current hero. His name is Brian. He’s just always been there for me.

What do you think your future would look like, what are your dreams? I just want to learn odd skills and have enough money to keep doing what I like. I can live with a crappy job as long as I can have the money to do what I enjoy.

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SOME MORE PRACTICAL INFORMATION: What are your favorite movies, books, magazines, articles, websites, music/ radio station, events etc? I like all types of movies but action is the best for me. I love good fictional books and the websites I visit show me cool new sites, items, helpful info, and personal sites. The music I listen to is techno or dub step. What brands do you like and why? a lot of the best products out there. I also like different foods and different companies but it’s to hard to list them all. Do you use a certain typeface that suits to your character? I’m not sure what you mean but I do use a motorcycle helmet.

Where do you hang out? At my computer doing research or at the local park. Do you know if in the Netherlands there are any real life superheroes? I don’t know of any from the top of my head. There could be though. Additional Notes My photo album titled “Current Work of Progress” shows my suit with everything I carry. Also has links to where you can buy it. Also I would like to see a video of you presenting this if you could. It would be interesting.

Photo/Arsenul without his costume, taken by his sister

What colors do you prefer in your outfit/ to resemble your image? Black and grey mostly. Dark colors are better to use I think. What forms of communication do you use? (face to face contact, flyers, posters, internet, radio, television..?) Internet and Phone mostly.

Interviews · By Ylja Band

“ It’s essential that when I put on my gear and appear as Geist, I need to be the best person I can possibly be.” INTERVIEW WITH REAL LIFE SUPERHERO GEIST By Ylja Band

How did you choose your name, your goals and your outfit? Geist is very roughly similar to “spirit” or ghost in German. I wanted to appear, do what needed to be done, and then “disappear” promptly. I don’t need to hang around and take credit, but sometimes people insist and you don’t want to be impolite. I started out thinking I would mainly fight crime, but crime is often hard to find. I always try to have additional charitable goals so I know I’ve actually helped someone. My costume has many built-in and unexpected surprises. Almost every part of it is multi-purpose with gadgets carried or hidden within. I live in a cold climate, so often need the heavy coat. When it’s too hot for that, I’m afraid I lose about half of my inventory of legal weaponry and defenses. What inspired you and made you decide to become a real life superhero? I think it began with 9/11. There was such a sense of shock and outrage, that I needed to find a constructive avenue to channel positive efforts. It took years until I heard about others doing this, but I think that being an RLSH is an ideal solution to make a positive difference in the world. How does it feel like to go on the street and help people out? Fantastic. There’s more than one reason I wear sunglasses. I get kind of emotional about happy things. It’s rewarding to me beyond belief. www.youtube.com/watch?v=RC1-LJqY3hA What does your costume say about you? I’m a cowboy. An American symbol of good and unwavering justice, solitude and fair treatment. Who is/ are your hero(es)? Too many to accurately name. So many people do so much more than

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I’ll ever do and have spoken for the downtrodden or done great things. Nelson Mandella, Albert Einstein, Oprah Winfrey, John F. Kennedy, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Angelina Jolie, Jimmy Carter, Martin Luther King Jr.. Where and how do you live? I live in southeastern Minnesota in a modest house, but probably better than most RLSHs. My life is relatively stable, considering what I do for “fun.” How does your day look like? I don’t patrol everyday, if that’s what you’re thinking. Some of my patrols are planned weeks in advance. It’s not always easy to use my own funds for travel and charity. What influence do you have on the people around you? People are either scornful or inspired. Sometimes they are amused and that’s okay, too. It’s always important that they see that I’m there to help. What are the important behaviors of you as a superhero? It’s essential that when I put on my gear and appear as Geist, I need to be the best person I can possibly be. I need to be kind to citizens regardless of social class and never be rude. For people causing trouble, I need to be strong and attempt to diffuse situations diplomatically. If that doesn’t work, I must protect the innocent using other means. How do you want others to see you? Just a guy trying to help. And that’s important for them to know that it could be them helping instead of me. Any of us can help others whether we wear a costume or not. Are you a super hero during day and night? And who are you when you are superhero-off? I patrol both day and night. Both humanitarian-based and crime patrols. When I’m not doing this, I have a full-time career with lots of responsibilities and have to wear a suit and tie. I’ve done that for over two

decades and love my career. You would laugh if you knew what it was.

the Internet.

What do you think your future would look like, what are your dreams? I’m kind of living it. I’m sort of famous in a way, but that’s not really important. What’s important is that we get the message out there that people need to step up, look out for their fellow man, and help each other without being asked.

Where do you hang out? I’m located in southeastern Minnesota, but try not to limit my range in times of need. I’ve responded to crime sprees in Minneapolis, upper Minnesota and tornado relief in western Minnesota as well as flood relief in eastern Minnesota.

Some more practical information: What are your favorite movies, books, magazines, articles, websites, music/ radio station, events etc..? I like superhero movies, of course... The Dark Knight, Spider-Man, Iron Man, Thor and Captain America. Also Watchmen and Kick-Ass, Rocketeer, etc. I like comics, but don’t read them much anymore. I enjoy video games, “The Walking Dead”, a lot of progressive rock music from the 90s and later. For books, I like Hermann Hesse, Franz Kahfka, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Do you know if in the Netherlands there are any real life superheroes? I think there is one or two. I’m trying to remember if Lazerskater is in the Netherlands..?

Do you use a certain typeface that suits to your character? I’m not entirely set on one style over another. What colours do you prefer in your outfit/ to resemble your image? I wear green and black. What forms of communication do you use? (face to face contact, flyers, posters, internet, radio, television..?) I meet up with other Real-Life Superheroes face to face as often as I can. We have a team in the multi-state area in the upper midwest of North America called The Great Lakes Alliance, but I’ve also met other RLSHs in Wisconsin, New York, Missouri and California. We also use the Internet a lot and many of us call each other on the phone. I find out about emergencies through tv news and newspapers, as well as

Photo/Geist, myspace.com/superhero_geist

What brands do you like and why? I have a very nice multi-tool made by Gerber Gear which Bear Gryls recommends.

Interviews · By Ylja Band

“ It’s a mind set really. I try to look for opportunities to do good deeds all the time, in or out of costume.” INTERVIEW WITH REAL LIFE SUPERHERO ARTISTEROI GADGETEER By Ylja Band

How did you chose your name, your goals and your outfit? My name is an homage to the gadgeteer I look up to most Leonardo di Vinci. My goals have always been to understand and create helpful machinery, Even since I was a child. My outfit is mostly just some things I had available that I made go together. I am going to be adding some color to it soon so it will be changing shortly. What inspired you and made you decide to become a real life superhero? I reconnected with an old friend after joining facebook, and he was a member. He asked me to build some equipment for him and that was how I started out. How does it feel like to go on the street and help people out? It’s actually kinda fun because they like to ask what is going on, so you get to talk to people you normally wouldn’t not be able to. They think it’s a joke sometimes, then you can help them with food and clothing and they realize it’s for real after that. What does your costume say about you? My costume is a lab coat. It’s meant to represent knowledge and education. brains Who is/ are your hero(es)? Leonardo di Vinci, Einstein, Von Braun, Hiesenberg, Bill Nye, Tesla, Newton, etc. Where and how do you live? I’m a regular guy with a house in the suburbs, 9-5 job, 2 cars and 3 cats. Pretty normal I would say.

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How does your day look like? Work, chores. I get a few hours a day to design/build if I am lucky. I dont have TV so that helps me get things done. What influence do you have on the people around you? I feel i have become a bit of veteran in the community. A lot of people look up to me and come to me for advice on gadgetry, armor. What are the important behaviors of you as a superhero? I try to be logical and forward thinking in what i do and the advice I give to others. I dont have all the answers, and I admit when i dont know. But I do try to analyze any situation and understand what will be the outcome of it. How do you want others to see you? A smart helper and trusted mentor. Are you a super hero during day and night? And who are you when you are superhero-off? It’s a mind set really. I try to look for opportunities to do good deeds all the time, in or out of costume. I work as a software engineer during the day. I design software that is used to design machinery. so I have a pretty good understanding of the mechanical nature of lots of things. Some of the other gadget builders are better at the chemistry and electrical gadget side than I am. but mechanics, that’s where I excel. What do you think your future would look like, what are your dreams? I have several devices that i have been working on for years that i hope may win me a patent or 2 in the future. Some more practical information: What are your favorite movies, books, magazines, articles, websites, music/ radio station, events etc..? Just saw John Carter, excellent. Currently reading the Tao te Ching, also a fan of Heinlein, Asimov, Bradbury, Tolkien. I read Gizmag online and PopSci when I get a chance. Bands, They Might Be Giants, Cake, Spearhead, Micheal Bublee, Gorillaz, Arcade Fire, OK GO, Big Bad Voo-doo Daddy, Bob

Marley. Pretty much anything that is fun and positive. What brands do you like and why? I dont pay very much attention to stuff like that. Do you use a certain typeface that suits to your character? Type face? Not really. I make fliers for Team Justice and business cards and that sort of thing. I pretty much just look for something that fits the feel of the art project at hand. What colours do you prefer in your outfit/ to resemble your image? My outfit is currently black and white with gold and silver highlights. I am thinking to add some green or turquoises to it though. What forms of communication do you use? (face to face contact, flyers, posters, internet, radio, television..?) I prefer email to phones and video.

Do you know if in the Netherlands there are any real life superheroes? Not sure. I dont know a lot of the foreign guys. I do know Dex Laserskater in Finland. There used to be a guy called White Wolf, I think he was in the Netherlands or Belgium. But I havent spoken to him in a while. Spiderboy is in France. The odds are good there is someone near by you.

Photo/Artisteroi Gadgeteer, reallifesuperheroes.org

Where do you hang out? I dont. I pretty much just work in my shop or my studio doing design when I am not at the office.

Publications · Captain Sticky and other Real Life Superheroes

Publications New Musical Express was a British music newspaper, somewhat similar to the early days of Rolling Stone. In this 1975 issue, featuring a cover story on Bob Marley, writer Stan Findelle pens a two page story on Captain Sticky. JULY 19, 1975 NEW MUSICAL EXPRESS ARTICLE

This is probably one of the earliest examples of poor RLSH media relations. The writer is not at all impressed with Captain Sticky and spends most of the article wryly making fun of the Cap’s weight, humor, demeanor, etc. It is your typical condescending-Brit-meets-fat-Yankee type of piece. Still, I found some interesting facts to be gleamed• Sticky aka Richard Pesta worked in the glass fiber and foam industry, where he became wealthy and retired (for awhile anyway) at age 28. • Sticky apparently did invent a working peanut butter gun as well as “peanut butter grenades” made of peanut butter, vinegar and alka seltzer. • Sticky relates that he was patrolling San Diego when he got a police escort- they thought his wildly decorated Stickymobile, which featured several American flags, must be transporting someone in the Navy or a guest from a foreign Navy. • Here’s a great excerpt from the article, one of the few spots the writer takes the story somewhat seriously: What Sticky is armed with, however, is a shrewd acumen for the peculiar appetites of the news media and how to manipulate its power for the purpose of his freelance do-gooding. This, plus the fact that underneath all the gimcrack and chickenfat, Sticky is deadly serious. The article goes on to describe his confrontation with a nursing home abusing it’s patients, an appearance at a carnival for mentally handicapped youth and the writer joins him at a guest lecture appearance at the University of Southern California. At the lecture he hands out a Captain Sticky comic book to the students.1

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1. Blogspot. (2011) July 19, 1975 New Musical Express Article Accessed March 18. http://heroesinthenight. blogspot.com/2011/09/rlsh-historical-artifacts.html

What happens when real-life superheroes emerge in our cities, fighting crime in full costumes with bona fide (in most cases) superhero names?

2006 REAL-LIFE SUPERHEROES TAKE TO THE STREETS By Cameron Lawrence

Supposedly art imitates life, but all evidence suggests a more cyclical relationship. Live-action role playing (LARPing), where fantasy enthusiasts live out their favorite stories and characters -- medieval, vampire, “Lord of the Rings,” or something else -- is one thing. With LARPing the fantasy is restricted to a controlled environment governed by rules. In short, liveaction role playing is a game. What happens when real-life superheroes emerge in our cities, fighting crime in full costumes with bona fide (in most cases) super hero names?

have superpowers to be a superhero. We see heroes every day. We’re just the ones with costumes on.” And though they aren’t wealthy enough to be major philanthropists (their costumes originated with items already in their closets), Mr. Silent and Doktor DiscorD’s duties extend to humanitarian causes like helping the homeless. Apparently, social networking is in a super hero’s best interest. A simple search in Google reveals both Mr. Silent and Doktor DiscorD have MySpace profiles where they convene via the Internet with the adoring public and their superhero friends. Other heroes in their group, humorously named “The Justice Society of Justice,” which offers “twice the justice as the leading competitor,” include Liquid Courage, The Human Robot, the Apostolic Avenger, Cap’n Whiskey and the Hamburger Helper, among others. Sounds like a motley crew to me. Somebody better send out the bat signal.2

According to INtake Weekly, super heroes are emerging in cities all over the world, and a life of reading comics aside, these fledgling super personalities got their inspiration from one place: Indianapolis, Indiana. Mr. Silent, named for his abilities to traverse the crime-ridden streets of Indianapolis with absolute stealth, and Doktor DiscorD (3D for short), have been patrolling the city’s streets for over a year -- their faces covered in masks and adorned in full costumes. Mr. Silent sports a black derby, a pinstriped suit sans the jacket, and a silver tie. What tops it off is a menacing silver cane he carries in the name of Lady Justice. Doktor DiscorD also carries a cane and wears a pair of large goggles with one red and one blue lens to compliment his mostly-black ensemble. Often mistaken for strange-looking mimes, the do-gooder, businesscard-carrying duo doesn’t just fight crime. In the mind of Mr. Silent, anyway, being a super hero isn’t just about throwing punches and being unbelievable cool-looking. He told INTake Weekly, “You don’t have to

2. How Stuff Works. (2006) Real-Life Superheroes Take To The Street Accessed March 18. http://people. howstuffworks.com/super-hero-news.htm

Publications · Master Legend

With his trusty sidekick, the Ace, he fights to vanquish crime and defend the helpless – if he doesn’t get evicted first. Behind the mask of the Real Life Superheroes 2008, THE LEGEND OF THE MASTER LEGEND By Joshuah Bearman

Everyone has the opportunity to awaken and become who they always wanted to be. –Green Scorpion Master Legend races out the door of his secret hide-out, fires up the Battle Truck and summons his trusty sidekick. “Come on, Ace!” he yells. “Time to head into the shadows!” The Ace appears wearing his flame-accented mask and leather vest; Master Legend is costumed in his signature silver and black regalia. “This is puncture-resistant rubber,” Master Legend says proudly, pointing at his homemade breastplate. His arms are covered with soccer shinguards that have been painted silver to match his mask. “It won’t stop a bullet,” he says, “but it will deflect knives.” When Master Legend bursts into a sprint, as he often does, his long, unruly hair flows behind him. His mane is also in motion when he’s behind the wheel of the Battle Truck, a 1986 Nissan pickup with a missing rear window and “ML” spray-painted on the hood. He and the Ace head off to patrol their neighborhood on the outskirts of Orlando, scanning the street for evildoers. “I don’t go looking for trouble,” Master Legend shouts above the engine. “But if you want some, you’ll get it!” Then he hands me his business card, which says: Master Legend, Real Life Super Hero, At your service. Like other real life superheroes, Master Legend is not an orphan from a distant dying sun or the mutated product of a gamma-ray experiment gone awry. He is not an eccentric billionaire moonlighting as a crime fighter. He is, as he puts it, “just a man hellbent on battling evil.”

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Although Master Legend was one of the first to call himself a Real Life Superhero, in recent years a growing network of similarly homespun caped crusaders has emerged across the country. Some were inspired by 9/11. If malevolent individuals can threaten the world, the argument goes, why can’t other individuals step up to save it? “What is Osama bin Laden if not a supervillain, off in his cave, scheming to destroy us?” asks Green Scorpion, a masked avenger in Arizona. True to comic- book tradition, each superhero has his own aesthetic. Most Real Life Superheroes are listed on the World Superhero Registry, a recently assembled online roster. (“I can’t say if I will ever fight an army of giant robots or a criminal mastermind,” an Indianapolis superhero called Mr. Silent notes in his entry. “I just don’t know.”) Some superheroes have joined forces in local crime-fighting syndicates: the Black Monday Society in Salt Lake City, the Artemis National Consortium in San Diego and the tautologically titled Justice Society of Justice in Indianapolis. Attempting to unite all the superheroes under one banner are groups like the World Heroes Organization and Heroes Network, which hosts an online forum where more than 200 crime fighters trade tactics (should I wear a mask?), patrolling tips (how do I identify a street gang?) and advice/feedback (can you get bulletproof vests on eBay?). The Justice Force is Master Legend’s own crime-fighting syndicate, a rotating cast of ad hoc superheroes that seems to include everyone he knows. There’s the Disabler, Genius Jim, the Black Panther and a duo named Fire and Brimstone. At his right hand is the Ace, so named because he always needs “an ace up my sleeve!” The Ace lives with Master Legend at the team’s secret hide-out, a dilapidated clapboard house in a seedy neighborhood outside Orlando. In the back is Master Legend’s workshop, a converted garage where he develops various weapons, like the Master Blaster: a six-foot-long silver cannon fueled by cans of Right Guard that can shoot “a variety of projectiles,” including stun pellets made from plastic Easter eggs filled with cayenne pepper and rock salt. As the

superheroes see it, the fact that they can’t project energy bolts or summon force fields only adds to the purity of their commitment. Their heroism, in a sense, derives from their lack of powers. What they have instead is the power to craft themselves anew. “This whole movement is more than just fat guys in spandex,” insists Superhero, himself a brawny guy in head-totoe spandex. Once you take on a secret identity, there’s the problem of maintaining it. Many Real Life Superheroes shun press. Some are difficult to reach even by phone. Others allow interviews, but will meet only in costume and in public. The first time I meet Master Legend face-to-mask, for example, it is carefully choreographed by him to occur on the neutral turf of a restaurant in downtown Orlando. “I can’t show you my face,” he says as we meet in front of Gino’s Pizza and Brew, which he has designated as a safe zone. “And there are only a couple places that will let me in with my uniform and mask on. But here they know all about me!” Why all the secrecy? Compromised methods, safety of loved ones – the “usual issues,” according to Master Legend, that are confronted by superheroes. Don’t forget, he warns, that the public can be ambivalent toward masked avengers. Consider lovable Spider-Man, constantly facing exposure by his own boss, the irascible J. Jonah Jameson. Real Life Superheroes were alarmed by the sad case of Captain Jackson, a “police-sanctioned” hero in Jackson, Michigan – until his DUI arrest and the resulting Jackson Citizen Patriot headline: CRIME FIGHTER BUSTED FOR DRUNKEN DRIVING. The article went on to unmask Jackson and his sidekicks, the Queen of Hearts and CrimeFighter Girl. Superheroes nationwide were aghast that a town would turn on its heroes like that, and the incident drove skittish superheroes deeper underground. “You can see why I have to be careful,” says Master Legend. Behind the counter, the cashier giggles as Master Legend orders a beer. “Master Legend thanks you,” he says, reaching out a gauntleted hand

for the beer. When we go upstairs to the small dining room, the young couple at a nearby table stop eating and eye us nervously. Master Legend gestures wildly as he shows me the scar from the time he was shot while saving an old lady being mugged. “They got me here,” he says. “But it was small-caliber. Not enough to take down a superhero!” This is how Master Legend recounts his life, always punctuated with exclamation points, as if every moment is a high-stakes ordeal that ends with some deserving offender getting an “all-night tour of Fist City!” or the business end of his “trusty ol’ Steel Toes!” If there existed a Master Legend Issue 1, it would flash back 26 years to his origin story in New Orleans, where the teenage hero’s identity was forged in poverty and abuse. “My momma and daddy were not good people,” he says. “Through them, I saw how cruel the world can be.” At age 15, Master Legend began looking after his grandma, a caring Creole woman from the bayou who showed him “the goodness of things.” When Master Legend found some comics in a neighbor’s trash, they became his blueprint. As early as third grade, he used a T-shirt, a magic marker and some old shoelaces to fashion a rudimentary costume, which he donned while protecting classmates from the school bully. He also found a mentor named Master Ray, from whom he learned “kindness and kung fu.” Master Legend was 16 when fate whispered in his ear. One day he was playing guitar in Jackson Square – “just jamming, you know, picking up some change” – when a purse snatcher appeared. Master Legend instinctively tore after him through the alleys of the French Quarter, where he retrieved the purse. Later that night, he was recognized by the criminal and fought him off again. “That’s when I knew I had to wear a mask,” he says. Being in New Orleans made it easier: “I would dress up in a costume and walk the streets, and no one would notice. I fit right in.” The next day, Master Legend’s grandma ran across a story on the news: Masked man saves woman. “The Legend,” he says, “was born.”

1. Rolling Stone. (2008) The Legend Of Master Legend accessed March 18. http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/ news/the-legend-of-master-legend-20081217

Publications · Real Life Superheroes

The Times Online article about the burgeoning Real-Life Superhero movement undoubtedly had many people laughing and others intrigued. 2008, REAL-LIFE SUPERHEROES: JUST A GAME OR A SINCERE HELP? By Sarah F. Sullivan

The article discussed the troubles of these newly-spawned crime-fighters and whether or not they should be taken seriously. It read like a mocking review of a comic book and I honestly wasn’t sure whether to think it was a joke or not. So I clicked on the links provided. First off, the Internet headquarters of the Real-Life Superheroes is the World Superhero Registry. According to the Times Online article, there are over 200 men and women in the registry willing to dress up as superheroes and fight crime in their neighborhoods. I had to see for myself. Upon entering the website, I was met with a rather formidable page-long warning, telling the reader that the website discusses matters of the superheroes and that these things are not the product of role-playing games. It states further that because of the perpetually changing legal system, “some of the activities described herein may be in conflict with local laws in some areas.” When asked if I was a member of law-enforcement attempting to nail down the superheroes with legal action, I calmly clicked no and entered the superheroes’ domain. Once inside, I barely believed what I saw. Everything felt like a comic book fan’s innermost fantasy.

The philosophy of the Real-Life Superheroes (in its shortened form) is: DO NO HARM (use non-lethal means to apprehend a villain) and FAIRNESS (do not pursue “petty criminals” or “apprehend prostitutes or casual drug users.”) To sum up: These superheroes run around in costumes, make up their own code names and try to make the world a better place. I perused through Superhero profiles of people like Angle Grinder Man in England (a man who offers his services to motorists whose cars have been put in wheel clamps) and Terrifica in New York (a girl who peruses the N.Y. party scene in an effort to find drunk women in danger of being taken advantage by men). It suddenly doesn’t seem so funny. Granted, I look at pictures of these two individuals, Angle Grinder in a blue leotard and gold boots and Terrifica in her body-hugging scarlet costume and want to smile. But really, compared to these people, what am I doing? I’m not doing one job by day and protecting others at night. Silly or not, these people are doing good and sacrificing their time for others. So, I’ll just address the superheroes. I could never do what you do, but thank you.1

In order to be considered for Real-Life Superhero status in the registry, a person must wear a costume that will inspire those around you, as well as protect your identity. You must perform Heroic Deeds that are required to be “of sufficient degree as to exceed normal everyday behavior.” You must have Personal Motivation, a.k.a. you cannot be fueled by an organization of some kind.

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1. Yahoo Voices. (2008) Real-Life Uperheroes Just a Game or Sincere Help Accessed March 18. http://voices.yahoo. com/real-life-superheroes-just-game-sincere-help-2422043.html?cat=9

It was a warmish spring night and Dark Guardian had on his trademark chest-hugging motorcycle armor and bulletproof vest. His face shining under the streetlamps 2009 SUPERHERO SUBCULTURE By Ariella Cohen

It was a warmish spring night and Dark Guardian had on his trademark chest-hugging motorcycle armor and bulletproof vest. His face shining under the streetlamps, the 24-year-old strode purposefully across Manhattan’s Washington Square Park. When he reached his target — a burly man he believed to be a drug dealer — he stopped and ordered the man to leave the park. “I got you on video. I got you on audio selling drugs,” barked Dark Guardian, one of a growing movement of American city-dwellers occupying territory once reserved for comic-book creatures. Dark Guardian, real name Chris Pollak, is a real-life superhero. Taking to the streets in homespun hero garb to fight crime, help the homeless or do other kinds of community service, he and other self-proclaimed “reals” are popping up in cities from New York to Fairbanks, Alaska, where spandexclad Raven and her caped sidekick, Winter Knight, keep watch over dark, icy streets. Raven says she chooses to engage with her community under an alias rather than her own identity as a 26-year-old writer because it allows her to more comfortably traverse unfamiliar neighborhoods. “When I’m in character I don’t feel socially awkward in these places that would make me feel uncomfortable in my other life,” she says. The superheroes say their ultimate intent is to encourage people to do what Raven did: abandon their everyday routines to do good in their communities. “We are drawing attention to the fact that regular people can become superheroes. You don’t have to be endowed with special powers to save the world,” says Chaim Lazaros, 24, an independent filmmaker who co-founded an organization called Superheroes

Anonymous in 2007. Lazaros’ activities mainly consist of handing out food to homeless New Yorkers while dressed in the black mask and top hat of his alias, Life Laz. He estimates there are some 250 superheroes practicing in the U.S. One of the most revered superheroes, Superbarrio, defends Mexico City in bullfighter-red tights and a matching wrestler’s mask. His chubby physique has become an unlikely sex symbol. But while Superbarrio has succeeded in making Mexicans feel safer, some have questioned whether taking law enforcement into one’s own hands could lead to vigilantism. The anonymity is another red flag, says Renia Ehrenfeucht, author of Sidewalks: Conflict and Negotiation Over Public Space and an assistant professor of planning and urban studies at University of New Orleans. “Why not go into the streets as yourself,” she asks, “and participate in the community as a person from within it rather some masked figure from outside?” Public safety officials, citing both physical safety and civil liberties concerns, have said they would prefer if amateur avengers left the work to professionals. That night in Washington Square Park, Dark Guardian succeeded in convincing the alleged dealer to leave without violence. The departure, however, didn’t come without a few threats and a hurried 911 call from the superhero. Recently the New York Police Department reached out to Pollak to talk to him about a video they had seen of the park confrontation. “They were like, ‘We respect what you do, but these guys have been arrested 20 or 30 times. They carry guns,’” he recalls. “They’d rather me not do what I am doing.” Still, the Dark Guardian lives on. “There is a hero in everyone,” he says. “We are just getting the message out.”2

2. American City. (2009) Superhero Culture Accessed March 18. http://americancity.org/magazine/article/ superhero-subculture

Publications · Kick-Ass

The USP of Matthew Vaughn’s ‘Kick-Ass’ is that it’s about real life superheroes. But what about Mystery Men? 2010, WAS THERE LIFE BEFORE “KICK-ASS”?

of the superhero genre which deserves a second look.

By Tom Huddleston

Just check out the cast list for ‘Mystery Men‘: Ben Stiller plays Mr Furious, an ordinary guy convinced that his boundless inner rage makes him in some way special. Hank Azaria plays The Blue Raja, master of cutlery, while William H Macy brings his customary hapless warmth to the role of family man The Shoveller. There’s also room for Greg Kinnear as preening playboy Captain Amazing, Geoffrey Rush as master villain Casanova Frankenstein, Eddie Izzard as his sidekick Tony P, Janeane Garofalo as hipster hero The Bowler and the great Tom Waits as madcap inventor Doc Heller.

For the next month or so, you won’t be able to leave the house without hearing the words ‘Kick-Ass’. Matthew Vaughn’s teen superhero epic is fast, funny and extremely violent, but it also seems to be labouring under a misapprehension: that the concept of normal, everyday superheroes is somehow original. The film even opens with our hero Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson) complaining that, in the real world, no one but the police dresses up and fights crime. In fact, they do. A few years ago, a film played at the Sci-Fi-London Film Festival called ‘Your Friendly Neighbourhood Hero’. This wise and very amusing doc followed the exploits of four real-life costumed avengers – known only as Superhero, Master Legend, Mr Silent and Hardware – as they plied their trade on the suburban streets where they lived. Their exploits were relatively tame – none of them took down a major crime ring or foiled a villain in his underground lair – but, like Kick-Ass, they were dedicated ordinary Joes intent on remaking society in their own image.

Sure, ‘Mystery Men’ plays things a lot broader and wackier than ‘Kick-Ass’. But it’s also sharper, more inventive and a lot funnier, taking the time to round out its lovingly drawn characters rather than just chucking them into another limb-slicing action sequence. We’ve no doubt that ‘Kick-Ass’ is going to be a big box-office success. It’s got all the wisecracking, foul language and manic, intense violence that fanboys go nuts for. But once you’ve paid your money and got your kicks, give ‘Mystery Men’ a go: it would be a shame if this big-hearted, anarchic anti-blockbuster got lost in the shadow of its slicker but somehow less loveable offspring.1

Even in the realm of fiction the concept of normal folks with no special talents teaming up to fight forces of evil is nothing new. Alan Moore’s graphic novel ‘Watchmen’ was perhaps the first to imagine what would happen if society was suddenly overrun with masked heroes – his conclusion being that they’d become fascistic, sexually perverse social outcasts. Last year’s film version of Moore’s book turned the idea on its head by becoming exactly the kind of ultraviolent bonanza of special effects which Moore was satirising in the first place. A decade ago, ‘Mystery Men‘ brought the very same concept which fuels ‘Kick-Ass’ – give or take a few vaguely supernatural elements – into cinemas, and was largely ignored by the ticket-buying public. It’s a shame, because Kinka Usher’s film was a smart, original and hilarious subversion

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1. Time Out. (2010) Was There Life Before ‘Kick-Ass’? Accessed March 18. http://www.timeout.com/film/features/ show-feature/9752/was-there-life-before-kick-ass.html

Photo/Dave Lizewski dressed shown as Kick-Ass, still from Kick-Ass

Personal Addition · Real Life Superheroes

Personal addition Absolutely unselfish, attentive, kind and maybe a little naïve. That is how I would describe them: Real Life Superheroes.

I was jealous when, with the Dutch carnival, my brother was dressed up as Batman, Superman or Robin and I was dressed as a Mermaid, Indian or Flowergirl. After all, there were not many female Superheroes to be dressed like at that time

As a young girl I had a fascination for Superheroes. I was jealous when, with the Dutch carnival, my brother was dressed up as Batman, Superman or Robin and I was dressed as a Mermaid, Indian or Flowergirl. After all, there were not many female Superheroes to be dressed like at that time. When I saw Batman Returns for the first time, I was impressed. The costumes and dark sensational atmosphere made me long to a different world. Last year I was excited when I heard of the existence of Real Life Superheroes. Now I got the chance to study the Real Life Superhero subculture, I grabbed it with both of my hands. I dived into the world of the masked, caped, dressed-up and sometimes on purpose not dressed-up Superheroes. Because of events in their past, most Superheroes became who they are today. Some of them have not been raised in a nice way in their youth or simply did not get enough love and care, others have lost beloved ones by crime. The heroes do not want the bad events that happened to them to be the future of others. Not every hero has had a traumatic experience. Some became Real Life Superheroes because of their admiration for other Real Life Superheroes or out of the desire to create a nicer, better, cleaner and safer world. Most of the times they are only active in the evenings and nights, when

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crime risk is highest. During the day they work or train their bodies. Of course you can count on them when something happens during the day. I think it is great what they do, but I also agree with the reservations of the police about their safety and the (defensive) weapons that some of them carry. Not everybody is as charmed as I am to see a man or woman approach you in a costume, asking you to stop dealing drugs or whatever unwanted activity you are engaged in. ‘What business is that of such a crazy person?’ some people may wonder. They always search for the good. And they do not deserve that something bad will happen to them. Therefore it is important for them to communicate very well and sometimes even collaborate with the police. They still are people of flesh and blood and therefore not immortal. Hopefully the Real Life Superhero movement will keep growing and inspire us all to make the world a little nicer. As photographer Peter Tangen said: “Embrace the intention of the heroes, take a moment to discover the morality and conscience behind their actions, and ultimately, make the commitment to make difference yourself. Celebrate and honor them. And find the hero in all of us.” Ylja Band

Photo/My brother; Jort Band as Batman, My mother; Sjoerdsje Band

Celebrate and honor them