Real-life superhero

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Real-life superheroes (RLSH) are people who engage in different forms of activism using the thematic device of the costumed superhero, many of them adopting pseudonyms and wearing custom-made outfits.^[1][2] They perform services that they believe benefit the community in a variety of ways. Some real-life superheroes hand out supplies to the homeless, while others seek to combat crime through community patrols and neighborhood watch in which suspicious activity is identified and reported to the proper authorities. Some in the RLSH community try to resolve issues on their own, including vigilantism, contravening police wishes^[3].

Examples

Real life super heroes wear masks or otherwise disguise themselves in order to perform deeds ranging from community services to deterring crime.^[4][5]

Some examples documented in the news media include:

Australia

• Captain Australia, featured in the MX and then the Courier Mail^[5][6] and on television's A Current Affair^[7] 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".^[8] Police have expressed their preference that Captain Australia not intervene in incidents any more.^[5]

Europe

France

• Captain Ozone, featured in the French edition of Max magazine,^[9] and Koikispass magazine,^[10] as well as the German edition of FHM magazine.^[11]

Czech Republic

• Super Vaclav is a promotional figure for a Czech webhosting company.^[12] 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.^[13]

Italy

• La Repubblica featured Entomo The Insect-Man, a masked patroller and activist.^[14] 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'.^[15] Following an extensive interview on Il Riformista,^[16] Entomo was depicted in major Italian and Spanish newspapers, such as Il Mattino^[17] and Panorama.^[18]

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.^{[19][clarification needed]}

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.^[20][21]
• The BBC reported on Angle-Grinder Man, a British self-described "wheel-clamp 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 word or complaint of his actions^[22].
• The 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.^[23]
• 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.^[24]
• In August 2011, the BBC reported on Shadow (real name Ken Andre) who patrols in Yeovil.^[25]

North America

Canada

• The Age described Anujan Panchadcharam the Polarman of Iqaluit, Nunavut, whose primary interests are shovelling the snow off sidewalks during the day, and patrolling the streets for criminals at night.^[26]
• Thanatos of Vancouver, British Columbia, a person who dresses in a costume and distributes goods and goodwill to the homeless.^[27]

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.^[28]

United States

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.^{[29][30][31][32]}

• 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.^[33]
• The San Diego Union-Tribune^[34] and UPI^[35] 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.^[36]
• Captain Oyster aka Liam Davenport was featured on Sirius XM Radio's The Ron & Fez Show in October 2011^[37]. 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^[39] Crimson Fist patrols Atlanta twice a month to help those in need.^[40]
• Wall Creeper and Zen Blade were featured on Westword, Denver's alternative weekly publiciation.^[41]
• 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^[42] Shadow Hare, a 21 year old from Milford who dresses up like a superhero. This was later rebroadcast on CNN
• The Watchman and Moon Dragon were featured in the August 2009 issue of Milwaukee Magazine.^[43]
• 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.^[44]
• 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!.^[45]
• 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".^[46]
• Jack Brinatte, known as Razorhawk, appeared on Fox News America Newsroom.^[47]
• WITI (TV) interviewed The Watchman and showed him on a patrol of the city.^[48]
• Empire Magazine featured Geist in a sidebar article, "The Real Kick-Ass".^[49]
• 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".^[50]
• The Sunday Paper ran an article on about Two Real Life Superheroes Crimson Fist & Metadata in Atlanta that help the homeless in their area.^[51]
• Telemundo ran a news piece about Dragonheart, a bilingual Real-Life Superhero who operates in Miami, Florida.^[52]
• On 8/4/2011 GQ magazine ran an article called Seven Real Life Superheroes featuring Mr.Xtreme, Superhero, Geist, Life, Master Legend, and Insignis[3]
• 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.^[53]

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.^[54]

Brazil

• Superinteressante magazine posted an article on The Real Life Superheroes The Eye, Entomo, Terrifica, Superhero and Superbarrio.^[55]

Africa

Liberia

• 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.^[56]

Real-life Superhero Groups

United States

• Superheroes Anonymous, the first annual gathering of Real-Life Superheroes from all over America, who cleaned Times Square, helped the homeless, and handed out crime prevention materials.^[57]
• Multiple media outlets have run reports on the Rain City Superhero Movement, a group of real life super heroes in Seattle. The group includes Thorn, Buster Doe, Green Reaper, Gemini, No Name, Catastrophe, Thunder 88, Troop, Pitch Black, Red Dragon, Videographer Ryan McNamee, Blue Sparrow, Penelope, Phoenix Jones (Benjamin Fodor), the Guardian of Seattle.^[58][59]
• The Washington Post reported a story about superheroes Captain Prospect and Justice, members of the "Capital City Super Squad" in Washington DC.^[60]
• Central Florida News 13 did a story on Team Justice, a group of costumed superheroes giving Christmas gifts to the homeless.^[61][62]
• The Salt Lake City-based newspaper Salt Lake City Weekly reported on the patrols of The Black Monday Society and the superhero identities of its team members Insignis, Ghost, Ha!, Oni, and Silver Dragon.^[63] Fox News Salt Lake City ran a story on the team as well.^[64]
• The Jibsheet ran an article about a group of 10 Real Life Superheroes in Seattle trying to help the homeless prevent their belongings from being stolen by gangs.^[65]
• KSTP-TV reported on Razorhawk, Geist and the Great Lakes Hero Guild while they patrolled Minneapolis. The segment was re-broadcast nationally on ABC Overnight News.^[66]

Police and RLSH

Police response to the actions of real life superheros is typically negative.^[67][68]. The police "fear for the safety of these 'superheroes' and argue that sometimes they can get in the way of police work and become a liability"^[69]. Police have expressed concern that RLSH insert themselves into situations without knowing all the facts and indicate that this is "not a smart thing to do"^[3]. Police have indicated that super heroes who physically involve themselves in preventing crimes are practicing "vigilantism".^[70]

See also

• Superhero
• Local hero (Japan)

References