PHOENIX JONES; REX VELVET & THE REAL LIFE SUPERHERO DEBATE.
I’m a creative activist using a superhero name ( ” Capt Black ” ) while promoting creative crime prevention; homeless outreach and political advocacy. My real name isn’t secret ( it’s Nadra Enzi ) and my tactics don’t include even the semblance of vigilantism.2012 marks my fourth year affiliated with this community and I have marveled at its growth. The New York Initiative, a group of creative activists more along my lines ( costume-optional; community policing focused ) invited me to lead a New Orleans branch.This invitation created the New Orleans Initiative which began operations last weekend. We’re not trying to mkake headlines but we are trying to make a difference.” Real life superheroes ( RLSH ) as the media calls us have been the topic of drama; debacles and even documentaries. The city of Seattle has eclipsed even New York as the real life ” Gotham City ” or ” Metropolis. “
Seattle is home to Earth’s best known RLSH, Phoenix Jones, recently unmasked as mixed martial artist Benjamin Fedor. It also has a rising star ” real life supervillain ( RLSV ) “/satirist called Rex Velvet, whose wit and production skills are impressive.
At issue is the debate about whether ” real life superheroes ” , especially those actively performing citizens arrests, should even exist? Jones and Velvet represent the poles between which this debate swings.
For boring activists like me it’s quite a show.
Rex Velvet and other RLSVs aren’t actual criminals who’ve gone comic book on society. They seem to be social critics concerned with RLSH potential to advocate vigilantism and undermine the police. These are legitimate concerns to be sure and these creative commentators have made such critiques a brand.
Sympathetic ” Real life supervillains ” advise RLSH not to carry deadly weapons; doff costumes and stay within the letter of the law. Unsympathetic ones demand the abolition of ” real life superheroes ” in the name of supporting the police. If anything RLSVs resemble outraged civic leagues more than a legion of doom.
Phoenix Jones represents the full contact wing of the ” real life superhero ” movement. Media coverage and Jones’ own chest camera capture he and his Rain City Superhero Movement team breaking up fights and restraining suspects.
Some RLSH don’t actually attempt to fight crime. Others do and include charitable outreach while making their rounds. My opinion on the debate is challenging convention gets more people involved to helping society.
My only caveat is making sure stretching reality doesn’t extend into delusion or worse. In that regard ” real life supervillains ” and I agree. People who really think they’re really ” superheroes ” or ” supervillains ” could be a problem.
I hope the middle ground between Rex Velvet and Phoenix Jones, people inventively assisting and commenting on today’s problems, would get as much air time.
The ” real life superhero ” debate is really a much needed new wrinkle the age old one about the limits of civic responsibility- especially during trying times when terrorism and a global recession beat down folks spirits.
If people want to call themselves superheroes or supervillains and aren’t hurting anyone I say more power to them.
Those causing harm however aren’t doing this debate nor themselves any good.
NADRA ENZI AKA CAPT BLACK promotes creative crime prevention. The following links outline what I do:
http://archives.reallifesuperheroes.org/wiki/captain-black/ Wiki entry on my Capt Black activities.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpmgtpc4ulg&feature=youtu.be Canal St. Superhero documentary about me done by Dr. Jonathan Gayles from Georgia State University.
http://bit.ly/KKcAv6 Interview with myself and Tim Washington of Brothers Against Crime with New Orleans FOX 8 News about our anti-crime efforts.
CAPT BLACK: (504) 214-3082
Seattle is home to Earth’s best known RLSH, Phoenix Jones, recently unmasked as mixed martial artist Benjamin Fedor. It also has a rising star ” real life supervillain ( RLSV ) “/satirist called Rex Velvet, whose wit and production skills are impressive.
At issue is the debate about whether ” real life superheroes ” , especially those actively performing citizens arrests, should even exist? Jones and Velvet represent the poles between which this debate swings.
For boring activists like me it’s quite a show.
Rex Velvet and other RLSVs aren’t actual criminals who’ve gone comic book on society. They seem to be social critics concerned with RLSH potential to advocate vigilantism and undermine the police. These are legitimate concerns to be sure and these creative commentators have made such critiques a brand.
Sympathetic ” Real life supervillains ” advise RLSH not to carry deadly weapons; doff costumes and stay within the letter of the law. Unsympathetic ones demand the abolition of ” real life superheroes ” in the name of supporting the police. If anything RLSVs resemble outraged civic leagues more than a legion of doom.
Phoenix Jones represents the full contact wing of the ” real life superhero ” movement. Media coverage and Jones’ own chest camera capture he and his Rain City Superhero Movement team breaking up fights and restraining suspects.
Some RLSH don’t actually attempt to fight crime. Others do and include charitable outreach while making their rounds. My opinion on the debate is challenging convention gets more people involved to helping society.
My only caveat is making sure stretching reality doesn’t extend into delusion or worse. In that regard ” real life supervillains ” and I agree. People who really think they’re really ” superheroes ” or ” supervillains ” could be a problem.
I hope the middle ground between Rex Velvet and Phoenix Jones, people inventively assisting and commenting on today’s problems, would get as much air time.
The ” real life superhero ” debate is really a much needed new wrinkle the age old one about the limits of civic responsibility- especially during trying times when terrorism and a global recession beat down folks spirits.
If people want to call themselves superheroes or supervillains and aren’t hurting anyone I say more power to them.
Those causing harm however aren’t doing this debate nor themselves any good.
NADRA ENZI AKA CAPT BLACK promotes creative crime prevention. The following links outline what I do:
http://archives.reallifesuperheroes.org/wiki/captain-black/ Wiki entry on my Capt Black activities.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpmgtpc4ulg&feature=youtu.be Canal St. Superhero documentary about me done by Dr. Jonathan Gayles from Georgia State University.
http://bit.ly/KKcAv6 Interview with myself and Tim Washington of Brothers Against Crime with New Orleans FOX 8 News about our anti-crime efforts.
CAPT BLACK: (504) 214-3082
Ebony Fox
I’m new just starting out and I’m one of those RLSH types who wants to actively stop crime, (in the law of course), but I totally agree with you… Phoenix Jones is definitely the best known of it all, but the RLSH vs RLSV thing is taking it too far… he’s more focused on combating Rex Velvet’s point of view than safely patrolling the streets he himself proclaims he’s the guardian of. Who cares what Rex Velvet thinks! As long as Jones is not intentionally hurting anyone or hurting someone out of anger, etc. then he’s setting a good example for RLSH. All he’s doing is just digging a deeper hole for us! Instead of talking and arguing with Rex, he needs to take action. Show the world that we’re not just nuts running around in superhero costumes like they think. Show them that we’re helping and that will prove Rex and the rest of the world wrong better than some debate. I know plenty of RLSH that set a better example than Jones. Be a hero. Don’t drive the very movement you joined for a good reason, cause, etc. into the ground over petty stuff like this.