Originally posted: http://www.openpr.com/news/197842/Unmasked-The-Detailed-Account-Of-Phoenix-Jones-By-Ken-Goldstein-Debuts-At-WizardWorld-com-Wednesday.html
(openPR) – Phoenix Jones, the “citizen superhero” who has gained fame for his efforts in fighting crime in the streets of Seattle while dressed as a masked crusader, will reveal his true story for the first time in an expansive interview with author Ken Goldstein, exclusively at WizardWorld.com, on Wednesday. The site will also feature exclusive video excerpts from the interview and the debut of the first official photo of Benjamin Fodor by noted movie photographer Peter Tangen.
Tangen is among the most renowned entertainment publicity photographers in the world, having photographed one sheets from the three SPIDERMAN films, BATMAN BEGINS, HELLBOY, QUEEN OF THE DAMNED and other blockbusters.
“Unmasked: The Detailed Account of Phoenix Jones by Ken Goldstein,” a first-of-its-kind interview, details Jones’ motivation for creating the character and aspects of his life that have never before been told. The wide-ranging discussion, according to Goldstein (author of “The Way of the Nerd” series) has an intense feel reminiscent of the famed “Frost-Nixon” interviews of the 1970s.
“Many aspects of Phoenix’s personality come through in the interviews,” said Goldstein, who as a confident of Jones prior to his unmasking on October 6 in Seattle was able to extract many intimate details of his subject’s life. “He is Phoenix Jones the superhero, Benjamin Foder the husband and father, and ‘Flattop’ the MMA fighter. The real man is way cooler than just Phoenix Jones.”
“This is the kind of story that gets me really excited to be in the superhero business. Phoenix is a real life version of what we’ve been reading about for decades,” said Gareb Shamus, Wizard World CEO.
Goldstein was also able to speak with Purple Reign, Jones’ wife, also a member of the Rain City Superhero Movement in the Emerald City. This is the first in-depth sit down interview with Purple, who speaks directly to the Wizard fan base.
Wizard World produces Comic Cons and pop culture conventions across North America that celebrate graphic novels, comic books, movies, TV shows, gaming, technology, toys and social networking. The events often feature celebrities from movies and TV, artists and writers, and events such as premieres, gaming tournaments, panels, and costume contests. Wizard World also produces Wizard World Digital, an online publication covering new and upcoming products and talents in the pop culture world, and is distributed on a weekly basis to online and iPad users worldwide.
The full Wizard World event schedule can be found at www.wizardworld.com.
1350 Ave of the Americas, 2nd Fl.
New York, NY 10019
Jerry Milani, Wizard World, 646-380-2479 [email protected]

By Garth Olson
The Valley Wire

Apparently, real life super heroes are popping up everywhere. It’s a concept that started nearly two years ago and has been growing quickly, thanks in part to Hollywood photographer Peter Tangen.
Tangen started the Real Life Super Hero Project after reading about a real life super hero in a magazine.
“Having done the photography for the Spider-Man, Batman Begins and Hellboy movie posters, I was immediately inspired by the idea that superheroes really exist,” Tangen said.
Real Life Super Heroes
Across the country, men and women are reinventing themselves as real life super heroes. And yes, they’re dressing up in super hero costumes, which can include capes, masks, and you know – super hero garb. But beneath the outlandishness of the costumes, seriousness quickly takes over. Real Life Super Heroes are fighting the good fight against all sorts of serious problems from the homeless, child abuse and poverty as well as crime and drugs.

RazorHawk
One example is RazorHawk, who wears a yellow beak graphic on his costume of blue and black. He lives and operates in the Twin Cities area, and a few folks know his true identity. Along with safety patrols in the Minneapolis, RazorHawk is coordinating HOPE2011, which is a homeless outreach event that will be held during Comic-Con in San Diego in July. His team, The Great Lakes Heroes Guild, works with homeless, and during the event in San Diego, his team plans on passing out over 100 backpacks of clean clothes and personal care products to people who have no place to live.
“We are out there of our own volition, we are not being paid,” RazorHawk said. “We are trying to make the world a better place. It’s not all about jumping from rooftop to rooftop but affecting change and getting people to recognize how bad some of the problems our individual cities face.” His motto is, “family first, saving the world begins at home.”
The Watchman
In Milwaukee, The Watchman wears a red mask and a trench coat; sometimes he’ll wear a cape. Not long ago he stated that only his wife and kids knew his true identity, but out of necessity a few co-workers and a few cops learned of his identity. Along with patrolling areas of Milwaukee and by getting more residents involved with community watch groups, The Watchman also works to raise donations and toys for his Christmas Mission.
“Being a Real Life Superhero isn’t glamorous, he said. “It’s hard work and takes a lot of patience and motivation. It’s not Batman. We don’t have super powers…it’s really about being a good neighbor, watching out for people and lending a hand when
it’s needed.”
Peter Tangen
As real life super heroes started popping up across the country, Hollywood photographer, Peter Tangen developed the concept, The Real Life Super Hero Project. He stated that the various local media outlets, like local news stations, seemed more focused on the costumes than the bigger picture of community service. In the beginning the media, like local tv news stations, “seemed to be mocking” the super heroes and casting them in a “negative light,” Tangen said. Tangen’s photography project quickly helped shift the focus towards the individual service work of the super heroes and away from just the middle-age guys in costumes” angle.
“The Real Life Super Hero Project inspired a deeper story that the media missed,” Tangen said. Tangen, whose work can be seen online at RealLifeSuperHeroes.com, created movie-like posters of the real life super heroes and helped transform their image from campy to super cool.
“I researched the super heroes and discovered that the media was missing the real story, one of truly inspiring people who selflessly give their communities,” Tangen added. “They are in fact marketing good deeds and since we live in a world of symbols, they understand their value and use symbols to make their work visible to the public.”
The art directors for the project include Bryan Allen, Paul Hoegh-Guldberg, Kevin Bachman, Martin Gueulette, Rick Lynch and Robert Russell.
Tangen’s Work
Tangen recently visited Milwaukee and Minneapolis while working on the project. Currently, he’s back in Los Angeles, where he’s self-employed as a Hollywood photographer. He’s done the photography for many movie posters including Wedding Crashers, Elf and many comic book and horror films like Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street.
Tangen grew up in Minneapolis and stated that he specializes in photographing movie stars for movie posters. Those photo sessions can last an hour or for a full day in the case for the Spider-Man posters. As for the Real Life Super Hero
Project, Tangen added that more and more creative people have donated their time as the project keeps evolving.
“Writers, editors, 3D graphic artists, motion graphic artists, web designer and camera operators… about 100 people have volunteered their time and resources in support of this project.” Currently, there are over 150 Real Life Super Heroes across the globe and thanks to Tangen, and his team’s creative work, that number is growing steadily.
Real Life Super Hero Project photographer Peter Tangen also did the photography for the movie posters for Batman Begins and Wedding Crashers.
Tangen grew up in Minneapolis and currently lives in Los Angeles.

Originally posted – http://www.fantasy.fr/articles/view/14021/decouvrez-les-vrais-super-heros

Découvrez les vrais super-héros

The Real Life Super Hero Project met des coups de projecteur sur les super-héros du quotidien.
Par Emmanuel Beiramar
28 juillet 2010 | Mis à jour 28 juillet 2010
Les super-héros se classent en plusieurs catégories :
Il y a les super-héros mutants comme Wolverine ou Magneto.
Il y a les super-héros extraterrestres ou venant d’autres dimensions comme Superman ou Thor.
Il y a les super-héros nés d’un accident comme Spider-Man ou Hulk.
Il y a les super-héros sans pouvoirs comme Batman, Iron Man, la plupart des Watchmen ou les héros de Kick-Ass.
Et il y a les super-héros du quotidien. Ceux qui existent vraiment et qui tentent d’aider leur prochain. Ils sont costumés, « Anonyme et désintéressés», nous explique le site de The Real Life Superhero Project. « ils choisissent tous les jours, de faire une différence dans le monde qui les entoure. Qu’il s’agisse de nourrir les affamés, réconforter les malades, ou nettoyer leur quartier, ils sauvent de vraies vies, de façon très concrète. Ce ne sont pas “des excentriques en costumes », comme on pourrait le croire au premier coup d’œil. Ils sont, tout simplement, une réponse radicale à un problème … radical. »
Le photographe Peter Tangen, dont on peut voir le travail sur des affiches de Batman Begins ou Spider-Man, a décidé de s’intéresser à ce mouvement particulier. Il a contacté 20n de ces super-héros du quotidien pour les prendre en photos, dans leur costume.
Conçu à la base comme une exposition, The Real Life Superhero Project a pris de l’ampleur et attire de plus en plus de personnes, qu’il s’agisse d’artistes, de musiciens, de sportifs ou même d’hommes politiques. Le projet leur donne envie de devenir plus actifs, plus impliqués, plus engagés, et peut-être, un peu plus « super » dans leur vie de tous les jours.
Pour plus d’informations, rendez-vous sur le site officiel de The Real Life Superhero Project.
Translation to English

Discover the real heroes

he Real Life Super Hero Project puts the spotlight on the heroes of everyday life.
by Emmanuel Beiramar
The superheroes fall into several categories:
There are superhero mutants like Wolverine or Magneto.
There are superheroes or aliens from other dimensions like Superman or Thor.
There are heroes born of an accident such as Spider-Man or Hulk.
There are superheroes without powers like Batman, Iron Man, most of the heroes of Watchmen or Kick-Ass.
And there are the heroes of everyday life. Those that do exist and trying to help others. They are dressed, “Anonymous and disinterested,” explains the website of The Real Life Superhero Project . “They choose every day to make a difference in the world around them.  Whether feeding the hungry, comforting the sick, or clean their neighborhood, they save real lives, in very concrete ways. These are not “eccentric costumes,” as it may seem at first glance. They are simply a radical response to a problem … radical. ”
Photographer Peter Tangen, which can be seen working on posters of Batman Begins or Spider-Man, has decided to focus on this particular movement.  He contacted 20n of these super-heroes of everyday life and take pictures in their costumes.
Designed from the ground like an exhibition, The Real Life Superhero Project has grown and attracted more and more people, whether artists, musicians, sportsmen and even politicians. The project makes them want to become more active, more involved, committed, and perhaps a little more “super” in their everyday life.
For more information, visit the official website of The Real Life Superhero Project .
 

20/20 will be airing a segment featuring Superheroes: individuals with extraordinary abilities and inspirational citizen heroes. Life and DC’s Guardian will be featured as part of the Costumed Activist part of the show. ‘Past the Mask: The Real Life Superhero Project’ will be featured as well. This segment is scheduled to premiere Tuesday night, June 1st.
‘Past the Mask is a photo project by Peter Tangen. This project featured twenty individuals from the Real Life Superhero Subculture who flew down to Los Angeles to take part in this. These RLSH, some who have never met each other, were photographed in late September at a studio in Hollywood, California. ‘Past the Mask: The Real Life Superhero Project’ invites viewers, through photos and accompanying text and videos, into the “outsider world” of the RLSH community. A series of “Sub Culture/Pop Culture” posters are to be released on http://www.reallifesuperheroes.com. The goal of the project is to create a fundraising event in which proceeds benefit a children’s charity.
Peter Tangen, of Peter Tangen Productions, is world renowned photography. His works include movie posters for the following companies:
20th Century Fox
Bravo TV
Dreamworks SKG
Lionsgate Entertainment
Paramount Pictures
The Sci-Fi Network
Universal Pictures
USA Network
Walt Disney Studios
Warner Bros
Peter Tangen paragraphed and produced the movie posters for the Spiderman trilogy as well as Batman Begins, Most recently, his studio recently produced the movie posters for the remake of ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street.’
For more information about ‘Past the Mask: The Real Life Superhero Project’, visit the site at http://www.reallifesuperheroes.com. 20/20 will be posting content related to the Real Life Superhero Project on May 31 at http://abcnews.go.com/2020/
Additional: Peter Tangen has requested that our viewers support Team Justice in their efforts to obtain the Pepsi Refresh grant. Please vote for them at http://www.refresheverything.com/teamjustice