Tag birmingham

Originally posted: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3443305/Britain-has-16-superheroes-patrolling-the-streets.html

By Chris Pollard
A WHOLE army of masked crusaders is fighting crime on Britain’s streets at night, The Sun can reveal.
At least 16 amateur super-heroes have been identified.
They have names such as Vague, Swift, Black Arrow, Lionheart and Terrorvision. But researcher Tea Krulos said many more operated in the shadows. He said: “Britain has more amateur superheroes than you’d guess.”
We told last month how chubby bank worker Scott Cooke, 26 – known as The Statesman but dubbed The Phan-tum by The Sun – secretly dons a Union Jack outfit to fight crime in Birmingham.
US author Krulos has investigated such comic-style heroes for years in the States. And he said: “In America we have many, but they tend to seek publicity.
“In Britain it is a very secretive underground society. They do all they can to avoid publicity and communicate online. Whole forums are set up and often they operate in groups. I have spoken extensively to The Statesman, and he takes what he does very seriously.”
Krulos – writing a book on superheroes – said he had spoken to six UK crusaders, and was trailing ten more. He said: “These are normal people wanting adventure and to improve communities. They achieve more than you’d think.”
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Originally posted: http://www.comicsalliance.com/2011/02/23/britain-real-life-super-hero-the-statesman/
By Chris Sims
Here at ComicsAlliance, we’ve been keeping tabs on the “Real Life Super-Heroes” for a while, chronicling the triumphs of Phoenix Jones, Guardian of Seattle and the somewhat-less-than-triumphs of Tennesee’s Viper, and today, there’s a new champion of justice walking the streets: The Statesman, stalwart defender of Birmingham, UK!

And not only is he the perfect candidate for inclusion in a worldwide anti-crime organization, should America’s real-life super-heroes ever decide to follow Batman’s lead and franchise into Phoenix Jones, Guardian of Seattle, Incorporated, he’s also the first real life super-hero to actually display evidence of metahuman powers.

And by that, I am of course referring to his totally sweet facial hair.
Yes, he might look like what would happen if Captain Britain forsaked his job as mystical protector of the British Isles in favor of taking a position as head security guard at the mall — and actually, why aren’t there more super-heroes rocking cargo pants? — but that is a set of mutton chops that brooks no sass from ne’er-do-wells.
Especially since the combination of the Motörhead ‘stache and the latex domino mask makes him look like a strange transporter-accident combination of the Comedian from Watchmen and Lemmy Kilmister:
If that’s not something that’s going to intimidate the criminal element, I don’t know what is.
And according to his profile in London’s Daily Mail, he’s already mastered the most important lessons for any super-hero, following the rules set down by comics: He has a boring day job that requires him to wear a suit (just like Superman!), he lies to his girlfriend about his whereabouts while he’s out fighting crime (just like Spider-Man!), and he somehow expects to maintain a secret identity despite having an extremely distinctive beard (just like Green Arrow!). He even wears a utility belt that contains his crime-fighting equipment, including a flashlight, a Sharpie and a little notebook (just like Batman!) (sort of!).
So for the English criminal community — which I believe is made up almost entirely of Bullet Tooth Tony and Lord Voldemort — watch out! The Statesman is on patrol with a mission to end crime!
Just so long as crime takes place betwen 7 PM and midnight. The dude’s got work tomorrow, you know?

Originally posted: http://www.businessinsider.com/banker-superman-the-statesman-2011-2
By Katya Wachtel
In the cult comic series Batman (and in the films spawned from the comic) the man behind the mask is Bruce Wayne — a billionaire investor by day, and of course, a crime-fighting rogue by night.
While the protagonist in this story is no billionaire, he is also a financier by day and a “superhero” by night.
In moonlight and masked, there is a crime-fighting man in Birmingham in the UK known as “The Statesmen.”
In daylight and suited, he is just a regular banker, according to the Daily Mail.
This unnamed banker is not the first regular guy to turn himself into a real-life superhero; last month a character — in both senses of the word — called Phoenix Jones began patrolling the streets of Seattle to fight crime.
The Birmingham banker told the paper he has “foiled a drug dealer and prevented burglaries.” His disguise includes a Union Flag T-shirt, combat pants, military boots and a black Zorro-style mask. He wears a utility belt, and carries with him a first aid kit, “a torch to startle burglars,” a notepad and a cheap mobile phone (to call for back-up, should he need it).
And according to the Mail, one of the reasons he has become The Statesman, is to counter his life as a banker:
I work for a large bank dealing with savings and investments. All day I look at numbers and percentages and work out how to make people richer. It’s not a popular occupation but I like to think I make up for this by going out at night and trying to do something to help everybody.
The banker has been boxing since he was 11, and was also in the army.
And why “The Statesman”? Because, “a Statesman is an ambassador, a diplomat and somebody who delivers a message. Something that’s meaningful and positive, and that’s something I feel that represents what I do,” he said.
For more crazy details about The Statesman’s escapades, go to the Daily Mail >

Originally posted:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1359093/Birmingham-superhero-Britains-Kick-Ass-banker-The-Statesman-fights-crime.html
By Daily Mail Reporter

In his suit and working as a banker by day, this man looks an unlikely superhero – but by night, he becomes ‘The Statesmen’ and fights crime on Britain’s streets.
Dressed in a Union Flag T-shirt and with a black Zorro-style mask covering his eyes, he claims even his girlfriend is in the dark about his nocturnal activities – which is hard to believe, especially given his distinctive facial hair.
He tells her he is out playing poker on the four nights a week when he is trying to keep an eye on the underbelly of Birmingham.
The Briton is the latest to follow in the footsteps of the hit film Kick Ass, in which a teenage geek dresses as a superhero but ends up way over his head.
Last month, it emerged Phoenix Jones from the U.S. had been dubbed the real-life Kick Ass after appointing himself as masked guardian of a Seattle suburb.
His British counterpart’s outfit compares somewhat unfavourably with the American’s but he claims to have foiled a drug dealer and prevented burglaries.
The former soldier in the Territorial Army, who wears a black mask, utility belt, Union Flag top, fingerless gloves, combat trousers and military boots, uses his skills as a trained pugilist.
And he shirks cutting-edge gadgets for a first aid kit, a torch to startle burglars and a notepad for writing down important information. A cheap mobile phone in case he needs to call support of the police completes his arsenal.
He said: ‘I work for a large bank dealing with savings and investments. All day I look at numbers and percentages and work out how to make people richer.

‘It’s not a popular occupation but I like to think I make up for this by going out at night and trying to do something to help everybody.’
His alter-ego sees him breaking up fights, stopping would-be burglars and feeding homeless people and he claims he sometimes teams up with three other superheroes to work together.
To keep attention off them, they hide their costumes under dark overcoats and burst out when their help is required.
He claims they helped Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) to capture a drug dealer.
‘We were patrolling London together at 3am one night and heard a commotion. We saw a huge guy running across Trafalgar Square away from two PCSOs.
‘They were shouting at him but he wasn’t going to stop so we threw off our overcoats and chased him. We caught up with him and pinned him down until the officers arrived.
‘They told us he had jumped bail and they had seen him throwing away packets of drugs as he ran from them.
‘That was the first time what I do really felt justified. The police wagon turned up and took him away and it felt good. The PCSOs thought it was great. They loved it.’

Patrolling several times a week means The Statesman has to work hard to keep his secret safe from loved ones.
With my girlfriend, it helps that I have a lot of hobbies. I say I’m playing late-night poker matches with friends or watching a pay-per-view sports,’ he said.
When things turn violent on patrol, The Statesman is well prepared. ‘I’ve been boxing since I was 11 and I’m still training,’ he said. ‘It helps me to judge things and be reasonable.’
His first ‘incident’ on patrol came in April 2010 when he found two men trying to break into a builder’s merchants late at night.
He said: ‘It’s why I always carry a torch with me. People doing bad things don’t want to be seen and if you shine a good torch right at them and shout in a strong voice, it’s enough to stop them. As soon as I did it these two men simply ran away.’
He begins his Nightwatch at 7pm, after eating a good meal to keep him going. ‘I look at a map and just say “I want to make that area safe tonight”,’ he said.
‘While I am over that area, nothing bad is going to happen. You can’t change the entire city, but you can make one small part of it better each night. Even if it’s just for one or two people, then that’s a win.’
Explaining his superhero name, he said: ‘A Statesman is an ambassador, a diplomat and somebody who delivers a message. Something that’s meaningful and positive, and that’s something I feel that represents what I do.
‘I want to do something that’s positive for the country. I hope some people will look at me and want to do it themselves. If it’s just one person then it’s a success. As long as I’m achieving anything, I will keep doing this.’
West Midlands Police refused to comment.