![\"MASQUER-AIDES](\"http:\/\/reallifesuperheroesarchive.files.wordpress.com\/2006\/09\/humbleheroes.jpg\")
<\/a>MASQUER-AIDES Tothian, Squeegee Man and Dark Guardian Photo: Imogen Brown<\/p><\/div>
\nOn a recent evening, Tothian, Squeegee Man and Dark Guardian are whisking up the West Side in their heromobile to Port Authority. Their mission is to bring help\u2014in the form of water, granola bars and blankets\u2014to the neighborhood\u2019s homeless. Among bewildered shouts of \u201cThanks, man!\u201d and \u201cYo! Is it Halloween already?!?,\u201d the costumed crusaders distribute their goods and speed off into the night.
\nThe three, who met on MySpace, often work independently and don\u2019t even know each other\u2019s real names. Squeegee Man, 26, who carries his signature implement on his belt, wears a uniform that some confuse with Superman\u2019s, but as he indignantly reminds us, his underwear is on the inside. \u201cI fight crime and grime,\u201d he says. \u201cI pick up trash, give things to the homeless and help old ladies cross the street\u2014y\u2019know, regular superhero stuff.\u201d Meanwhile, Dark Guardian, 22\u2014whose bulletproof mask has a smile drawn on it\u2014and the 21-year-old Tothian (who won\u2019t disclose his name\u2019s origin for fear of revealing his secret identity) patrol bad neighborhoods in NYC and New Jersey. So far they\u2019ve avoided brushes with real danger. \u201cI haven\u2019t saved anyone yet, but I\u2019ve reported drug dealers and gambling dens to the police,\u201d Dark Guardian says.
\nThe superheroes take pleasure in the high-profile nature of doing good deeds in costume. \u201cIt\u2019s in hopes of inspiring people to make the world a better place,\u201d explains the Guardian. But the romantic returns of being a masked savior have been disappointing. \u201cI\u2019ve only had one girlfriend in my life,\u201d admits Tothian. \u201cYeah,\u201d snorts Squeegee Man. \u201cAnd her name was Lady Invisible.\u201d \u2014Kate Lowenstein<\/em>
\nFor more info, go to superleagueofsuperheroes.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n