{"id":794,"date":"2009-07-20T19:07:33","date_gmt":"2009-07-21T02:07:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/reallifesuperheroes.org\/?p=794"},"modified":"2009-07-20T19:07:33","modified_gmt":"2009-07-21T02:07:33","slug":"10-real-life-superheroes-who-have-actually-made-a-difference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rlsh.net\/archive\/2009\/07\/20\/10-real-life-superheroes-who-have-actually-made-a-difference\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Real Life Superheroes Who Have Actually Made a Difference"},"content":{"rendered":"
Written by JJ<\/a> on Jul-20-09 3:52am<\/p>\n The Real Life Superhero (RLS) pheneomenon has steadily picked up steam over the last decade. Just like in Alan Moore’s comic classic Watchmen<\/em>, otherwise normal people are suiting up and fighting crime.<\/p>\n Some have attributed the rise of the RLS to the recent popularity of comic book heroes, while others have interpreted it as a cultural response to the national tragedy of 9\/11.<\/p>\n Whatever the case, these Real Life Superheroes walk the streets of cities throughout the world (though many are based in the United States) working for the good of their communities. From Rolling Stone<\/em> to the Associated Press<\/em>, their adventures have been documented. And while many ridicule the grown men and women who wander the streets in outlandish costumes, it’s undeniable that many are serious about giving back to the community.<\/p>\n Here are 10 Real Life Superheroes who have actually made a difference:<\/p>\n #10 Alain Robert, the Human Spider<\/strong><\/p>\n Born:<\/strong> August 7, 1962<\/p>\n Location:<\/strong> Worldwide (Based in Paris)<\/p>\n Special Ability:<\/strong> To climb up the sides of skyscrapers<\/p>\n Nemisis:<\/strong> Police<\/p>\n Means of Transport:<\/strong> Climbing shoes<\/p>\n Everyone on this list has made a difference in some way, but not everyone on this list actually possesses some superhuman power over the physical world.<\/p>\n While Alain Robert<\/a>‘s ability is no mutant power, it doesn’t even seem possible that a human should be able to climb like he climbs. Robert has climbed many of the world’s tallest structures. He climbed the Sears Tower (recently renamed Willis Tower<\/a>) in 1999, completing the climb even after heavy fog made the surface dangerously slick. In all, Robert has climbed more than 85 skyscrapers.<\/p>\n And how has he made a difference? By furthering his political goals of course. Robert is an outspoken activist who has taken up the banner of environmentalism in the fight against global warming. In February, 2009, when Robert climbed the Cheung Kong Centre in Hong Kong, he first unfurled a banner directing people to the global warming Web site onehundredmonths.org. Then in April of 2009, he climbedthe Lloyd’s building in London and unfurled a similar banner.<\/p>\n But the grandaddy was his June, 2008 climbing of the New York Times building. Upon reaching the top of the building, Robert let fly a banner declaring, “Global warming kills more people than 9\/11 every week.” That’s a ballsy way to get a message across in New York. At least the man stays on point.<\/p>\n #9 Citizen Prime<\/strong><\/p>\n Location:<\/strong>Arizona<\/p>\n Purpose:<\/strong> To educate children and the public at large on safety and preparedness<\/p>\n True Identity:<\/strong> Jim, an executive at an unnamed financial institution<\/p>\n Means of Transport:<\/strong> Xterra<\/p>\n Cost of Costume:<\/strong> $4,000<\/p>\n Not all caped crusaders are losers with nothing better to do, and Citizen Prime is proof.<\/p>\n A financial executive by day, Citizen Prime donns his $4,000 costume, which includes custom-made breast plate armor, and patrols the streets. Citizen Prime separates himself from other neighborhood watch style “superheroes” by distributing literature on how to help in the community and making appearances to talk to children about drugs and crime.<\/p>\n While Citizen Prime has said he respects the work of other superheroes, like the Black Monday Society in Salt Lake City, he takes a different approach by focusing on community involvement. He says the most useful tool at his disposal is a keen sense of humor for diffusing awkward situations.<\/p>\n #8 Polar Man<\/strong><\/p>\n Location:<\/strong>Iqaluit, Nunavet; Canada<\/p>\n Notable For:<\/strong> Shoveling snow from driveways<\/p>\n Mode of Transport:<\/strong> Not a polar bear<\/p>\n Special Ability:<\/strong> Resistance to cold and isolation<\/p>\n Clad all in black and white with his trusty shovel, nary a snow-covered driveway stands a chance when Polar Man is on the case.<\/p>\n While a snow-shoveling hero from an isolated Canadian town of less than 7,000 might seem laughable, Polar Man has truly made a difference. Not only does he clear walkways for the elderly, he also tidies playgrounds in the summer and takes a keen interest in participating in community events.<\/p>\n Most of the heroes on this list come from major metropolitan areas, which sort of makes Polar Man more valuable. After all, what better way is there to make a sleepy town more interesting than by patrolling the streets and calling yourself a superhero?<\/p>\n Polar Man models himself on an Inuit legend where an unknown white man riding a polar bear brings food and clothing to people in need. It’s just too bad no one has figured out how to use polar bears as a means of transportation, because a snow shoveler on a polar bear would be truly awesome.<\/p>\n #7 Superhero<\/strong><\/p>\n Born:<\/strong>c. 1969<\/p>\n Location:<\/strong> Clearwater, Florida<\/p>\n Mode of Transport:<\/strong> 1975 Corvette Stingray<\/p>\n Qualifications:<\/strong> Navy veteran; Police Academy training; professional bodyguard; training in wrestling and boxing<\/p>\n Personal Style:<\/strong> Loud and proud<\/p>\n True Identity:<\/strong> Dale Pople<\/p>\n It’s a tad redundant to be a superhero named Superhero, but what this Florida crimefighter lacks in creativity, he makes up for in style.<\/p>\n Superhero has made a difference not only by showing up at events and showing off his Corvette and bright red Spandex. Sure that tends to leave an impression on people (and not always the good kind), but Superhero’s real contribution is patrolling the roads and helping people in need of assistance — like people who need a flat tire changed.<\/p>\n “I don’t really know when I made the transition, but just all of a sudden one day it seemed like a good idea to put on my costume and go out and help people with roadside assistance.”<\/p>\n