{"id":830,"date":"2009-06-05T22:45:34","date_gmt":"2009-06-06T05:45:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/reallifesuperheroes.org\/?p=830"},"modified":"2009-06-05T22:45:34","modified_gmt":"2009-06-06T05:45:34","slug":"real-life-heroes-don-costumes-across-the-u-s","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rlsh.net\/archive\/2009\/06\/05\/real-life-heroes-don-costumes-across-the-u-s\/","title":{"rendered":"Real Life Heroes Don Costumes Across the U.S."},"content":{"rendered":"

By<\/em> Tony Rutherford<\/strong>
\nHuntingtonnews.net Entertainment Editor<\/strong>
\nHuntington, WV (HNN)<\/strong> \u2013 Faster, flying, looking, chasing\u2026 in the fantasy worlds of Gotham City and Metropolis, individuals with super powers take on the bad guys missed by law enforcement. Believe it or not, costumed (and non-costumed) heroes have emerged in various global locations performing community service, indirectly assisting the police, and helping homeless.
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\nCNN recently featured a piece on heroes helping in hard times. Some go by comic book-like names (Mr. Ravenblade, Dark Guardian, Warrior Girl or Captain Safety ) and may wear a costume. Others may be a regular Joe or Jane. ( http:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2009\/LIVING\/06\/04\/real.life.superheroes\/index.html<\/a> )
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\nWhat prompted the real-life superhero movement?
\nBen Goldman, a real-life superhero historian, who runs Superheroes Anonymous (http:\/\/superheroesanonymous.com<\/a>) , stated to CNN: \u201cA lot of them go through an existential crisis and have to discover who they are.\u201d He continued, as people put more value on what they can do rather than the \u201cstuff\u201d in the house, \u201cthey realize that money is fleeting.\u201d
\nActually, the article suggests that the oddity grew past such efforts as the Guardian Angel citizen patrols (of the 80s). Admittedly, some of those adopting such a persona have to contend and balance communication , contact, and conduct with local law enforcement officers. Some of the real people have been shot at, arrested, and rebuked. Some have been called vigilantes. Others have won respect from short handed officers who welcome extra eyes and ears.
\nA press release at Real Life Superheroes explains the grassroots movement of people create a \u201csuperhero identity and work in a fun, exciting and inspirational fashion to make the world a better place. They are making an impact by doing civic activities, public safety patrols, crime fighting, charity work, school talks, hospital visits, helping the needy, and more acts to serve society. They are breaking the comic book barrier and bringing the ideals of superheroes into the real world. Real Life Superheroes create living positive role models which our children are in need of. The concept of a superhero, an individual who aspires to a higher moral code which benefits society, has a psychological impact on children, both appealing to their sense of fun as well as teach them important values.\u201d
\nA woman known as Terrifica patrols the New York bar scene looking out for women who had too much to drink or may be in danger of male predators. According to the ABC TV report, \u201cI protect the single girl living in the big city,\u201d stated the now 35-year-old single woman clad in a blond Brunnhilde wig, golden mask and Valkyrie bra.
\nActually, the web contains \u201ctutorials\u201d for heroes including first responder basics, self defense tips, legal considerations, and an article on \u201carrest proofing.\u201d https:\/\/rlsh-manual.com\/Resources.html<\/a> and a social network, http:\/\/answerthecall.ning.com<\/a>
\nNot all of the would-be heroes perform community service. Some have been the stars of fan-produced films, but others have gained semi-official endorsement from states, such as Breathe Easy Man who in Chicago educates citizens about reducing pollution and cleaning the air. And, Captain Clean (Maidstone, England) became a familiar face with the approval of council managers to clean up litter hot spots, passing out leaflets, and picking up abandoned vehicles, cleaning streets and hauling bulky refuse.
\nMore and more real-life heroes use their costumes to take on social issues. For instance, Femme Fiscale and Golden Boy (from Manitoba, Canada) ventured to the legislature to advocate for the province\u2019s most vulnerable citizens.
\nOne a web site, the feisty Femme argued that \u201ctax cuts are not free. I am concerned about how this will impact people who rely on government services.\u201d When the budget contained no funds for low income housing, she lobbied the legislature on behalf of affordable low income housing.
\nYou can check out some of the other national and international heroes at such sites as: http:\/\/www.superheroeslives.com\/reallife\/femme_fiscale_and_golden_boy_(2006).htm<\/a> (for which we credit use of the photos); http:\/\/www.reallifesuperheroes.org\/heroes.html<\/a>; http:\/\/www.theblackghost.com\/wallpapers.html<\/a> (a New Orleans character known as the Black Ghost who inspires non-violent conflict resolution, which is \u00a9 by I.C.E. Productions); http:\/\/www.skiffytownheroes.org\/pics.htm<\/a> (a national network of heroes who perform acts of community service or charity work, such as Dragonheart and Monkey Woman); http:\/\/www.herosyndicate.com\/index.php?title=Main_Page<\/a> (which shows active heroes, costume suppliers, and news stories)
\nEDITOR\u2019S NOTE: Photos courtesy of individual \u201chero\u201d or \u201cheroine\u201d unless otherwise stated. <\/em><\/strong>
\nWho are Huntington\u2019s Hero Helpers? <\/strong>
\nMy first choice for a \u201chero helpers\u201d label happens to be a young woman who uses a camera and editing equipment to better the community. Francesca Karle decided to make a movie about the homeless living on the riverbank for a Girl Scout Project. \u201cOn the River\u2019s Edge\u201d contained stories of the lives of people living in a shack or tent. The film was premiered at the Keith Albee and attracted national attention. In addition, Ms. Karle produced \u201cBack to the Bottle,\u201d a 35-minute documentary on alcohol addiction. (http:\/\/www.huntingtonnews.net\/local\/080207-rutherford-localfilmfestivalbacktobottle.html<\/a> )
\nWe\u2019d like you to nominate your own, but I\u2019ll get the non-costumed party started by adding a couple more such as:
\nAnonymous Attorneys<\/strong>: You know who you are. You have devoted countless hours to \u201carming\u201d those battered and bruised in the legal system with a weapon — you have helped teach \u201cthem\u201d procedures, methods, and shown proper forms, headings and research methods for fighting for truth, justice and the American Way. The case may not have been financially worth litigating, but you transformed their frustrated bitterness into \u201cpro se\u201d jurisprudence.
\nRev. Bob Bondurant<\/strong>: With his able \u201csidekick\u201d\/wife, Beth, Bob has prowled the halls of Marshall University, the Campus Christian Center, beach locations, and football fields dispensing the love of God. That meant loaning students a few dollars for their date, holding a hand during illness, stressing the similarities of various denominations and religions to encourage diversity (not condemnation) , and holding a mini-service for in-town PROWLers during non-university in session periods.
\nNow, it\u2019s your turn. We\u2019d like to run a continuing series of profiles of individuals worthy of a helper or hero title, be they \u201con the job\u201d or \u201cfreelancing.\u201d
\nSend your two paragraph nomination (with your e-mail address) to: stories@huntingtonnews.net<\/a> For that matter, check out our forum and start a sub \u2013head posting.
\nhttp:\/\/www.huntingtonnews.net\/local\/090605-rutherford-localreallifehero.html<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Tony Rutherford Huntingtonnews.net Entertainment Editor Huntington, WV (HNN) \u2013 Faster, flying, looking, chasing\u2026 in the fantasy worlds of Gotham City and Metropolis, individuals with super powers take on the bad guys missed by law enforcement. Believe it or not, costumed (and non-costumed) heroes have emerged in various global locations performing community service, indirectly assisting […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12371,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[8],"tags":[276,288,445,454,571,690,909,1050,1060,1109,1571,1759,2173,2181,2556,2630,2889,2936],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rlsh.net\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/830"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rlsh.net\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rlsh.net\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rlsh.net\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rlsh.net\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=830"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rlsh.net\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/830\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rlsh.net\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12371"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rlsh.net\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=830"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rlsh.net\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=830"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rlsh.net\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=830"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}