Chris Blattman

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Although Master Legend was one of the first to call himself a Real Life Superhero, in recent years a growing network of similarly homespun caped crusaders has emerged across the country. Some were inspired by 9/11. If malevolent individuals can threaten the world, the argument goes, why can’t other individuals step up to save it? “What is Osama bin Laden if not a supervillain, off in his cave, scheming to destroy us?” asks Green Scorpion, a masked avenger in Arizona.

Rolling Stone gets us behind the mask of America’s “Real Life Superheroes”.

Via MoLT, who also points us to the wonderful Real Life Superhero registry.

Fancy yourself a caped crusader? Here are the registration requirements:

Costume: The purpose of a costume is not simply to protect the identity of the Real-Life Superhero from criminals that might seek revenge, but to make a statement both to the evil-doers that you fight against and to the world at large…

Heroic deeds: …the Heroic Deeds must be of sufficient degree as to exceed normal everyday behavior. If proof of Heroic Deeds is not present, a listing may still be added to the Registry, however, it may be marked as “inactive” or “unconfirmed” in the description.

Personal motivation: A Real-Life Superhero cannot be a paid representative of an organization, not even a benevolent one…

Most seem harmless (e.g. Polar Man from–not surprisingly–Canada) although I am a little worried about NY-based Tothian, who writes,

I am saving up money to go to foreign lands where innocent people are being killed, such as Darfur, Iraq, Afganistan.

Perhaps someone should alert UNHCR.

A Fox News interview with Minnesota’s Razorback is here. He seems kind of sweet.

According to my (psychologist) spouse, all of this “sounds potentially dangerous, as well as pathological.” Of course, she says the same of my blogging…

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