Has anyone ever tried putting on a costume to be a real superhero?: "Has anyone ever tried putting on a costume to be a real superhero?
Cory
Seatac, Washington
Dear Cory:
OK, first off, can we all agree that moms, firefighters, and teachers are not superheroes? Sure they're great, but they don't don capes and assume secret identities. So let's take a cheese-free approach to the question. Surprisingly, even with our cold-hearted restrictions, the answer is still 'yes' -- more than a few 'normal folks' have tried their hands at masked avenging.
The most famous real world hero is probably Angle-Grinder Man from the U.K. His mission is simple -- to help distressed motorists remove the dreaded 'boot' from their cars. Those whose cars are being held captive by the government only need call the man, and he quickly appears in costume, ready to free the ride with his enchanted tool belt. Not exactly legal, but hey, Batman doesn't always play by the rules, either.
While he's arguably the most celebrated, there are others -- for example, Terrifica. Dressed in scarlet spandex and a Valkyrie-style bra, this New Yorker has sworn an oath to make sure women who've had too much to drink aren't taken advantage of. With a blinding flash of crimson, she storms bars, tells preying Casanovas to scram, and walks the drunken damsel in distress home so she might live to drink another day.
Other masked wonders include the snow-shoveling Polarman and Superbarrio, possibly the first social activist who wishes to remain anonymous.
While few have actually witnessed these heroes out prowling the streets, their legends still cast an impressive shadow. Criminals and metermaids beware! "
