Real-lifeSuperheroes Tagged Articles at Cinematical

"I'm sure he won't recognize us because he's blind, but ... I'm sure he'll recognize the taste of a good meal." -- Shadow Hare

Not long ago we told you about the steady rise of real-life superheroes; men and women who don masks and costumes in an effort to protect their hometown from crime and mischief, while also serving as role models for the community. With superhero movies becoming more popular, it's not a surprise to see real-life costumed heroes popping up in greater numbers around the country and throughout the world. And, as one such case in Cincinnati proves, these folks totally mean business.

Check out this news story on real-life superhero Shadow Hare, who roams the streets of Cincinnati with what appears to be two slightly overweight sidekicks and some masked chick. Okay, so maybe our hero hasn't exactly sailed through puberty yet and discovered his dark, Bale-like growl (even though he's 21-years-old, he sounds like he's 11), but he seems to keep everything else in check. So what if all the local citizens laugh at them as they strut down the street in full daylight -- when duty calls, it calls ... right? My favorite part of this video comes when the homeless guys laugh at the costumes, and spit out something like, "What the heck is this -- it ain't Easter" ... as if Easter all of a sudden became a holiday where people dressed up as awkward-looking superheroes.

Nevertheless, I suppose it's nice to see these kids attempting to be decent human beings instead of beating up old ladies and selling Vicodin on street corners. Still, it is kinda funny ...

While they've been around for a few years now -- emerging from the suburban shadows shortly after 9/11 -- the current superhero craze, propelled mainly by popular movies like The Dark Knight, Spider-Man, Iron Man and Watchmen, has created more than just big-screen sequels -- oh yes, try an assortment of real-life superheroes (or so they like to think). For example, the Green Scorpion (pictured right) works out of the New Mexico/Arizona region, is a member of The Justice Society of Justice organization and states the following on his website: "Eventually, everyone has the opportunity to awaken and become who they always wanted to be. Some people just hit the snooze button and go back to sleep."

Or what about Doktor DiscorD, who's also a member of The Justice Society of Justice, and states: "We dont care about victimless crime like drug use or people buying prostitutes. the kind of CRIME we're talking about is the kind that makes little old ladies afraid to leave their houses." Laugh all you want, but Scorpion and DiscorD are joined by roughly 200 other real-life superheroes (or, as they call themselves, "Reals") all across the world. According to a pretty hilarious article in the Times Online, the rules are fairly simple: "They must stand for unambiguous and unsponsored good. They must create their own Spandex and rubber costumes without infringing Marvel or DC Comics copyrights, but match them with exotic names ... they must shun guns or knives to avoid being arrested as vigilantes ..."

Homebase for these "Reals" looks to be the World Superhero Registry, where you can scroll through tons of real-life superhero profiles, read interviews, scan the message boards, scope out a gadget gallery and -- get this -- read movie reviews, the last of which appears to be ... drum roll please ... The Dark Knight. So what do you think of these real-lifers? Cool thing to do on a Saturday night, or people desperately in need of a real life?