Real life superheros!!!!

[stack_it]

Anyone seen the movie kickass? Well there's some guys out in seattle that are taking it a little too serious. Just found these articles.

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/433179_super11.html



One of Seattle's self-proclaimed superheroes had his nose broken and was threatened at gunpoint Saturday, prompting police to again ask that he and others stop with the costumes and call 911.

The Man of Steel he is not.

Police spokespeople say they heard about the incident from reporters -- Phoenix Jones the Guardian of Seattle talked about the incident Monday with seattlepi.com partner, KOMO/4. Sgt. Sean Whitcomb said he isn't aware of a police report regarding the incident.

Some patrol officers have mistaken what they call the "costume-wearing complaints" for criminals, and say in some cases the characters are lucky they haven't been seriously hurt. That confusion prompted police to issue a bulletin to alert patrol officers in November.

"Does Superman get his ass kicked?" one detective asked. "These people should not be called superheroes."

Police noted that and other details about the self-proclaimed superheroes -- including Jones' real name -- in the November bulletin. Seattlepi.com first reported on the recent movement then, including details about Jones' costume with a bulletproof vest, arm and leg trauma plates.

"I endanger my life with a reason and a purpose," Jones told KOMO's Luke Ducey Monday.

On "Good Morning America" last week, Jones said calling 911 is a great start, but said "it's like waving a white flag."

"If police aren't here, criminals feel free to run wild in my city," he continued. "And I'm not going to stand for it."

Jones told KOMO the altercation that injured him happened Saturday night near Fifth Avenue and James Street. Jones, who said he was breaking up a fight, called 911 and put one of the men in a headlock and waited for police, KOMO reported.

Another man pulled out a gun seconds later and when the superhero let go of the man he was holding, that man kicked him in the face and broke his nose, Jones told KOMO.

Jones insisted the attack wasn't a big deal, and that he and other superheroes are much better prepared for confrontations than average citizens.

"I don't condone people walking around on the street with masks," he told seattlepi.com in November. "Everyone on my team either has a military background or a mixed martial arts background, and we're well aware of what its costs to do what we do."

Some people who the self-proclaimed superheroes meet on the streets ask for pictures or autographs. Several reality show producers have been desperate to get a hold of Jones for TV offers.

No word on if the superheroes will upgrade from their Kia.

[stack_it]

Vigilante justice has come to Seattle, and the caped crusaders drive a Kia.

Seattle police say a group of self-described superheroes have been patrolling the streets at night trying to save people from crime. They call themselves the Rain City Superhero Movement and say they're part of a nationwide movement of real-life crime fighters.

The national website -- cited in a police bulletin sent to Seattle officers Wednesday -- states "a Real Life Superhero is whoever chooses to embody the values presented in super heroic comic books, not only by donning a mask/costume, but also performing good deeds for the communitarian place whom he inhabits."

Police say the "costume-wearing complainants" are lucky they haven't been hurt.

In one instance, police say a caped crusader dressed in black was nearly shot when he came running out of a dark park. In another case, a witness on Capitol Hill saw the crusaders wearing ski masks in a car parked at a Shell station and thought they were going to rob the place.

Police got the license plate and found those masked characters drove a Kia Fate registered to one of the character's godmothers, department staff said. She told police her godson goes around doing good deeds.

Costume includes ballistic cup

Investigators identified nine people dressed in costume going around Seattle after dark. A police source said the characters go by Thorn, Buster Doe, Green Reaper, Gemini, No Name, Catastrophe, Thunder 88, Penelope and Phoenix Jones the Guardian of Seattle.

But don't listen to Captain Ozone or Knight Owl, police were told. They're apparently not part of the group.

Officers have learned the true identity of Phoenix -- a 22-year-old man whose costume includes a black cape, black fedora, blue tights, white belt and mask. Police say he's often driven by a young woman not in costume.

Officers say she usually doesn't get out of the car, instead letting the "superhero" do his thing.

Phoenix was interviewed by detectives this month and came to police headquarters dressed in most of his costume, police said.

"(Phoenix) apologized for not being in full costume, as it was being repaired after (he) was stabbed while trying to intervene with a drug dealer and a citizen," the police bulletin stated, according to a police source.

The man was not seriously wounded during the incident under Interstate 5, and police say he may not have actually been wounded.

Now, police were told Phoenix wears body armor, a ballistic vest, arm and leg trauma plates -- and a ballistic cup. Police were apparently told that bulletproof vest helped stop a bullet during an incident in Tacoma a year ago.

Others are expected to be at police headquarters this week for identification.

"I don't condone people walking around on the street with masks," said the man who called himself Phoenix Jones. "Everyone on my team either has a military background or a mixed martial arts background, and we're well aware of what its costs to do what we do."

Jones said he would talk in greater detail after a television news story is broadcast this weekend by our news partner, KOMO/4.

Keeping in superhero fashion, he didn't leave a return number.

Police say another incident with the self-proclaimed superheroes came about 3 a.m. Nov. 4 at Sixth Avenue and South King Street in the International District.

Police responded to a harassment complaint and found Phoenix the Guardian of Seattle dressed in a "black colored Batman costume and a black ski mask," department spokesman Jeff Kappel said.

He was standing with four other men and one woman, all in costume with their faces covered by ski masks and bandanas. They were dealing a man making threatening statements and swinging a golf club.

Police took the golf club as evidence. The "costume-wearing complainants" refused to press charges because they didn't want to identify themselves to officers, Kappel said. So the suspect walked.

Dangers of vigilante justice

"There's nothing wrong with citizens getting involved with the criminal justice process -- as long as they follow it all the way through," Kappel said, adding they want people to call 911 and be good witnesses, even if a case goes to court.

Police say they don't want people who aren't sworn officers putting themselves in danger.

They point to an unrelated case earlier this year in Maple Leaf. A man in his late 40s was working on his rental property near Northeast 77th Street and 16th Avenue Northeast when he saw men prowling his vehicle.

The man fought the prowlers and was winning, but one was able to inflict two knife wounds 3-inches deep. Large amounts of blood covered his clothes when medics arrived, and police say the man nearly died.

In another Northgate case from 2008, a man shot a car prowler who was trying to steal his stereo. The prowler died, and the suspect was charged with manslaughter. He's out now, but was sentenced to nine months in prison.

A member of the Rain City Superhero Movement told police the "superheroes" carry Tasers, nightsticks, pepper spray, but no firearms.

Police say they hope the self-proclaimed superheroes act as good witnesses instead of putting themselves in danger. The bulletin said a KOMO/4 news crew plans to follow the caped crusaders Friday night.

According to the national superhero website, the characters don't have to engage in violent fights to be a crime fighter, but should embody the values presented in super heroic comic books.

"Inspiration plays a major role in this, of course," character Entomo wrote on the page. "You can inspire people to believe in a symbol.

"You can inspire people to believe they can CREATE themselves a symbol and embody it --- and it's not a lie."

[stack_it]

[Necrosaro]

I find this very interesting and not surprising after the movie came out that people would do this.

[benny_jerry]

fair do's their clearly sick of shit happening in their neighborhood and people getting away with it.

[Necrosaro]

I hate you Stack it now for making me look everything on these hero's :P

[stack_it]

I'll bet right now that if they don't stop then one of em ends up dead or missing.

[bushido3374]

People end up dead or missing all the time. Unfortunately, most of them are unwitting victims. At least these guys want to make a difference, and willingly put themselves at risk in order to challenge crime.
I have several of these RLSH on my friends list on FB. Some are super geeky, others are just spending their spare time trying to make society safer for others, instead of sitting in a bar or gaming.
I think it's kind of a cool movement, and several movies have been out so far that have addressed this interest.

[stack_it]

Idk. I guess I'm just too American to believe in superheros or maybe not American enough depending on how you look at it. It'll be interesting to see if it spreads.

[Tigershark]

Very interesting.

[auslifta]

seriously though, there is a rival gang of super heros there to, saw it on the news. Thought it was beat up, but they are serious.

[bushido3374]

LOL Auslifta, where did you find my picture? You must have went to my profile on match.com

[Brewster]

kick ass was one of the best movies

and I want to go fight crime with these guys
lol

[bushido3374]

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7213060n

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8byYFdSBfA

The second clip is an example of what I probably would have been killed trying to do. I always fee obligated to help the underdog. This takes courage.

[bushido3374]

update: I guess the second video was staged. I'm crushed.

[D7M]

update: I guess the second video was staged. I'm crushed.

Yah, I didn't want to burst your bubble, but that looked pretty damn fake.

[Brewster]

and it was shit