Super Thesis

No, it is not Halloween. No one is filming a comic book movie, nor are the characters
seen by passersby part of a prank. A man is walking up and down the street wearing a mask and cape as if from a comic book. He is part of what has come to be known as the “real-life superhero movement”. Upon first hearing about this phenomenon, many people have accused these participants of being vigilantes, while others are thankful for their presence. One glimpse into this divide—provided by ESPN (2015)—is a hero in Seattle, Washington named Phoenix Jones. Seattle is a “mutual combat zone”, meaning two people can legally fight as long as both have given consent. After winning a battle against an upset citizen, public opinion was divided as to whether Phoenix was a hero or a glory hound (“SC Featured: Phoenix Rising,” 2015). While many people associate the real-life superhero movement with vigilantism, the reality is that vigilantism is the more violent of the two.
Both the real-life superhero movement and vigilantism has reached across the globe. The BBC (2003) shows us the London superhero, Angle-Grinder Man, who helps unfortunate motorists. The Real Life Superhero Project (2011) highlights Liberian superhero, Lion Heart, who obtained his persona at the age of fourteen as he journeyed home after being abducted. Today, he fights the sex-trafficking industry. Historians recall the saga of vigilante Jonathan Idema, who by himself invaded Afghanistan hunting for terrorists. In El Salvador, PediaView (n.d.) says that the violent Sombra Negra executes suspected criminals in a ceremonial fashion.
The Oxford Dictionary defines “vigilante” as “a member of a self-appointed group of citizens who undertake law enforcement in their community without legal authority”. Typically, this means killing offenders, either as an individual or part of a group. In comic book fiction, (e.g. Spider-Man and Batman), superheroes are often mischaracterized by their detractors as
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IS THE REAL-LIFE SUPERHERO MOVEMENT VIGILANTISM? vigilantes. An example of a true comic book vigilante would be the Punisher who, without any
superpowers, tries to bring criminals to justice using lethal force.
The concept of vigilantism can be very vague. Self-defense is a human right, but as Les
Johnston (1996) points out, if a law-abiding home-owner wounds or apprehends an intruder, he has technically acted as a type of vigilante. This paradox is the reason he published an article suggesting additional criteria for vigilantism as follows: it must be planned, it must be violent, and it must not be sanctioned by the government (Johnston, 1996). These criteria, in addition to the aforementioned Oxford Dictionary definition will be used to contrast the real-life superhero movement with vigilantism.
While the superhero genre has been around since the 1930’s, the concept and history of vigilantism is significantly older. The website “Carolana” (n.d.) tells how in 1767, marauders were stalking the South Carolina wilderness, with no protection coming from the local government. This prompted the formation of the Carolina Regulators, who drove out the raiders and demanded more representation in government. After nearly a civil war with the provincial government, courts were provided to the Carolina backcountry (“The War of Regulation”). Contrast that with a recent incident of real-life super-heroism reported by the British Broadcasting Company (2003). An article was published, discussing the “Angle-Grinder Man.” An angle grinder is a handheld tool used for grinding and polishing metal. Angle-Grinder Man’s method of fighting injustice was to cut and remove, with an angle grinder, clamps that had been applied to the wheels of motorists for parking violations. He has told the BBC that in addition to defying law enforcement’s practice of hiring wheel-clamp firms, he plans to fight against the use of speed cameras and other perceived injustices. As of the article’s posting, no investigation was underway. The cutting of wheel-clamps could be classified as destruction of property, but

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IS THE REAL-LIFE SUPERHERO MOVEMENT VIGILANTISM? curiously enough, a police spokeswoman stated that neither the clamping firms nor citizens had
filed any complaints (“’Superhero’ Takes on Clampers,” 2003).
In El Salvador, a death squad calling itself La Sombra Negra (translated as “The Black
Shadow”) is rumored by InSight Crime (2014) to be tied to police. This may be due to the dark clothing these vigilantes usually wear (Bargent, 2014). PediaView reveals their methods, which seem almost ceremonial, where the victim—often a gang member—undergoes a series of dismemberments before being killed. A representative from this group says that they carry out these killings because they believe the police are unable to do their job (“Sombra Negra”). This statement cannot be interpreted as believing the government to be corrupt, but instead ineffective. If the rumor is true that these vigilantes are connected to the police, that would certainly tie them directly to government, which would place them under police brutality. Police Chief Rigoberto Pleites has denied this accusation (Bargent, 2014). If the allegation is true, that offers a different perspective to their statement: they know the police’s ability to help people is limited because they themselves are police.
On the other side of the world, Written about by Taipei Times (2004) and New York Magazine (n.d.) is the case of Task Force Saber Seven, led by Jonathan Idema, a self-proclaimed invader of Afghanistan. As a military reject, Jonathan “Jack” Idema insisted that the U.S. had sanctioned him and two fellow Americans—one former military—to imprison terrorists. The prison was described as a “Kabul house of horrors”. Afghani police found some prisoners hanging from the ceiling, tied by their feet, and showing signs of having been tortured (Sullivan). The U.S. has consistently denied any affiliation with Idema, though he apparently fared better with the Afghani government. When he was brought to court for his misdeeds, the attorney showed a tape of the Afghani minister of education greeting the vigilante and offering him aid in

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IS THE REAL-LIFE SUPERHERO MOVEMENT VIGILANTISM? his next venture. His support was granted under the mistaken assumption that the Task Force’s
adventures were indeed endorsed by the U.S. (“Footage gives credence,” 2004). Without the support of the U.S., and the fact that he had deceived Afghanistan into thinking the contrary, Jonathan Idema fulfills the criteria of “lacking government approval.”
Vigilantism is often misguided, ignorant, and inhumane. Since it is usually executed by private citizens, the privilege of having a clear-thinking protector is not guaranteed. Consider the Ku Klux Klan, whose primary value and motivation is the inferiority of the black race, and who are infamous for cross-burnings and lynchings. More recently, inhumane practices have been attributed to La Sombra Negra of El Salvador. Investigations into their crimes turn up signs of sexual violence toward their victims (“Sombra Negra”), some of whom were civil rights advocates (Bargent, 2014). The Carolina Regulators of the 1760’s dispensed their own form of justice in South Carolina, but their counterparts in North Carolina did not have the same success. They opposed the favoritism which court officials showed for the coastal towns over rural areas, taxing them less. They used force to close down courthouses and incite riots. Seven of their leaders were hanged (“The War of Regulation”).
The detrimental behavior of vigilantes is rarely seen in the real-life superhero movement, but it does exist. Upon interviewing several would-be superheroes, Elaine Fishwick (2015) found that their opinion of vigilantes was that they were “big talkers without any proof of their actions” (Fishwick & Mak, 2015). Hillel Wasserman One hero who probably does have proof of his actions is Z. Hillel Wasserman wrote that Z began wanting to strike as hard as he could, declaring, “Look, you have a list of people in your life who should die.” Over time, Z’s anger lessened, and his campaigns became more heroic and less violent.

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IS THE REAL-LIFE SUPERHERO MOVEMENT VIGILANTISM? Real life instances of vigilantism often involve entire groups, such as La Sombra Negra
and the Carolina Regulators. While real-life superheroes demonstrate this propensity as well, an HBO documentary (2011) shows us that the groups that evolve would likely fit around a kitchen table. Although the documentary Superheroes shows us several scenes of Mister Xtreme walking the streets of San Diego alone, he says he has begun to partner with Vigilante Spider and Urban Avenger. The Black Monday Society of Salt Lake City has about ten members, and the New York Initiative has four (Barnett & James, 2011).
Another common tradition of vigilantism is the use of weaponry, usually firearms. After a regimen of torture, La Sombra Negra will shoot their victims point blank in the back of the head with assault rifles (“Sombra Negra”). Jonathan Idema, having no backing from his American homeland, tricked the NATO peacekeeping force (ISAF) into sending vehicles and soldiers to assist him (“Footage gives credence,” 2004). Many in the real-life superhero movement admit to carrying weapons, but rarely are deadly firearms involved. One carries a bow, likely for appearance’s sake; others carry simple batons. Master Legend keeps what looks like a potato cannon in his apartment (Barnett & James, 2011). A more common weapon would be a can of pepper spray, the use of which nearly cost jail time for Phoenix Jones (“SC Featured: Phoenix Rising,” 2015). The Seattle Weekly (2014) wrote that Jones had to disband the Rain City Superhero Movement on the grounds that some of his recruits were carrying illegal firearms (Sears, 2014).
When the use of lethal force is involved, relations between vigilantes and the authorities are understandably strained. Idema was thrown out of the military academy because he lacked the motivation, maturity, and professionalism that was required. San Diego Police Lieutenant Andra Brown frequently criticizes the real-life superhero movement, considering it vigilantism.

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IS THE REAL-LIFE SUPERHERO MOVEMENT VIGILANTISM? She says that when people attempt to enforce the law by themselves, the result is seldom positive
(Barnett & James, 2011). In the aftermath of the Seattle pepper spray incident, the District Attorney demanded the unmasking of Phoenix Jones, upon which Jones pulled his mask off himself (“SC Featured: Phoenix Rising,” 2015). In an attempt to establish a professional relationship with police, Mister Xtreme went to the police station with information he thought they might appreciate. The officers reacted negatively, and tried to pressure him into removing his helmet and goggles. On rare occasions, the police would show guarded appreciation (Barnett & James, 2011).
It is possible that in some cities the tension between the police and either group—vigilantes or real-life superheroes—is created because of corruption in the government, including the police. Fishwick suggests that some of these crime-fighters do not think the police are corrupt, but rather that they are lacking in resources and manpower (Fishwick & Mak, 2015). An officer cannot be in two places at once. Other heroes do call the police corrupt, and have evidence to back up the claim. Members of the New York Initiative were able to obtain an audio-recording made by a whistle-blower among the Brooklyn Police. In the audio, officers were being pressured to record fewer crimes, resulting in falsified statistics, and it was revealed that, in a city of sixty-thousand people, only three-to-nine officers would be patrolling at any given time. One member of the New York Initiative responded, “Three-to-nine people? We're three to nine people!” (Barnett & James, 2011).
One distinction that the real-life superhero movement makes between themselves and vigilantism is the outreach for which many of these superheroes are known. Usually, this means assisting the homeless, giving them supplies to get through the night. A man calling himself Thanatos (the Greek word for “death”) was told by a police officer that the only thing the

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IS THE REAL-LIFE SUPERHERO MOVEMENT VIGILANTISM? homeless of Vancouver have to look forward to is dying. The irony is telling. Thanatos traveled
the fourteen-hundred miles from Vancouver to San Diego to help other superheroes provide water for the homeless one mile away from the popular convention, Comic Con. When asked if they were part of the convention, they corrected the questioner, declaring that they were the real thing (Barnett & James, 2011).
The real-life superhero movement is a subject with very little scholarly writing. Future research would benefit from studies of police departments in different cities, chronicling incidents where superheroes, through use of excessive force, have made the descent into vigilantism. Real-life superheroes would benefit from living up to what they say they do. And heeding a prevalent warning from the police: “There is a line. Don't cross it” (“SC Featured: Phoenix Rising,” 2015).