A real-life superhero (RLSH)[1] is a person who dresses up in a superhero costume or mask in order to perform community service such as neighborhood watch, or in some cases vigilantism.[2][3][4]
Early examples of this type of behavior are reported from the 1990s. One example is Mexico City's Superbarrio Gómez, who, in 1997, donned red tights and a red and yellow wrestler's mask in order to organize labor rallies, protest, and file petitions to prevent families from being evicted.[5] A "real-life superhero community" in the sense of an online subculture began to develop in the mid-2000s.[6]
- ^ "What is a RLSH? ⋆ Real Life Superheroes". Real Life Superheroes.
- ^ "Superheroes: Interview with Michael Barnett". Superheroes. HBO Documentaries. 2011. Archived from the original on 26 December 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
- ^ Sweeney, Phil (2011-10-23). "Head to Head: Is vigilante justice acceptable outside of comic books? - Opinion -". Louisiana State University: The Daily Reveille. Archived from the original on 11 January 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
- ^ "Superhero Phoenix Jones: 'I'll keep Seattle safe'". BBC News. 2011-10-14.
- ^ "Defender of justice Superbarrio roams Mexico City". CNN. July 19, 1997. Archived from the original on August 1, 2018. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
- ^ World Superhero Registry (2006), internet archive link; Real Life Superhero Project (2010), internet archive link.