Community Superheroes On The Rise

by Alice Hewitt

Everyone has heard of at least one superhero whether it be Superman, Batman or the green muscle bound Incredible Hulk. These seemingly ordinary folk, if you don’t count in the super strength and x-ray vision, come to the rescue whenever someone is in mortal danger.

For those of us who haven’t been bitten by radioactive spiders, it all seems rather unreal.

Canada and the U.S. are actually seeing a rise in community heroes. These community based caped crusaders operate in costume and under new identities but their job is basically the same; to help out their communities.

The Crimson Canuck, Windsor’s own superhero since 2011, said he goes out on the streets once a week to hand out water bottles, snacks, gloves and other necessary items that have been donated to the homeless. The Canuck said that if too much is donated to him, he passes it along to the Salvation Army or another organization that need it.

“First time I ever went out, I was ready to help anyone. I was ready to dial 911 and report crime, and help in any way I could. But it was 3 a.m. after a Sunday night. Nothing was going on,” said the Crimson Canuck. “I ended up going to McDonalds and getting myself some food. When I saw a guy sleeping in his wheelchair in an alley way, I stopped, asked him if he was okay and shared my meal with him. I think that is a memory I will hold onto forever.”

Registered nursing student at St. Clair College and avid comic book reader, Alanna Piché said she knows about the Crimson Canuck and thinks the work he is doing is excellent in helping the community where he can.

“People tend to think of heroes doing extraordinary things, like flying – but helping the homeless is also an extraordinary thing,” said Alanna Piché. “It’s something we need as a community and unfortunately it’s something that the ‘ordinary’ person doesn’t normally do.”

The Real Life Superhero Project, a volunteer project created by photographer Peter Tangen, encompasses a wide range of community superheroes in the US ranging from female hero Nyx to Soundwave and Jetstorm who are child heroes.

The website states the project was initially just a way to bring attention to the rise in community heroes and the organizations they help but expanded as more people entered the project.

“What began as a gallery exhibit has come to serve as the launching pad of something far greater—a living, breathing community that inspires people to become the positive forces for change we all can be,” the Real Life Superhero Project website states. “To become more active, more involved, more committed, and perhaps, a little super in the process.

Although the Crimson Canuck only operates under an alias, there are a few community superheroes who choose to have their real identities known such as the U.K.’s Roger Hayhurst, also known as Knight Warrior, who makes a point of breaking up fights near his home in the Manchester area.

The Crimson Canuck said the only bad side to having costumed heroes in cities is people misunderstand what he is doing and harass him or seek to do him harm for being different.

“Aside from that, I think every city and every community could benefit from having a superhero,” said the Crimson Canuck. “If anything it gives children a role model and inspires good changes in the world.”

Piché said that while she thinks the majority of these individuals are not doing it to gain publicity, she feels the publicity they do garner from wearing the mask is a positive thing.

“As Captain Hammer says, ‘Everyone’s a hero in their own way,’” said Piché.