I just stumbled upon an article by the Crawley Observer, stating that a celebrity agent is looking, well basically, for the next UK based Phoneix Jones.

Quote:

"ARE YOU a closet crime-conqueror keen to crack down on crooks? Do you have a supernatural sixth sense to usurp the unsavoury and sniff out scandal? If so, superhero status might not be as strange as it seems. An Ifield-based celebrity agent has created a project to seek out the first world-famous costumed crusader. The winner will be trained in martial arts, crime detection, first-aid and law and order to make them a bona fide hero. Creater Kizzi Nkwocha said: “There are very few people who have never dreamt of one day becoming a superhero. Search for a Superhero is a chance to turn that dream into a reality.” Entrants will be judged by a panel of experts including Kizzi, whose clients include Dragons Den star Levi Roots; martial artist and brother of fashion guru Gok Wan, Kwoklyn Wan; criminal law barrister Jo Sidhu; private investigator Arabella Mazzuki; and medical training advisor Jason O’Flaherty. ‘Real-life superhero’ Mr Justice, from Oxfordshire, will be on hand to mentor the winner. Kizzi added: “Once we have chosen that special individual we will train them in martial arts and self defence, crime detection, understanding and applying the law and a knowledge of first aid. They will also have their own publicist who will promote their exploits and Mr Justice will be on hand to advise and guide them. The response to the competition has been amazing. We have had over two hundred applications already from all over the world simply through word of mouth. It seems that 2012 will be the year of the superhero.” The appeal is being promoted by Three Bridges company Spot Creative Design." [url=Reference]http://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/news/gatwick-news/could_you_be_crawley_s_very_own_superhero_1_3446793[/url]

This reminds me of Dollar Bill from the Watchmen comic/movie (a bank-sponsored member of the Minutemen who was created for publicity purposes). I wonder if this is the next inevitable phase of things to come...seems like a pretty quick crash course to training. Pretty sure this sort of thing will be picked up and brought over to the states as well.

there is also some kind of promotion/contest going on in north america for the 'first official superhero'.

their kind of late on that one...

I'm sorry, but it seems to me that we have enough capes running around as corporate billboards or showmen.

This could be a bad thing as well as flat out obnoxious. Not to sound like Batman or Rorschach, but I think we have to show people that we have character before we can go out and be characters.

Then there's the fictional possibly turned real account of what could happen if you have a superhero TV show. I know the Stamford thing has been mentioned to death, but what if you do something funny for the camera like shock the shit out of someone in the nuts and they shit themselves a number one and piss themselves a number two, only to have it caught on tape with you laughing about it? It suddenly becomes evidence in the court of public opinion (as well as a court of law) only because you wanted to show off for your show?

You have guys like Urban Avenger, who create real how-to videos on how to handle a situation (I've learned a lot of tact from those btw, thanks UA) then you have a jackass screaming from around the corner as he hits a perp with a red pipe wrench.

Pheonix Jones got paid to be in the media around the world?

Ive been in media around the world and did it for free except for a few local apperances on the kids show Takquginai

Said it before and I'll say it again. Nothing wrong with finding a way to do RLSHing as a full time gig. As long as you're not charging the people you help, what is the big deal about having sponsors and finding ways to acquire essential resources to advance your RLSH activities?

"Gee wiz, sorry I couldn't help you sir. I was busy working my straight job that day."

or

"Sorry I couldn't offer food and supplies to those dozen homeless people. I had to pay the rent this month instead."

If you worry more about your rep and the height of your soap box than you do about how many people you can help, are you really serving the public, or are you just stroking your ego?

Takquginai is a local show simular to Sesameestreet only usually run in Inuktutukt I think the last time I may have been in a britsh newspaper would have been while meeting The Queen back in the fall of 2002 durring a tour of the Canadian Arctic They however described me as wearing a white shirt with black pants and a mask a few years erlier I was featured in a tabloid that told a story about me that wasnt very funny at all

The goal of any television show is to make money. The shows and actors are just a vehicle to generate profit, and a good gimmick is necessary to get high ratings. I do have to wonder who will be in control of this person's activities, and how the police will respond to this. Lots of room for corruption in the quest for profit, but also lots of potential for good.

@Gadgetastic...My reservations come into play when a corporation is backing an individual. More then likely, they will be pushing said person into extremely dangerous situations, since said situations will catch the eye of the media. RLSHers are fine to a point, but I think we can all agree that the police are around for a reason, and that none of us should try to act as a viable replacement for law enforcement officers. I guess only time will tell what the point of this really is.

@Polarman...I was questioning your comment about Pheonix Jones getting paid to be in the media around the world. No one said that he was paid to be in the media around the world. He most likely has done all media requests for free...yet, I have been informed by a few people that they have been offered money for an interview.

this stinks of stupidity. im steering clear of this and i suggest everyone else does

they are going to look very foolish announcing their 'first' superhero with all of us around for some time. it would take certan media very short time to point that out publically.

there is about to be a large amount of national attention on all of us. some very mainstrtem attention for a change. just trust me on this. it's coming

AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!

Seriously guys, if you've never sought funding before, now is the time to get your plans together. The comic book superhero fad is only going to get bigger in the next few years with Ghost Rider, Avengers, Amazing Spiderman, Man of Steel, Dark Knight Rises, Thor 2, Iron Man 3, Possible Hulk TV Show, Green Lantern 2, Captain America 2, Avengers 2, Batman Reboot, Amazing Spiderman 2, Justice League, Flash, Wolverine Origins 2, X-Men First Class 2, and more either nearing release, in production, or green lit by a major studio. Superheroes are to the next decade what vampires where to the previous last one.

Do not get left behind! Write your proposals NOW!

Why do you care? It's an opportunity to help more people. It seems there are many RLSH who care more about how they come off than they do about how many people they can help. What bugs me most are the RLSH who act all mysterious and ninja, yet care so much about how they are perceived. I hate to use a comic book as an example, but Batman was viewed as a criminal for Pete's sake! Did he care? No, because he was able to do his thing and that's what mattered. Unfortunately none of us are billionaires and so we have to take advantage of what funding opportunities we can.

There are obviously lines to be drawn.
Don't charge someone to help them.
Don't let your sponsor pick and chose who you will help.
Don't rob 7-11s to get money for handouts.
Don't do superhero porn for gear money. (That's a personal rule but may apply to others )

But accepting corporate sponsorship? Charging to go on talk shows? Selling merchandise? HELL YEAH! Who cares if your fellow RLSH call you a whore? The person you give a blanket to won't mind where it comes from. The woman you protect from a rapist isn't going to decline your help in favor of being raped because she saw you shilling for Subway.

"No Mr. Superhero, I would rather be raped by this large, dirty man than accept help from a friend of Jared."

I don't think so.

Btw, that wasn't directed at anyone specifically.

But if one is perceived the wrong way it would make it more difficult to directly help people, Batman being viewed as a criminal is a more extreme example.

Would it? Let's say you become a celebrity. You have posters, commercials for vitamins, a small walk on role in Avengers 2, and even a 12 inch collectible Double Helix action figure with realistic hair and a kung-fu grip.

On the other hand, you have Captain Mysterious who has a few brief mentions in a local paper mostly consisting of , "on the lighter side" type stuff. Otherwise, no one has ever heard of him.

Situation: You walk into Microsoft asking for a $10,000 grant so you can buy care packs for a thousand homeless people. Result, they send you over the the PR department, the DM of which has heard of you and is willing to write you a check.

Alternate: Captain Mysterious walks into Microsoft asking for a $10,000 grant to buy 1000 care packs. Result, he never makes it past the front desk and is dismissed with the old, "you can go online and send an e-mail to such and such low level person and expect an answer in three months. Three months later the answer = "at this time we don't have the extra funds to support your worthy cause. Thank you for sending your proposal and please be assured it received due consideration." btw, "due consideration" is translated as "briefly glanced at before deciding whether to shred first or just toss."

Celebrity has it's advantages. 100 RLSh calling you a whore versus 100 homeless people surviving the night because you could get the funds to give them the means to do so. Which do you care about more?