Amateur Heroes

[Glitch Girl]

Today the news feeds seemed to focus on the rise in people trying to be comic book heroes.  Saw several reports on  it.

http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/12/29/men-in-tights-meet-the-real-life-superheroes/

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Amateur_crimefighters_surge_in_US/articleshow/3906109.cms

It reminded me of our local spandex hero from when I was very very young.  He went by the name "Batman" though he really wasn't very much like the comic book Batman.  I remember him showing up for the school's Halloween carnival in his custom car and costume.  I don't remember much about him (like I said, very young, like single digits) but I do remember hearing how he'd listen to the police band and help out people usually in automotive trouble.  He died before his time, and unfortunately there wasn't much in the way of records and I kinda forgot about him until now.  After reading the Rolling Stone article, I did a little searching online and found out I wasn't the only one who remembered him.

A little more about the Birmingham Batman
http://louanders.blogspot.com/2006/02/batman-of-birmingham.html
http://louanders.blogspot.com/2007/10/batman-of-birmingham-part-two.html
http://www.pbase.com/sigphotography/image/86936693  (the car)

[herodad1]

the little town i live in ( not smallville ) has its very own masked avenger.dont know his name but has been spotted at night walking around town,at walmart,walking down the main strip during the day, and works at waffle house.his home-made costume is all black,leather boots, and his mask has pointed ears like batman or the kid from the book "where the wild things are".oh yeah,he also wears fingerless gloves and a black jacket/trench coat shredded in the back.