Phantom Patriot Retro Cinema Episode 2: Assault on Area 51 is Online!

Heroes in the Night Author Tea Krulos Co-stars in Episode, Reveals New Book Project

Behind the scene photo: Phantom Patriot and G'nik confront Illuminus in Area 51

Welcome to rare new post on the Heroes in the Night blog. While working on my book Heroes in the Night, I was introduced to a person named Richard McCaslin aka the Phantom Patriot, who has an interesting life story I thought would make a good book in itself. It's been an exercise in patience-- I've slowly been working on this book since 2010. There is still a way to go, but it is getting there. 

I decided one thing I needed was a trip down to Nevada, where Richard now lives, so I could visit him in his home environment. I asked if there was anything in particular he'd like to do when I visited, and he mentioned shooting an action packed script he had written, with myself as a co-star (along with actor extraordinaire G'nik and villain Illuminus). I was game, and the result is the following video, which I am told will be an official selection at the High Desert Film Festival in Pahrump, Nevada. Exciting stuff!

You can watch the episode on YouTube HERE.



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PHANTOM PATRIOT'S RETRO CINEMA PREMIERS

Hey, it's been a long time since I've posted here. However, this blog is very slowly going to wake up out of hibernation as I continue work on my current book project. That book is yet untitled, but the main person appearing throughout the book is Richard McCaslin aka the Phantom Patriot.

There are many aspects to the Phantom Patriot, but for now enjoy his latest project: "Phantom Patriot's Retro Cinema," a show that combines the Phantom Patriot persona with classic horror host style shows like Mystery Science Theater 3000, Commander USA's Groovy Movies, etc.

Here now is the pilot episode for Phantom Patriot's Retro Cinema. Episode 2 is already in the works and will have a special guest star...me! Yes, I went down to Nevada for a few days to meet up with Richard. I got some interview time and co-starred (along with Phantom Patriot's alien head sidekick G'Nik and the sinister villain Illuminus) in episode 2. It was a wild adventure and I can't wait to write all about it.

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Keep Track of Heroes in the Night!!!

Hello, my friends, Tea Krulos here. As you might have noticed, this blog has not had a new post in months. I am just too busy with other stuff. My book, Heroes in the Night, was released a little more than a year ago. I am continuing to promote when the opportunity arises (I was recently a guest on Ingrid's Inspirational Hour and next week I will be hosting a panel of RLSH at Fantasticon here in Milwaukee) but I'm also working on other projects.

Here's how you can keep in touch.

The Heroes in the Night Facebook Page is still active. I post updates on what I'm doing and share links to RLSH stories (and other random things I think are related) on a regular basis. It sometimes gets some entertaining commentary, too. I also have a Tea Krulos author Facebook page where I give updates on what I'm working on.

I'm on Twitter.

My personal site and blog has information on past, current, and future things I am writing.

I'm on Goodreads.

And if you haven't yet, please buy a copy of Heroes in the Night. Several links are below.

See ya around!
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Heroes in the Night: April Events

Crusader Prime, one of the C2E2 panelists. Photo from Chicago Tribune.

Hello, my friends, it has been awhile since I posted on my blog here. I’ve been extremely busy working on my next book, doing final interviews, transcribing, research, a million and one little details. It’s going well and I can kind of see the forest from the trees on this project now. 

I have two events going on later this month that I’m real happy, real excited about. 

First, I’ll be talking about Heroes in the Night at the next MKE Comic Book Meet-up, April 22. This is a cool group in Milwaukee that meets up on a regular basis to discuss comic books. The them for the next one is "Social Issues in Comics” and they kindly asked me to be part of it. The first part of the evening will be a discussion from 6:30-7:45pm about comics that have tackled social issues. People are encouraged to bring comics they’d like to talk about. 

I will be talking about Heroes in the Night afterward from 7:45-9pm, particularly focusing on how the subject of the book (Real Life Superheroes) reflect their comic book counterparts. I’ll be showing some slides and I will have copies of the book available for a flat $16. This is going to be a fun time at Anodyne Coffee in Walker's Point, a nice, casual environment. 

Info: Tuesday, April 22, Anodyne Coffee Roasting Co., 224 W. Bruce St., Milwaukee 53204. Comic discussion 6:30-7:45pm, Presentation by Tea Krulos 7:45-9pm. Free, copies of Heroes in the Night available for $16.
Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/292877017537427/

Next, how cool is this– I’ll be hosting a panel at this year’s Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2)!

The panel is titled “You Can be a ‘Real Life Superhero!’” I’ll be moderating special guests Razorhawk, the Watchman, Crusader Prime, Crimson Catalyst, and Night Vision. We will also have a couple surprise guests appearing via video message. I will be showing some slides and we will be talking about what this Real Life Superhero business is all about. We also will have a Q & A session with the audience. Hulk Hogan will be at C2E2, but I can’t speculate if he’ll show up for the panel. 

This will take place Sunday, April 27 2:30-3:30pm Room S401ab. Afterwards, I will be signing copies of Heroes in the Night at the Chicago Review Press booth from 4-4:45pm.

Besides the panel members, several other RLSH will be attending the con and my inside sources tell me the assembled RLSH will be joining forces and patrolling Chicago, handing out supplies to homeless people as they go. Good work, my super friends, good work!

Info: The panel takes place at C2E2 (South Building at McCormick Place) Sunday, April 27 2:30-3:30pm, book signing follows 4-4:45pm at the Chicago Review Press booth. 

Here is the panel listing on C2E2′s site: http://c2e214.mapyourshow.com/5_0/sessions/sessiondetails.cfm?ScheduledSessionID=18ADCB

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HEROES IN THE NIGHT TO BE FEATURED AT C2E2!

We've got a flashy red carpet announcement to make here...
Ladies and gentlemen, Tea Krulos will be moderating a panel of Real Life Superheroes at this year's Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo. The panel is titled "You Can Be a Real Life Superhero!" and will take place Sunday, April 27, 2:30-3:30PM in Room S401AB.

The panelists include Razorhawk, the Watchman, Crusader Prime, Crimson Catalyst, and Night Vision. They will discuss the "trade secrets" of being an RLSH and the session will include a Q & A with the audience. There will also be some short video messages from a few surprise guests.

Afterwards, Tea Krulos and members of the panel will be hanging around the Chicago Review Press booth where you'll be able to buy a copy of Heroes in the Night and get it signed by the author and the RLSH.

Please help spread the word and hope to see you at C2E2!

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Michigan Protectors Split

Before the break up: Michigan Protectors. Bee Sting is in black and yellow in the middle, Petoskey Batman is at far right. Photo: Brian Mitchell/ Detroit News

The simply named Super Hero, a veteran RLSH of Clearwater, Florida refers to the Michigan Protectors as the "Washington Generals of the RLSH community," comparing them to the long suffering and inept opponents of the Harlem Globetrotters. 

The group is visited briefly in my book Heroes in the Night, where I relay what I still think is one of the biggest RLSH fails: the April 2012 arrest of Michigan Protectors leader Bee Sting. Bee Sting was doing surveillance on a trailer park, carrying a shotgun with him, when he got into a scuffle over a loud motorcycle. He began to fight the noise violator and the shotgun discharged in the skirmish. Bee Sting was arrested and spent some time in jail. 

Another Michigan Protectors member, the Petoskey Batman, has also ran afoul of the law and was cited for trespassing on rooftops, where we can assume he was brooding like his Dark Knight namesake. 

Bee Sting and Petoskey Batman decided to join forces and became the most infamous members of their team. But now, according to a report by Francis X. Donnelly for the Detroit News, the team has split in half because of a feud between the two RLSH. 

Among the flying accusations between the bee and the bat are claims of infidelity, fraud, probation violation, and general bad taste.

You can read the full article HERE.

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HERO PROFILE #19: Crusader Prime

Photo: Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune

Operates out of: Chicago area

Team affiliation: P.A.T.C.H.

Activities: Patrols, hand outs

Author's notes: The Chicago Tribune featured a front page article on Chicagoland RLSH on Saturday. The article had several quotes about Heroes in the Night and features a sidebar article about early prototype The Fox. The online version has a short video of the Chicago guys in action. Some great press to chase the winters blahs away!

You can find it all here: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-real-life-superheroes-met-20140118,0,366960,full.story

Side note: David Beyer, Jr., who did several pages of art in Heroes in the Night, will be tabling with signed copies of the book this weekend at Wizard World Portland, table D40 in the artist's alley.---------
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HERO PROFILE #18: The Human Fly

Operated out of: Montreal

Active: Mid- late 1970s

Activities: Costumed, charitable stuntman

Status: Unknown

Author's notes: In my book, Heroes in the Night: Inside the Real Life Superhero Movement, I have a chapter titled "Early Prototypes." One of the real life precursors to the RLSH movement that I briefly talk about is the story of a mysterious stuntman known as the Human Fly. After a little digging, I found more on the story thanks to a filmmaker who has been exploring the Fly's story for quite sometime.

I was able to funnel this info into a more in-depth look at the story in an article recently posted at Pop Mythology, which you can read here:

Pretty Fly for a Daredevil Guy: the Return of the Human Fly 

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Happy Holidays from Heroes in the Night!

2013 was a great year for Heroes in the Night-- we saw publication, some great reviews, and some fun in-person events. We've got more of the same planned for 2014, but now it's time for a holiday break.

Have a wonderful holiday season!

Author Tea Krulos with local Real Life Superhero team The Challengers at their annual charity toy drive.

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Heroes in the Night Answers Your Cyber Monday Questions

-What formats is the book available in?
Paperback and also a few different types of e-books.

-Do I need to be a comic book geek to understand this book?
No! I was careful to write the book to be accessible to people without comic book knowledge. If you're into comic books, a lot of references will be familiar terrain. If not, you'll still be able to follow along and will pick up some comic book history along the way. The book also appeals to anyone interested in contemporary sub-cultures and unique social movements. Heroes in the Night is listed under social studies/pop culture, and sometimes placed in cultural studies or true crime. 

-Will my Uncle Joe like it?
Yes. Probably.

-Do you have any reviews of the book I can read?
Yes. Here's a great one from Pop Mythology:
http://www.popmythology.com/heroes-in-the-night-review/#

-Where can I find copies of the book online?
Here's a list of links to places that sell it online:
INDEPENDENT PUBLISHERS GROUP
BOSWELL BOOK COMPANY
BARNES & NOBLE
AMAZON
POWELL'S
INDIEBOUND
iTUNES
MICROCOSM

Happy Cyber Monday Shopping!

Hollywood HEROES and Holiday Shopping

Tea Krulos signing stock at a recent Barnes & Noble appearance.

Hello! I hope you're enjoying the holiday season. Here's a treat for Heroes in the Night-- we were featured on the blog My Book, the Movie, in which authors are asked to pick out the perfect cast for a Hollywood adaptation. I went in trying not to over think it, I went with a lot of my immediate thoughts. Some I think are serious candidates, others are just a dose of humorous vision.

My dream casting can be found HERE. Someone get Hollywood on the line!

The post was also linked by related blog Campaign for the American Reader.

Also, today is the shopping holiday known as Black Friday. I, personally, am not a fan of the crowds and the ugly sweaters, but I know it is a tradition for many people. Have fun and be careful out there!

And consider a gift of Heroes in the Night, perfect for anyone interested in superheroes, social movements, pop culture, social science, true crime, or high adventure.

You can find it at a variety of independent and big box stores (or ask them to order a copy) as well as online at the links below. Have a wonderful day!

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HERO PROFILE #15: Thanatos

Eva Siu/ Citizen Heroes documentary

Operates out of: Vancouver, BC

Activities: Hands out supplies to the homeless, gathers evidence and reports crimes to police

Date of first patrol: Halloween

Origin story: After an officer told him that homeless people only had death to look forward to, Thanatos adopted a look that reflected the Grim Reaper.

Author's notes: I couldn't think of anyone better to feature as a Halloween Hero Profile than Thanatos. He has a somewhat creepy looking exterior, but is motivated by a heart of gold.

I have a chapter of Heroes in the Night that focuses on Thanatos titled "The Man in the Green Skull Mask." I document his status as a legend among Vancouver's large homeless population. You can read an excerpt from that chapter that Vancouver newspaper Georgia Straight posted on their site here: http://www.straight.com/life/498621/heroes-night-documents-local-masked-crusader-thanatos

Happy Halloween!

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Heroes in the Night Hits the Road!

Tea Krulos will be making two appearances with his book Heroes in the Night this weekend.

First up, Westfield Comics (West location, 7475 Mineral Point Road) in Madison, WI this Saturday the 19. 6PM. Our special guest will be Electron.
More: http://westfieldcomics.com/blog/home-page-highlights/meet-author-tea-krulos-this-saturday-october-19/

On Sunday the 20th, we'll be at Common Good Books in Saint Paul, MN at 4PM. Special guests Geist and Razorhawk will join Tea in a Q and A. Other Minnesota RLSH will be in attendance as well!
More: http://www.commongoodbooks.com/event/tea-krulos-discusses-heroes-night-inside-real-life-superhero-movement


Two more things to mention:

At my Milwaukee event on Friday, we did a silent auction to benefit the HOPE charity. I originally announced we had raised $531, but that number jumped up a little to $576 thanks to generous additional donations by bidders Bridget, Matt, and Tracey.

One item that did not sell was a gift certificate for AtomX Wear, the designer and costume creator that has done dozens and dozens of RLSH costumes. Me and Jack, of AtomX Wear, decided to list that item paired with a signed copy of the book on EBay to try to raise more funds for HOPE here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Heroes-in-the-Night-Super-Pack-/131022877844?roken=5gw6GG
This is a great item for RLSH, cosplayers, anyone looking for a copy of the book and some serious superhero threads!

Last, our friends at Forces of Geek have a book giveaway contest! To enter, you must submit a superhero themed haiku. Remember, that's 5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables.

Entry info here: http://www.forcesofgeek.com/2013/10/contest-win-signed-copy-of-heroes-in.html

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Everyone's Talking About Heroes in the Night!

Tea Krulos with Chicagoland RLSH Crusader Prime (left) and Wraith at his appearance at Quimby's Bookstore in Chicago.

"(A) colorful new page-turner."
--The Onion's A.V. Club

"A very entertaining book!"
--Nick Digilio, WGN Chicago

"Heroes in the Night is a great example of the promise of creative non-fiction. Tea Krulos lays a solid foundation of fact and then builds an entertaining story on top of it."
--Matt Hlinak, Pop Mythology

"...A well written and intelligent look...."
--Patrick Challis, The Curiosity of a Social Misfit

"Honestly, one of the best books I've ever read. Tea Krulos takes a completely unbiased view into our order and should be commended for it."
--Electron, RLSH of La Crosee, WI

"Tea captures it."
--Geist, RLSH of Rochester, MN

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My next big event is a hometown appearance this Friday. I'll be at the Boswell Book Company at 7PM, with an after- party at Stonefly Brewery, 9PM. Also doing appearances at Westfield Comics in Madison 10/19 and Common Good Books in Saint Paul 10/20. 

* * *

And a special thanks to the WOWW Bookclub of Green Bay, WI, who made Heroes in the Night their October reading selection. Thanks, ladies!

* * *
Heroes in the Night is now available in paperback and as an e-book at the links below!

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