WALL STREET JOURNAL

Phoenix Jones immortalized in a Wall Street Journal stipple style portrait

The Wall Street Journal ran a front page story on Real Life Superheroes, titled "Bam! Pow! Superhero Groups Clash in an Epic Battle of Good vs. Good," which focuses on Phoenix Jones and some of his conflict with other Real Life Superheroes.

Reporter Ashby Jones (no relation to Phoenix Jones) divides the superheroes into two groups- Phoenix Jones and his Rain City Superheroes and the already existing Real Life Superheroes.

Jones' reporting on the conflict (the "Battle of Seattle" as I call it) between the two groups is pretty accurate and I have to say that as a reporter, passing up such a strange story of conflict would be difficult.

A bone of contention, already being vocalized by the RLSH, is that both Jones and Jones state that they are the first and only practicing superhero that does crime fighting- the rest of the RLSH are portrayed as dudes wandering around with a bag filled with sandwiches.

In fact RLSH crime fighters can be found from Oakland, CA to New York City, and several places in between and beyond. They just don't have the hype Rain City does.

The article also offers one quote from yours truly:

"Mostly, they're relatively normal people trying to help out and have a little fun along the way," says Tea Krulos, a Milwaukee writer working on a book about them.

Yes, that's right--when the Wall Street Journal needs a quote, they turn to the least financially capable writer in the Midwest- ah, the sweet irony.

You can read the article and see accompanying video HERE.

Media Schmedia Quiz

Which of the following media outlets has contacted Heroes in the Night author Tea Krulos over the last week?

A. America's Got Talent
B. The Wall Street Journal
C. Japanese Public Television
D. British documentary developer that does stuff for the BBC, ITV, and Channel 4
E. www.superherostuff.com
F. Manager of development of a company that produces shows like Super Nanny, The Marriage Ref, and Who Do You Think You Are?
G. Some guy from a LA production company that wants to make a reality TV show
H. Some guy from a Pennsylvania company that wants to make a reality TV show (or documentary)
I. A German magazine called VIEW.
J. ALL OF THE ABOVE

The answer, of course, is J.


You might think this is great news for me, but it's not. Only one or two of the people on that list were actually interested in talking to me about me and my book (and no, sadly one of them wasn't America's Got Talent.)

The rest were hoping I could hook them up, or teach them the secret RLSH handshake or key card that would get them in- but most of all they wanted me to put them in contact with Phoenix Jones. Or if not Jones, someone near him, or a proxy in a rubber suit. And if you think that is a long, strange list, consider that word on the street is that inquires to Jones himself is probably close to ten times that.

I've just been forwarding these on and helping people when I can. Whatever.
My shrewd but sensible roommate, though, reminds me I have a book I need to promote. She thinks I'm being used.

"Krulos, every time any of these people ask you anything, mention your book. Don't talk about any other topic, answer every question with a tie in to your book," She told me sternly yesterday.

In the long run any sort of media with the RLSH is good for me and my book, Heroes in The Night: Inside the Real Life Superhero Movement. But I agree- I have put a lot of work writing this, so it is annoying when someone first hears about RLSH at 9AM this morning, does a Google search, and then decides you- Heroes in the Night author Tea Krulos- needs to do them a favor at 10AM instead of doing any research or work themselves.

So, to all you various media types, reality show developers, news agencies,and game show hosts- sure, we can talk. Drop me a line ( teakrulos@gmail.com )- but be prepared to talk about my book- Heroes in the Night. That's Heroes in the Night: Inside the Real Life Superhero Movement.

Now, I'm off to practice my tap dancing for my America's Got Talent audition.