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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PHANTOM PATRIOT REPORT 2013

If you've read my book Heroes in the Night, then you'll probably recall a story in the "Early Prototypes" chapter about a man named Richard McCaslin aka the Phantom Patriot.

McCaslin now lives outside of Las Vegas and is still active as the Phantom Patriot. He compiled the video below which has reports on his activities over the last year (and also includes a shout out spot to Heroes in the Night!)

Presented without further comment:



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Challengers Christmas Toy Drive a Huge Hit!

Local Milwaukee RLSH team the Challengers do a charity toy drive every year and this is the fourth year I've done a small part in helping them with their mission. At this annual event the team asks for in-person donations of toys and art supplies for two charities. Gingerbread House donates toys to low income families in Washington County. Meta House is a rehab program in my neighborhood (Riverwest) for women and their families. They incorporate a lot of art therapy into their programs.

This year, we set up the RLSH appearance at Dryhootch, a non-profit benefit coffee house that helps veterans and their families with a variety of issues.

It was a cold and snowy day, but that didn't prevent the Challengers from showing up in force. The Watchman, Blackbird, Night Vision, the towering Skyscraper, and the Junior Challengers--Wonder Boy, Badger Boy, and Guardian Girl-- were all there.

Overall, the toy drive was a huge success. Our friends at comic book store Lost World of Wonders hosted a show earlier in the week and offered free admission with a toy donation, and donated generously themselves. The Junior Challengers even pooled some of their own money to buy donations. Good work!

FOX 6 stopped by to shoot some footage for last night's News at 10. Here's the clip:


Pretty cool, huh?

When I returned home and checked in on Facebook, I realized the Challengers weren't the only ones try to do some good out there this weekend.

For example, Crusader Prime reports that he and fellow Chicago RLSH handed out supplies-- gloves, blankets, shirts, socks, hand warmers, and food-- to the homeless yesterday in the area around lower Wacker Drive yesterday. He says they ran into a lot of people in need and handed out the amount of supplies they usually spend all night distributing in about an hour and twenty minutes.

Meanwhile, on in the West, teams were participating in a quarterly RLSH outreach program called S.I.G.N.S. of HOPE. In San Francisco, the California Initiative handed out supplies including water, first aid kits, cookies and 240 homemade burritos (!) yesterday in the Mission District. Also, in Seattle, members of the Washington Initiative and other Seattle superheroes teamed up to do a similar hand out of supplies and food.

WAI members will discuss S.I.G.N.S of HOPE tonight (9PM EST) on the Initiative hosted Tribe Radio:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/tribetalk/2013/12/16/5-of-7-neighborhood-heroes--tips-training-and-tales-ft-the-wai

Tune in!

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 #17: The Black Rat

Operates out of: Sydney, Australia

Inspiration: "I first began thinking of being a RLSH after seeing the HBO documentary Superheroes."

Activities: "I use my RLSH alter ego to make sure broken street lighting in my area in a timely manner and that zebra crossings (crosswalks) and other street markings are maintained by the roads authority. (I do this) by highlighting these issues in the local media and by organizing local residents to report problems to me via social media."

Black Rat also does safety patrols on the streets of Sydney.

"I do these plain clothes so as not to scare people or have idiots try to fight me." He adds he is well trained in martial arts.

Future plans: "I hope to use the Black Rat as a platform to speak on issues such as law reform, drug and alcohol policy, and to send an anti-bullying message. As Gandhi said, 'be the change you want in the world."

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Black-Rat-RLSH/173343772828711

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RAIN CITY BLUES

The author with Purple Reign and Phoenix Jones in Seattle. Photo by Lucien Knuteson

THINGS NOT-SO-SUPER IN SEATTLE FOR PHOENIX JONES AS PURPLE REIGN, EL CABALLERO QUIT RAIN CITY SUPERHERO MOVEMENT

Phoenix Jones was riding high at the beginning of the month with another win by his MMA fighting alter ego, a unanimous decision victory on November 2. But recent public revelations show that Jones's team, the RCSM, is also facing a knock out.

A Facebook status update by El Caballero followed by an article yesterday with the Seattle Weekly reveals that the luchador mask wearing RCSM member has quit the team and will be doing his own thing. In the article, "Cabby" (as some call him) alleges that Jones stole his "class 3 military helmet" and that four other undisclosed RCSM members have issue with Jones not providing armor ordered or giving a refund.

Even more damning, today Jones's significant other Purple Reign posted the following status on her public Facebook page:

"I feel it is time to make a public statement announcing that Phoenix Jones and I are no longer together and will not be working together on any future projects. I have always conducted myself in a professional and respectable manner and do not wish to list the details of our separation.

I also do not have information about any of the allegations made against him, so please do not inquire. I do need to make it clear that I am not affiliated with him or the Rain City Superhero Movement, however, I will continue to help those in need as Purple Reign. I wish Phoenix and the RCSM the best of luck in their future endeavors."

I met Phoenix, Purple, and other members of the RCSM and wrote about them quite a bit in Heroes in the Night. My best wishes go out to everyone. What will be the results of this Seattle Shakedown? We'll have to wait and see.

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HEROES IN THE NIGHT, available  at IPG///BARNES & NOBLE///AMAZON///POWELL'S///INDIEBOUND///iTUNES///MICROCOSM
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