HERO PROFILE #3: Phoenix Jones

Phoenix Jones. Photo by Lucien Knuteson

Location: Seattle

Team Affiliation: Rain City Superhero Movement

Activities: Crime patrols, charity events

Favorite food: Skittles

Author's notes: PHOENIX JONES! Opinion on the "Guardian of Seattle" differs sharply. Some say he is the best thing to happen to the RLSH movement, some say he is the worst. He's had many memorable controversies over the last couple years: May Day, Mutual Combat, and the Pepper Spray Incident (I witnessed that one first hand!) I think Phoenix Jones is passionate and dedicated to his mission, but he sometimes gets himself in over his head.

Phoenix Jones is featured in a couple chapters of my book. I presented his story in an objective way, and after reading about him, I'm sure you'll draw your own conclusions.

Links:

Check out Phoenix Jones live on patrol at his Ustream Channel HERE

Phoenix Jones's wife, Purple Reign, spearheads a campaign against domestic abuse called the Purple Reign Campaign.


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HEROES IN THE NIGHT, available for pre-order at IPG///BARNES & NOBLE///AMAZON///POWELL'S///INDIEBOUND
GOODREADS///FACEBOOK
Book available OCTOBER 1, 2013!

HERO PROFILE #2: Zetaman

Photo by Pierre-Elie de Pibrac

Status: Retired

Location: Portland, OR

Team Affiliation: The Alternates

Activities: Charity events and fundraisers, homeless hand outs, neighborhood patrols

Special power: Amazing comic book creations

Author's notes: I met Illya King (who used to be known as Zetaman) twice in my travels. He had a turbulent falling out with the RLSH community and he was candid enough to share his experiences with me. King continues to do charitable events sans costume and draws a superhero satire comic called Naked Man Comics, which often parodies Zetaman and his fellow RLSH.

I was surprised and delighted when King sent me a plug for my upcoming book...Naked Man Comics style. It's posted below and here's a link to it on his website.Thanks much to Illya King for creating a well threaded ink version of me and to his alter ego Zetaman who shared my adventure with me!

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HEROES IN THE NIGHT, available for pre-order at IPG///BARNES & NOBLE///AMAZON///POWELL'S///INDIEBOUND
GOODREADS///FACEBOOK
Book available OCTOBER 1, 2013!

HERO PROFILE #1: The Watchman

The Watchman Photo by Pierre-Elie de Pibrac

Location: Milwaukee, WI

Team affiliation: The Challengers

Activities: Neighborhood crime patrols, charity events

Favorite comic book superhero: Superman

Author's Notes: I couldn't start the new Heroes Profile with anyone but The Watchman. He's a local RLSH and the reason I got started on Heroes in the Night. I had heard a news blurb and thought the topic would be interesting to write on and so I began searching for a local RLSH. I found The Watchman. Over the last few years I've stayed in touch with him on a regular basis and have joined him on quite a few of his adventures, as well as seeing his team, The Challengers, evolve.



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HEROES IN THE NIGHT, available for pre-order at IPG///BARNES & NOBLE///AMAZON///POWELL'S///INDIEBOUND
GOODREADS///FACEBOOK
Book available OCTOBER 1, 2013!

Heroes in the Night Blog is Back!

Hello, Real Life Superhero fans! I took a break from the blog here for awhile to finish up Heroes in the Night. I've been slowly reviewing the final proofs of the book with my publisher (Chicago Review Press) and it looks great! In the photo here you can see me holding an advance reading copy-- this is basically a mock up that the marketing people use to get some advance publicity. The real thing will be available October 1, 2013 (see links below for pre-order info) and we got lots of fun stuff ahead-- book excerpts, in store appearances, all that great stuff. I'm also working on my second book. I'm not ready to talk much about that yet, other than to say it will document another interesting group of people.

I also think it's a good time to "reboot" the blog here. Hey, if DC Comics can do it with the "New 52," why can't I? Weekly Hero Profiles will start over at number 1, with the first running a week from today and carrying on every Thursday for an unspecified duration. Some of these will be people I've already profiled in the past, some will be new mystery men and women. I'll also be updating with news on the book, media and bookstore appearances, excerpts, and the occasional RLSH news flash.

This is a fun and exciting time for me and I'm glad to share it with you. I'll see you next week for our first new Hero Profile.


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HEROES IN THE NIGHT, available for pre-order at IPG/// BARNES & NOBLE///AMAZON///POWELL'S///INDIEBOUND
GOODREADS///FACEBOOK
Book available OCTOBER 1, 2013!