Cincinnati crime-fighter becomes local attraction

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Watch the streets of Cincinnati carefully: you may see a man clad in a mask and cape scouring the city in search of evil deeds and damsels in distress. Shadowhare, who (obviously) prefers to conceal his true identity has volunteered his services to the city’s citizens and civil servants … free of charge.

This is bigger than voting and jury duty combined.

This superhero is 21 years old – and clearly mature beyond his years. After all, who would take on such a daunting task? He leads a group called the “Allegiance of Heroes,” which includes Aclyptico in Pennsylvania, Wall Creeper in Colorado and Master Legend in Florida. “I’ve even teamed up with Mr. Extreme in California – San Diego – and we were trying to track down a rapist,” he says.

Shadowhare (and the Allegiance of Heroes) operates with “legal weapons,” such as handcuffs and pepper spray. When necessary, this crew conducts citizen’s arrests to bring justice to the community.

Here’s the shock: sometimes, Shadowhare and his fellow crime-fighters aren’t taken seriously by the folks in uniform. Imagine that! The Allegiance of Heroes, however, proceeds undeterred.

So, if a trip to Cincinnati is in your future, book your flights knowing that you have nothing to fear.

[Thanks, Dad]

Up, Up and Away to Indianapolis’ New American Super Heroes Museum

by Willy Volk on

By night, Dane Nash is a mild-mannered, retired, grandfather of two. By day, however, he assumes a secret identity, moving (almost) at the speed of light. Though he may not use his super powers to save lives, Nash does use them to build his dream: the American Super Heroes Museum.

Located in downtown Indianapolis — just three blocks from Circle Center — Nash is working feverishly to get the museum’s doors open this month. For those of you who have never visited Indy, many of the buildings are turn-of-the-century, and it appears as though Nash has found an old building — with hardwood floors, red carpet, 16-foot-high tin ceilings, and period-style lighting — that will lend the Museum the atmosphere it deserves.

Featuring 3300 square feet of showroom floor, the former insurance salesman’s Superman collection — which he’s spent most of his life assembling — will fill the bulk of the space, but there’ll still be plenty of room for his Batman stuff — from 1940s toys to replicas of the 1989 Batmobile and 1966 Batboat — and other memorabilia. Admission to the museum will be $5; children younger than 8 will be admitted free.

[Photo: fengschwing]