How To Become A Superhero

One, two, testing... OK, it works.

Here goes, Log Book 1. One, two, testing... OK, it works.

Here goes, Log Book 1.

Page 1.

Page 1. My name is... No, I won't say. It's top secret.

My name is... No, I won't say. It's top secret.

That's me. Seriously hot, huh? My name is... No, I won't say. It's top secret.

That's me. Seriously hot, huh?

That's me. Seriously hot, huh? Honestly, I'm more like this.

Honestly, I'm more like this.

That's my room. I'm a comic book fan.

I'm a college student, sort of. Let's say part-time.

My dad says it's a waste, there's no work anyways.

My dad says it's a waste, there's no work anyways. Yes, those are my parents.

Yes, those are my parents.

They're... parents.

That's my girlfriend.

She was my girlfriend.

The planet's no better off.

The planet's no better off. Where do I fit in? What do I do? Wait for the closing credits?

Where do I fit in? What do I do? Wait for the closing credits?

Where do I fit in? What do I do? Wait for the closing credits? Doesn't sound too glorious, or brave.

Doesn't sound too glorious, or brave.

No, I want my life to mean something.

I'll make the world a better place to live.

Besides, I can make a dream come true.

Yeah, I've decided to become a real life superhero.

How to become a superhero

Maybe I won't leap off a skyscraper,

Maybe I won't leap off a skyscraper, or stop bullets with my teeth.

or stop bullets with my teeth.

But then, how do I get from dream to reality?

As a comics fan, I know I'll get the scoop

As a comics fan, I know I'll get the scoop on superheroes in the US.

on superheroes in the US.

Spider-Man, Batman, the X-Men,

they all started here.

The best place to look for them is in Hollywood.

The best place to look for them is in Hollywood. After comics, the phenomenon swept the movies.

After comics, the phenomenon swept the movies.

My first contact is a man who photographs film superheroes

My first contact is a man who photographs film superheroes in comic book style.

in comic book style.

I'm Peter Tangent, a photographer in Hollywood.

I'm Peter Tangent, a photographer in Hollywood. I photograph actors for movie posters.

I photograph actors for movie posters.

I photograph actors for movie posters. I really wanted to work with superhero films

I really wanted to work with superhero films

I really wanted to work with superhero films and I had a chance to do so early in my career.

and I had a chance to do so early in my career.

They've always been one of my favorite subjects to work on,

They've always been one of my favorite subjects to work on, whether photographing Spider-Man, Batman or whoever.

whether photographing Spider-Man, Batman or whoever.

whether photographing Spider-Man, Batman or whoever. It's something that I've really loved.

It's something that I've really loved.

I discovered that there are people who dress up

as superheroes and create identities.

No one knows where they live. Some have psychic powers

No one knows where they live. Some have psychic powers or secret lairs and I found that amazing.

or secret lairs and I found that amazing.

As soon as I realized there were hundreds out there,

As soon as I realized there were hundreds out there, I knew I had to photograph them.

I knew I had to photograph them.

So I decided to explore the phenomenon

So I decided to explore the phenomenon from an angle the media missed.

from an angle the media missed.

from an angle the media missed. You know, the media had made fun of them for several years.

You know, the media had made fun of them for several years.

Why not? Who says, "I'll run around in spandex You know, the media had made fun of them for several years.

Why not? Who says, "I'll run around in spandex

Why not? Who says, "I'll run around in spandex and save the world?" It's easy to make fun of.

and save the world?" It's easy to make fun of.

But the real story here is of people who have decided and save the world?" It's easy to make fun of.

But the real story here is of people who have decided

that one person can make a difference.

Thanks to Peter Tangent,

these anonymous persons who chose to go out in costume Thanks to Peter Tangent,

these anonymous persons who chose to go out in costume

to defend others became stars. these anonymous persons who chose to go out in costume

to defend others became stars.

to defend others became stars. It hadn't occurred to me,

It hadn't occurred to me,

but a look is super important for a superhero.

but a look is super important for a superhero. It's what we see first.

It's what we see first.

It's what we see first. But who's really behind these masks?

But who's really behind these masks?

Real life superheroes are young or old, But who's really behind these masks?

Real life superheroes are young or old,

Real life superheroes are young or old, straight or gay, men or women, Republicans or Democrats...

straight or gay, men or women, Republicans or Democrats...

Some make a decent living,

others work part-time or are unemployed.

others work part-time or are unemployed. Some have strong religious beliefs, others are atheists.

Some have strong religious beliefs, others are atheists.

They represent a perfect cross section of America.

The world needs heroes.

The world needs heroes. The world needs role models.

The world needs role models.

The world needs role models. The community of real life superheroes could inspire.

The community of real life superheroes could inspire.

Does society need these people?

I think it needs all the help it can get

and positive inspiration. I think it needs all the help it can get

and positive inspiration.

So I'm happy they're here.

We live in a world that's got a lot of apathy.

We live in a world that's got a lot of apathy. This is a community that can counter that.

This is a community that can counter that.

They get up off the couch, go out, and help people.

E.g., Thanatos is a 62-year-old man living in Vancouver.

He goes out at 3 AM to help the homeless.

He goes out at 3 AM to help the homeless. That's when he'll find the homeless who aren't in shelters,

That's when he'll find the homeless who aren't in shelters,

those in greatest need. That's when he'll find the homeless who aren't in shelters,

those in greatest need.

He told me a year ago he met a woman named Rose under a bridge.

She told him she'd been homeless for 65 years.

Rose was 80.

When he said his name was Thanatos, she understood

When he said his name was Thanatos, she understood what that meant, as Thanatos is the Greek god of death.

what that meant, as Thanatos is the Greek god of death.

She told him, "Thanatos,

"I'd like to dance with death before I die."

So, at 3 AM under the bridge,

So, at 3 AM under the bridge, Thanatos and Rose danced a waltz.

Thanatos and Rose danced a waltz.

A week later, she was hospitalized and passed on.

I don't know what her last week was.

I don't know what her last week was. But I can only imagine it was a graceful poetic moment.

But I can only imagine it was a graceful poetic moment.

A literal embrace from death must have had a dramatic

A literal embrace from death must have had a dramatic and positive difference in the last week of her life.

and positive difference in the last week of her life.

and positive difference in the last week of her life. That's the sort of thing these people are doing,

That's the sort of thing these people are doing,

and why they inspire me.

Incredible, so there are people like you and me

who run around in shiny outfits helping citizens in distress.

who run around in shiny outfits helping citizens in distress. I won't lie to you.

I won't lie to you.

I won't lie to you. The streets of LA are full of superheroes

The streets of LA are full of superheroes

looking for handouts.

But real life superheroes are more discreet,

But real life superheroes are more discreet, skipping tourist traps to prowl dark alleys.

skipping tourist traps to prowl dark alleys.

The media poke fun at their fantasy

The media poke fun at their fantasy and question their role.

and question their role.

and question their role. You know Spider-Man?

You know Spider-Man?

But have you ever seen a real life superhero?

The real life superhero community exists.

These superheroes have no superpowers.

These superheroes have no superpowers. Are they superheroes or a super problem?

Are they superheroes or a super problem?

The superhero crime fighting movement... Are they superheroes or a super problem?

The superhero crime fighting movement...

It's too easy to make fun of them.

It's too easy to make fun of them. What are they looking for?

What are they looking for?

I want to know what makes them think they're superheroes.

I want to know what makes them think they're superheroes. Finding them is a cinch.

Finding them is a cinch.

Like Spider-Man, real life superheroes are on the web.

Thousands of personal pages extol their exploits, Like Spider-Man, real life superheroes are on the web.

Thousands of personal pages extol their exploits,

Thousands of personal pages extol their exploits, original costumes or wackiness.

original costumes or wackiness.

It's a perfect chance for me to contact them

to try to understand how they can go out in stretch tights.

to try to understand how they can go out in stretch tights. Use the eyeballs in the back of your head.

Use the eyeballs in the back of your head.

There's a lot of stuff going on out there Use the eyeballs in the back of your head.

There's a lot of stuff going on out there

and I want people back safe.

See you next time for another Danger man moment. and I want people back safe.

See you next time for another Danger man moment.

See you next time for another Danger man moment. Thank you for coming. See you soon.

Thank you for coming. See you soon.

Just a sec, Dangerman. What's that?

A Dangerman moment is a moment I take every day

A Dangerman moment is a moment I take every day to give my feelings to America and people around the world,

to give my feelings to America and people around the world,

my fans, how I feel about certain subjects.

my fans, how I feel about certain subjects. Things that impact our lives on a daily basis.

Things that impact our lives on a daily basis.

Things that impact our lives on a daily basis. I call that a Dangerman moment.

I call that a Dangerman moment.

The best way to contact me is through Facebook,

The best way to contact me is through Facebook, as a fan of Dangerman,

as a fan of Dangerman,

or on YouTube, or just Google me:

Dangerman the superhero and I'll answer.

and I'm there, I'm everywhere.

and I'm there, I'm everywhere. Excellent.

Excellent.

A website is a must for a good hero.

It attracts fans and business.