Real Life Super Heroes

Topic: Book review
Title: Real Life Super Heroes
Novel: 2014 pages
Author: Nadia Fezzani
Publisher: Dundurn
Copy write: 2017
Cost: 22.99 Canada, 15.99 USA
ISBN 9781459739154
Review by: Allen Klingelhoets
www.jazmaonline.com

I thought this was rather insightful novel by Nadia Fezzini. She went out and did research into real people that dress up in costumes and fight crime, and help homeless people and even save lives. Some of characters like Phoenix Jones, Rain City Superhero Movement even go on patrol having secret identities. Nadia tells this story little after HBO documentary about super heroes. Nadia explores villains as well as hero type characters. She even goes on patrol with some super hero groups. Nadia does extensive research into why real live person would put themselves in harms way. She even finds out how much some of costumes cost. Many characters wear bullet proof vests. She also found out that heroes many times have to have secret identities. This is so they will not be endangered by people wanted to harm families of heroes or villains.

The book has talks with many characters revealing why chose to be hero or villain. I was amazed how difficult some of child hoods pushed persons into wanting to make change in not only personal lives but others. Nadia talked to Mr. Xtreme, Phantom Zero, Thanatos, The Golden Don and many other people doing research for novel. There were many others mentioned in book. She talked about training individuals went through to become a superhero. These are really regular people with no super powers. They have decided wanted to make difference and not just sit back and watch injustices happen. Book also talked about how someone was able to join groups.

Fennzini even faced gunman when on one patrol.

I first became aware of idea when watching television show "Who Want's to be a Super Hero" by Stan Lee. I became interested in motives behind people wanting to be super heroes. I than found out that there were groups in other areas that wanted to do good through hero activities. I have thought many times about interviewing Phoenix Jones or even newly found others in documentary or in book. I think Nadia did great job not telling secret identities. She only did this if told was fine by person in costume. Nadia also talked about how not all characters are thought of in positive manner. They have to make sure work within confines of police rules. They can risk life and body parts to protect other human beings in situations like domestic abuse, drug additions, bulling or other bad situations. They are attempting to make difference many times at cost to themselves money wise or even having place to live. One person as hero even was homeless for months during time attempting to do good deeds as hero. He made many sacrifices like even being stabbed while being hero.


I think this is very important story for anyone wanting to know about real people being super heroes. It is in present time tense from about 2014 to 2017.


I thought this was very rewarding read. I liked feel of being able to read about so many different characters attempting to make change in society in places like Salt Lake City,Utah and Seattle,Washington. Nadia also ventured to Canada to do research for book . There are even eight pages of color photos of characters shown in book. Some of pictures even showed Nadia on patrol with Rain City Superhero Movement in Seattle and also in same city during night in costume.


The end book talks about contents:


Dressed like superheroes from comic books and action movies, Real Life Super Heroes are out there. They dress up at night, fight crime, save people, and some of them even have secret identities. Are they ordinary, mild mannered citizens, or are they larger-than- life characters, determined to fight crime, risking life and limb to defend victims of violence and injustice? And why do some choose to reveal their true identities and others prefer to remain anonymous?


Guided by a reporter's instincts and a thrill - seeking nature, journalist Nadia Fezzani sets out in search of the secret lives of these men and women, who put themselves in harm's way to protect their fellow human beings. Through interviews and patrols with these heroes, she discovers what lies behind their activities. After facing gunmen and other dangers on patrol, Fezzani has crafted a psychologically, fascinating look at Real Life Super Heroes and their world.


Nadia Fezzani has been an investigative journalist for over fifteen years and has interviewed athletes musicians, secret agents, bounty hunters, and serial killers during her research. She is a sought after speaker on psychology and criminology, and she is the author of Through the Eyes of Serial Killers: Interviews With Seven Murderers.


Allen Klingelhoets