“Masked crusader”: a case study of “crime-fighting” activities by a “real-life superhero”
| Date | 08 June 2015 |
| Published date | 08 June 2015 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JCRPP-05-2015-0012 |
| Pages | 56-64 |
| Author | Vladislav Iouchkov,Philip Birch |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology |
“Masked crusader”: a case study
of “crime-fighting”activities by
a“real-life superhero”
Vladislav Iouchkov and Philip Birch
Vladislav Iouchkov is PhD
Candidate and Dr Philip Birch is
Lecturer –Policing, Criminal &
Community Justice, both at the
School of Social Sciences
and Psychology, University
of Western Sydney,
New South Wales, Australia.
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to examine informal social control, vigilantism, and bystander
intervention with reference to the Real-Life Superhero (RLSH) movement/community.
Design/methodology/approach –This is a qualitative case study in which an in-depth semi-structured
interview was conducted with a member of the RLSH community.
Findings –This paper conceptualises RLSH activity as a novel approachto informal social control and bystander
intervention, whilst revealing the inaccuracy of the media-imposed “vigilante”stigma attributed to RLSHs.
Research limitations/implications –Clarifying the goals and methods of RLSHs as striving to be pro-
social and law-abiding in nature creates an avenue for dialogue between RLSHs and local justice agencies to
establish a working partnership for community safety, thereby mediating interactions between informal and
formal agents of social control.
Practical implications –Justice agencies to engage with all individuals and groups who are performing
community safety/crime prevention functions in a more effective and inclusive way. To ensure formal
and informal mechanisms of social control, and the wider community, recognise, and legitimise the RLSH
movement in community safety policy and practice. Reconsider theuse of the term “vigilantism”and how it is
it applied to individuals and community groups involved in community safety policy and practice. This case
study presents a unique approach to community safety and crime prevention that can be extended within
this public safety philosophy and practice.
Originality/value –This study is a contribution to a small but growing body of research concerning the
RLSH movement/community.
Keywords Community safety, By-stander intervention, Crime prevention, Informal social control,
Real-life super hero, Vigilantism
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
The Real-Life Superhero (RLSH) community is built on the premise of everyday individuals
adopting superhero personas and using them to engage in various forms of social action in their
local communities. These personas, though influenced by classic comic book superheroes in the
likes of Batman, Spider-Man, Wonder Woman, Storm (of Marvel’sX-Men), Rorschach (of DC
Comics’Watchmen), Kick-Ass, and Superman[1], are individual creations by the RLSH
members. These alternate, superhero-inspired identities serve as tools for community action that
take varying forms, such as crime prevention patrols, social and homeless outreach, and social/
environmental activism. There is no official or legally binding registry for RLSHs, which makes
numbers difficult to ascertain. However, Flock (2011) noted there were 720 members registered
on the now-defunct RLSH forum[2], with potentially “hundreds”more RLSHs patrolling American
cities. As of 2015, “Real Life Superheroes –The Forum”appears to have replaced the previous
Received 6 May 2015
Revised 6 May 2015
Accepted 11 May 2015
PAG E 56
j
JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGICALRESEARCH, POLICYAND PRACTICE
j
VOL. 1 NO. 2 2015, pp. 56-64, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2056-3841 DOI 10.1108/JCRPP-05-2015-0012
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