# a real batman?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-real-batman/185456>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 30, 2003, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-real-batman/185456 "2003-06-30T23:40:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![gutterhippo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6bbea6/32.png) [@gutterhippo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gutterhippo)\
**Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-real-batman/185456/1 "2003-06-30T23:40:01Z")

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okay, this is going to sound like a stupid question, but I’m really curious about it. I was watching a classic episode of Batman on TV Land and I wondered if there has ever been any well-publicized crimefighter that worked outside of the law. Was there ever a real-life caped crusader?

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**Author:** ![Joe\_Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Joe\_Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Random)\
**Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-real-batman/185456/2 "2003-06-30T23:44:17Z")

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I would have to say “probably not”. If someone works outside the law, it’s only a matter of time before the law comes after them, as well.

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**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-real-batman/185456/3 "2003-07-01T00:57:19Z")

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There are vigilante groups like the Guardian Angels and there have been “vigilance groups” dating back centuries. Don’t know if that fills your bill or not.

Of course there’s always [Terrifica](http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/DailyNews/terrifica021105.html).

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**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-real-batman/185456/4 "2003-07-01T01:30:03Z")

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In California in particular during the gold rush, and in other areas newly settled in the last century, vigilante groups arose when things got too weird.

San Francisco in particular had a group which actually posted handbills and advertised themselves as a “Citizens Vigilante Committee,” and advised crooks and scumbags to be out of time by midnight on X date, or be lynched without trial.

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**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-real-batman/185456/5 "2003-07-01T01:47:57Z")

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Serpico made a name for himself fighting crime not by the book.

There was a famous pair of cops circa 1970, about the same time as Serpico, who were nicknamed “Batman and Robin” for their crimefighting exploits, but I can’t remember their real names or which force.

_But to live outside the law you must be honest_.  
—Bob Dylan, “Absolutely Sweet Marie”