# Have there ever been any real life (serious) costumed vigilantes? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 5, 2005, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-any-real-life-serious-costumed-vigilantes/283175 "2005-01-05T08:17:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2005, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-any-real-life-serious-costumed-vigilantes/283175/21 "2005-01-05T17:34:07Z")
Rob Roy? ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2005, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-any-real-life-serious-costumed-vigilantes/283175/22 "2005-01-05T18:08:53Z")
Not defending or endorsing the Klan, but in their 1920s incarnation they engaged not only in racially motivated violence, but also in non-racially-motivated vigilante justice. For example, wife-beaters, suspected thieves, etc. were sometimes paid visits by robed Klansmen. So (while reprehensible) the KKK does, at least in some small aspect, fit the criteria of the OP: masked men meting out vigilante “justice.” ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2005, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-any-real-life-serious-costumed-vigilantes/283175/23 "2005-01-05T18:14:47Z")
Ya know, I kinda resent the KKK being compared to, say, Superman. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2005, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-any-real-life-serious-costumed-vigilantes/283175/24 "2005-01-05T18:50:21Z")
> [@](#): > > _kunilou said:_ > I think it’s some sort of measure of progess, yet at the same time a measure of ignorance, that no one has mentioned the Ku Klux Klan. It’s not really a measure of ignorance, it’s out of the scope of the OP. It was asking for examples of a superhero style vigilante. If we are going to include organizations like the KKK we could also include all the pro & anti government death squads in latin america: they are fighting for “justice” and wear uniforms/masks. ---
**Author:** ![Demo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demo/32/8472_2.png) [@Demo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Demo)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2005, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-any-real-life-serious-costumed-vigilantes/283175/25 "2005-01-05T18:54:09Z")
This is a very bland, mild example, but how about the [Guardian Angels](http://www.guardianangels.org/)? ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2005, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-any-real-life-serious-costumed-vigilantes/283175/26 "2005-01-05T19:07:55Z")
> [@filmyak](#): > > A bit of a hijack (sorry), but my girlfriend asked almost the opposite question recently. That is, are there any known cases of mad scientists using their power to take over and/or destroy the world? Note that physicists working on a nuclear bomb don’t count, they don’t want the bomb used (deterrent strategy and all that). I’m talking specifically wanting to blackmail the world for – power, money, whatever – or destroy it. > > The kind of arch-enemy that costumed superheroes tend to go after. I’ve wondered about this myself. I haven’t found any, and don’t think there were any. A scientist who develops a race of atomic supermen, a 1920’s Style Death Ray, etc generally doesn’t gather an army of henchmen, build a fortress, and blackmail the world. Usually after working out the schematics and building a proof of concept prototype, they sell their work and services to the government. Rather than worrying about gathering an army of henchmen, clothing, housing, feeding them, and preventing them from revolting, the government provides all the assistants they need. Rather than buying or building, and maintaining a fortress, the government protects them. There’s no need to blackmail the world when the government gives you research grants, laboratory space and equipment, full medical coverage, and in some cases a nice pension. OTTOMH, (Sorry, I can’t remember the details IIRC this was somewhere between 1500-1700) one of the people who invented an early submarine went to court and got the king (IIRC this was in either England or France) to come aboard as a passenger. The craft traveled slowly, was less than thirty feet under the surface, and it leaked. Working in secret, the inventor could have developed a superior craft, built a small fleet and terrorized the seas. Instead, he went to the king for protection and funding. Re The KKK I’m Jewish. But, the Ku Klux Klan was the first group to come to mind. Masks to protect their identities? Check. Lived normal life by day? Check. Went out at night to do battle? Check. I don’t agree with their position that being black is a crime. But, in their minds, they were heroes. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2005, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-any-real-life-serious-costumed-vigilantes/283175/27 "2005-01-05T19:20:15Z")
This is about as flimsy as data gets… But I remember a friend telling me about 25 years ago about a guy who called himself ‘The Black Dot’. He would dress up in a (presumably, black) costume, and look for crimes in progress to prevent. Anyone else ever heard of this? I googled, to no avail. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2005, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-any-real-life-serious-costumed-vigilantes/283175/28 "2005-01-05T19:44:25Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > Ya know, I kinda resent the KKK being compared to, say, Superman. > > :mad: Who made that comparison? ---
**Author:** ![lightingtool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/57b2e6/32.png) [@lightingtool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lightingtool)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2005, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-any-real-life-serious-costumed-vigilantes/283175/29 "2005-01-05T22:30:07Z")
Sorry for the hijack, but can someone please tell me what “OTTOMH” stands for? The only thing I’ve figured out is an “Orange Titmouse Titillating Other Men’s Heroes,” but somehow I don’t think that’s it. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2005, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-any-real-life-serious-costumed-vigilantes/283175/30 "2005-01-05T22:49:55Z")
OTTOMH=Off The Top Of My Head. It’s one of the many phrases used to indicate that the following information may be innacurrate. IIRC=If I Recall Correctly AFAIK=As Far As I Know ---
**Author:** ![jimmmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@jimmmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimmmy)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2005, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-any-real-life-serious-costumed-vigilantes/283175/31 "2005-01-05T22:54:16Z")
I know I saw a news story – about a decade (or more) back … about a retried man who drove around armed with gas, tires, jumper cables, belts etc. in a costume (Really it was a Hulk Hogan headband and mask). For a nominal charge only for materials – tho IIRC no one was ever turned away – helped the stranded motorisists he came across on the road and got them rolling again - he even wouldn’t reveal his true identity … but I can’t find a link so take my faulty memory for it or don’t and find a link … & Weekly Wolrd news says yes to the OP [http://www.paragoncity.com/forum/archive/topic/4849.html](http://www.paragoncity.com/forum/archive/topic/4849.html) (this is a bit of a joke – the WWN is notorious for made up stuff in case you dodn’t know that – but I got nuthin’ else and liked the thread) ---
**Author:** ![Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rex_fenestrarum/32/7265_2.png) [@Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rex_Fenestrarum)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2005, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-any-real-life-serious-costumed-vigilantes/283175/32 "2005-01-05T23:06:17Z")
> [@Aro](#): > > There have been a couple of [odd single issue](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/3112670.stm) self-styled vigilantes in the UK, but no one who, I believe, started out taking themselves in any way seriously (or remaining strictly private and elusive) - or who got taken seriously by either authorities or criminals. When I opened this thread, the first thing I thought about was the UK’s “Fathers4Justice” campaign. What’s with these UK people dressing up as super heroes anyway? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2005, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-any-real-life-serious-costumed-vigilantes/283175/33 "2005-01-05T23:40:14Z")
> [@spoke-](#): > > For example, wife-beaters, suspected thieves, etc. were sometimes paid visits by robed Klansmen. > [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > Ya know, I kinda resent the KKK being compared to, say, Superman. I’m not sure if you’re being funny or not, but in _Action Comics_ #1, the big S’s first appearance, he does in fact rough up a wife-beater. He also uncovers the real murderer of Jack Kennedy. What a guy. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-any-real-life-serious-costumed-vigilantes/283175/34 "2005-01-06T00:54:09Z")
[Spa Man](http://www.bbc.co.uk/kent/fun_stuff/features/spa_man.shtml). Here’s [another](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2003%2F05%2F25%2Fnwells25.xml) Spa Man story. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-any-real-life-serious-costumed-vigilantes/283175/35 "2005-01-06T03:27:24Z")
There was a woman who used to go out at night and convince drunk girls not to have 1 night stands with the random guy at the bar trying to pick them up. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-any-real-life-serious-costumed-vigilantes/283175/36 "2005-01-06T03:29:20Z")
When I was in third or four degree at highschool (I was the would-be-inventor of the class), I was approached by a partner that had a thing for comic books and superheroes, the guy used to make fantastic drawings of superheroes, he came and asked me how I would come around designing a super hero custome complete with kevlar chest armor and batman-like gizmos for him. I politely declined the offer, but it would had been an interesting career choice!. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-any-real-life-serious-costumed-vigilantes/283175/37 "2005-01-06T03:41:46Z")
> [@Shalmanese](#): > > There was a woman who used to go out at night and convince drunk girls not to have 1 night stands with the random guy at the bar trying to pick them up. Could it be that you’re thinking of Terrifica? The same person already mentioned in posts 14, 16, and 17? ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-any-real-life-serious-costumed-vigilantes/283175/38 "2005-01-06T08:49:12Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > But nobody else did, so no. You don’t know how popular the Ku Klux Klan was in its heyday, then. ---
**Author:** ![Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rex_fenestrarum/32/7265_2.png) [@Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rex_Fenestrarum)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-any-real-life-serious-costumed-vigilantes/283175/39 "2005-01-06T08:58:55Z")
> [@Walloon](#): > > You don’t know how popular the Ku Klux Klan was in its heyday, then. Yeah, in the 1920s the Klan had _millions_ of members - Wikipedia says 4 million paying members and that doesn’t include the large numbers of people sympathetic to, but not dues paying member of, the Klan. Hell, they even had 25,000 members in Saskatchewan during this time, lest you think it was nothing but us Southern inbreds. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Roland\_Orzabal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@Roland\_Orzabal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roland_Orzabal)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-any-real-life-serious-costumed-vigilantes/283175/40 "2005-01-06T09:14:13Z")
Let’s not forget San Diego’s famed [Captain Sticky](http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20040218/news_1m18pesta.html). My dad actually had a run-in with this guy when he (my dad) was a kid. You have to admit, it takes some balls to fight crime when your primary armament is a PB&J shooter. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-any-real-life-serious-costumed-vigilantes/283175.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-any-real-life-serious-costumed-vigilantes/283175.md?page=3)