"Local San Diego Hero Beaten To a Pulp At the San Diego Comic Convention" by Ralph Zuranski
Click Here to check out
the photos from the San Diego Comic Convention.
WAM, BAM, POW! Sunday morning, my body felt like it had been
beaten to a pulp. With the war of good and evil being fought
around me by Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, the X-Men,
Fantastic Four, Justice League, Wonder Woman, Wolverine, the
Hulk, Green Goblin, Doctor Doom, Lex Luthor, Doctor Ock and
a host of superheroes and villains, it was too easy to get
trampled during the hot, head-busting action and major
cosmic battles. I am not as fast or agile as in my younger
days.
After covering the San Diego Comic Convention for three
action-packed days for the Coronado Eagle-Journal
Newspaper, I am embarrassed to admit that I was
exhausted...tired to the bone. I felt so wimpy I couldn't
even make it to the Convention on Sunday. Giving
blood to the Red Cross on Friday was provably not the wisest
move...but I was filled with heroic zeal.
Saturday night, right before the Masquerade started, I
noticed that Dinus, Angela and Kathy needed some help video-
taping the interviews of the contestants and winners. It was
an opportunity to be of service to my fellow costumed
crusaders. Captain Biorhythm jumped into the fray and
spent the next 4 yours standing, operating the video camera.
This was definitely the final nail in my coffin. I was
beginning to feel and look like one of the "living dead." As
I walked to the parking structure at 1 AM Sunday, I knew I
was finished...washed up, a quivering puddle of previously,
powerful, panache.
Sunday morning, the mere thought of the long walk from the
parking structure to the convention, through the high
humidity and blazing hot temperature, was overwhelming. The
real fear of not finding a parking space was palpable.
Sitting in bumper to bumper traffic, that crawled at a snails
pace, was just too disheartening...I couldn't go
through the reporter-photographer grind even one more day!!!!!
Yes, taking photographs of speakers, attendees and
volunteers 12 hours Thursday, 13 hours Friday and 17 hours
Saturday was challenging but extremely rewarding. Each day I
must have walked at least 5 miles. The sights, sounds and
smells were beyond description. You know what I am talking
about if you have ever had the guilty pleasure of attending
this incredible event.
At the ripe old age of 57, I guess it is time for Captain
Biorhythm to hang up his cape and retire his Spandex. He
just cannot keep up the hectic pace of a superhero or even a
local hero.
Without any super powers, even leaping over small obstacles
in single bound is tough. No longer is his speed even close
to that of a speeding bullet. A foot-dragging, arthritic
crawl is more like it.
Maybe he can find a high-tech, jet propelled wheel
chair with side-mounted 50 caliber machine guns, an oxygen
mask, built-in catheter, a diaper dispenser and disposal unit, a water tube,
nutrient IVs and air conditioning. A full service life support system is definitely the answer for geriatric
superheroes.
The good news is that the entertainment industry is taking
up the universal battle of good and evil. Their new movies and
TV programs are inspiring young would-be heroes and parents.
Movies like "Spiderman," "Superman," and "X-Men
are really making a positive difference in people's perception of heroism. Good and evil is clearly defined. Good wins out in the end, in most cases. (Usually there is a sequel where evil is crushed.)
The SCI FI Channel has joined forces with Nash Entertainment
to produce a superhero reality series starting July 27th
called "Who Wants To Be a Superhero?" Characters like "Fat
Momma", "Cell Phone Girl", "Major Victory" 'TyVeculus" and
many others are battling it out to see who gets their
own comic book written by Stan Lee and produced by "Dark
Horse Comics." The lucky hero will even be featured in an
original SCI FI movie.
The ABC TV Studio is releasing a new series called "Fallen."
It is about the battle of good and evil being waged by
angels walking the earth and flying through the heavens. It
is based on the books written by Tom Sniegoski.
NBCs "Heroes" TV series chronicles the lives of ordinary
people who discover they possess extraordinary abilities
that give them the opportunity to accomplish amazing feats.
All in all, the battle between good and evil is in good
hands. New legions of caped crusaders and social heroes are
rising up in their own communities and making a positive
difference in the lives of their fellow citizens.
They are not waiting for the government or outside forces to
solve local problems. They have decided to step into the gap
and create a solution that works. They encourage and
motivate their fellow community dwellers to get involved in
making their town a better place to live for everyone.
By the way, the real secret heroes at the event were all the
volunteers who made the event safe, enjoyable and an
experience to be cherished for potential heroes of all ages.
To be continued...