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.