Comics Grinder

Next time you’re in San Diego, which could be Comic-Con for many of you, keep an eye out for a group of Real Life Superheroes known as, “Xtreme Justice League.” Or maybe they’ll be keeping their eyes on you. Director Sheldon Candis has created a compelling short documentary, “The Subculture of Real Life Superheroes,” about this group of urban activists that you can see on Ashton Kutcher’s Thrash Lab, a YouTube Premium Channel. The short doc is part of Trash Lab’s popular web series, “Subculture Club.”

Be sure to see Candis’s LUV, which did well this year at the Sundance Film Festival. LUV is the story about a boy and his uncle during 24 hours on the mean streets of Baltimore. It is set for an exclusive run at AMC theaters starting on January 18.

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When in doubt, call in Batman. A Brazilian Batman makes a lot of sense, as a comic, but as yet another “real-life superhero,” well, yikes! This from Reuters:

Retired Brazilian police officer Andre Luiz Pinheiro, 50, dressed as super-hero Batman, poses for a picture at Santa Terezinha Square in Taubate city, Sao Paulo state March 26, 2012. Pinheiro has been called to help police patrol the crime-ridden streets of Taubate, in Brazil. He was officially presented on March 17 in the districts with the highest crime rates in Sao Paulo state. Police captain Warley Takeo, one of the policemen who decided to bring in the character to help them fight drug traffickers, said the measure would bring long-term benefits. Takeo said making a connection between the police and Batman would help children have a clearer idea of good and bad. Picture taken on March 26, 2012. REUTERS/Roosevelt Cassio