Sidewalk Superheroes

There are a lot of articles and videos out there this week on the Blvd crackdown. I don’t even know what to say about this except it makes me livid. What’s wrong with simply requiring a permit? But no, the LAPD decided to just go and arrest people for standing on Hollywood Blvd in costume.

I know there are some characters who are pushy. I know that. But the regulars are very polite. It seems to me that the tourists are the ones that are not playing by the rules though. I’ve kept in touch with some characters, after Batgirl and I quit the Blvd, and it seemed to me like people were just not tipping anymore. We didn’t make much. Plenty of people decided to pose for photos and then not give us anything. Nothing we could do about it, but it sure doesn’t feel good giving a service and not being appreciated. You tip your waiter, don’t you? People need a little lesson in tipping. We’re not in France. Well, I am, but YOU aren’t! What is wrong with America…?

So, sorry tourists, you won’t be getting a warm welcome to Hollywood from any of your favourite superheroes anymore, unless you complain a lot to somebody high up. Oh, funny thing is… no one is taking responsibility for this decision, either. Nobody knows where the order came from….

Comics Alliance

NBC Not Even Batman Gets a Pass

Dress up – Go to jail

As you know by now, neither Catwoman nor I have been to the boulevard in quite a while. The tips were sucking, it wasn’t worth the drama and harassment, and then other things came up. I’ve seen the boulevard and the characters come up a few time in the news since then, and it’s never good. Here’s the latest: one of the four guys playing Spiderman was arrested yesterday after hitting someone, and it turns out he was wanted on outstanding warrants. When you’re on the run from the law it’s usually a good idea to, you know, not do things that involve law enforcement coming to interview you. Just a suggestion.

Other than that, we’ll probably have some new pictures to share soon, but that’s about it. I’m busy with school and we’re both busy trying to escape the quagmire that is the failed state of California, so who knows where you’ll see us next?

If it sounds like we’re everywhere lately, well . . . it’s because we are. For your enjoyment, a quick roundup of the latest superhero news, from blanket coverage of the violence on Hollywood Boulevard across the state to Batgirl and Catwoman splashing the pages of LA Weekly:

Channels 2 (CBS) and 9 (KCAL) on the violence. (They’re owned by the same parent company, hence the cheap coverage.)
ABC channel 7 on the tensions.
Channels 11 (FOX) and 13 (UPN/KCOP) chime in as well. Again, apparently owned by the same company.
MSNBC also jumps in for some Internet love.
And even the SF Gate gets involved with an article and a quick picture blurb.

Lest you think it’s all depressing, here’s us being charming social butterflies at Twiistup, courtesy of LA Weekly:

caught in the act!

I also know we’ll be featured on LAist, but they have yet to post their writeup and photos. Keep an eye out, though. I also have a funny picture of Demon Guy on the front page of the LA Times’ California section, but I’m too lazy to upload it from my camera, resize, then upload it here. Give me a break, it’s 2 AM!

Edit: Here we are on the Synched Up Show (at the 1:44 mark, as our good friend George from Zannel was quick to point out):

And here’s Demon Guy in the LA Times:

will he melt?