Do you remember reading comic books and wondering if superheroes really existed? I do, and I also remember arguing with my brother and sister about which superhero I was going to pretend to be that day. Do you still believe in superheroes today? What would you do if you ran into one? I don’t believe in them now and if I ran into one I don’t know what my reaction would be, I know I would be surprised. Well if you still believe and want to meet one in person you might want to be out in the late hours of the night in Seattle or even Washington D.C. You might just run into one of the two-hundred superheroes that in full costume protect our cities. Turns out there are still superheroes according to “The Amazing Adventures of Phoenix Jones” by Jon Ronson, real life superheroes that is.
In his story, Ronson interviews and tags along in hopes of witnessing America’s finest superheroes in action. He meets many superheroes like, Phoenix Jones, Knight Owl, Pitch Black, Ghost, and the Red Dragon among many others. After meeting so many super heroes, Ronson focuses all his attention on Phoenix. He is enticed by Phoenix’s costume and his eagerness to fight to protect and serve. When Ronson meets Phoenix for the first time he is injured at the hospital. Regardless, Phoenix sets out to show Ronson how he protects Seattle’s streets during the night, but has no luck catching criminals. After Phoenix’s first failed attempt to show Ronson his crime fighting ways, Ronson sets out to meet other superheroes, but is left unimpressed and returns to meet Phoenix for another go at crime fighting. Ultimately, Benjamin Fodor’s (AKA Phoenix Jones) identity is compromised but not his willingness to fight crime.
While many might see grown men dressed up in superhero costumes as foolishness and a waste of time, Ronson’s story about real life superheroes and their somewhat naïve personas was very interesting to read. If I would have run into one of these superheroes without knowing what...