There is no denying that Batman aka The Dark Knight is a pretty cool guy. In fact he is probably one of the coolest and best known of all vigilantes in the world.
It may be hard to believe but there are actually plenty of real vigilantes in the real world and plenty of them who are just as cool as Batman. In fact there are plenty who are actually cooler and more badass than Batman.
Here are the top 13 vigilantes crazier than Batman.
13. The Citizens Of Skidmore, Missouri
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| (Ken McElroy) |
During the ‘70s and ‘80s, no Skidmore, Missouri citizen was more feared than Ken McElroy. And this fear, which also came with a side of collective hate, was with just cause. Ken McElroy was a vile human being. First off, he was indicted on charges of statutory rape after a 14-year-old girl gave birth to his child. Oh, and don’t forget the arson and assault charges, because he also burned that girl’s mother’s house to the ground and shot her dog. But it doesn’t end there. Years later he was also charged with attempted murder after shooting an elderly grocery store clerk in the neck. Well, in 1980 karma finally caught up to McElroy. A group of townspeople banded together to take him down, murdering him in his pickup truck outside of a local bar. Though there were approximately 46 witnesses, and not one called for an ambulance.
12. Dark Guardian
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| (Christopher Pollack "Dark Guardian") |
New York City resident Christopher Pollack is another self-proclaimed “real life superhero.” Yes, by day Pollack is a mild-mannered martial arts instructor, yet by night he dons an Avengers-like costume, one that comes equipped with a bulletproof vest, and fights crime under the moniker of “The Dark Guardian.” During his superhero career, The Dark Guardian has apprehended muggers, broken up fights and at one point waged a war against local weed dealers. Again, we wonder who’ll play him in the inevitable movie.
11. The Flashing Blade
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| (The Flashing Blade) |
The Flashing Blade has only been involved in one incident so far, but it was definitely bizarre. A gang armed with chains and knives attacked two detectives in South Shields in 2007. The detectives were unarmed, but out of nowhere a man leaped into the fight, swinging a katana and shouting, “Leave him alone, he’s a police officer!” The sword caught one of the gang members on the arm, and the rest of them turned and ran, according to the report.
After the detectives were safe, The Flashing Blade disappeared and was never seen again. The only description the police got was that he was white, in his 40s, and had a mustache. So, be on the lookout.
10. The Guardian Angels
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| (The Guardian Angels) |
Whenever there’s crime on the streets of New York City, there’s a chance that a man in a red beret may appear and save the day. Formed in the early ‘70s by anti-crime activist and current radio host Curtis Sliwa, the Angels are a non-profit organization that was created to help clean up the streets of NYC. Though the group was far more prevalent prior to Rudy Giuliani famously cleaning up portions of the city that never sleeps, The Guardian Angels do still exist today. In fact, there are even international chapters in countries like Canada, Mexico, Italy and even Japan.
9. The Lavender Panthers
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| (The Lavender Panthers) |
Formed in San Francisco in the 1970s, the Lavender Panthers were a vigilante group whose only goal was to protect the homosexual community from injustice. And this radical group defended the gay community with force. We’re not talking about protests here, people. It’s been said that each member of the Panthers was a master of the martial arts, particularly judo. How this hasn’t been adapted into a feature film yet, we’ll never know.
8. Sombra Negra
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| (The Sombra Negra (Spanish for "Black Shadow")) |
If you are going to be a vigilanti then one thing tha tis important above all else is a cool sounding name. The Sombra Negra vigilanti group knew this as the name Sombra Negra means “the black shadow.”
The Sombra Negra is a collection vigilante death squads which first appeared in 1994. They are made up mainly of police and military personal with one thing on their agenda. Targeting criminals in El Salvador.
The main target of the Sombra Negra were members of the transnational criminal gang MS-13. MS-13 being a well-known and notorious gang that was originally formed in Los Angeles to help defend fellow Salvadorian gang members against rivals from other gangs.
As MS-13 commited more and more crimes in the United States they were deported back to El Salvador in large numbers which helped them spread across the border and become the international gang we know today. Because the crimes of MS-13 continued once they were back in El Salvador continued with the police largely unable to stop them, anyone thought to be a MS-13 member became a target of Sombra Negra.
The Sombra Negra are considered so violentm cruel, ruthless and powerful law enforcement in the United States and El Salvador are reluctant to get themselves caught in any crossfire. Sombra Negra have claimed to be responsible for the killings of dozens of criminals in a brutal, blindfolded, close-range executions.
7. Black Monday Society
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| (Black Monday Society) |
There once was a time when the streets of Salt Lake City were anything but safe. That is now a thing of the past because of the vigilante organisation known as the Black Monday Society.
The Black Monday Society, whose slogan is fighting crime and apathy since 2006, took it upon themselves to tackle the gangs and drug dealers of Salt Lake City. The group is made up of normal everyday fathers with normal day jobs along with former heavyweight criminals who have turned over a new leaf.
The Black Monday Society all wear matching intimidating costumes (which are often enough to stop trouble before it even starts) and patrol local bars, back alleys and dark streets on the look out for anyone causing trouble.
Because of their intimidating appearance and large numbers the group has no need for tasers, guns or pepper sprays.
6. Barry Laprell Gilton & Lupe Mercado
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| (Barry Gilton and Lupe Mercado) |
After discovering that their 17-year-old daughter had been pushed into a life of prostitution by her “boyfriend,” a Compton gang member who was also acting as her pimp, these Los Angeles parents decided to take action. Sadly, the authorities were little help, so Gilton and Mercado decided to take the law in their own hands, murdering this pimp, Calvin Sneed, with a .40-caliber pistol.
5. Michael Mullen
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| (Michael Anthony Mullen) |
This act of vigilantism is rather layered. In 2005, ex-con Michael Mullen began posing as an FBI agent, claiming to be investigating vigilante threats against sex offenders. He’d knock on the doors of convicted pedophiles and registered sex offenders, then claim he wanted to discuss official bureau business. Then once he was granted permission inside their homes, Mullen would go on to murder his victims, execution style. Eventually arrested for the murders, Mullen claimed he was carrying out his own particular brand of twisted justice because he himself was molested as a young child.
4. Gary Sellers & Robert Bell
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| (Robert "Bobby" Bell (left) and Gary Sellers) |
Back in 2007, 53-year-old Timothy Chandler was arrested and charged with possession of child pornography. He served no time, but was sentenced to 5 years probation and, of course, had to register as a convicted sex offender. But according to two of his Tennessee neighbors, that lenient punishment didn’t fit the crime. No, Gary Sellers and Robert Bell decided that they’d rather not have a pedophile in their town. In fact, they didn’t even want his house in their town. Sellers and Bell took it upon themselves to burn Chandler’s suburban home to the ground.
3. Phoenix Jones
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| (Phoenix Jones) |
Seattle’s Phoenix Jones is one of the most interesting real-life vigilantes in the world. Not only is he a self-proclaimed “superhero,” but he’s also an active MMA fighter. Jones, who wears an armor-plated superhero costume, mask and all, claims that he was inspired to create this alter ego after his car was broken into and not one single bystander tried to stop it. So now every night, once the sun sets, Phoenix Jones patrols the streets of Seattle looking to vanquish evildoers. This is real. Seriously. This really happens in the streets of Seattle, Washington.
2. Bernie Goetz
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| (Bernie Goetz) |
In 1984, Bernie Goetz was dubbed the “subway vigilante.” After being accosted in a New York City subway by four young men, this seemingly nerdy electronics specialist pulled out a .38-caliber Smith & Wesson and began blasting away. He thwarted this would-be robbery by firing shots into each man, and, sadly, paralyzing one. Goetz claimed he shot the men not only to defend himself, but because justice wasn’t properly served when he was mugged and assaulted three years prior.
1. Jack Ruby
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| (Lee Harvey Oswald shot by Jack Ruby) |
Jack Ruby is arguably the most infamous real-life vigilante in American history. Ruby is the Dallas nightclub operator who murdered Lee Harvey Oswald in 1963. Just two days after President John F. Kennedy was tragically killed, Ruby shot his alleged gunman dead. As live television cameras rolled, Jack Ruby emerged from a crowd and fatally wounded an arrested Oswald with a single shot from a concealed .38 revolver. This murder just adds another layer of conspiracy to this already controversial, and heart-breaking, assassination.