IT’S 11:06 ON A SATURDAY NIGHT and the superheroes are plotting outside the Hall of Justice on Broadway. “We’ll drive up Golf and meet the foot-patrol
at Sixth and Lima,” says a large figure in a French highwayman’s coat, a tricorn cap, and steampunk goggles. Five other costumed characters make statements to the affirmative and peel off Broad- way to walk in formation up C Street. “Some people think we have no idea what
we’re doing, like we’re Kick-Ass or something like that, but we’re training all the time,” says a 20-year-old superhero named Light Fist, whose yellow ninja outfit calls to mind Scorpion from Mortal Kombat. “We train Krav Maga together. We spend a lot of time together. I feel like we’re
saving the world.” We come to a red light and The Grim, tonight’s
patrol leader, raises a fist to the sky. The group circles up back-to-back and waits for The Grim’s signal to proceed. The Grim wears blue body armor and a skull-faced helmet. When he’s not roaming the streets dressed as a self-styled super- hero and second-in- command to Mr. Xtreme, the 35-year-old Navy veteran installs security systems. Next to him stands Violet Valkyrie, homeless outreach coor-
COVER PHOTO AND ABOVE BY ANDY BOYD
An old man on a bench hollers, “You’re a little early for Comic-Con!”
dinator, wearing purple skintight clothing and a neoprene half-mask. Beside her is Zoo, a young woman in a grinning Guy Fawkes mask, and Colonial, a 19-year-old new recruit in a red beret and Air Force boots. Joined by Midnight Highwayman in the support vehicle and about 15 rotating members, the vio- lent-crime preven- tion team known as the Xtreme Justice
League is one of the most prominent remaining factions from the international real-life super- hero movement.
16 San Diego Reader July 21, 2016
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