Green Scorpion patrols Phoenix and sometimes Albuquerque. But the Duke City has her own hero roaming the streets. Meet Ghost Shadow. Except that’s not his real superhero name. He wanted a pseudonym for his pseudonym. No matter how much begging this reporter did (and there was a fairly undignified amount) he wouldn’t speak to the Alibi in person or on the phone. Instead, he created an e-mail address to use just to answer questions.He’s among the hardcore set of real-life superheroes and isn’t interested in publicity. He doesn’t maintain a MySpace profile—or any online presence. He’s not verbose in this e-mailed exchange, but these words come to you direct from the keyboard of … Ghost Shadow. (Again, not his real name.) Do you patrol Albuquerque? Yes. Don’t randomly "patrol" often. I usually go out looking for specific people who need a talking to. How often? Where? Varies; seedier areas. Have you stopped any crime or helped anyone? Yes. Why, unlike many real-life superheroes, do you prefer to remain under the radar? I have enemies and plan on having more as time passes. What inspired you to do this? Was there a Eureka moment? Personal experiences with crime. How did you decide on your name? It’s a literary reference. Do you live in Albuquerque? Not full time, but I have a place there. Do you wear a costume? Do you wear it while you patrol? Does it ever freak anyone out? Most of what I wear while working blends in. I have a mask, but I rarely wear it. Masks and flashy costumes attract attention. Is your costume comfortable? Yes. I made sure that nothing gets in the way. If it does, I lose it or move it. What are its most interesting components? Kevlar panels sewn into lots of areas. I cut apart a few old vests to get the raw materials. Has your costume gone through many iterations? Nope. I’m a planner. Do you carry a gun? I’d rather not say. How has your life changed since taking on hero duties? I have some hope for the future. Does anyone know your identity? No. How old are you? Forty-two. How long have you been doing this? Started around 9/11. That was the last straw. That got me in motion. Will you ever stop? What would make you consider leaving the hero role? It would take a crippling injury or maybe getting married. I don’t know if I would keep doing this if I had loved ones to worry about. How serious are you about this? Damn serious. What do you think of other superheroes? A few seem solid. Never met any in person.
Ghost Shadow Remains ... Shadowy
Ghost Shadow Remains ... Shadowy
3 min read
