Almost 200 superheroes show up for record bid

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 02/10/2017 (3107 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The other superheroes must have been too busy saving lives.

Those costumed heroes who could slip away from their crime-fighting exploits — 193, in total — walked, flew or drove into Brandon for a lofty attempt at breaking the world record for most people dressed as a superhero in one place at one time.

They set out to break the current Guinness World Record of most assembled superheroes, which will remain at 1,580 people.

Organizer Brian Sutherland still calls gathering this legion of heroes together a victory, since the Be A Superhero in the Fight Against Cancer event doubled as a fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society.

“It’s not about setting a world record. It was about setting the record straight in the fight against cancer,” said Sutherland, who runs the Grim Acres Scare Away Cancer Halloween Yard Hunt and Maze Event every autumn. “I feel successful. I honestly have no regrets about the day.”

Through the raffle at the world record attempt, a bud, spud and steak evening and a Bring Your Own Cape event at the Great Western Roadhouse, all money raised over the weekend will go toward a good cause. An estimate on the amount donated was not immediately available.

Sutherland said he has heard positive compliments about their efforts from people who have beaten devastating cancers, which is rewarding to him.

Although they fell short of their world record attempt, there weren’t disappointed faces in the crowd — at least, among those who weren’t hiding their identities.

“You look at the crowd and how much fun they’re having; they’re dressed in costume and it’s something they really enjoy,” he said. “It’s not something you get to do outside Halloween very often, so they got to be a superhero and most importantly they get to be a superhero in the fight against cancer.”

There was plenty for the heroes to see and do Sunday at the Keystone Centre’s Manitoba Room.

Kids showed off their muscles by pulling apart a frozen T-shirt. For entertainment, costumed dancers from the Brandon School of Dance performed and some superheroes took the stage for a hero-themed improvisation game. As for down time, the superheroes played mini golf or posed for photos with a who’s who of powerful heroes, ranging from Batman to Wonder Woman and Groot.

It wasn’t all fun and games for one Hulk in the crowd, who had to duel Catwoman.

On this day, the Hulk’s alter ego was mild-mannered Alex Cox, who has some 30 superhero costumes in his possession, pointed out the five-year-old’s mother Emilie (better known, for one day, as the Hulk’s sparring partner, Catwoman).

The five-year-old wanted to be the Hulk “because he has big muscles.” So does Alex, he showed, while flexing his right arm.

His favourite attack is a side kick, which he used on Catwoman once or twice. He’s well-trained in fighting since Alex practises mixed marital arts when he’s not fending off the bad guys.

Another young hero in the room, which must have been the safest place to be in Brandon, was Gwenevere Long, a six-year-old who has been Spider-Man for three Halloweens and one world-record attempt.

When the web-slinger isn’t occupied, Long enjoys playing one of the Lego superhero video games.

In one part of the game, “there’s a little boat with a guy who needs saving from sharks,” she said. The character she chooses to be more often than not is Spider-Man, said her mother Jackie.

» ifroese@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @ianfroese