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Spider-Man Foils Comic Book Thief

Posted by samzenpus on from the is-that-the-spidey-sense-or-indegestion dept.

chebucto writes "The BBC reports that 'A comic book shop owner in Australia became a real-life superhero when he caught a robber red-handed. Michael Baulderstone, who was dressed as Spider-Man for a promotional event, spied a customer behaving suspiciously during an International Free Comic Day celebration. CCTV footage shows him "leap" into action and confront the would-be shoplifter who had slipped a AU$160 (£97) X-Men book into his bag. ... He said a group of Jedi knights blocked the door to prevent the thief from escaping, as The Flash looked on.'"

40 comments

  1. The Flash wasn't looking on... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...he just went to summon the police then came back in the blink of an eye!

  2. hmm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...and this is on slashdot, why?

    1. Re:hmm by TaggartAleslayer · · Score: 2, Funny

      Really? News for Nerds. Get angry when they publish stories about crime being stopped in some normal way. Put on your spidey PJs and play "the floor is a hundred foot fall" while hopping from couch to coffee table when stories like this show up.

      I would never do the above, of course, as I am more of a Batman fan.

      Now I'm off to perch precariously on dark rooftops and leer menacingly at random strangers while having a bleak and sorrowful inner monolouge.

    2. Re:hmm by blair1q · · Score: 1

      >Now I'm off to perch precariously on dark rooftops and leer menacingly at random strangers while having a bleak and sorrowful inner monolouge.

      rooftop?

      but that's why I come here...

    3. Re:hmm by FatdogHaiku · · Score: 1

      Yup, I'd just love to see the dude in that photo leap from couch to coffee table...
      OK, he might try it if that was the only way to get to the potato chips...
      poor coffee table...

      --
      You have the right to remain sentient. If you give up the right to remain sentient, you will be elected to public office
    4. Re:hmm by GNUALMAFUERTE · · Score: 1

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcFFKsskSp8&NR=1

      There you go.

      --
      WTF am I doing replying to an AC at 5 A.M on a Friday night?
  3. But...but...it's Free Comic Day, right? by xeromist · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Perhaps he just didn't want to bother the owner with wrapping up his free comic.

    --
    This sig is exactly seventy characters long and a real waste of space!
    1. Re:But...but...it's Free Comic Day, right? by Explodicle · · Score: 1

      You can't just take any comic, especially not the expensive ones. You have to pick from the pre-selected cheap ones.

    2. Re:But...but...it's Free Comic Day, right? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh jesus fucking christ.... WHOOSH, mother fucker, WHOOOOOOOOSH

  4. The Flash looked on... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Sounds about right, I always thought The Flash was kind of a pussy.

    1. Re:The Flash looked on... by Paracelcus · · Score: 1

      As the Flash's girlfriend files her nails irritably.

      --
      I killed da wabbit -Elmer Fudd
    2. Re:The Flash looked on... by Locke2005 · · Score: 1

      As Flash's girlfriend mumbles to the Flash, "Do you have to do EVERYTHING so quickly???"

      --
      I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
    3. Re:The Flash looked on... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Where are my mod points when I need them? Hi-Larious, good sir.

  5. International Free Comic Day!? by flahwho · · Score: 1

    From TFA: "We had about 40 people dressed up as their favourite superheroes to celebrate International Free Comic Day, so he [the thief] didn't have much of a choice but to hand the X-Men Omnibus back after a little bit of a scuffle," Mr Baulderstone told the Adelaide Advertiser...."

    Why would you name it that!?

    1. Re: International Free Comic Day!? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's free as in "free speech" not as in "free beer".

      and 2010 will for sure be the year of linux desktop

    2. Re: International Free Comic Day!? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Your response makes no sense.

    3. Re: International Free Comic Day!? by dancingmilk · · Score: 1

      This is Slashdot, and idle no less. Par for the course my friend.

  6. better than spiderman 3... by poly_pusher · · Score: 3, Informative

    The video is on Youtube:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SneK7Y7Sl7Q

    That was boring... But It was better than Spiderman 3...

    1. Re:better than spiderman 3... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ...as The Flash looked on...

      The video is on Youtube

      Obviously, iPhone/iPad owners need not bother going there.

    2. Re:better than spiderman 3... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That was boring... But It was better than Spiderman 3...

      Even the dubious "make 500$ per day" ad the video displayed was more classy than the franchise around the movies :D

  7. Inaccurate picture by minchazo · · Score: 2, Informative

    The picture attached of the fat man in a poorly-made Spider-Man costume doesn't do justice to the actual costume in the linked article.

  8. Soooo..... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Guy tries to make off with free comics on free comic day, and shopkeeper stops someone from shoplifting.

    In other news; my day job is boring and Slashdot just isn't helping anymore.

  9. Video Footage by bluie- · · Score: 1

    Here's the video footage for anyone interested:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SneK7Y7Sl7Q

    also a news article with slightly better footage and an interview:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcFFKsskSp8&NR=1

    --
    life is a tragedy to those who feel, and a comedy to those who think
  10. 'Hero' by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 3, Insightful

    He's not a real-life 'superhero', he's a real-life hero.

    Superhero doesn't mean "he's so awesome" it means he has superpowers. Like Flash or Spiderman, not like Batman or Iron Man. Personally I find heroes more interesting.

    Heroes are important, let's give them the respect they deserve.

    --
    My God, it's Full of Source!
    OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
    1. Re:'Hero' by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh my GAWD. Shut the Hell up, Nerdzilla. CHRIST, next you're gonna go into a rant on Sci Fi vs. Fantasy, or Trek vs. Wars. Here's an idea: GET A LIFE!

    2. Re:'Hero' by enoz · · Score: 2, Insightful

      He's not a real-life 'superhero', he's a real-life hero.

      A store owner follows a suspected thief around his store and then asks for assistance from the general public to prevent the suspect from leaving, then calls the cops. Where exactly was the "hero" in any of that?

      This no-news is only "news" because tabloid media loves pointing and laughing at nerds dressed in costumes.

    3. Re:'Hero' by Macrat · · Score: 1

      Where exactly was the "hero" in any of that?

      That's a big deal in the US where people usually only take video with their phones and prefer to not get involved.

    4. Re:'Hero' by enoz · · Score: 1

      In Australia a petty criminal will be armed with a knife, not a firearm.

    5. Re:'Hero' by Burpmaster · · Score: 1

      In Australia a petty criminal will be armed with a knife, not a firearm.

      That's not a knife.

      That's a knife!

    6. Re:'Hero' by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In Australia a petty criminal will be armed with a knife, not a firearm.

      That's not a knife.

      That's a knife!

      I see you've played knifey-spoony before.

      Would you like a beer?

    7. Re:'Hero' by ComputerGeek01 · · Score: 1

      In Australia a petty criminal will be armed with a knife, not a firearm.

      That's not a knife.

      That's a knife!

      Dude, that's not a knife that's a spoon!

    8. Re:'Hero' by Fusen · · Score: 1

      I see you've played knifey spoony before!

  11. Ugh by rsax · · Score: 1

    Why you would want Flash taking up space in real life or on your phone is beyond me.

    1. Re:Ugh by Macrat · · Score: 1

      Some people enjoy wasting their CPU and time loading Flash.

  12. It would be heroic to let him leave. by professorguy · · Score: 1

    Hero?

    First, a hero is someone who risks his life to successfully save a person who is in danger of imminent death. If you didn't risk your own life, you're not a hero. If the person isn't saved, you're not a hero. Trying to save someone doesn't make you a hero, it means you TRIED to be a hero (which is admirable--just not heroic).

    Confronting a criminal in a crowded place and relying on innocent bystanders to help is, I think, the OPPOSITE of a hero. Getting a good description and letting him leave (away from innocents) would have been the courageous thing to do. Fer crissakes, they had him on video. What the hell are YOU confronting him for? That's just asking to get bystanders hurt.

    My verdict: Boo.

    1. Re:It would be heroic to let him leave. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      My verdict: You sir are an idiot.

    2. Re:It would be heroic to let him leave. by slater86 · · Score: 1

      I think you'll find that a hero is someone who "Saves the Day". Risking ones life is just a measure of courage. Also, just because he's on Camera does not mean that he will get caught. London is full of security cameras but that does not correlate between increase in cameras installed over time vs increase in criminals caught.

      --
      When people ask if I'm an optimist, I say "I hope so". --Bill Bailey
  13. Lookin good by retardpicnic · · Score: 1

    Spidey, the new outfit really shows off your physique!

    --
    sig loading.......
  14. Meanwhile... by Ekhymosis · · Score: 1

    Whilst Spiderman was chasing the portly kleptomaniac around the hazardous maze filled with random innocents, the Jedi Knights guarded the entrance and waved their hands saying "This is not the exit you are looking for..." to which the evil Hutt had no choice but to return the sacred picture book.

    --
    Fighting over religion is like seeing whose imaginary friend is best.