LINKS: The Velvet Marauder

For the past couple days I've been absorbed in the adventures of the Velvet Marauder, a real-life, super-powered, "urban vigilante" who keeps a blog of his exploits, and who is completely made up by David Campbell.

It's a very funny, well-written site, chronicling both the crimefighting heroics of the Velvet Marauder, and the mundane office politics (with occasional supervillainry) of his alter ego, Connor Mackenzie. There's unrequited romantic longings for co-workers, there's team-ups with (and jealousy of) other superheroes, and there's plenty of action (usually around the holidays). Some of the action-packed entries are of an absurd nature (including a legendary battle against "Yiff," a super-powered lunatic in a bear costume who humped the Marauder's leg), but others are filled with genuine drama and excitement (such as a battle with zombies on Halloween). And of course, there is VM's persistent consternation at the prevalent assumption that he's gay, which he doesn't help by frequently confessing to gay-leaning activities (regarding the music playing in his headset as he enters a skirmish: "Currently 'Shiny Disco Balls' by Who Da Funk is playing really, really loud. It’s a disco song, good for the cardiovascular workouts. Again, not gay").

The updates have tapered off in the last month or so -- most likely because Dave is spending most of his blogtime on the fairly new and totally hilarious Dave's Long Box (which you may have read about in Newsweek -- !!!). In fact, there hasn't been a new entry since April 28. It would be a shame if he let the Marauder's updates fall completely by the wayside. There are too many unresolved plot threads. It's like reading half of a good book. Frustrating!

I've seen a number of "in-character" blogs, and they range from dreadful (fine, you're Draco Malfoy, shut up now) to highly entertaining -- the "autobiographical horror" (meaning "zombie-fightin'") blog The Outbreak, from Attentiondeficitdisorderly Too Flat's Sean Collins (no relation*), and one of my all-time favorites, Hulk's Diary, from Beaucoup Kevin. The Velvet Marauder is definitely one of the best. Even if this isn't your kind of thing (and it's not mine, really, for the most part), at least give it a try. You might want to start at the beginning.

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*That makes sense if you know my last name is Collins, and not "the Dog".