1 00:00:08,762 --> 00:00:12,522 Speaker 1: Fireheart originals. This is an iHeart original. 2 00:00:18,162 --> 00:00:21,202 Speaker 2: Everyone has a place they retreat to when they need 3 00:00:21,242 --> 00:00:26,402 Speaker 2: to recharge. It could be your bedroom, your library, your porch. 4 00:00:26,962 --> 00:00:31,642 Speaker 2: For Superman, it's his fortress of solitude, the retreat carved 5 00:00:31,682 --> 00:00:35,642 Speaker 2: out of ice in the Arctic. For Mike Meyer, it's 6 00:00:35,682 --> 00:00:38,842 Speaker 2: the basement of his home in the small town of 7 00:00:38,882 --> 00:00:44,362 Speaker 2: Granite City, Illinois. Mike is in his late forties, and 8 00:00:44,642 --> 00:00:48,882 Speaker 2: for as long as he can remember, he has loved Superman. 9 00:00:49,442 --> 00:00:51,962 Speaker 2: He bought his first comic as a ten year old 10 00:00:52,242 --> 00:00:56,362 Speaker 2: when they were just twenty cents. He loves the nobility 11 00:00:56,402 --> 00:01:00,482 Speaker 2: of Superman, his desire to do good things. He buys 12 00:01:00,562 --> 00:01:04,362 Speaker 2: as many comics, toys, and other collectibles as he can. 13 00:01:05,242 --> 00:01:09,522 Speaker 2: It's not easy. Not a wealthy collector. Mike has been 14 00:01:09,562 --> 00:01:13,922 Speaker 2: collecting Social Security for an intellectual disability since he was 15 00:01:13,922 --> 00:01:17,482 Speaker 2: in his twenties. He works part time at a McDonald's 16 00:01:17,562 --> 00:01:22,042 Speaker 2: in nearby Collinsville, but over time he's still amassed a 17 00:01:22,162 --> 00:01:28,522 Speaker 2: pretty cool collection, over eighteen hundred items. There's stuff everywhere, 18 00:01:29,042 --> 00:01:32,042 Speaker 2: but a lot of it fills the basement of his home. 19 00:01:32,762 --> 00:01:35,162 Speaker 2: He doesn't get down here as often as he'd like. 20 00:01:35,762 --> 00:01:39,562 Speaker 2: Mike's knees give him problems, and navigating the stairs is hard, 21 00:01:40,242 --> 00:01:43,122 Speaker 2: but it's worth it so he can be near his friend, 22 00:01:43,682 --> 00:01:50,282 Speaker 2: his favorite fictional character. But today isn't like other days. Today, 23 00:01:50,442 --> 00:01:54,082 Speaker 2: when Mike turns on the light, he's astonished to see 24 00:01:54,482 --> 00:01:59,202 Speaker 2: the shelves are practically bare. The comics, the toys, the 25 00:01:59,322 --> 00:02:05,282 Speaker 2: decades of collecting gone. Someone didn't just rob Mike of 26 00:02:05,322 --> 00:02:09,522 Speaker 2: his stuff. They robbed him of the one thing that 27 00:02:09,642 --> 00:02:13,882 Speaker 2: brought him most of his happiness. Thinking of Mike in 28 00:02:13,962 --> 00:02:17,762 Speaker 2: that moment, you wish you could tell him what happens next, 29 00:02:18,482 --> 00:02:22,442 Speaker 2: tell him that something amazing is going to come out 30 00:02:22,442 --> 00:02:26,922 Speaker 2: of this. But right now, all Mike can do is 31 00:02:27,042 --> 00:02:32,682 Speaker 2: wonder what happens when you lose everything that matters. Welcome 32 00:02:32,762 --> 00:02:37,282 Speaker 2: to Very Special Episodes and iHeart original podcast. I'm your 33 00:02:37,282 --> 00:02:50,162 Speaker 2: host Danish Sports and this is Up, Up and Away. 34 00:02:51,042 --> 00:02:54,682 Speaker 3: Hey, everybody, it's Jason English here. We've got something a 35 00:02:54,682 --> 00:02:58,162 Speaker 3: little different this week. A couple of years ago, a 36 00:02:58,202 --> 00:03:01,282 Speaker 3: lot of the people who work on this podcast Very 37 00:03:01,282 --> 00:03:06,642 Speaker 3: Special Episodes made another podcast called Stealing Superman. Dana hosted 38 00:03:06,682 --> 00:03:10,722 Speaker 3: that one. It was written by Jake Rosson, Josh Fisher, 39 00:03:11,082 --> 00:03:14,562 Speaker 3: John Washington, Beheid Frasier, All the greats who work here 40 00:03:14,762 --> 00:03:18,122 Speaker 3: behind the scenes worked on that as well. Stealing Superman 41 00:03:18,322 --> 00:03:21,322 Speaker 3: is about a comic book heist that takes place at 42 00:03:21,402 --> 00:03:25,922 Speaker 3: Nicholas Cage's bel Air mansion and follows the decade long 43 00:03:26,042 --> 00:03:29,402 Speaker 3: odyssey to get his comics back. During that show, we 44 00:03:29,442 --> 00:03:33,682 Speaker 3: made a bonus episode about a different Superman heist that, frankly, 45 00:03:33,762 --> 00:03:36,682 Speaker 3: not a lot of people listen to. You put bonus 46 00:03:36,762 --> 00:03:40,042 Speaker 3: in the title, and I guess people feel it's safe 47 00:03:40,082 --> 00:03:44,002 Speaker 3: to skip. But it is a wonderful story, a great 48 00:03:44,042 --> 00:03:48,122 Speaker 3: standalone episode, and now that we're getting a nice audience 49 00:03:48,202 --> 00:03:50,842 Speaker 3: for what we're doing over here, I wanted to re 50 00:03:50,962 --> 00:03:54,842 Speaker 3: up that as a very special episode. If you haven't 51 00:03:54,842 --> 00:03:59,242 Speaker 3: gotten around to Stealing Superman yet, that's okay. There's no spoilers. 52 00:03:59,322 --> 00:04:04,002 Speaker 3: It's truly its own story, and I hope you enjoy it. 53 00:04:04,442 --> 00:04:13,002 Speaker 2: Over to you, Dana, There's no doubting a Superman was 54 00:04:13,082 --> 00:04:17,802 Speaker 2: Mike Meyer's favorite pop culture character. His parents took him 55 00:04:17,802 --> 00:04:21,722 Speaker 2: to see the first Christopher Reeve movie in nineteen seventy eight. 56 00:04:22,282 --> 00:04:26,282 Speaker 2: His most prized possession, a twelve inch tall Captain action 57 00:04:26,402 --> 00:04:31,282 Speaker 2: doll with Superman's costume, was acquired not long before Mike 58 00:04:31,562 --> 00:04:35,442 Speaker 2: likes to draw too, and Superman was always taking shape 59 00:04:35,442 --> 00:04:39,602 Speaker 2: on paper, his pencil forming a cape and the s. 60 00:04:40,322 --> 00:04:44,482 Speaker 2: One of his dogs was named Crypto, after Superman's pets. 61 00:04:45,042 --> 00:04:49,522 Speaker 2: If you knew Mike, you knew he loved Superman as 62 00:04:49,602 --> 00:04:52,802 Speaker 2: much as he did when he was a boy, and 63 00:04:53,202 --> 00:04:59,482 Speaker 2: eventually that turned out to be a problem. Before Mike 64 00:04:59,562 --> 00:05:03,042 Speaker 2: started working at McDonald's, he held a job at another 65 00:05:03,122 --> 00:05:07,482 Speaker 2: fast food chain, Hearty's, in the nineteen nineties. While he 66 00:05:07,562 --> 00:05:10,602 Speaker 2: worked there, he struck up a conversation with a coworker 67 00:05:10,962 --> 00:05:17,242 Speaker 2: named Jerry, and naturally, the talk turned to Superman. Mike 68 00:05:17,322 --> 00:05:21,202 Speaker 2: and Jerry lost touch for a long time. Then in 69 00:05:21,282 --> 00:05:24,722 Speaker 2: August of twenty eleven, Mike ran into Jerry at a 70 00:05:24,762 --> 00:05:28,802 Speaker 2: comic book shop in Granite City. Jerry remembered Mike and 71 00:05:28,882 --> 00:05:31,882 Speaker 2: his collection. He asked if he could come over and 72 00:05:31,962 --> 00:05:35,922 Speaker 2: see it. Mike wasn't sure. It's not that Jerry was 73 00:05:35,962 --> 00:05:39,042 Speaker 2: a bad guy, It's just that they weren't really friends, 74 00:05:39,722 --> 00:05:43,522 Speaker 2: and maybe something about Jerry didn't seem right. So Mike 75 00:05:43,602 --> 00:05:50,762 Speaker 2: said he was busy, sorry, maybe another time, But Jerry 76 00:05:50,922 --> 00:05:54,522 Speaker 2: wasn't taking no for an answer. He got Mike's number 77 00:05:54,602 --> 00:05:58,642 Speaker 2: and called him. Couldn't he please please come over and 78 00:05:58,722 --> 00:06:01,682 Speaker 2: take a look. He was in the neighborhood, he could 79 00:06:01,722 --> 00:06:06,282 Speaker 2: come right over. Mike said, okay, and a few moments 80 00:06:06,362 --> 00:06:10,482 Speaker 2: later Jay showed up. He wanted the tour, so Mike 81 00:06:10,562 --> 00:06:14,722 Speaker 2: showed him everything. The comics of which he had hundreds, 82 00:06:15,082 --> 00:06:18,762 Speaker 2: all the way back to issue number ninety nine, the toys, 83 00:06:19,242 --> 00:06:23,242 Speaker 2: the action figures tacked to his wall, the lunch boxes 84 00:06:23,242 --> 00:06:28,162 Speaker 2: and posters and shirts, even the handsown Superman costume Mike 85 00:06:28,202 --> 00:06:32,842 Speaker 2: had tucked in his closet. Jerry was impressed. He left, 86 00:06:32,962 --> 00:06:35,962 Speaker 2: and Mike thought that was the end of it. Maybe 87 00:06:35,962 --> 00:06:38,882 Speaker 2: he even felt some pride in showing off his collection. 88 00:06:39,962 --> 00:06:44,362 Speaker 2: The next night, Jerry was back, this time with his girlfriend. 89 00:06:45,122 --> 00:06:47,602 Speaker 2: He wondered if Mike would like to watch a movie 90 00:06:47,762 --> 00:06:51,922 Speaker 2: all three of them, and Mike, being a non confrontational 91 00:06:52,042 --> 00:06:56,682 Speaker 2: kind of person, said fine. He noticed Jerry got up 92 00:06:56,722 --> 00:07:01,482 Speaker 2: and left during the movie, leaving Mike and his girlfriend alone, 93 00:07:01,522 --> 00:07:04,962 Speaker 2: but he didn't think much of it. And then two 94 00:07:05,122 --> 00:07:08,802 Speaker 2: days later, Mike went into his basement expecting to find 95 00:07:08,842 --> 00:07:13,202 Speaker 2: everything the way it always was, everything arranged, everything in 96 00:07:13,362 --> 00:07:17,802 Speaker 2: its place, but it was all almost gone, and it 97 00:07:17,882 --> 00:07:22,802 Speaker 2: was obvious who had done it Jerry, his supposed friend. 98 00:07:24,402 --> 00:07:28,202 Speaker 2: He reported the theft to police, but he didn't really 99 00:07:28,322 --> 00:07:31,362 Speaker 2: know much about Jerry, just that they had worked at 100 00:07:31,402 --> 00:07:34,882 Speaker 2: Harty's years ago, and that he drove a silver car 101 00:07:35,322 --> 00:07:39,442 Speaker 2: When he apparently filled up with thousands of dollars worth 102 00:07:39,802 --> 00:07:45,282 Speaker 2: of Mike's Superman collection. Someone tipped off local reporters, and 103 00:07:45,442 --> 00:07:49,922 Speaker 2: pretty soon Mike was giving interviews, expressing regret that he 104 00:07:50,042 --> 00:07:54,722 Speaker 2: had ever let Jerry into his house, his fortress, that 105 00:07:54,842 --> 00:08:03,722 Speaker 2: the things Jerry had taken had meant a lot to him. 106 00:08:04,002 --> 00:08:06,882 Speaker 2: Keith Howard was one of the people who read about Mica. 107 00:08:07,642 --> 00:08:10,482 Speaker 2: The story had been picked up by local newspapers in 108 00:08:10,562 --> 00:08:14,722 Speaker 2: and around Granite City and in nearby Saint Louis, Missouri, 109 00:08:14,962 --> 00:08:18,082 Speaker 2: and already people were trying to contact Mike to send 110 00:08:18,122 --> 00:08:22,202 Speaker 2: him things. Keith was a nurse and a fellow Superman fan. 111 00:08:22,762 --> 00:08:26,002 Speaker 2: In fact, he had taken to making personal appearances in 112 00:08:26,082 --> 00:08:30,162 Speaker 2: costume at the Saint Louis Children's Hospital with a costume 113 00:08:30,202 --> 00:08:34,842 Speaker 2: tailored after his favorite Superman, George Reeves. Keith saw the 114 00:08:34,882 --> 00:08:38,802 Speaker 2: story on the super Friends of Metropolis Facebook group, which 115 00:08:38,882 --> 00:08:42,602 Speaker 2: keeps Superman fans in touch with each other before, during, 116 00:08:42,722 --> 00:08:47,122 Speaker 2: and after the annual celebration in Metropolis, Illinois, every year. 117 00:08:47,802 --> 00:08:51,642 Speaker 2: One of the group's members, Don Janie, posted the story 118 00:08:52,082 --> 00:08:52,802 Speaker 2: here's Keith. 119 00:08:54,122 --> 00:08:59,882 Speaker 1: I just kind of got a gut feeling that, you know, 120 00:08:59,922 --> 00:09:02,122 Speaker 1: this is our wrong thing to happen, and the fact 121 00:09:02,202 --> 00:09:06,002 Speaker 1: that he had this metal challenge made just that much 122 00:09:06,002 --> 00:09:06,802 Speaker 1: more despicable. 123 00:09:09,082 --> 00:09:12,242 Speaker 2: Like most people who heard the story, Keith felt it 124 00:09:12,282 --> 00:09:16,882 Speaker 2: in his bones. Burglarizing someone is one thing, but someone 125 00:09:16,962 --> 00:09:21,482 Speaker 2: as trusting as Mike and sealing a collection of Superman 126 00:09:21,602 --> 00:09:26,242 Speaker 2: stuff it was ugly. Keith had never met Mike, never 127 00:09:26,322 --> 00:09:29,682 Speaker 2: heard of him until the story, but he decided something 128 00:09:29,722 --> 00:09:32,202 Speaker 2: ought to be done about it, so he made a 129 00:09:32,242 --> 00:09:33,922 Speaker 2: post of his own in the group. 130 00:09:35,082 --> 00:09:38,202 Speaker 1: I said, how would you guys feel if we took 131 00:09:38,282 --> 00:09:41,602 Speaker 1: up a collection and people could just give what they 132 00:09:41,722 --> 00:09:44,402 Speaker 1: want to get? Maybe send a card, send a note, 133 00:09:44,802 --> 00:09:48,242 Speaker 1: if you have a Superman Action figure that you've got 134 00:09:48,282 --> 00:09:52,162 Speaker 1: land around that you wouldn't mind donating, or just anything, 135 00:09:52,282 --> 00:09:54,202 Speaker 1: you know. Just kind of threw that out there. 136 00:09:55,282 --> 00:09:59,722 Speaker 2: Just getting some unwanted comics or inexpensive toys would have 137 00:09:59,762 --> 00:10:04,082 Speaker 2: been plenty generous, but that's not what happened. The first 138 00:10:04,162 --> 00:10:06,442 Speaker 2: thing Keith got took him by surprise. 139 00:10:07,282 --> 00:10:11,602 Speaker 1: So we set up a time and I then posted 140 00:10:11,682 --> 00:10:15,522 Speaker 1: to everybody that here's my address, and posted on our page. 141 00:10:16,202 --> 00:10:19,722 Speaker 1: That address got out to people that I have no 142 00:10:19,802 --> 00:10:22,642 Speaker 1: way of knowing how they got it, and all of 143 00:10:22,682 --> 00:10:27,922 Speaker 1: a sudden, within three four days, I got my first delivery. 144 00:10:27,962 --> 00:10:30,762 Speaker 1: And it was an envelope like they had an eight 145 00:10:30,882 --> 00:10:33,762 Speaker 1: x ten in it, and it was from Noel Neil. 146 00:10:34,402 --> 00:10:37,722 Speaker 1: She was the Lois Lane from the TV show Adventures 147 00:10:37,722 --> 00:10:40,162 Speaker 1: of Superman and she was still alive. She was like 148 00:10:40,242 --> 00:10:44,922 Speaker 1: eighty nine back then, and it was a autographed picture 149 00:10:45,082 --> 00:10:49,122 Speaker 1: of her with George Reeves in costume, and she signed 150 00:10:49,162 --> 00:10:52,322 Speaker 1: it Noel Neil, Lois Lane or Lois I think it 151 00:10:52,442 --> 00:10:56,802 Speaker 1: quotes to Mike. And I was like, oh my gosh, 152 00:10:56,962 --> 00:10:59,922 Speaker 1: I don't even have one of those. And I was 153 00:10:59,962 --> 00:11:03,322 Speaker 1: just like, oh man, this is we we just I mean, 154 00:11:03,362 --> 00:11:05,882 Speaker 1: they came out swinging already. This is such a cool 155 00:11:06,642 --> 00:11:09,562 Speaker 1: first gifts. And if that's the only gift that he gets, 156 00:11:09,602 --> 00:11:11,602 Speaker 1: I'm sure he would treasure it forever. 157 00:11:12,202 --> 00:11:14,162 Speaker 2: But that was far from the only gift. 158 00:11:15,042 --> 00:11:18,242 Speaker 1: And so then the next day there was like three boxes, 159 00:11:19,082 --> 00:11:21,562 Speaker 1: and then the next day there'd be three or four 160 00:11:21,562 --> 00:11:25,322 Speaker 1: more boxes, and every day I'd come home, there would 161 00:11:25,322 --> 00:11:28,202 Speaker 1: be boxes and boxes laid up outside my door. 162 00:11:29,042 --> 00:11:31,722 Speaker 2: It wasn't just fans sending in stuff either. 163 00:11:32,682 --> 00:11:38,802 Speaker 1: DC Headquarters has sent me two big, heavy boxes. One 164 00:11:38,842 --> 00:11:42,202 Speaker 1: of them was a run like a series of comics 165 00:11:42,922 --> 00:11:46,402 Speaker 1: that was run from like I don't know. This box 166 00:11:46,602 --> 00:11:53,362 Speaker 1: had to be maybe twenty four long and sixteen wide 167 00:11:54,402 --> 00:11:59,202 Speaker 1: and sixteen tall. Maybe it was full of comics. And 168 00:11:59,242 --> 00:12:01,722 Speaker 1: they said those were all the comics in that run 169 00:12:02,122 --> 00:12:05,042 Speaker 1: of stories. They were all brand new. They were all 170 00:12:05,042 --> 00:12:09,122 Speaker 1: wrapped in the the plastic that you wrapped comics in. 171 00:12:09,962 --> 00:12:13,602 Speaker 1: And then the other one was a bunch of like collectibles, 172 00:12:13,682 --> 00:12:19,002 Speaker 1: figurines and plush dolls and the little bubble heads. I mean, 173 00:12:19,002 --> 00:12:22,042 Speaker 1: there were some really expensive stuff in that other box too, 174 00:12:22,962 --> 00:12:25,722 Speaker 1: that came from DC Headquarters. How'd they find out, I 175 00:12:25,762 --> 00:12:26,202 Speaker 1: don't know. 176 00:12:27,562 --> 00:12:31,642 Speaker 2: Something about Mike's story resonated with people the way it 177 00:12:31,642 --> 00:12:36,002 Speaker 2: had resonated with Keith. More than eighty boxes of stuff 178 00:12:36,042 --> 00:12:38,362 Speaker 2: poured in from everywhere. 179 00:12:40,522 --> 00:12:45,322 Speaker 1: Things were coming from all over the world. Am I 180 00:12:45,322 --> 00:12:47,122 Speaker 1: mean When I say all over the world, I mean 181 00:12:48,042 --> 00:12:52,602 Speaker 1: pictures painting, Like people were painting pictures of Mike because 182 00:12:52,602 --> 00:12:56,042 Speaker 1: they saw an image of Mike in the newspaper, and 183 00:12:56,082 --> 00:13:00,282 Speaker 1: they were coming from like China and Brazil and Chile 184 00:13:00,642 --> 00:13:04,522 Speaker 1: and the Netherlands, and I'm like, oh my gosh, this 185 00:13:04,602 --> 00:13:08,082 Speaker 1: isn't just local. This story has got international. 186 00:13:08,682 --> 00:13:11,962 Speaker 2: And as it piled up, Keith began thinking about what 187 00:13:12,122 --> 00:13:14,482 Speaker 2: he was going to do with all of it. He'd 188 00:13:14,482 --> 00:13:17,722 Speaker 2: give it all to Mike, of course, but how. 189 00:13:18,202 --> 00:13:20,442 Speaker 1: So I just kind of broached the idea, you know, 190 00:13:20,602 --> 00:13:25,162 Speaker 1: how cool would it be if this guy got a 191 00:13:25,282 --> 00:13:29,402 Speaker 1: visit from quote Superman bearing some gifts of some sort. 192 00:13:29,522 --> 00:13:32,002 Speaker 1: And I said, and says, I lived so close, I 193 00:13:32,042 --> 00:13:35,002 Speaker 1: can show up as Superman. I'll do all the legwork 194 00:13:35,042 --> 00:13:38,162 Speaker 1: here locally, I'll find where he is at, and I'll 195 00:13:38,202 --> 00:13:39,242 Speaker 1: deliver these gifts. 196 00:13:39,882 --> 00:13:42,962 Speaker 2: Keith reached out to Bill Smith, a friend of Mike's, 197 00:13:43,242 --> 00:13:45,322 Speaker 2: and told him what he had planned to do. 198 00:13:46,682 --> 00:13:49,682 Speaker 1: Bill told me that Mike worked as a I think 199 00:13:49,722 --> 00:13:53,762 Speaker 1: the title ist porter for the McDonald's in Collinsville, which 200 00:13:53,842 --> 00:13:58,282 Speaker 1: was literally like fifteen minutes from my house. And I thought, oh, 201 00:13:58,322 --> 00:14:01,642 Speaker 1: how cool would it be to make this delivery at 202 00:14:01,682 --> 00:14:04,602 Speaker 1: his work? So I called them, and I talked to 203 00:14:04,642 --> 00:14:08,882 Speaker 1: his manager, this young lady, and explained again who I was. 204 00:14:09,162 --> 00:14:11,402 Speaker 1: Everybody's kind of always you know, apprehensive to talk to 205 00:14:11,482 --> 00:14:14,562 Speaker 1: you first. But the minute they heard what our intent was, 206 00:14:15,082 --> 00:14:18,002 Speaker 1: everybody just overwhelmingly was like, oh my gosh, this is 207 00:14:18,042 --> 00:14:20,922 Speaker 1: so cool. So she broke down crying. She was in 208 00:14:20,962 --> 00:14:24,722 Speaker 1: tears the whole conversation, and I said, I'm anxious to 209 00:14:24,722 --> 00:14:27,842 Speaker 1: meet Mike. You know, I've talked to his friend Bill 210 00:14:28,042 --> 00:14:32,042 Speaker 1: and this story. You know, it was ugly. Bill even 211 00:14:32,042 --> 00:14:34,802 Speaker 1: told me, you know, Mike just feels so depressed. Bill's 212 00:14:34,842 --> 00:14:37,322 Speaker 1: hoping that this kind of brings him out of that depression. 213 00:14:38,482 --> 00:14:40,842 Speaker 2: And Keith wasn't alone. 214 00:14:41,002 --> 00:14:43,442 Speaker 1: In the meantime, I've got a couple of people on 215 00:14:43,882 --> 00:14:49,562 Speaker 1: my page, this Facebook Superfrins page that had volunteered to 216 00:14:50,162 --> 00:14:52,482 Speaker 1: dress up in costume and be there to make the 217 00:14:52,522 --> 00:14:55,882 Speaker 1: delivery as well, including Don Chance, the guy who shared 218 00:14:55,922 --> 00:15:01,362 Speaker 1: the post. So I said, okay, let's go ahead, and 219 00:15:00,922 --> 00:15:04,402 Speaker 1: you guys. One of the guys was taking pictures of everything. 220 00:15:05,322 --> 00:15:08,402 Speaker 1: And there are about five of us, including my daughter 221 00:15:09,162 --> 00:15:15,642 Speaker 1: who dressed out a Supergirl, that went to make this delivery. 222 00:15:15,842 --> 00:15:17,522 Speaker 1: This will be the first time I've ever met Mike. 223 00:15:18,402 --> 00:15:21,482 Speaker 1: They're expecting us. He doesn't have any idea that we're coming. 224 00:15:21,682 --> 00:15:24,602 Speaker 1: Thank goodness, you didn't stumble the process on the internet. 225 00:15:25,962 --> 00:15:29,602 Speaker 2: Just a couple weeks after the darkest day in Mike's life, 226 00:15:30,202 --> 00:15:33,002 Speaker 2: Keith pulled up to the McDonald's. 227 00:15:33,362 --> 00:15:36,042 Speaker 1: And we get there and there's some news media there, 228 00:15:36,162 --> 00:15:40,922 Speaker 1: and the store people are just all like, oh my gosh, 229 00:15:40,922 --> 00:15:43,722 Speaker 1: that's so cool. And we take pictures at the front 230 00:15:43,762 --> 00:15:48,842 Speaker 1: counter with Mike and he's I don't know him well 231 00:15:48,962 --> 00:15:51,922 Speaker 1: enough to know how to read his reaction. Later he 232 00:15:51,922 --> 00:15:55,842 Speaker 1: would tell me that it was just like the greatest 233 00:15:55,842 --> 00:15:58,562 Speaker 1: thing that he'd ever experienced, and how depressed he was 234 00:15:58,602 --> 00:16:01,882 Speaker 1: prior to that, and then for him to see Superman, 235 00:16:02,042 --> 00:16:05,002 Speaker 1: you know, he kept calling me Superman standing right there 236 00:16:05,642 --> 00:16:08,162 Speaker 1: in his store and telling him that he was there 237 00:16:08,162 --> 00:16:11,722 Speaker 1: to make delivery was just more than he could process. 238 00:16:11,802 --> 00:16:12,082 Speaker 1: You know. 239 00:16:12,882 --> 00:16:17,722 Speaker 2: Keith showed up with everything, the dozens of boxes they 240 00:16:17,722 --> 00:16:21,482 Speaker 2: were all for him, a bunch of awesome things given 241 00:16:21,482 --> 00:16:26,602 Speaker 2: to him by complete strangers. Mike was overwhelmed. Keith helped 242 00:16:26,642 --> 00:16:29,282 Speaker 2: him take it all back to his house with multiple 243 00:16:29,362 --> 00:16:34,802 Speaker 2: cars full of Superman items, a caravan of generosity, and 244 00:16:35,042 --> 00:16:38,522 Speaker 2: little by little, Keith got to know more about Mike 245 00:16:39,122 --> 00:16:43,802 Speaker 2: that deep down he identified more with another pop culture character. 246 00:16:46,762 --> 00:16:49,882 Speaker 1: We got to be decent friends after all of that, 247 00:16:50,322 --> 00:16:53,002 Speaker 1: and he would open up to me and he would 248 00:16:53,042 --> 00:16:57,042 Speaker 1: share some thoughts that he had about himself and his 249 00:16:57,122 --> 00:17:00,522 Speaker 1: life and who he was. And Mike was a kind 250 00:17:00,522 --> 00:17:05,602 Speaker 1: of a sad person. Unfortunately, Mike, he always wanted a girlfriend. 251 00:17:05,802 --> 00:17:07,922 Speaker 1: He had had a girlfriend, you years ago. The things 252 00:17:07,962 --> 00:17:12,362 Speaker 1: didn't work out, and he was he was lonely, and 253 00:17:12,522 --> 00:17:15,642 Speaker 1: he shared that with me. And Mike sort of lived 254 00:17:15,682 --> 00:17:19,162 Speaker 1: in the fifties and sixties. Still in his house were 255 00:17:20,442 --> 00:17:26,642 Speaker 1: all sorts of DVDs of Popeye and the Monsters and 256 00:17:27,802 --> 00:17:32,682 Speaker 1: you know those old TV shows, obviously Superman and Batman, 257 00:17:33,522 --> 00:17:36,482 Speaker 1: and he said he would just watch that over and 258 00:17:36,522 --> 00:17:39,522 Speaker 1: over all the time. He said, you know, you know 259 00:17:39,602 --> 00:17:42,402 Speaker 1: who I really connected with and who I feel like 260 00:17:42,642 --> 00:17:47,002 Speaker 1: I am most like. He said, I feel like I'm 261 00:17:47,042 --> 00:17:52,842 Speaker 1: like Herman Muster, just kind of big and clumsy and misunderstood, 262 00:17:53,802 --> 00:17:55,722 Speaker 1: and that he would do the laugh, you know, Herman 263 00:17:55,842 --> 00:17:58,362 Speaker 1: Muster had a kind of a unique laugh and he 264 00:17:58,802 --> 00:17:59,882 Speaker 1: imitated very well. 265 00:18:00,602 --> 00:18:03,122 Speaker 2: Keith left thinking that would be the end of it, 266 00:18:03,722 --> 00:18:14,442 Speaker 2: but it wasn't. There was another twist coming. Mike's friend 267 00:18:14,602 --> 00:18:18,442 Speaker 2: turned foe, Jerry, turned out to be a serial offender, 268 00:18:19,002 --> 00:18:22,002 Speaker 2: just a month or so after stealing Mike's collection, he 269 00:18:22,122 --> 00:18:25,202 Speaker 2: was accused of robbing an elderly man he was supposed 270 00:18:25,202 --> 00:18:28,762 Speaker 2: to be doing renovations for. That led to the police, 271 00:18:29,122 --> 00:18:33,002 Speaker 2: which led to their discovery of Mike's stolen Superman items. 272 00:18:33,482 --> 00:18:37,882 Speaker 2: Authorities were able to return virtually everything Jerry stole from him. 273 00:18:38,802 --> 00:18:42,322 Speaker 2: Now Mike had a problem, although for a Superman fan 274 00:18:42,882 --> 00:18:45,202 Speaker 2: it was the best kind of problem to have. 275 00:18:46,442 --> 00:18:49,682 Speaker 1: So you got eighty five gifts from us, this many 276 00:18:49,922 --> 00:18:52,802 Speaker 1: gifts from Cleveland, you know. So now he's got like 277 00:18:53,242 --> 00:18:57,402 Speaker 1: extras of everything. And he calls me up one day 278 00:18:57,402 --> 00:19:02,242 Speaker 1: and he says, Keith, I am starting to feel guilty. 279 00:19:02,362 --> 00:19:04,842 Speaker 1: You know, I got all my stuff back, and you 280 00:19:04,882 --> 00:19:07,802 Speaker 1: guys all gave me stuff, and some people didn't know 281 00:19:07,842 --> 00:19:09,562 Speaker 1: what the others were given. I got two or three 282 00:19:09,602 --> 00:19:12,442 Speaker 1: in the same thing, and I just have so much. 283 00:19:12,522 --> 00:19:16,722 Speaker 1: Now I just feel guilty. And I said Mike, first, 284 00:19:16,762 --> 00:19:20,722 Speaker 1: please don't feel guilty. Those people gave because they wanted 285 00:19:20,762 --> 00:19:23,602 Speaker 1: to give. It made them feel good to give. They 286 00:19:23,602 --> 00:19:26,442 Speaker 1: didn't realize they were giving you duplicates. So if you 287 00:19:26,482 --> 00:19:29,242 Speaker 1: want to sell those or give them away, by all means, 288 00:19:29,562 --> 00:19:31,922 Speaker 1: do what you want with them, and don't feel guilty 289 00:19:31,962 --> 00:19:34,842 Speaker 1: about them, and he said, yeah, yeah, I don't know. 290 00:19:34,882 --> 00:19:36,402 Speaker 1: I don't know, I don't know. 291 00:19:38,522 --> 00:19:41,522 Speaker 2: Nobody who donated to Mike wanted any of it back, 292 00:19:41,642 --> 00:19:44,802 Speaker 2: even after his collection had been returned to him. They 293 00:19:44,802 --> 00:19:47,482 Speaker 2: were happy to see him with all the Superman stuff 294 00:19:47,482 --> 00:19:51,402 Speaker 2: he could fit in his house. So Keith made a suggestion. 295 00:19:51,882 --> 00:19:54,082 Speaker 1: And I said, well, let me tell you what I do. 296 00:19:54,202 --> 00:19:56,562 Speaker 1: I said, I go over to Saint Louis Children's Hospital 297 00:19:56,602 --> 00:19:59,282 Speaker 1: because I work at Barnes as a nurse in the 298 00:19:59,282 --> 00:20:04,682 Speaker 1: operating room. Every Wednesday, it's every two weeks or every month, 299 00:20:04,962 --> 00:20:08,442 Speaker 1: they have bingo for these kids. And I've been going 300 00:20:08,482 --> 00:20:12,722 Speaker 1: over there like twice a month, sometimes twice a month, 301 00:20:12,802 --> 00:20:15,122 Speaker 1: mostly at least once a month, and I dressed up 302 00:20:15,122 --> 00:20:19,082 Speaker 1: as Superman and I call bingo and it's so cool, 303 00:20:19,162 --> 00:20:22,162 Speaker 1: I said. You know, they have a camera and kids 304 00:20:22,202 --> 00:20:24,282 Speaker 1: will be in therapy or they'll be in their room 305 00:20:24,322 --> 00:20:26,082 Speaker 1: because they're too sick to come down to the big 306 00:20:26,122 --> 00:20:30,002 Speaker 1: playroom where we're at doing the bigo day. So they're 307 00:20:30,042 --> 00:20:33,442 Speaker 1: watching me call off the bingo and then they'll call 308 00:20:33,482 --> 00:20:35,922 Speaker 1: the room and they'll say I got bingo, and so 309 00:20:36,002 --> 00:20:38,122 Speaker 1: then we'll run the board and yeah, yeah, that's bingo. 310 00:20:38,442 --> 00:20:41,122 Speaker 1: And so then the camera pans over to this table 311 00:20:41,162 --> 00:20:44,082 Speaker 1: that's got three tiers to it, and on every tier 312 00:20:44,402 --> 00:20:49,282 Speaker 1: there's all these donated gifts. And I said, Mike, I 313 00:20:49,362 --> 00:20:52,562 Speaker 1: thought just came to me, and this is just an idea. 314 00:20:53,162 --> 00:20:55,602 Speaker 1: I said, I can talk to these guys and ask 315 00:20:55,682 --> 00:20:57,962 Speaker 1: them if they'd be okay with it. But maybe you 316 00:20:58,002 --> 00:21:00,962 Speaker 1: could come with me to one of these bingo days 317 00:21:00,962 --> 00:21:02,922 Speaker 1: and you could bring a couple of those things that 318 00:21:02,962 --> 00:21:05,442 Speaker 1: you got as extra. And so if you've got like 319 00:21:05,522 --> 00:21:08,402 Speaker 1: extra comics that are new went nice, and maybe like 320 00:21:08,442 --> 00:21:11,282 Speaker 1: you've got like two or three of the same action 321 00:21:11,402 --> 00:21:13,762 Speaker 1: figure and you want to donate that to these kids. 322 00:21:14,402 --> 00:21:16,442 Speaker 1: How did you feel about that? He said, Oh, it's 323 00:21:16,482 --> 00:21:17,362 Speaker 1: a wonderful idea. 324 00:21:18,602 --> 00:21:22,482 Speaker 2: At the end of twenty eleven, Mike and Keith went 325 00:21:22,522 --> 00:21:27,602 Speaker 2: to Saint Louis Children's Hospital bearing gifts, a lot of gifts. 326 00:21:28,242 --> 00:21:31,522 Speaker 2: Keith was in costume, but Mike was the hero, wearing 327 00:21:31,522 --> 00:21:35,082 Speaker 2: a Superman T shirt and a big smile. They played 328 00:21:35,122 --> 00:21:39,162 Speaker 2: bingo with the patients, handing out prizes. That something so 329 00:21:39,402 --> 00:21:43,762 Speaker 2: good had come out of what happened was indescribable. Maybe 330 00:21:43,802 --> 00:21:47,202 Speaker 2: Mike saw flashes of himself in those kids. Maybe he 331 00:21:47,322 --> 00:21:50,802 Speaker 2: turned some of them into lifelong Superman fans that day. 332 00:21:51,442 --> 00:21:53,922 Speaker 1: So I called them and they said, sure, yeah, come on. 333 00:21:54,682 --> 00:21:58,322 Speaker 1: So one Wednesday we went up to Sales Children's Hospital 334 00:21:58,322 --> 00:22:01,322 Speaker 1: and we called Bigo and I introduced the group there 335 00:22:01,362 --> 00:22:04,762 Speaker 1: to Mike, who was the reason why all that Superman 336 00:22:04,882 --> 00:22:07,082 Speaker 1: stuff was there, and he was given that to them, 337 00:22:07,602 --> 00:22:11,362 Speaker 1: and they just showered Mike with love, and Mike felt 338 00:22:11,362 --> 00:22:13,402 Speaker 1: like the king of the world that day. And I 339 00:22:13,522 --> 00:22:17,322 Speaker 1: just loved it because here's a guy who just stood 340 00:22:17,322 --> 00:22:21,202 Speaker 1: a couple of months earlier, was depressed, felt big and 341 00:22:21,282 --> 00:22:25,602 Speaker 1: clumsy and unloved and everything was going wrong for him. 342 00:22:26,122 --> 00:22:29,642 Speaker 1: To now people are making a fuss over just being 343 00:22:29,682 --> 00:22:33,282 Speaker 1: around him. They have special events and people come and 344 00:22:33,402 --> 00:22:36,562 Speaker 1: turn up for it to meet him. 345 00:22:36,922 --> 00:22:40,122 Speaker 2: Around the same time, Mike had gotten an invitation to 346 00:22:40,202 --> 00:22:44,562 Speaker 2: visit Cleveland, Ohio, the home of Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster, 347 00:22:45,002 --> 00:22:48,602 Speaker 2: the co creators of Superman. A comic book store owner 348 00:22:48,722 --> 00:22:51,802 Speaker 2: named John Dudas offered to pay for the trip. 349 00:22:52,282 --> 00:22:55,202 Speaker 1: And I was like, oh my gosh, you guys can't 350 00:22:55,402 --> 00:23:00,042 Speaker 1: be serious, and he said yeah, and we've included airfare 351 00:23:00,082 --> 00:23:04,122 Speaker 1: for two all expenses paid. Three days We've got your hotel, 352 00:23:04,602 --> 00:23:08,922 Speaker 1: we've got your meals, we've got your transferation. And whilst 353 00:23:09,002 --> 00:23:12,482 Speaker 1: Mike gets here, I have six other comic bookstores in 354 00:23:12,642 --> 00:23:16,162 Speaker 1: the area. All have donated a fifty dollars gift certificate 355 00:23:16,802 --> 00:23:18,882 Speaker 1: that Mike can go, and we will take you to 356 00:23:18,922 --> 00:23:21,442 Speaker 1: all six of these comic stores and he can spend 357 00:23:21,442 --> 00:23:25,522 Speaker 1: that gift certificate in every comic bookstore that donated. 358 00:23:26,522 --> 00:23:30,202 Speaker 2: Mike was excited. He really wanted to go, but Mike 359 00:23:30,282 --> 00:23:33,162 Speaker 2: worried his close friend Bill Smith might not be able 360 00:23:33,202 --> 00:23:34,082 Speaker 2: to accompany him. 361 00:23:34,402 --> 00:23:38,042 Speaker 1: At one point, I pulled Mike aside and I said, Mike, 362 00:23:38,082 --> 00:23:39,962 Speaker 1: I want you to know that in one of these 363 00:23:40,002 --> 00:23:45,242 Speaker 1: boxes there are airline tickets for two to go to Cleveland. 364 00:23:46,282 --> 00:23:50,762 Speaker 1: And he said, I've never flown before and I said 365 00:23:51,162 --> 00:23:55,522 Speaker 1: I wondered about that. Yeah, I said are you Are 366 00:23:55,562 --> 00:24:00,762 Speaker 1: you still interested in going? And he said, well, yeah, 367 00:24:01,042 --> 00:24:03,562 Speaker 1: who am I going to take. I said, well, I 368 00:24:03,562 --> 00:24:05,522 Speaker 1: talk to your friend Bill Smith. I know you're good 369 00:24:05,522 --> 00:24:08,202 Speaker 1: friends with Bill. Maybe Bill kids and get some time 370 00:24:08,242 --> 00:24:12,802 Speaker 1: off work and he go with you. He kind of 371 00:24:12,802 --> 00:24:15,962 Speaker 1: paused and he said, you're like George Reeves to me, 372 00:24:17,162 --> 00:24:19,362 Speaker 1: and I said, well, that is the costume I'm were 373 00:24:19,362 --> 00:24:22,682 Speaker 1: and he said, yeah, I recognize that costume. He said, 374 00:24:23,402 --> 00:24:26,242 Speaker 1: I never got to meet George Reeves, obviously, but he said, 375 00:24:26,522 --> 00:24:28,602 Speaker 1: in a weird way, I feel like I'm talking to 376 00:24:28,642 --> 00:24:33,002 Speaker 1: him standing here talking to you. And I said, I 377 00:24:33,002 --> 00:24:34,602 Speaker 1: don't know what to say to that. Mike. I mean, 378 00:24:34,642 --> 00:24:37,602 Speaker 1: that's it's flattering that that you know, you would think 379 00:24:37,602 --> 00:24:40,082 Speaker 1: that I look enough like him, and and but I 380 00:24:40,122 --> 00:24:42,842 Speaker 1: get it, I know what you mean. And I said 381 00:24:43,042 --> 00:24:44,842 Speaker 1: I did. I've had a number of people tell me 382 00:24:44,922 --> 00:24:49,002 Speaker 1: that I sort of have brought that childhood character back 383 00:24:49,042 --> 00:24:53,882 Speaker 1: to life for them. He said, what about you? And 384 00:24:53,962 --> 00:24:57,442 Speaker 1: I said, what do you mean? He said, well, you 385 00:24:57,482 --> 00:25:00,362 Speaker 1: know that remember that episode where Superman takes that girl 386 00:25:00,362 --> 00:25:04,322 Speaker 1: and he flies her around and he gives her like 387 00:25:04,362 --> 00:25:06,442 Speaker 1: a tour from the air. And he said, I know 388 00:25:06,522 --> 00:25:09,802 Speaker 1: you can't live, but if you flew with me to Cleveland, 389 00:25:09,802 --> 00:25:12,042 Speaker 1: it would be kind of like that episode with that girl. 390 00:25:12,922 --> 00:25:17,962 Speaker 1: And I said, Mike, if Bill can't go, I'd be honored. 391 00:25:18,202 --> 00:25:20,602 Speaker 1: I'd be honored to go. And he said, I think 392 00:25:20,602 --> 00:25:23,722 Speaker 1: I'd like you to go. And I was like, wow, 393 00:25:23,842 --> 00:25:24,922 Speaker 1: I just met Mike. 394 00:25:27,082 --> 00:25:30,322 Speaker 2: Mike and Keith went to Cleveland and got the full tour, 395 00:25:30,802 --> 00:25:34,162 Speaker 2: They saw the boyhood home of Jerry, saw the tributes 396 00:25:34,202 --> 00:25:37,922 Speaker 2: to Superman. Mike even sat down at the same table 397 00:25:38,202 --> 00:25:42,442 Speaker 2: where Joe Schuster used to draw Superman, and the community's 398 00:25:42,442 --> 00:25:46,242 Speaker 2: affection for Mike didn't stop there, not even close. 399 00:25:46,962 --> 00:25:51,962 Speaker 1: Brandon Ralth from Superman returns back in two thousand and six. 400 00:25:52,322 --> 00:25:57,842 Speaker 1: He finds out about this Mike story and he is 401 00:25:58,362 --> 00:26:02,642 Speaker 1: somehow he finds Mike's phone number and calls Mike on 402 00:26:02,642 --> 00:26:07,322 Speaker 1: the telephone and for thirty minutes Brandon Ralph talks to 403 00:26:07,402 --> 00:26:11,282 Speaker 1: Mike Meyer on the phone. He told me, oh my gosh, Keeeth, 404 00:26:11,322 --> 00:26:13,762 Speaker 1: I can't tell you how cool that was. I got 405 00:26:13,762 --> 00:26:18,282 Speaker 1: to talk to Superman for a half hour, and I said, 406 00:26:18,362 --> 00:26:23,002 Speaker 1: oh my gosh, Mike, that is amazing. And then a 407 00:26:23,002 --> 00:26:25,482 Speaker 1: few weeks after we came back from Cleveland, Mike gets 408 00:26:25,922 --> 00:26:30,682 Speaker 1: a letter from or call from Warner Brothers. They're making 409 00:26:30,722 --> 00:26:33,922 Speaker 1: a Man of Steel movie with Henry Cavill and they 410 00:26:33,962 --> 00:26:36,162 Speaker 1: tell Mike that they heard about his story and they 411 00:26:36,202 --> 00:26:39,442 Speaker 1: would love to fly him and the person of his 412 00:26:39,602 --> 00:26:42,602 Speaker 1: choice to Georgia Air Force Base or Edwards, one of 413 00:26:42,602 --> 00:26:45,002 Speaker 1: those out in California where they were filming this tarmac 414 00:26:45,042 --> 00:26:50,602 Speaker 1: scene and They said, bring whoever you want. We would 415 00:26:50,642 --> 00:26:53,082 Speaker 1: like to have you on the set that day and 416 00:26:53,322 --> 00:26:56,962 Speaker 1: you'll get to meet Henry in costume. And sure enough, 417 00:26:57,282 --> 00:26:59,882 Speaker 1: Mike goes out there. He is sitting in like one 418 00:26:59,882 --> 00:27:03,762 Speaker 1: of those director's chairs, and he gets to meet Henry Cavill. 419 00:27:04,322 --> 00:27:08,082 Speaker 2: It was well, it was perfect. It's how you want 420 00:27:08,202 --> 00:27:11,762 Speaker 2: all stories like this to end. Mike became something of 421 00:27:11,802 --> 00:27:15,562 Speaker 2: a celebrity. Jerry was sentenced to six years in prison 422 00:27:15,682 --> 00:27:18,082 Speaker 2: for his theft of Mike's stuff as well as the 423 00:27:18,122 --> 00:27:22,002 Speaker 2: other incident, and Mike and Keith stayed friends. 424 00:27:22,362 --> 00:27:26,002 Speaker 1: Things kind of died down after all that. Obviously, Mike 425 00:27:26,042 --> 00:27:28,842 Speaker 1: got his stuff back and goes back to life as normal. 426 00:27:28,922 --> 00:27:32,162 Speaker 1: But Mike's normal as a new normal now. He starts 427 00:27:32,202 --> 00:27:34,802 Speaker 1: going to Metropolis every year. He asked me to help 428 00:27:34,842 --> 00:27:37,722 Speaker 1: him make a Superman costume, which I did. It was 429 00:27:37,842 --> 00:27:41,802 Speaker 1: very meager, but he had to wear Superman out to Metropolis. 430 00:27:41,882 --> 00:27:43,602 Speaker 1: One year, he dressed up as Jimmy Olsen. In a 431 00:27:43,682 --> 00:27:46,642 Speaker 1: few years, people in Metropolis made a big fuss over 432 00:27:46,722 --> 00:27:49,762 Speaker 1: Mike like he had been everywhere else. All those friends 433 00:27:49,762 --> 00:27:52,362 Speaker 1: of Metropolis that donated and got to meet Mike in person. 434 00:27:53,402 --> 00:27:56,562 Speaker 2: In twenty twenty two, Keith got a call from Mike. 435 00:27:57,242 --> 00:27:59,442 Speaker 1: That his health started going and he reached out to 436 00:27:59,482 --> 00:28:02,242 Speaker 1: me a few months ago. He asked me questions about 437 00:28:02,322 --> 00:28:05,042 Speaker 1: his kidneys. He knew I was a nurse and just 438 00:28:05,282 --> 00:28:10,562 Speaker 1: wanted to get advice, and I told him what I felt, 439 00:28:10,602 --> 00:28:14,202 Speaker 1: but had no idea he was so far gone because 440 00:28:15,202 --> 00:28:18,642 Speaker 1: after a few more calls of you know, just yeah, 441 00:28:19,442 --> 00:28:23,362 Speaker 1: not Fianna Rouell, and then all of a sudden, I 442 00:28:23,402 --> 00:28:27,682 Speaker 1: hear the news that he's gone. I thought, man, the stings, 443 00:28:27,762 --> 00:28:29,362 Speaker 1: you know, I got robbed of my chance to at 444 00:28:29,442 --> 00:28:33,482 Speaker 1: least see him and say goodbye. And he just he 445 00:28:33,602 --> 00:28:34,842 Speaker 1: just was not there anymore. 446 00:28:35,322 --> 00:28:39,242 Speaker 2: In September of twenty twenty two, Mike Meyer passed away 447 00:28:39,362 --> 00:28:43,442 Speaker 2: at the age of fifty eight. The tribute came pouring in, 448 00:28:43,802 --> 00:28:47,002 Speaker 2: with people filling his Facebook feed with photos of Mike 449 00:28:47,082 --> 00:28:51,522 Speaker 2: at conventions, photos of Mike's artwork, or just sentiments from 450 00:28:51,602 --> 00:28:56,242 Speaker 2: people who miss Superman's biggest fan. There's an element of 451 00:28:56,282 --> 00:28:58,682 Speaker 2: this story that makes it easy to see why people 452 00:28:58,722 --> 00:29:02,922 Speaker 2: pulled for Mike. He had certain limitations in life, but 453 00:29:03,042 --> 00:29:07,922 Speaker 2: that's not the whole story. Superman is just a fiction character, sure, 454 00:29:08,442 --> 00:29:11,922 Speaker 2: but there's an aspirational quality to him. It's hard to 455 00:29:11,962 --> 00:29:14,722 Speaker 2: be a fan of Superman and not want to emulate 456 00:29:14,762 --> 00:29:19,682 Speaker 2: what he stands for. Honesty, justice. People would have helped 457 00:29:19,722 --> 00:29:21,922 Speaker 2: Mike no matter what. But would it have been the 458 00:29:21,962 --> 00:29:26,082 Speaker 2: same if he collected punish our comics or baseball cards 459 00:29:26,242 --> 00:29:31,002 Speaker 2: or horror movies? Or did Superman bring something deeper out 460 00:29:31,042 --> 00:29:35,042 Speaker 2: of the people who heard Mike's story, something that led 461 00:29:35,122 --> 00:29:38,242 Speaker 2: people from around the world to write to him and 462 00:29:38,322 --> 00:29:40,802 Speaker 2: try to help replace what he had lost. 463 00:29:41,122 --> 00:29:45,682 Speaker 1: I got many calls from other news reporters and radio 464 00:29:45,722 --> 00:29:49,322 Speaker 1: celebrities wanted to interview me online. The story just got 465 00:29:49,402 --> 00:29:52,642 Speaker 1: so big, and finally asked somebody, I said, what is it? 466 00:29:54,082 --> 00:29:56,602 Speaker 1: I mean, I'm thrilled that you guys are interested in 467 00:29:57,042 --> 00:30:02,002 Speaker 1: this story. I'm just curious, how is this a story 468 00:30:02,042 --> 00:30:05,722 Speaker 1: for you? What makes this a story for you? And 469 00:30:06,242 --> 00:30:10,682 Speaker 1: on more than one they said, we write about horrible 470 00:30:10,962 --> 00:30:15,762 Speaker 1: events daily, and we do year after year, and it 471 00:30:15,842 --> 00:30:20,722 Speaker 1: is so rare to have a feel good story. And 472 00:30:20,802 --> 00:30:24,482 Speaker 1: what you guys are doing is just like, when have 473 00:30:24,562 --> 00:30:26,922 Speaker 1: you ever heard about anything like this? When have you 474 00:30:27,042 --> 00:30:29,242 Speaker 1: seen a story similar to what you guys are living on? 475 00:30:30,442 --> 00:30:33,402 Speaker 1: And I said, I don't remember reading a story like that, 476 00:30:34,162 --> 00:30:36,762 Speaker 1: and they said, that's what it is. It's rare, it 477 00:30:37,442 --> 00:30:42,522 Speaker 1: never happens. And so what you guys have done has 478 00:30:42,762 --> 00:30:46,002 Speaker 1: spread like wildfire because you've turned this out of a 479 00:30:46,082 --> 00:30:49,802 Speaker 1: situation into something beautiful. And the fact that I had 480 00:30:49,802 --> 00:30:55,482 Speaker 1: this connection to Superman and how Superman in portraying that 481 00:30:55,642 --> 00:31:00,882 Speaker 1: character made me want to do better and be better 482 00:31:01,122 --> 00:31:08,962 Speaker 1: and exemplify everything that Superman is the driving force as 483 00:31:09,042 --> 00:31:09,842 Speaker 1: much as anything. 484 00:31:11,202 --> 00:31:15,082 Speaker 2: When Mike's family organized his memorial, they told friends and 485 00:31:15,162 --> 00:31:19,642 Speaker 2: family to come wearing casual clothing or if they wanted 486 00:31:20,242 --> 00:31:22,362 Speaker 2: their favorite superhero costume. 487 00:31:29,162 --> 00:31:32,922 Speaker 3: That was a very special episode. At the end of 488 00:31:33,002 --> 00:31:36,562 Speaker 3: these we usually like to name a very special character. 489 00:31:37,442 --> 00:31:40,762 Speaker 3: Dana and Zaren are better at this than me, but 490 00:31:41,322 --> 00:31:46,682 Speaker 3: this time, almost everyone in this story could be nominated. Mike, Keith, 491 00:31:47,682 --> 00:31:50,242 Speaker 3: all the people who send stuff to Mike and Keith, 492 00:31:50,842 --> 00:31:55,282 Speaker 3: the staff at the Saint Louis Children's Hospital, Henry Cavill, 493 00:31:56,202 --> 00:32:00,602 Speaker 3: not Jerry. Jerry would not be in the running for 494 00:32:00,682 --> 00:32:04,162 Speaker 3: this particular honor, but there's a lot of people doing 495 00:32:04,242 --> 00:32:07,922 Speaker 3: a lot of good here. I will name Mike my 496 00:32:08,682 --> 00:32:12,562 Speaker 3: very special character. And if this was the first time 497 00:32:12,602 --> 00:32:16,562 Speaker 3: you've heard of the Stealing Superman podcast. The rest of 498 00:32:16,562 --> 00:32:19,442 Speaker 3: the show tells a very different story about a different 499 00:32:19,522 --> 00:32:24,602 Speaker 3: Superman heist. That one involves Nicholas Cage and his comic books, 500 00:32:25,242 --> 00:32:28,482 Speaker 3: and you can go and binge that one from the beginning, 501 00:32:28,962 --> 00:32:33,562 Speaker 3: and we will see you here next week. Very Special 502 00:32:33,602 --> 00:32:37,522 Speaker 3: Episodes is made by some very special people. This episode 503 00:32:37,562 --> 00:32:41,162 Speaker 3: was written by Jake Rawson. Our producer and sound designer 504 00:32:41,282 --> 00:32:45,722 Speaker 3: is Josh Fisher. Additional editing by John Washington, mixing and 505 00:32:45,762 --> 00:32:50,842 Speaker 3: mastering by Beheid Fraser. Original music by Alis McCoy. Show 506 00:32:50,882 --> 00:32:54,762 Speaker 3: logo by Nick Turbo Benson. Your hosts are Danish Swartz, 507 00:32:55,002 --> 00:32:59,122 Speaker 3: Zaron Burnett, and me Jason English. I'm your executive producer, 508 00:32:59,242 --> 00:33:01,962 Speaker 3: and we'll meet you back here with something special next week. 509 00:33:02,642 --> 00:33:05,962 Speaker 3: If you're enjoying Very Special Episodes, leave us a rating, 510 00:33:06,282 --> 00:33:09,642 Speaker 3: give us a good you. Tell your friends text them 511 00:33:09,682 --> 00:33:12,802 Speaker 3: right now, tell them listen to this. You'll enjoy it. 512 00:33:13,002 --> 00:33:16,642 Speaker 3: Then go check out the back catalog. Very Special Episodes 513 00:33:16,722 --> 00:33:18,922 Speaker 3: is a production of iHeart Podcasts.