Thanatos, a real life superhero, hands out clothing and food to the poor

August 15, 2012

For over 5 years, a Vancouver man dressing up in costume and going by the name Thanatos, the Greek God of death or more commonly the "Grim Reaper", has been helping feed and clothe the poor.

It might sound strange that a man would dress up as someone who delivers death in an effort to help the poor, but he has perfectly good reasoning.

"I don’t come from Krypton and wasn’t bitten by a radioactive spider or anything like that," said the costumed Thanatos. "I was working downtown, trying to help out on the streets and noticing a lot of things happening...people living and dying on the streets. I was told by a police officer that some people on the street had nothing better to look forward to than death. That really stung, that really hurt me. So I said if that’s the case, then death better get out there and start taking care of these people. I developed this persona to go out there and help."

This real-life Thanatos is your average family man who wants to make a difference. He wants to make the world a better place and he has done just that. For over 5 years he has roamed Vancouver neighborhoods handing out necessities like socks, t-shirts, food, and water.

No one said you had to be the "good" superhero to make the world a better place. Here is a true story proving the Grim Reaper can bring joy to the world. Rather than taking life, he is giving it.

In the words of Thanatos himself, "A real life superhero is an icon, to inspire people...that everybody can make a difference"

Photo Credit: Metro/Matt Kieltyka