On one hand, it’s kind of cute when ordinary citizens want to help out local law enforcement in fighting crime. On the other hand, it can be a royal pain. While there isn’t an agency on the map that couldn’t use some help from reserves or volunteers, it’s hard to imagine anyone wanting to work with guys like "Mr. Xtreme" and "MidKnight." Those guys are just two of the self-styled "super-heroes" who are on a mission to keep the citizens of San Diego, California safe.

As a matter of fact, San Diego has a long and colorful history of do-it-yourself crime fighting. According to a recent San Diego Union Tribune article, a self-appointed crusader named "Captain Sticky" squeezed his 350 pounds into blue tights, a gold cape and sparkly  boots to fight for justice in the 70's and 80's.

Richard Pesta, the birth name of "Capt. Sticky", was credited with helping launch statewide investigations into nursing homes and campaigning against everything from rental-car rip-offs to sugary cereal. Then things got a little sticky for "Captain Sticky". He eventually made headlines  when he was investigated by San Diego police for letting his home be used to film an X-rated movie. He testified against the film’s producer in exchange for immunity. He also had a side business selling sex tours in Thailand, but the Thai government shut him down. Sticky, whose name derived from his love of peanut butter and jelly, died in 2004 in Thailand of complications from heart bypass surgery.

Now that Sticky is pushing up daisies, other fame-hungry wanna-be super heroes are stepping in to fill the void. "Mr. Xtreme"'s utility belt isn’t quite on par with Batman's, but it's impressive nonetheless. He doesn't scale buildings like Spider-Man or emit beams from his eyes like the X-Men's Cyclops. But he does insist on keeping his identity secret, helped by a camouflage wrestling mask with bug-shaped eyes.

"Mr. Xtreme" is part of an international online community of about 300 comic book fans who spend their free time "fighting crime."  There’s "Dark Guardian," who patrols the streets of New York City as part of the organization called "Justice Society of Justice." He wears a black spandex body suit. In Utah, "Ghost" puts the fright into bad guys with his skeleton mask, long white wig and black cape. These super heroes, or mental patients, depending on who you ask, are connected by several online networks, including the World Superhero Registry and MySpace, where they share tips on patrol tactics, costume design and dealing with the police.

"Police automatically label us vigilantes," said "Mr. Xtreme," a 30-something security guard who asked The San Diego Union-Tribune to keep his identity confidential. The newspaper agreed after conducting a background check on him. "I say we're more costumed activists. Vigilantes render punishment onto criminals. We don't harass people, don't violate their civil rights. First and foremost, we prevent crime. We do what we are allowed to do legally as citizens," the grown man told the newspaper.

"Mr. Extreme" says his costume is still in development. Besides the mask, he wears black tactical pants, boots and a long-sleeved, camouflage shirt under a green Xtreme Justice League T-shirt. His belt weighs a ton, loaded with pepper spray, handcuffs, two cell phones, a first aid kid, a Double Trouble stun gun and a long Mag flashlight.

The online community of masked anonymous crime-fighters feel they don't get the respect they deserve. After about 250 superheroes converged on New Orleans to meet and march for super hero rights, Mayor Ray Nagin declared October 13 the "Day of the Superhero." But that was a rare display of official recognition. Most police officers are uncomfortable with anonymous, masked characters walking neighborhoods carrying weapons. "Mr. Xtreme" has tried to attend community meetings at the police station in the Mid City Division, but police asked him to leave when he refused to take off his mask, said San Diego police spokeswoman Monica Munoz. "It didn’t work out too well," he admitted.

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