For the love of children (and comic books)

The League of Super Heroes

He might not change in a phone booth, but Max Lauzon can transform with astonishing speed.

“It takes about 15-20 minutes,” says Lauzon of his costume and makeup routine.

Lauzon is president of The League of Super Heroes (theleagueofsuperheroes.com), a not-for-profit cosplay group that portrays popular movie and comic book heroes for local charities and public events.

“Our mission is to help children’s charities in the Ottawa area,” says Lauzon, who founded the group just before the birth of his son Harrison in 2012. “I wanted to do something that would benefit all kids, and that my son would admire.”

As it turns out, Harrison isn’t his dad’s only admirer. Lauzon says he and his fellow volunteers get amazing reactions when they show up to an event in full costume.

“We get a lot of stares,” he says. “Kids will run right up to us and then just stand and stare in awe.”

The League of Super Heroes is comprised of about 20 volunteers and two professional photographers and includes a wide range of entertaining superhero costumes designed to entertain youngsters (see the group’s website for a full photo gallery).

“We want our look to be authentic,” says Lauzon. “We want it to look like they [the characters] just walked off the movie set.”

He says the League has high standards for costumes – they are carefully researched and often constructed by hand. They have a seamstress they work with, and volunteers often bring their own unique skills to the process of costume-making.

Aside from spending time on a stellar costume, Lauzon says any aspiring super hero needs to have the right mindset.

“You have to have a love of children and a love of comic books,” he says, adding that prospective volunteers are welcome to contact him through the website. “You need to have a lot of patience with the kids, and know when to approach them and when to give them space.”

The League of Super Heroes offers free appearances for charity events. They will accommodate appearances for businesses as well – and only ask that a donation be made to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario.

Lauzon says a highlight for The League of Super Heroes is their annual visit to the hospital to boost the spirits of sick kids.

“We’ve been told that it’s up there with the Sens visit for the kids,” he says.

As for Lauzon’s own son, Harrison, he likes helping to set up banners for events, but is not quite ready to stand for crowds and photos quite yet.

But with a super hero for a dad, it’s really only a matter of time.

“My goal is for him to be the Robin to my Batman,” says Lauzon.