Stolen Superman collection returned, suspect in jail

[Morg]

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/article_ca023a0b-df7b-5f2d-b86e-6b5c2327b04f.html

Stolen Superman collection returned, suspect in jail
Share |

September 14, 2011--- Empty boxes start to pile up as Mike Meyer looks through a box of comics sent to him. Meyer's opened the 57 packages and letters sent to him from other Superman enthusiasts from around the country. On August 29 an acquaintance stole four to five thousand dollars worth of Meyer's Superman memorabilia from his spare bedroom and his basement. "I've got more friends than I thought I had," Meyer said in response to the support he got from the Superman community. Emily Rasinski [email protected]


On August 29 an acquaintance stole four to five thousand dollars worth of Meyer's Superman memorabilia from his spare bedroom and his basement. Since then the Superman community has responded by sending packages and letters of support to Meyer. "I've got more friends than I thought I had," Meyer said.


GRANITE CITY • In the end, things played out the way they do in the Superman comic books. Good conquered evil. Justice prevailed. A tale of the vulnerable being victimized spawned a chain of good will that spread not only across the country, but the world.

Mike Meyer, who lives off Social Security checks for a mental disability and a part-time job at McDonald's, had his stolen Superman collection returned in its entirety this week after police tracked down the loot and the alleged thief.

The good news came one day after Meyer, 48, of Granite City, received his first glimpse of the generosity sparked by a story that spread from one comic book collector to the next via a network of online message boards and email lists.

Dozens of their letters, comic books and figurines were delivered to his house — just the start of what has been promised in the flood of messages and calls from people who read his story in the Post-Dispatch last week.

Meyer, who lives alone with his dogs Krypto and Dyno, has been a Superman collector most of his life. Sometime the week of Aug. 29, he was tricked out of more than 1,800 of his favorite Superman comic books, along with hundreds of figurines and other memorabilia.

Meyer suspected an old acquaintance he encountered at a comic book store just days before noticing the huge gap in his collection. The man had invited himself to Meyer's house and asked to see where he kept the most precious items. Then the man left while his girlfriend watched movies with Meyer.

On Friday, Granite City police announced they had arrested and obtained charges against Gerry Armbruster, 37, of the 2200 block of Iowa Street in Granite City. Police said Armbruster was linked to the Superman case after being caught Thursday forcibly robbing jewelry and money from a 76-year-old who had hired him to do renovation work on a business there.

"I felt very happy and felt justice was served," Meyer said in a phone interview Friday from work. He said the Superman comics and movies have taught him not to react with revenge or contempt, and that "you cannot give evil for evil."

"I forgive him, but I'm not going to forget," he said.

The morals of the comics appear to have left an imprint on others as well. Many who sent cards and donations said they felt compelled to carry out the spirit of Superman. Donations have come in from Florida, Colorado, Alaska. The story also spread internationally.

"I am keen to know if you can put me in touch with the poor chap who was done such a rotten turn," wrote a man named Paul, from Australia.

"This is by far the most horrible thing I read this month, or even year," said Adrian, from Canada.

"I told my wife, and we were literally in tears because we felt so badly about what happened," said Ben Bittner of Shakopee, Minn., who has a brother with special needs.

He wanted to know how to send a care package to Meyer, explaining, "Comic book fans believe in paying it forward."

A Facebook page dedicated to Meyer has more than 2,100 "likes." Celebrities and publicists associated with Superman films, past and future, have expressed interest in reaching out to him.

Cleveland, Ohio, officials have offered to pay Meyer's way to the city for a grand tour of the house where Joe Shuster created Superman. The Chamber of Commerce in Metropolis, Ill., which bills itself the "Hometown of Superman," also has a plan in the works. A group called Superfriends of Metropolis plans to drop off hundreds of donations next week.

"It boils down to that spirit of swoop in and save the day. We want to right what was wrong the way our superheroes do in the comics," said the group's Keith Howard of Belleville, who spearheaded the effort.

Jon Bogdanove, an artist who was under contract with DC Comics through most of the 1990s and drew for its "Man of Steel" comic book, sent a personal drawing and some of his recent work.

Bogdanove said he was inspired by the support shown by the comic book collector groups and wanted to do his part.

"I think, as kids, that's the kind of lesson we get from Superman," he said. "Superman is really about doing whatever you can to help."

Police said they also received packages in the last week that were sent for Meyer.

Armbruster is charged with one count of residential burglary in the Superman theft, and one count each of robbery and aggravated burglary for the more recent incident, which left the elderly man with minor injuries. Armbruster was held at the Madison County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail.

As for his Meyer's collection, he now has close to double what he had lost. Meyer said he wants to give the donations to charity, possibly delivering them to a children's hospital.

"People were generous to me," he said. "This is how I can be generous in return."

 

[I'm Not a Hero]

That's stupid. He shouldn't be locked up.

 

[Sarcasmo]

Justice!

That's stupid. He shouldn't be locked up.

 

[SuperFerret]

I guess he really isn't a hero.

 

[Sarcasmo]

"This is by far the most horrible thing I read this month, or even year," said Adrian, from Canada.



WHY

Is this worse than the Japan Earthquake/Tsunami/Nuclear Emergency? Or the atrocities occurring in the Middle East whilst rich nations stand and do nothing because they don't have oil? Is this worse than the famines, the starving children, and the wars in Africa?

Ugh

 

[SuperFerret]

That is by far the most sarcastic post I've read today, or even this epoch.

 

[Superman 1265]

Well, his name IS Sarcasmo.

 

[bullets]

"This is by far the most horrible thing I read this month, or even year," said Adrian, from Canada.



WHY

Is this worse than the Japan Earthquake/Tsunami/Nuclear Emergency? Or the atrocities occurring in the Middle East whilst rich nations stand and do nothing because they don't have oil? Is this worse than the famines, the starving children, and the wars in Africa?

Ugh

Eh , some people don't follow the news or pay attention to things.

 

[SuperFerret]

Or, y'know, things that are closer to home are naturally given more importance as they are easier to imagine happening to you.

 

[Metamorpho1977]

This looks like a job for Super Fans.

 

[Metamorpho1977]

That's stupid. He shouldn't be locked up.

What a jackass

 

[Ultra Lantern]

That's stupid. He shouldn't be locked up.

Your reasoning for that is?

 

[Metamorpho1977]

Your reasoning for that is?

I thought I summed it up when I said he was a jackass.

 

[hopefuldreamer]

Why can't people just read a story like that, and feel good like I did?

Why do they have to pick at it, moan about more important things happening and make sarcastic comments?

There are ALWAYS worse stories.

As a Superman fan, that story made me incredibly happy.

I've always thought that growing up with the character had a positive impact on my morals and good nature towards others, and it's nice to hear so many other Superman fans joining together in kindness and generosity in order to celebrate the spirit of their hero, and in a way, take care of 'one of their own'.

Made me smile anyway.

The rest of you seem to be a miserable, cynical bunch

 

[bullets]

I actually did feel good about it and I'm happy for the guy.

 

[Ultra Lantern]

It made me feel good,too.I'm happy that it ended well.

 

[Spider-Aziz]

All there is for me to say is how happy I am for him, losing precious property hurts a lot

 

[El Payaso]

Why can't people just read a story like that, and feel good like I did?

Why do they have to pick at it, moan about more important things happening and make sarcastic comments?

There are ALWAYS worse stories.

As a Superman fan, that story made me incredibly happy.

I've always thought that growing up with the character had a positive impact on my morals and good nature towards others, and it's nice to hear so many other Superman fans joining together in kindness and generosity in order to celebrate the spirit of their hero, and in a way, take care of 'one of their own'.

Made me smile anyway.

The rest of you seem to be a miserable, cynical bunch

Because when someone says this is the worst he's read in a year, you gotta laugh at that and put some perspective there.

It's like a child who didn't get what he wanted for Christmas and goes "This is the worst Christmas ever!!!"

 

[Lord Valumart]

So, if he was a Batman fan would the guy that took his stuff have thousands of people stalking him in the night and narrowing their eyes at him?

But cool story. It's nice to know that some good things like that happen.

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

It would be amusing if after he got his priceless comics back, he put on his best Heath Ledger Joker make-up, poured gasoline over the pile of them, lit them on fire and said "I just want to watch the world burn" like a true fanboy.

No, but honestly Adrian from Canada is an idiot who needs to be more aware of the world beyond comics. Worse things happen every day. Hell, even in Canada.

 

[Paroxysm]

This whole story and thread summed up in one glorious gif.

 

[JAK®]

Because when someone says this is the worst he's read in a year, you gotta laugh at that and put some perspective there.

It's like a child who didn't get what he wanted for Christmas and goes "This is the worst Christmas ever!!!"

 

[Nave 'Torment']

Wow, shows how there really is a strong bond between super fans Glad to see that guy getting something back.

Reminds me a bit of the Hype, minus all the hate, rants, and anger.