Local hero claims to be able to find Waldo every time
Everyone knows that pesky yet alluring hide-and-seek picture game covered in red and white. Where’s Waldo has kept Americans baffled for up to five minutes and now one man, one superhero has the ability to conquer the puzzle. Some can stop planes; some can run faster than a car can drive. But only one can solve a Where’s Waldo puzzle in under a millisecond. Buzzsaw got a chance to sit down with America’s newest superhero, The Founder, and learn the ins and outs of having such a unique superpower. The Founder first discovered his ability to locate Waldo in under a millisecond when he was presented with one of many puzzle books when he was only 10 years old. Where’s Waldo is a famous game and puzzle in which the character Waldo and his friends, all dressed in red and white stripes, hide among a large crowd. It’s up to the readers to locate the crew as fast as they can in an “I Spy” manner. At first, he thought it was a fluke that he could win the game so quickly, but puzzle and after puzzle he realized it wasn’t luck, it was a gift. Many might argue that his ability isn’t a superpower but a talent.
“A talent is being really good at something. I’m not just really good at Where’s Waldo, I mastered it in a matter of seconds, that’s not just a talent, that’s a super power. A superpower is an ability that someone has that nobody else has. Many people have musical talent or are really good at soccer or dancing. But did they instantly master it without any practice or prior knowledge?” The Founder said. He currently lives in Manhattan, New York, as a restaurant inspector. He said, “I was hoping that I could use my powers to find things quickly to locate violations in restaurants, but I guess it only works for Waldo!”
Many people with superpowers go undetected, living secret lives incognito for in fear of special treatment, judgement and unwanted attention.The Founder has lived under the radar as William Warner for more than 15 years, until now. When asked why he chose to unveil his identity now, he said, “You can’t be ‘you’ if others don’t even know who you are. You’re just lying to yourself and the rest of the world. I wanted to teach the public that you can still live a normal life even with supernatural powers! I’m tired of being afraid of judgement and special treatment. I’ve always wanted to help others, and it’s time that I’m also honest with them.”
Warner has been using his superpowers to help children at local libraries find Waldo. He said: “When I first started volunteering at the library, I watched hundreds of children discover Waldo and his friends. It warmed my heart to see so many people connecting through the book series. But as I looked closer, I realized that younger children struggled and even began crying because they couldn’t locate the famous red and white scarf.”
That’s when Warner knew something had to be done. The Founder became Warner’s alter ego, and he began helping children all over public libraries find Waldo after several unsuccessful attempts.
“I’m not a superhero, I’m just helping out. But I do have a superpower, and I’m proud to have it! No matter how small, every superpower is important and is impacting the way we live,” The Founder said.
Dressed like his favorite characters, The Founder can be spotted in red and white stripes, helping distressed citizens searching for the hidden character.
Elena Haskins is a freshman film, photography & visual arts major whose superpower is going through an entire Costco-sized box of mac ‘n’ cheese in one semester. Email her at [email protected]