Editing Real Ultimate Power

{{More citations needed|date=April 2009}}
{{Infobox website
| name           = The Official Ninja Webpage: Real Ultimate Power
| logo           =
| screenshot     =
| caption        = Real Ultimate Power main page
| url            = www.realultimatepower.net
| commercial     =
| type           = Satire
| language       =
| registration   =
| owner          =
| author         = Robert Hamburger (pseudonym)
| launch_date    = 2002
| current_status =
| revenue        = 
}}

'''The Official Ninja Webpage: Real Ultimate Power''' is a [[satire]] [[website]] created in 2002 by the [[pseudonym]]ous Robert Hamburger. Written using the persona of a 13-year-old boy, the site is a parody of adolescent fascination with [[Ninja]]s. Warren St. John, columnist for ''The New York Times'' described it as "a satirical ode to the masculine prowess of ninjas".<ref>Warren St. John, [https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/16/fashion/sundaystyles/16CADS.html?_r=1 "Dude, Here's My Book "], ''[[The New York Times]]'', April 16, 2006, pt1</ref>

In 2004, it was chosen by [[Kensington Books]] for their inaugural book release in the new [[fratire]] genre—non-fiction literature marketed to young men in a [[political correctness|politically incorrect]] and overtly [[masculinity|masculine]] fashion. Due to the website's fan base, the ''Real Ultimate Power, The Official Ninja Book'' became a cult hit, selling 35,000 copies in two years.<ref name="NYT2">Warren St. John, [https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/16/fashion/sundaystyles/16CADS.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1 "Dude, Here's My Book "], ''[[The New York Times]]'', April 16, 2006, pt2</ref> The success of the book prompted Kensington's release of other fratire books by [[Tucker Max]] and [[Maddox (writer)|Maddox]].<ref name="NYT2"/><ref>
Maddox, ''The Alphabet of Manliness'', Citadel Press, 2006, pg I, Maddox wrote: ''Thanks to Robert Hamburger for paving the way for authors such as myself. Without the success of Real Ultimate Power, many authors like me wouldn't have been given a chance.''
</ref>

The Real Ultimate Power concept developed an [[internet meme]] with the creation of dozens of imitation parody websites.<ref name="Carp"/><ref>Citynet Magazine, [http://www.citynetmagazine.com/realultimatepower.html The Official Real Ultimate Power Parody Directory], Citynet Magazine, June 16, 2002 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130917111946/http://www.citynetmagazine.com/realultimatepower.html |date=September 17, 2013 }}</ref>

==Website==
The Real Ultimate Power website is written under the pseudonym "Robert Hamburger," who was described in 2006 as a [[Michigan]] writer in his 20s.<ref name="NYT2"/> The author has declined to be identified, stating that it would diminish the satirical concept of the fictional pre-adolescent boy.<ref name="Carp"/>

The homepage describes ninjas through three "facts": Number one, Ninjas are [[mammal]]s; Number two, Ninjas fight all the time; and Number three, the purpose of the ninja is to flip out and kill people.<ref>[[Jesse Thorn]], [http://www.maximumfun.org/blog/2007/11/podcast-tsoya-classic-odd-ends.html "Interview with Robert Hamburger"], ''[[The Sound of Young America]]'', Public Radio International, November 29, 2007 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229154625/http://www.maximumfun.org/blog/2007/11/podcast-tsoya-classic-odd-ends.html |date=February 29, 2012 }}</ref> The three facts became an internet meme which spawned numerous imitation Real Ultimate Power websites dedicated, for example, to [[Conan O'Brien]], liquor store clerks, wizards, and sorority girls.<ref name="Carp"/>

Other content on the website includes "pump-up" movie scripts and short stories about ninjas. One frequent theme titled "[[Ninjas versus Pirates]]" is commonly referenced in video games and other mainstream media.<ref>Jake Kalish, ''Santa Vs. Satan: The Official Compendium of Imaginary Fights'', Three Rivers Press (2008), pg 141- 146, {{ISBN|978-0-307-40670-5}}</ref> There is a [[photograph]] [[Photo sharing|gallery]] with fan-submitted images, links to other Ninja-related sites, and a forum.

A popular feature is the Hate Mail section. For example, one letter disputed the site's claim to have seen a real ninja on the grounds that "there are less than 50 real ones left, and only 5 live in the US". Regarding the authenticity of the hate mail, the author said that some of the hate email is written by him, while others, such as the ones from an apparent real ninja signed Soke D. Fujita, were authentic.<ref name="Carp">Carp, Alex, [http://www.brown.edu/Students/INDY/alpha/012303/news/5.html ''The Art of Fighting: The Indy talks to Robert, webmaster of "The Official Ninja Webpage."''], The College Hill Independent, [[Brown University]], Spring 2003 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090601213614/http://www.brown.edu/Students/INDY/alpha/012303/news/5.html |date=June 1, 2009 }}</ref>

==Book==
''Real Ultimate Power, The Official Ninja Book'' ({{ISBN|978-0-8065-2569-3}}) was published on July 1, 2004, by [[Citadel (publisher)|Citadel]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20051125080848/http://www.forteantimes.com/review/ninja.shtml "Real Ultimate Power: The Official Ninja Book"], Book Review, ''[[Fortean Times]]'', November 2005</ref> The book was rejected by 11 publishers before being chosen by Kensington Books, the parent company of Citadel. According to Nielsen BookScan, 35,000 copies were sold by 2006.<ref name="NYT2"/> In 2008 a sequel was released, titled ''[[Ghosts/Aliens]]''.

==See also==
* [[Internet phenomenon]]
* [[Ninjas vs Pirates]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* Al Creed, [http://tcrcomix.com/archives/150 "The Real Ultimate Power"], OMG Internet!, TCR Comix, April 28, 2008

[[Category:American comedy websites]]
[[Category:Internet memes]]
[[Category:Ninja parodies]]
[[Category:Fratire books]]
[[Category:Internet properties established in 2002]]
[[Category:Japan in non-Japanese culture]]