Guy Formerly Named Smith Is Now 'Captain Awesome'

An unemployed cabinet installer might have just upstaged Prince's infamous name change: Douglas Allen Smith Jr, perhaps with a bit too much time on his hands, legally changed his name last month to Captain Awesome. Smith, er, Awesome, says he was inspired by a character on NBC's Chuck—Dr. Devon "Captain Awesome" Woodcomb—and thought it funny that Woodcomb's father dubbed him thusly because "a poor nickname builds good character."

It wasn't totally smooth sailing for Awesome, however: He had to swear before the Oregon judge who granted his request that he wasn't changing his name for fraudulent reasons. The judge, however, is allowing Awesome to sign his name as < :) >, reports the AP. But Awesome's bank isn't buying it.
(More Captain Awesome stories.)