Almost every kid has wanted to grow up to be a superhero. In Hoboken, three grown men are living out that dream.
Weehawken resident Marlon Rodriguez has pedaled his bike through the streets of Hoboken in a Batman costume since 2007, waving to people, occasionally directing traffic, and stopping for quick photos with revelers around town.
In 2006, Rodriguez began dressing as Batman and riding his bicycle from his Weehawken home to the Hoboken PATH train station to commute to New York City. In New York, he’d entertain passers-by.
He said that along the way, the energy of the people of Hoboken drew him closer to the mile-square city. Rodriguez soon became the only character-based street performer here.
‘I can call the police.’ – Marlon Rodriguez, the Hoboken Batman
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Rodriguez was born in Cuba and first saw a Batman movie when he was about 17 years old.
So, what’s a day in the life of the Hoboken Batman like?
“It’s a lot of pictures,” Rodriguez said. “I always want to make sure I get the schedule of Hoboken’s events and street fairs. I don’t charge money for pictures or anything. It’s for fun. At the same time, I burn a lot of calories.”
Rodriguez makes his money as a massage therapist and also as a part-time landscaper.
Recently, Batman developed a crew when two more men began dressing as superheroes and riding around with him.
The Justice League grows
Rory Chadwick, a Hoboken business owner, now dresses up as Robin and rides with Rodriguez. Chadwick would often go outside to see Batman when he heard his bike horn from his Washington Street store, Midtown Authentic.
After he spoke to Rodriguez a few times, he joined Batman’s team. He also recruited a friend of his, who now dresses as The Flash. However, the Flash, a 34-year-old information technology worker who graduated with a degree in engineering, wishes to remain anonymous.
Chadwick and Rodriguez said they are wearing simple Halloween costumes they bought. Rodriguez said he explored the possibility of purchasing a more authentic Batman costume, but the costs range from $700 to $4,000.
A newbie
“The first time I got on the bike, I was really nervous,” Chadwick said last week. “I’m going from somebody who is a businessman in town to joining one of the most successful acts Hoboken’s ever seen.”
Chadwick said the jitters soon faded away.
“It’s just so much fun,” Chadwick said. “It’s people waving and kids with smiles on their faces.”
Chadwick and Rodriguez sometimes get unwelcome yells from pedestrians. In fact, a local website recently quoted an anonymous resident as complaining that Batman causes traffic problems.
The Dynamic Duo said that they just brush off any catcalls and keep riding.
“I’m not ashamed to do it,” Chadwick said. “Sometimes people will yell ‘Loser’ or ‘Get a life’, but it doesn’t bother me one bit because for every one person who yells at us, there [are] 500 people who smile, wave, or take a picture.”
Chadwick recently put an advertisement on Craigslist calling for more superheroes to join the group, and even asked for volunteers to be villains to be chased around the town.
“Some people e-mail and say they really want to do it, and some say they’d love to but they spend so much time at work that they can’t do it,” Chadwick said. “But mostly we get notes that tell us to keep on rocking.”
Chadwick said the group of superheroes is expected to grow by two later this year. A Hoboken public school employee and another person, both of whom wish to remain anonymous for now, plan to don super suits in the fall.
The experience is meaningful to Chadwick, who said he had Tourette’s syndrome as a child and wasn’t able to experience a full childhood.
“As I became an adult and the problems went away, I gained many friends, but now, when I go out there as Robin, I’m getting back part of my childhood that was stripped away from me because of things out of my control,” Chadwick said.
Crime fighters?
Chadwick said he hopes the act can grow into a club in town that would hold bike rides for charities in the city, charging a small donation to have people dress up as a superhero to ride with Batman.
But would they fight crime like Batman and Robin if the opportunity arose?
“Absolutely,” Chadwick said. “If there’s guns involved, I’m hiding behind a wall, though. But if the opportunity arises, I’d try to stop somebody. That’s what superheroes do.”
Rodriguez agreed.
“I always want to make myself available to take this very seriously if I see something wrong,” Rodriguez said. “I can call the police. If I have to do something physically by myself, I can do it. I have my own instincts to do the right thing.”
Look out, criminals of Hoboken. The Dark Knight and his comrades are ready to ride.
Ray Smith may be reached at RSmith@hudsonreporter.com