Revenge of Hump Day 2012-04-04 - LibertyCon

The April 4 th , 2012 Edition of THE REVENGE OF HUMP DAY!Page 18 of 53year of his own money on Batman toys and memorabilia. He signs every book, hat, T-shirtand backpack he hands out — Batman.Batman is 48. He is a self-made success and has the bank account to prove it. He recentlysold, for a pile of cash, a commercial cleaning business that he started as a teenager. Hebecame interested in Batman through his son Brandon, who was obsessed with the capedcrusader when he was little. “I used to call him Batman,” he told me. “His obsessionbecame my obsession.”Batman began visiting Baltimore area hospitals in 2001, sometimes with his now teenageson Brandon playing Robin. Once other hospitals and charities heard about his car and hiscape, Batman was put on superhero speed dial for children’s causes around the region. Hevisits sick kids at least couple times a month, sometimes more often. He visits schools,too, to talk about bullying. He does not do birthday parties.His superhero work is limited to doing good deeds, part of a maturation process in his ownlife. In his earlier years, he acknowledges that he sometimes displayed an unsuperhero-liketemper and got into occasional trouble with the law for fights and other confrontations.Putting on the Batman uniform changes and steadies him.Lenny B. Robinson, a.k.a.Batman, behind the wheel.(Jonathan Newton - TheWashington Post)“Eventually, it sinks in and youbecome him,” Batman told me.“It feels like I have aresponsibility that’s beyond anormal person. And thatresponsibility is to be there forthe kids, to be strong for them,and to make them smile as muchas I can.” He understands thatmight sound corny, but hedoesn’t care.Batman stepped off the elevator on the fourth floor of Children’s. Spider-Man and WonderWoman were there too — both professional actors from talent agencies, on the clock. Hepicked up a little boy and said, “I have a present for you.” He shook hands with a father andhanded him a yellow rubber Batman bracelet, saying, “This will bring you good luck.” Thefather said, “We need good luck.”The parents always say that.Batman asked each child his or her name. He lifted up almost every child. Many were weak,their hair thin from chemo. He always told them, “I have a present for you.” When a little girlran away, perhaps a bit scared, Batman said, “That’s the story of Batman’s love life.” (He isdivorced.)