Superhero action figures normally don’t wear crochet costumes but one Batman toy is getting a lot of attention for the right reasons.
While the macho doll, which belongs to Rusty Marcum, is seen uncharacteristically dressed in a knitted outfit, the sweet story behind the strange costume is already breaking the internet.
When I was 6, my brother got mad at me and threw him in the backyard where I couldn’t find him. When I did, his costume had rotted off. This is what my grandma crocheted for me pic.twitter.com/hAmO48oh0A
— Rusty Marcum (@rustymarcum) June 9, 2018
Mr Marcum posted a photo of his toy on Twitter, saying: “When I was 6, my brother got mad at me and threw him in the backyard where I couldn’t find him.
“When I did, his costume had rotted off. This is what my grandma crocheted for me.”
His touching story received a lot of love on Twitter, with his post garnering more than 49,000 likes and close to 5,000 retweets.
OMG this is the coolest and best thing ever from a Grandma!! I mean seriously, those are some mad crochet skills. Plus your super hero is now super snuggly! LOL
— Mark Casadei 🎬 (@markliterally) June 10, 2018
I guarantee you there is immense love in every stitch. She is a lady with a talent for the hook and a big heart!
— Anna Lardinois (@anna_lardinois) June 11, 2018
I absolutely love your gran for this!! How blessed you were, I hope you realise.
— Nose Ointment (@big_toona99) June 11, 2018
My heart just grew 100 times it’s normal size ❤️❤️❤️.
— Michelle Hall (@justplainknowsy) June 10, 2018
Mr Marcum, who lives in Arizona, got the Batman figure some time in 1977. He was reunited with his beloved toy a year after it got lost.
“It would’ve been the classical Adam West Batman costume from that time,” he told the Press Association.
While he was thrilled to have his toy back, he said that at that time he was “a little bummed he wasn’t in his normal costume”.
He added: “I really don’t remember if it changed how I played with him. I know Robin was glad to have him back…”
Now, decades later, Batman’s crochet costume holds a special place in Mr Marcum’s heart.
She passed away in 2004 at the age of 98. I hold onto this to remember her.
— Rusty Marcum (@rustymarcum) June 10, 2018
He said: “Many people have asked if I realised how much my grandma cared for me. I knew it then as a kid. She was a great grandma. I learned a lot from her growing up.
“She was very independent, spoke her mind and didn’t suffer fools lightly. We didn’t always agree, but I knew she was always there to lend a helping hand.
“In her later years, I tried to return the many favours to her.
“That doll is a physical representation of her love to her grandkids. All in all, crocheted Batman is a story about family.”
And as for his brother?
Mr Marcum said: “My brother was also an amazing brother. He’s been there through life whenever I’ve needed him. He meant no harm on that day.”
