When news of the Route 29 Batman’s death spread Monday, it prompted a deluge of sorrowful responses, including one from the actual Dark Knight.
Batman’s official Facebook page, which has nearly 13 million likes, posted this around 2 p.m.: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Leonard Robinson, who shared his love of Batman with everyone around him.”
By Tuesday morning, the comment from the Caped Crusader, who is listed as a “public figure,” had elicited 45,000 likes, more than 10,000 shares and about 2,000 comments, including several from fans who called for the upcoming “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice” movie to honor Robinson in the credits.
“Respect to the legendary Route 29 Batman,” wrote Shane Walsh. “Not a normal man, he’s a true hero. A person who stood out above the rest and became a symbol of hope for those who have little to be hopeful about.”
An unofficial but widely popular Superman account, @SupermanTweets, also posted a message along with an image of Robinson visiting a sick child: “I’m so sorry to hear about this. Earth needs more people like Lenny Robinson. So sad. #RIPBatman.”
About 10:30 Sunday night, Robinson, who was driving his Batmobile, pulled over with engine trouble on an unlit stretch of Interstate 70 near Hagerstown, Maryland, Maryland state police said. His car was stopped in the median but still “partially in the fast lane” when he got out to check the engine, according to police. A Toyota Camry then slammed into the Batmobile, propelling the steel-framed hunk of black metal into his body. Robinson, 51, died at the scene.