Person Of The Week: Issac Torres

“Portraying characters has always been a passion of mine ever since I was young,” senior Isaac Torres said. “ I remember [watching] the movie Shrek with my parents, and I would go out in front of the couch, and act out everything the [characters] did.”  

Senior Isaac Torres attends child birthday parties dressed as his own favorite childhood hero Batman.

“Batman’s always been my favorite character,”Torres said. “Most people assume that the whole mask is batman, but in actually the mask is Bruce Wayne. Because whenever he puts on the cape he becomes his true persona,the real person is not the man who runs a business and is a billionaire. The real man is the person who is driven to protect the city.”  

Inspired from videos on YouTube sparked an idea in his mind of portraying this character, and with the possibility of making a profit of doing birthday party appearances, it was time to put on the suit. 

“It’s actually a lot harder than you’d expect,” Torres said. “It’s actually a motorcycle suit so Kevlar, carbon fiber and hardened leather. Typically I’ll start with the pants, boots then the jacket and cape and I’ll put on black eye shadow before the mask.”  

By getting ready in a dimly lit room, Torres allows himself to get into the mentality of Batman, while even playing the theme songs from the movies in the background to set the mood.

“Empowering, liberating [and] fun it’s probably the best way I can summarize it,” Torres said.   

The joy mostly comes from the children who he gets to visit and interact with on the job.

“We can all say we’re in it for the money,” Torres said. “Don’t get me the wrong the money is pretty good, but I think what really seals the deal is looking around at all these little kids who are smiling and ecstatic because their childhood hero is here. Who show up at their birthday party and [makes] them feel special. It helps them forget about whatever it going on in their lives, it makes them feel secure.”  

Depending on the age group of the birthdays parties Torres attends he will decide what’s best for the children he entertains. 

“Toddlers to third grade I wont do the [Batman] voice because I don’t want to scare the kids,” Torres said. “Typically I’ll put on a little show; I’ll take off my gloves and make animal balloons, and I’ll teach them how to throw the foam batarang, and give them life lessons like don’t talk to strangers.”

Every hero needs a villain and in Torres’s case the villain is also a helpful friend. They perform a skit what Torres calls a birthday basher.

“For kids a bit older, I’ll get a friend of mine to dress up like a villain,” Torres said. “They would show up before I do and try to ruin the party. [By attempting to] steal the kid’s presents, threaten to eat their cake, and batman will come save the day.”

Torres takes pride in the job he created for himself and nothing could compare to it.

”Earning the title is actually the best. Just being able to call myself Batman and actually mean it,” Torres said. “Some people like to earn degrees, or athletic achievements, but I’m Batman.”  

Torres plans to do this even more if future conditions allow him to, but for now, he is inspiring others to become their own childhood heroes.

“Practice, practice, practice.” Torres said. “No matter how silly it may feel to go out in public wearing any kind of suit. Just don’t imagine yourself wearing the suit, imagine you’re a character who just happens to be in this world at the moment. Just sever all ties from reality and immerse yourself into it.”