Darren Marrese purchased his Batman costume to have some fun trick or treating with his daughter, but he soon found out Winnipeg needed a superhero full-time.

One could say he caved — or batcaved — to the demand and the Dark Knight of Winnipeg was born.

Since late 2013, on his own time and without payment, Marrese has attended charity events and the odd children’s birthday party as The Caped Crusader.

“The crowd reaction is amazing,” said Marrese, 44, a married father of two girls. “Whether you’re a kid or an adult, they just go crazy.

“Some are throwing paper and pens at me and wanting an autograph, which is kind of strange because in reality I’m just a guy in a costume. I’m not an actor ... if you do it for money, then it becomes a job and that takes the fun out of doing it. For me, it’s a way of giving back to the community.”

Marrese, a lifelong Batman fan, does his best to portray a proper image when representing the crime fighter. When visiting children, he speaks of “being a hero, not a bully.”

The question he is most asked is “Where’s Robin?” He jokes with adults that Robin is doing the laundry or washing the Batmobile, but he tells kids he’s busy studying for an exam.

Marrese was inspired by the Batman movies directed by Christopher Nolan, starring Christian Bale, to purchase a quality costume for Halloween in 2013. After researching online, he found a company in Toronto that was licenced to produce a line of Batman suits. He added accessories from as far away as the UK in time to have the costume for Halloween.

A Chicago Blackhawks fan, Marrese donned the costume for Comic-Con at the Convention Centre in 2013 and later that day for the Hawks game against the Jets at MTS Centre. It wasn’t long before photos of him posing with Comic-Con and Jet fans were all over social media, resulting in requests for private and public events.

Since then, Marrese has helped raise funds and awareness for CancerCare Manitoba, the Movement Centre of Manitoba, Salvation Army, the annual MS Walk and the Children’s Hospital by attending the Teddy Bears’ Picnic. He’s also read to elementary school kids as a celebrity guest.

Marrese said his wife, Leanne, and daughters Elizabeth, 4, and Kelsey, 18, get a kick out of how his hobby brings a smile to so many, including those who met him at last year’s Santa Claus Parade.

What the kids who greet him may not realize is what their joy does for him.

“I’m treated for depression and anxiety and I find this is a great way to keep my own darkness at bay,” he said.

“If you’re having a depressive day, you put that bat costume on and once you get out to an event, the kids and people are there and they’re all excited to see you, all that mental moodiness just goes away.”

Marrese, a freelance producer of safety videos who attended Shaftesbury High School at the same time as Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman, said the Batman suit inspires him to stay fit as well. The costume weighs about 70 pounds and he’s seen similar suits online being sold by those who no longer have the stomach to be Batman.

“It’s very form-fitting, so it’s incentive for me to keep the pizza and beers to a minimum,” he said.

“If you’ve got a belly, it’s not going to fit you.”