Chatham Man Turns Hero For Hire

CHATHAM, NJ - He goes by many names. Daredevil, Captain America, Batman and even Indiana Jones, but now 23-year-old James Haggerty has adopted a new alias, James Steel: Hero for hire.

Haggerty has turned his love of cosplay into a burgeoning business, offering his services for parties and events for a small fee. Cosplay is the practice of dressing up as a character from a movie, book, or video game.

"I’m available for birthday parties as Batman or Captain America. I will also provide background theme music for dramatic effect," Haggerty said. "I am also available for attending fundraisers."

According to Haggerty his love of cosplay came at an early age, because his love for superheroes came at an early age.

"I’ve loved science fiction and superheroes ever since I was born. I’ve been obsessed with Marvel and DC," Haggerty said. "And as I got older I realized that if I couldn’t meet my heroes I was going to be my heroes."

Originally from New York City, Haggerty went to high school at Winston Prep in Manhattan. Winston Prep is a day school for students in the fourth through 12th grade with learning differences.

Haggerty said that he is on the autistic spectrum and was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome. As a child, Haggerty said he a lot of time growing up in costume.

"I’ve always loved to pretend to be someone I admired such as Batman or Darth Vader," Haggerty said. "Sometimes Indiana Jones."

Despite his love for dressing up, Haggerty said he didn't cosplay publicly while in high school.

"In high school I wanted to keep dressing up a secret because I thought I’d be made fun of," Haggerty said. "But because of these other cosplayers I let the secret out and I have no shame in it."

Haggerty said that that he originally started cosplaying as Batman when he turned 18.

"I’ve taken many selfies since then. I am a member of cosplay groups such as East Coast Avengers and DC Cosplayers East," Haggarty said.

According to their website, the East Coast Avengers promotes creating, owning, and wearing the costumes from the Marvel Universe featured in films, comics, and television. DC Universe Cosplayers says they are a metro and east coast based to network and get together.

"I’ve met many talented cosplayers who eventually became my friends and then my own kind of family," Haggerty said. "Cosplay has really changed me."

This pseudo-family is part of what inspired Haggerty create his new alter ego.

"I decided to become Jim Steel: Hero for Hire because I wanted to make people such as fans feel like they’ve actually met they’re hero," Haggerty said. "I am offering to perform as a chars such as Batman, Captain America, Daredevil, and eventually Wolverine, Green Lantern, Green Arrow, and many more."

To start, Haggerty said he is looking to charge $50 minimum for parties and other events.

"I’m looking for other cosplayers to join my freelance business as well," Haggerty said.

As for this goals with the business, Haggerty said he hopes the reaction to his efforts will be "admiring, inspiring, astonished."

"The way I’d be if I met a superhero," he said.

For more information, email jameshaggerty442@gmail.com.

(Photos courtesy of James Haggerty)

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