Along with bringing the borough its first professional sports team, the Brooklyn Nets have given their hometown another first: its very own superhero.
The team’s new mascot — or as Barry Baum, the Nets’ chief communications officer, stressed “not a mascot, but superhero”– the BrooklyKnight literally landed in the Barclays Center in his debut during the November 3 regular season opener.
The Brooklyn Knight, the creation of Marvel’s Jason Aaron and artist Mike Deodato, wields a shield in his official comic book. But during the game, the Knight tones it down and totes a shirt-shooting cannon.
““Brooklyn now has a new super hero to call its own,” Brett Yormark, CEO of the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center, stated. “The BrooklyKnight is a superior combination of strength, power, and confidence — sounds just like Brooklyn to me.”
Axel Alonso, editor in chief of Marvel Entertainment, concurred, calling the Knight, “a team Super Hero that is unlike anything the NBA has ever seen; a timeless character who can stand shoulder to shoulder with icons like Spider-Man, Captain America, Wolverine, and Thor.”
The Knight, the first NBA superhero, made his debut during the Nets/Raptors season opener when he was lowered to center court from the Barclays Center scaffolding to an enthused and cheering crowd. Limited edition copies of the Brooklyn Knight’s comic book were given to game-goers.
You can catch the Knight at every home game riling up the crowd. According to Bill Rosemann, editor of Marvel Custom Solutions, which created the Knight and his comic book, he’ll always be ready to “defend his home and defeat all challengers.
“All hail the Brooklyn Knight!” Rosemann said.
On the Avenue: Kiwanis Club fetes ‘Finest’ with award named for late chief 
On the Avenue: Celebs, activists honored at annual Maimonides gala