In an ongoing battle that’s beginning to resemble the plot of X-Men, the rogue, undocumented superhero population of Times Square and the cops of New York City are warring for the hearts and minds of the people (mostly tourists). Following the violent arrest of a grown man in a Spider-Man costume on Saturday, the latest of many rough incidents involving the fleet of not so cuddly characters, five more were busted, the New York Post reports, including the Naked Black Cowboy (who, to be fair, is not exactly a superhero), Jessie from Toy Story (same), Captain America, and a different Spider-Man.
While most were collared for “aggressive panhandling,” the Naked Black Cowboy, real name Titus Gandy, was reportedly booked on an open warrant when he went to go check on Spider-Man 1 at the police station, and hit with a bonus drug charge after police discovered some cocaine in his wallet. Captain America, the Post reports, “was released without bail Sunday.”
“They’re like little terrorists preying on all the tourists,” said a police source, while the characters complain that the cops are cutting into their business by actively reminding the visitors that they’re not required to pay for a photo with the sweaty, spandex-ed personalities. Calls to regulate the DIY business are picking up because, through all of this, there remain people who, upon landing in the greatest city on earth, want to pose next to a random adult in a matted Elmo or Cookie Monster costume.
