Meet 'Captain Maryland,' a mallet-wielding and Old Bay-loving superhero

He wields a mallet, carries a crab-shaped shield and wears a belt of Old Bay. He is, yes, the one and only "Captain Maryland."

Clark Rogers, “Defender of Maryland” and superhero in disguise, has always been fascinated by cosplay.

Ever since he was a young boy, he could be found at countless comic conventions, watching as his favorite television personalities strode by, capes billowing and costumes gleaming. As Rogers, a recently retired firefighter, grew older, he wished to create a superhero of his very own — one on a much smaller scale, dedicated to his beloved home state of Maryland.

Thus, Captain Maryland was born.

“The idea just came to me one day,” said Rogers, 55. “I thought, what would Captain America look like if he was just a Mid-Atlantic, Maryland-themed, regional Avenger?”

Rogers had no trouble unearthing clothing resembling the red, white, black and yellow state flag for his costume. All he had to do next was throw in a crab mallet and a few cans of Old Bay Seasoning for some added flair and, suddenly, he became Maryland personified.

“If you can’t eat it, you put the flag on it. And if you can eat it, you put Old Bay on it,” said Rogers of many Marylanders’ way of thinking.

Rogers, who lives in Montgomery County, debuted his superhero persona at the 2021 Awesome Con in Washington, D.C. There, his costume garnered loads of attention.

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Later that same year, he attended the 2021 Baltimore Comic-Con. By then, more eyes were on the superhero. Footage of his appearance, shot by onlookers, was shared online and instantly went viral.

It was because of this viral video that Rogers decided Captain Maryland must live on.

His mission as Captain Maryland, he says: to make others laugh. He succeeds in this mission each time he is surrounded by his fans, he says.

“When they see me coming, they usually double up in laughter,” Rogers said. “Then they point to me and go, ‘That’s awesome. I love your outfit. Oh look! You have an Old Bay utility belt, that’s amazing.’”

Fans don't leave his side without first snapping a few photos together. Kids who tug on his arm, asking for a photo, are met with a big smile. Rogers likes to squat down, to ensure he is eye-level with the children, before saying, “Let’s see your superhero pose. Give me your superhero face.”

Rogers has his wife to thank for his love of Marvel superhero films, which he started to watch based solely off her recommendations.

“It was my wife’s suggestion to take this character to the next level. She’s encouraged me to have fun with it,” Rogers said.

Captain Maryland can often be found at statewide events and parades. This month, he made an appearance at the Made in Maryland Festival. He is set to march in the Kensington Labor Day Parade and Baltimore Mayor’s Christmas Parade later this year.

Recently, he was approached by country music star Jimmy Charles, who asked to feature the superhero in a music video for the singer’s new hit song, “It’s a Maryland Thing, You Wouldn’t Understand.” Rogers agreed to participate.

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The music video has since premiered in Ocean City and is scheduled to premiere online Aug. 24, National Maryland Day. Rogers cannot wait for more people to catch a glimpse of Captain Maryland doing what he does best, expressing pride for his home state.

“I always try to be a positive role model,” Rogers said.

Forget about the typical superheroes hidden in the pages of comic books, or those soaring across the big screen. Captain Maryland inspires.

Olivia Minzola covers communities on the Lower Shore. Contact her with tips and story ideas at ominzola@delmarvanow.com.

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Captain Maryland carries crab-shaped shield and wears belt of Old Bay