You may know him as the masked hero who saved Gotham City/ San Francisco with his pint-sized sidekick, Batkid, back in 2013, but Eric Johnston is so much more than that.
Johnston—who not only gets to play superheroes but also worked for LucasFilm for twenty years—now manages his own tech company where he builds exciting new inventions and prototypes. Case in point: Not only did he reprise his role as Bruce Wayne in the documentary Batkid Begins, but he also created all of Batkid's cool superhero gear, the Riddler's devices, and Batman's own wristwatch/projector/communicator.
We caught up with the off-duty superhero to find out what he does when not patrolling SF's streets for villains.
7x7: What's your hands-down, absolute favorite thing to eat in SF?
EJ: A toss-up between smashed-pea torrada at Contigo, and rabbit pot pie at Mission Beach Cafe.
7x7: What's your perfect night on the town?
EJ: Anything involving acrobats. Even their small-venue performances in SF are spectacular, and they all dance better than I do.
7x7: When you need a low-key afternoon, where do you go for down time?
EJ: Any sunny spot, as far from the screen as possible. Crissy Field, Dolores Park, Pier 14.
7x7: How did you get involved with Batkid?
EJ: Make-A-Wish projects are usually small and quiet, and helping out with them just makes you deeply happy. So when they say “This little guy’s had it rough. Want to teach him to be Batman?” you just say "yes."
7x7: What do you like about Batman?
EJ: He actually gets bashed up and sore from all of the stuff he does. Physically follows through with every crazy impractical idea. I’ve got two brothers, and these are exactly the same things I admire about them.
7x7: What San Francisco tech company inspires you the most?
EJ: The Instructables workshop on Pier 9. Cleverness and giant power tools, inspiration straight into execution. It’s like a mini SF that way. The damsel and I built some fun devices for Batkid in our own workshop, and then we posted step-by-step info on their site.
7x7: What’s your perfect lazy Sunday like?
EJ: Get punched in the nose by a cat who thinks we ought to be up already. Grab a sketchbook while the muse goes running, meet her at a sunny Craftsman & Wolves table. Walk to the Ferry Building and back, talking about the future. Stop at Swirl on Castro before heading home to cook dinner together.
7x7: What’s your favorite Bay Area day trip?
EJ: Healdsburg. There are so many other great places nearby, but mellow and tasty go a long way with me.
Quick-fire round:
Burrito or Burger?
Spicy spicy burrito.
Presidio or Golden Gate Park?
Presidio.
Bi-Rite or Mitchell's?
Slocombe.
Bike or MUNI?
Walk.
Fort Mason or Dolores Park?
Dolores.
Baker Beach or Ocean Beach?
Mission Beach, at dinnertime.
Three words that describe your life in the Bay Area?
New crushes daily.
