Birthday party themes are a big deal for children, with princesses, cars and our favorite film characters all sources of inspiration.
Parents would pull out all the stops for décor and food, but one man may have put moms and dads to shame after treating his girlfriend to an epic Batman-themed party.
A woman, named Sim Mularkey, shared a whopping 14-part thread to Twitter, praising her other half, Johnny Weissgerber, 31, for finally throwing her the party of her dreams.
Mularkey, from Maryland, revealed as a child she was a big fan of Bruce Wayne, and always wanted a party inspired by the DC character.
But she was told Batman was “for boys,” so she never got the celebration she always wanted—until now.
Mularkey, who describes herself as a “comic book shop worker by day, cosplayer by night. Part-time YouTuber, full-time geek,” was expecting a quiet meal to celebrate the milestone after being “exhausted” from work.
But she burst into tears after seeing the effort her boyfriend of four years went to, as he surprised her with Batman-themed cakes, games, decorations and outfits for her 32nd birthday.
@SparkyMularkey
She shared photos of the incredible set-up online, which looked like something straight out of Gotham, as she explained all the detail her boyfriend, who’s a teacher and actor, put into the special day.
Speaking to Newsweek, Mularkey said: “My last birthday was during the peak of the pandemic, so we stayed inside and had a nice evening together. In previous years, my boyfriend has organized and decorated a Star Wars birthday party for me, because he knows how much I love Star Wars, but it was never anything quite this amazing.
“This Batman birthday party was truly something special. He really knows how to go all out for parties! He told me that he spent WEEKS planning and preparing for this surprise party. I really have no idea how I never caught on!”
Mularkey chronicled the entire celebration on Twitter, as she shared the backstory to the party.
She said: “When I was a little girl in the 90s, I wanted a Batman birthday party, but I was told that “Batman was for boys.” Growing up, I always joked that someday I’d get that Batman birthday party when I turned 32 (my favorite number). I gave up on that idea, but my boyfriend didn’t.
“I had honestly completely forgotten about my own birthday. I was so exhausted from work and life and I thought I was going over for a quiet dinner. But I burst into tears when I open the door and was surrounded by friends and Batman decor. Much of it was vintage!
“He seriously went all out. There was a Batman cake, cupcakes, and Batman-themed cocktails. And there was a costume PHOTO BOOTH!! We had so much fun dressing up and wearing props. They even gave me this awesome Batman Animated Series t-shirt to wear!”
@SparkyMularkey
Mularkey thought that was the extent of the party, but wasn’t prepared for what she found when she went downstairs.
She continued: “I was overjoyed, but then they told me to go downstairs. He had made an entire Batman-themed carnival! They had the soundtrack playing and we had Pin the Nipples on the Batman (which we crushed, obviously) and Bane’s Beer Pong Blitz!
“He even had a Riddler-themed scavenger hunt!! There were prizes and clipboards and everything. He had hidden riddles all over the house! It was so much fun to see people looking around, turning things over and trying to solve these riddles.
“The hunt ended with golden tickets hidden in the mailbox. My friend @somanyknives was the first to solve all the riddles! Finalists competed in a Riddle Bee and Tal won the grand prize! After that, we played a game of charades where we drew keys to Arkham Asylum out of a bowl and had to act out Batman’s rogues’ gallery.
He seriously went all out. There was a Batman cake, cupcakes, and Batman-themed cocktails. And there was a costume PHOTO BOOTH!! pic.twitter.com/FneGVNEH1N
— Sparky Mularkey 🐢 (@SparkyMularkey) May 31, 2021
“But I think my favorite part was the Joker Batarang challenge. This man built a Turntable of Justice! The green balloons were filled with “Joker gas,” so you’d lose points if you hit them.
“He seriously went all out. He 3D printed different kinds of Batarangs. Even Nightwing ones! It was seriously so much fun! So much went into this party and I hadn’t realized just how much I needed to feel like a kid again. It seriously healed my soul. I am so lucky to have such a great man in my life who makes me feel like a hero. And now I know for sure, forever, that Batman is for everyone.”
He seriously went all out. He 3D printed different kinds of Batarangs. Even Nightwing ones! It was seriously so much fun! pic.twitter.com/0TBs8DPXb3
— Sparky Mularkey 🐢 (@SparkyMularkey) May 31, 2021
Her thread has amassed more than 100,000 likes, as people praised Mularkey’s boyfriend while sharing their own love of Batman.
Rize thought: “He’s a keeper”
Ryan Brown asked: “Wtffff, your boyfriend and friends CRUSHED it. (I hope he works in like PR events organising or something!)”
Michael Saggese raved: “That’s an awesome story! I’m happy for the two of you and that you got to live your birthday party dream.”
Gamma.the.Raptor asked: “Why is he not your husband yet????? If my BF did something like this for me, BOOM, instant husband!”
Michelle thought: “The fact that the decorations were vintage to make it feel more like it was a birthday from when you were little is the cutest thing omg.”
Dee gushed: “This is one of the best examples of just wholesome, loving, and thoughtful content I have read. Your boyfriends a keeper if ever there was one. This is amazing.”
Chris Sinclair added: “What an amazing story! Superheroes are for everyone! Good on you! Your bf just set the bar high for the rest of us (and rightfully so)! This is incredible! Now I know how I want to celebrate my 34th this year! Happy birthday!”
When I was a little girl in the 90s, I wanted a Batman birthday party, but I was told that “Batman was for boys.” Growing up, I always joked that someday I’d get that Batman birthday party when I turned 32 (my favorite number). I gave up on that idea, but my boyfriend didn’t. pic.twitter.com/b8FlZcTVeU
— Sparky Mularkey 🐢 (@SparkyMularkey) May 31, 2021