JACKSON TOWNSHIP, NJ – Chris Pollak, a self-styled vigilante known as “The Dark Guardian” and current candidate for Jackson Township Council, is under scrutiny as old allegations from 2020 resurface, accusing him of creating a fake Instagram account impersonating a 13-year-old girl to harass and frame a book author within the Real Life Superhero (RLSH) community.
The claims, which Pollak has reportedly admitted to in part as “trolling,” involve a convoluted revenge plot tied to personal grudges in the niche world of costumed activists.
Pollak, who gained fame in the early 2010s for patrolling New York City streets in a superhero costume and confronting drug dealers in Washington Square Park, has since relocated to New Jersey. As “The Dark Guardian,” he founded groups like the New York Ronin and even proposed opening a “superhero school” in 2013 to train others in crime-fighting techniques. After raising money through a GoFundMe campaign, that school never opened.
His exploits earned him media attention, including appearances on ABC News and CBS, where he was portrayed as a real-life Batman figure dedicated to community safety.
However, behind the heroic facade, Pollak’s involvement in the RLSH community—a loose network of individuals who don masks and capes to perform acts of vigilantism and charity—led to controversy. In June 2020, he allegedly left the community amid accusations of misconduct.
According to a detailed exposé published on the RLSH News website in April 2021 (based on events from early 2020), Pollak created an Instagram account under the handle “mariaboo2323,” posing as a young girl complete with provocative photos of a child.
The account was used to make false accusations against the author of “Superhero University,” a book about the RLSH world, in an apparent attempt to defame him as a pedophile.The RLSH article, authored by a contributor known as “Midnight,” describes how the fake account targeted the book’s publisher, referred to as “Harbinger Ektoutheou,” with messages demanding “justice” for alleged wrongdoing. Screenshots included in the post show heated exchanges on Instagram, where “mariaboo2323” accused the author of misconduct, while community members urged the account holder to contact authorities.
The plot was reportedly uncovered when inconsistencies led others to trace it back to Pollak.
Evidence from the 2021 RLSH post includes multiple screenshots of Instagram comments and private Facebook Messenger conversations. In one exchange, Pollak—using his real name “Christopher”—allegedly admitted to the impersonation, dismissing it as harmless trolling. Another screenshot shows him defending his actions amid criticism from fellow RLSH members.
The New York Initiative, a RLSH group, later confirmed in statements that Pollak had apologized to the author for the framing attempt, though they described his behavior as unstable and prone to threats.The motive, according to sources, stemmed from Pollak’s dissatisfaction with the “Superhero University” book, which chronicled the RLSH community.
He allegedly sought to discredit the author by luring him into incriminating conversations with the fake underage profile. When the scheme unraveled, it sparked a public feud across RLSH social media accounts, involving usernames like “impact_rlsh,” “holy.avenger,” and “the_ohio_spider.”
Pollak’s history extends beyond this incident. He has faced multiple bans from platforms like Facebook and Instagram for violations including hate speech and impersonation.
In 2025, he was reportedly banned again for anti-Semitic remarks, which he has attributed to political sabotage by local officials in Jackson Township.
Despite these setbacks, Pollak has amassed a following on TikTok and Instagram through videos criticizing township governance, positioning himself as an outsider reformer in his council bid.
As of now, Pollak has not publicly addressed the resurfaced allegations, which were highlighted in an October 18, 2025, article by Shore News Network amid his campaign.
Pollak continues to hide his true past from the voters of Jackson, instead building a new hoarde of superhero fans, which is what he has craved since he was a teen.
He will probably screw this up too.
On Wednesday, Pollak was identified as the man who stormed town hall, screaming and shouting at the top of his lungs, beating objects against the walls of town hall.
He also threatened Mayor Jennifer Kuhn. No charges have been filed at this time and scared and concerned employees at town hall returned to work after the outburst.
The RLSH community has largely distanced itself from him, with the New York Initiative noting that he “didn’t vibe well” with members and emphasizing his departure in 2020. The book’s author has reportedly chosen to “move past it and forgive Dark Guardian,” declining further comment.
Residents of Jackson Township are now weighing these claims as Election Day approaches, raising questions about transparency and character in local politics.
Pollak’s campaign focuses on anti-corruption themes, but critics argue the 2020 incident demonstrates a pattern of deceptive, violent, and criminal online behavior unfit for public office.
Pollak continues to dismiss all of the fact-checked claims from his past as ‘fake news’ and doesn’t have the superhero courage to address the mounting allegations against him and his character.