Next up for Newark Mayor Cory Booker: Leaping tall buildings in a single bound.

The Brick City politician, in a dramatic run through raging flames, choking smoke and falling embers, rescued his next-door neighbor from certain death in an inferno at her South Ward home.

Hours later, the two-term mayor/part-time superhero — still hacking from smoke inhalation — proved more unassuming than Clark Kent.

“I’m a neighbor who did what most neighbors would do, which is jump into action to save a friend,” said Booker, 42, who also suffered second-degree burns to his right hand in the remarkable rescue.

The mayor, at a Friday news conference, confessed he thought death was imminent in the seconds before he located neighbor Zina Hodge, 48, inside her smoke-filled bedroom.

“At that point, I didn’t feel bravery — I felt terror,” Booker said. “It was a moment I felt very religious, put it that way.”

His superhero status was affirmed by a woman who attended the news conference holding a plastic Batman figure — and by Hodge’s family.

“He’s wonderful, I love him, I’ve always loved him,” said the victim’s mom, Jacqueline Williams, who’s lived next-door to Booker for six years.

Booker’s two-man security detail helped Williams, her brother and a second man escape the burning building about 10 p.m. Thursday before the mayor ran up to the second floor.

Detective Alex Rodriguez grabbed Booker by the belt in an effort to stop the mayor from heading into the flames. But Booker won the forceful debate by turning to the detective and declaring, “If I don’t go in, this lady is going to die.”

The mayor charged through the flames to reach Hodge — but initially couldn’t find her in the blinding smoke. He started breathing in the smoke.

The mayor, lying on the floor in search of fresh air, then heard Hodge’s voice through the haze. Booker put the woman over his shoulder and lugged her through the still-burning kitchen. The mayorBooker and Rodriguez took the woman outside, where all three collapsed.

“I’m debating if I should demote him or not for fighting with me in that fire,” the mayor deadpanned about the detective.

Hodge was listed in serious condition at the burn unit of St. Barnabas Medical Center. The fire apparently started in the upstairs kitchen, although the cause remained unclear.

(Source: NY Daily News)