Superhero stories appeal to everyone, but kids have a special place in their hearts for the heroes that protect their world. Whether it’s Captain America or Faith or Batman, kids love superheroes and whenever they get to make a wish – it usually involves becoming one. We’ve compiled a few stories below about kids and superheroes – even if you have a heart that’s usually ice cold, these stories will make your heart melt as well as appreciate the importance of superhero culture.
Batkid
The most famous story on this list, Miles Scott wished to become Batman’s sidekick for a day – a.k.a. “Batkid” – as part of the Make-A-Wish program. The result? The entire city of San Francisco came together to make his dream a reality. Not only did thousands of people commit to turning San Francisco into Gotham City, but Batkid got a Batmobile escort by police, his little brother was his Robin, he saved a damsel in distress from The Penguin, and he even got a key to the city.
Of course, the real Batman also showed up to help him through it all. The story gained (positive) global attention, and was even turned into a documentary – Batkid Begins – which was of course released by Warner Brothers.
Superhero Funeral
In a sadder turn, 6-year-old Jacob Hall passed away in a school shooting tragedy. In his honor, a thousand members of the community gathered at a funeral in his honor – wearing superhero uniforms to honor Jacob. The leader of Heroes4Higher, John Buckland, gave the eulogy, and Jacob’s mother dressed as Robin to show support for her Batman-loving son. It was a sad day for everyone involved, but the images from the funeral and the many classmates, family members, and police officers that supported Jacob’s wishes are truly inspiring.
Iron Max
From real world celebrity to comic book superhero, Max Levy was diagnosed with Hemophilia A when he was a baby. His family gave him the nickname “Iron Max” when, as part of his treatment, he was given a port in his chest similar to the one Tony Stark has. Max and his sister, Zoe, created a Hearts 4 Hemophilia calendar that raised over $7,000 for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Marvel heard about Iron Max and Zoe’s work and worked with Brian Michael Bendis to include Iron Max in an upcoming issue of Iron Man. As a result, Iron Max makes an appearance in Invincible Iron Man #4, which also stars Mary Jane Watson, and he even gets to wear the Iron Man suit! Regardless of how the suit fits him, the whole issue is pretty adorable.
