Superheroes are looked upon as heroic, daring and brave and every child has at least one character that they favor the most. These heroes are often ones to admire, but very difficult to relate to. Marvel Comics were inspired by a young boy to create a superhero that would not only be the next conqueror of evil-doers, but inspire him and other hearing-impaired/deaf children to be more confident.
When 4-year-old, Anthony Smith, from Salem, New Hampshire refused to wear his hearing aids again, his mother, Christina D'Allesandro became concerned.
"Superheroes don't wear blue ears," her son said in reference to his hearing aid.
Anthony is deaf in one ear and has limited hearing in the other.
"It broke my heart," D'Allesandro said. "It's the first time he's said that 'I'm different.'"
D'Allesandro immediately wrote to Marvel Comics asking for a superhero that her son could relate to.
The Blue Ear was then created just for the young boy.
"Anthony Smith is... The Blue Ear," the comic cover reads. "When Danger makes a sound, The Blue Ear answers the call."
This delivered the boost of confidence that Anthony needed and so is not only proud to wear his hearing aid again, but is also sharing his comic with his friends at school.
