A 12-year-old Northern Kentucky middle school student who has endured a house fire and a cancer diagnosis is now trying to become a real-life superhero through a national competition tied to the legacy of comic book icon Stan Lee. (Provided)
UNION, Ky. (WKRC) – A 12-year-old Northern Kentucky middle school student who has endured a house fire and a cancer diagnosis is now trying to become a real-life superhero through a national competition tied to the legacy of comic book icon Stan Lee.
Micah Wells is a contestant in Stan Lee’s Super Kid competition, which gives one child the chance to transform into a superhero identity, appear as the star of a comic book, and win $25,000.
A 12-year-old Northern Kentucky middle school student who has endured a house fire and a cancer diagnosis is now trying to become a real-life superhero through a national competition tied to the legacy of comic book icon Stan Lee. (WKRC, Provided)
“Having my own superhero would be incredible; it would be mind-blowing,” Wells said.
Wells’ mother, DeAnna Taylor, said the past year and a half has brought major challenges for their family. In January of 2025, they were in a house fire in Alexandria.
“We were in a house fire, and we were actually all sleeping when the house fire began,” Taylor said.
Not even a year later, in November of 2025, Micah was at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Taylor said he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and a rare T cell mutation.
A 12-year-old Northern Kentucky middle school student who has endured a house fire and a cancer diagnosis is now trying to become a real-life superhero through a national competition tied to the legacy of comic book icon Stan Lee. (Provided)
“Micah was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and a rare T cell mutation that causes the immune system to not function properly,” Taylor said.
Micah started chemotherapy three weeks later. In August of this year, he received a bone marrow transplant and was released from the hospital in September.
Now, Wells is hoping his superhero concept will be brought to life in a comic book. Taylor said the competition’s top prize includes $25,000 and a trip to Los Angeles for Comic-Con.
“The first prize is $25,000. He is the star of the superhero of the comic, and he gets to go to LA for Comic-Con,” Taylor said.
Taylor said if her son finishes second, he would also get to appear in the same comic series as a superhero.
Wells has already imagined his character’s power. “The ability to grow plants at will that can help fend and defend,” said Wells.
A 12-year-old Northern Kentucky middle school student who has endured a house fire and a cancer diagnosis is now trying to become a real-life superhero through a national competition tied to the legacy of comic book icon Stan Lee. (Provided)
Taylor said the opportunity would mean a lot for their family.
“It really would, to immortalize him in a comic book and something that he is truly passionate about and to see his vision come true,” she said.
Voting for the top 10 ends Thursday night at 10 p.m. Wells was in ninth place at the time of the update. If you would like to vote, click here.
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