Ben Zerebeski has been creating comics since he was in the first grade, and he’s now in the running to be featured in a professional comic book. “I just drew a comic as an art project. I liked art...I just made comic books for fun. I didn’t know there was anything going on,” Zerebeski said. The 12-year-old is now in the running to be the next Stan Lee’s Super Kid. The nationwide fundraiser allows people to vote and donate to support the kid they’d most like to see win the title. “It would mean a lot...Because cool stuff happens. Like I get to be in a comic book, which is cool. And then I get to go to Comic-Con, and I like Comic-Con, I’ve never been,” Zerebeski said. Zerebeski’s mom, Stacey Morrison, said she enjoys seeing her exercise their creative skills. “All the kids have like to draw on are really creative and we’re big on reading, so I’m always happy if they’re reading and drawing rather than being on video games or something like that,” Morrison said. Morrison said she came across the competition on Facebook and thought her son would be a perfect Super Kid candidate. Zerebeski quickly grew among the ranks and climbed to first place. “The support has been unreal. Better than we ever expected. I thought it would just be something for fun. And the Pike Lake community, the Delisle community have all come together, teachers and all the friends and the school bus drivers,” Morrison said. Morrison has since created a Facebook page dedicated to Zerebeski’s Super Kid campaign, and it has gained a lot of traction. “People that haven’t even met him are showing their support and sharing his posts and everything....it’s people that don’t even know who he is or are behind him. And it’s and it’s pretty cool,” Morrison said. In addition to creating his own comics, Zerebeski is an avid reader of comics and graphic novels. He shared that he particularly enjoys Marvel, Wings of Fire and manga novels. The young artist said while he would undoubtedly be very happy if he were to win the competition, he is simply happy to be part of something that encourages young comic fans. “So they always remember that there’s a chance they can have at something big,” Zerebeski said. Morrison added that programs like this are important when it comes to connecting young comic lovers. “I think it’s important for everybody to feel like they’re not different and weird and alone....I know all my kids are very artsy and kind of nerdy and...it’s just really nice to see that there’s like a whole worldwide community for it,” Morrison said.
