Marvel Comics creates Super Hero based on boy with hearing device

SALEM, N.H. - A young boy in Salem, New Hampshire is the inspiration behind a new Super Hero. Marvel Comics created a character who can do great things -- despite his hearing loss.

Four-year-old Anthony Smith might be a little superhero, but his powers are far-reaching. He has no hearing on his right side, hearing loss on his left and one day decided he didn't want to wear his blue hearing aid to school anymore.

“Basically one day he woke up and I said, “OK time to put in your hearing aid,’ and said, ‘Let’s put in blue ear,’ we've always called it that and he said, ‘No superheroes don't wear blue ears,’” said Christina D’Allesandro, the boy’s mother.

His mother told him superheroes do wear hearing aids but she wasn't so sure so she emailed the experts and got this back from Marvel Comics in New York City - a comic book cover featuring Hawkeye - a superhero who lost his hearing.

“Oh by the way we do have a superhero and he's in the ‘Avengers’ and he lost his hearing. So we gave it to him and he was captivated, he was staring at it, ‘Ohhh, look there it is," said D'Allesandro.

Then, Marvel Comics sent a drawing of a new superhero inspired by Anthony - meet the Blue Ear.

“And then he saw it, this is me? I love it. Where's my costume?” said his mother.

Soon another sketch arrived: Hawkeye and little Blue Ear together.

Anthony has a well-known grandfather in the granite state - state senator Lou D'Allesandro.

“This is a feel good moment, this is a feel good story and we've got to get the world to recognize that,” said the state senator.

Now Anthony, like Blue Ear, is proud to wear his hearing aid and share his special powers.