Phoenix Walters, a 9-year-old Longbranch Elementary School student from Florence, is asking Boone County neighbors to help him become a superhero.

Phoenix has reached the quarterfinals of Stan Lee's Super Kid contest, according to the Northern Kentucky Tribune. The contest benefits the Stan Lee Foundation, which champions literacy and the narrative arts. The winner stars in a limited-edition Stan Lee Universe comic book, receives four VIP passes to the 2027 L.A. Comic Con and takes home $25,000.

He needs daily votes to keep advancing. The quarterfinal round closes Nov. 5.

Phoenix's father, Thomas Walters, who works in IT for the Veterans Administration, entered his son in the contest without high expectations. He told the NKyTribune the family barely made it past each elimination round. In the last group round, they placed second. After four elimination rounds, the family thought the run was over.

Then Phoenix was entered in a wild card round and placed first, earning a quarterfinal spot. Thomas told the NKyTribune he is trying to spread the word about the contest and the money raised for charity, hoping to garner more votes for Phoenix.

Phoenix is a competitive swimmer, plays basketball and is enrolled in advanced math class, according to his contest profile. His mother, Daphne Walters, who works in a real estate office, told the NKyTribune he also swims at the YMCA and reads constantly.

"He watches out for others and can be very protective," Daphne said.

Thomas, a comic book fan since childhood, said what impressed him most was a question Phoenix asked: "Dad, I know I have to save the money for college. But can I give some of it to my friends?"

According to the contest website, two children will have their stories transformed into superhero identities by a team of comic book writers and artists. One will be voted champion. The other will be hand-selected by the Stan Lee Universe team to appear alongside the champion in the comic book.

Residents can cast a free vote once every 24 hours at thesuperkid.org/2026/phoenix-8193. Supporters can also purchase donation votes through the contest, which benefits the Stan Lee Foundation. Quarterfinal voting closes Nov. 5 at 10 p.m. Eastern.