Electron Boy died Friday morning

[GL 2814.4]

You guys have probably heard about this wonderful kid. Erik Martin was diagnosed with paraganglioma, a rare cancer with no treatment options. Last year, the cities of Seattle and Bellevue granted Erik's wish ('to run fast, be powerful and help people') by choreographing an intense battle against evildoers. As Electron Boy, Erik "rescued the Seattle Sounders from Dr. Dark and Blackout Boy. He saved a Puget Sound Energy (PSE) worker stuck in a bucket truck, rescued a group of people trapped on the observation deck of the Space Needle, and captured the villains, played to the hilt by Edgar Hansen and his sidekick Jake Anderson, both of Discovery Channel's 'Deadliest Catch.'"

Electron Boy's act of heroism went viral, and you can watch the event here. Please read the whole article here.

Erik Martin died at 14 on Friday morning.

Gah, I cried so much when I read the article. I wish I had the chance to see this kid in action (I must've been at my uni or something that day).

This week has been amazing--comic book fans everywhere spread the news about Mike Meyer and donated collectibles, letters and art and their love, and now there's this outpouring of love for this kid who got to be a superhero not just for a day, but for the amazing 14 years of his life.

So, guys, I propose we all do what we can this week (well, this week especially) to make the world a better place: donate comics to someone in need, spend a day volunteering at a hospital, give some groceries and socks to the homeless, talk to someone who needs a friend, or just donate to Make-a-Wish.
In honor of Erik Martin, I'm going to go do something heroic.

[MisterSmith]

Every year since I've been at my job, we've always done something with Make-A-Wish and I always make an effort to put something in. It's getting close to that time of year again, so I'll likely put some extra aside this year.

[KingImpulse]

Damn, such a shame. At least he went out having as awesome a life as he could have had in such a short amount of time.

[MoustachePants]

This is very sad indeed...

The only thing I think I can say, is that I am glad there is something good enough in the world that can help someone to be brave and strong enough to live with what he lived with, and lived well, as it seems.

[SeanNOLA]

is not enough letters to make a post, but it's how I feel.