Carl uses his comic books to bring smiles to U.S. soldiers!

Like many kids, Carl Scheckel loves superheroes. And though he’s just 10, Carl has his own superpower: The ability to bring smiles to the faces of U.S. soldiers!

Ialready have this one. I love this one!” 10-year- old Carl Scheckel said as he sat in his Montclair, New Jersey, bedroom sorting through the box of comic books he and his dad had scored at a yard sale.

Ever since Carl was a preschooler, he has been fascinated by Spider-man. “He clings to walls and can shoot webs from his wrists!” he marveled to his parents, Beth and Will.

So Will bought Karl a SpiderMan comic book. And soon, Carl was collecting superhero comics. He even went to comic book camp, then asked Will to help him create Carl’s Comix (Carlscomix.com) a website where he posts about his favorites and interviews comic book authors and illustrators.

I hope every soldier has fun reading my comic books!

Then one day, a visitor to the site asked Carl if he’d ever thought about donating comic books to soldiers.

Good idea! he thought. People in the military are real-life American heroes!

So Carl packed up about 300 comic books, especially ones featuring patriotic Superman and Captain America. And at a comic convention, he climbed atop a display table and announced: “I’m collecting comics for soldiers!”

“I have some!” vendors began calling out.

In just days, Carl had collected more than 3,500 comic books! So he and his dad brought some over to nearby Lyons Veterans Hospital in Basking Ridge, New Jersey.

“Thank you for this gift for our wounded warriors!” the director beamed.

“You really lifted our spirits!” a veteran smiled.

Hearing what he had done, the commanding officer of the Joint Base Mcguire-dix-lakehurst in Trenton offered to ship comics to deployed servicemen and women.

Excited, Carl tucked notes inside the boxes he packed.

Thank you for your service. I hope this brings you some fun! Maybe you can send me a picture of your favorite.

But Carl didn’t have to wait to know how much his gift was appreciated. Arriving at the base, he saw a sign in the parking lot: Master Carl.

“Is that me?” Carl wondered.

“Yes, sir!” Master Sergeant Dominick Griego confirmed, welcoming them as other soldiers unloaded the boxes.

“Ever been inside a military jet?” he asked.

Carl’s eyes grew wide as he stepped into the C-17 cockpit.

“This is how your comic books will travel around the world,” Msgt. Griego explained.

“Wow!” Carl exclaimed. Then Carl was taken on a tour of the base armory, where he was helped into a 35-pound military vest and combat helmet. “Imagine wearing them for an entire mission,” Chief Master Sergeant Nicole Sheleva explained. “So coming back to base and to your comic books will be a real treat.”

Next, Msgt. Griego showed Carl his medal collection. “Which do you think is the coolest?”

“That one,” Carl pointed, and Msgt. Griego—who also received a Purple Heart and Bronze Star— explained the coin had been given to him in honor of a rescue mission. “I want you to have it for what you’re doing to help.”

“Thank you!” Carl grinned. Today, Carl has another 5,000 comics ready to ship. “I had a great time visiting the base. I hope every soldier has just as much fun reading my comic books!” he beams.

Master Sergeant Griego has no doubt.

“I’ve been deployed, and having something to read that gives you an escape is a joy. For Carl, at his young age, to recognize that? He’s the real superhero!”