Neutron

Dear Neutron,

Growing up, I was a big fan of you as Megaboy. I remember adults would ask me who I wanted to be when I grew up, and I’d confidently say, “Why wait until I grow up, I want to be Megaboy right now!” Mister Mega was cool too but on T.V. he always seemed so serious. He wasn’t relatable. I imagined not only that we’d fight crime together, but that you and I would have Mario Kart tournaments against each other. I admit that I was mostly a pretty lonely kid, but I thought maybe you could relate. You weren’t part of a teen team. You always seemed to be working with adults, and that seemed pretty isolating to me. I was a gifted student, so I spent a lot of time talking to adults. Other kids would be put off by my vocabulary. I thought it was great that the vice principal let me sit in her office during lunch. Better than being teased in the lunchroom, sure. But I wanted somebody who would understand me, and not see me as a sort of talented animal. Maybe I was projecting, but I thought maybe you’d feel the same.

Obviously, we never met. You did a signing in town once, but my parents refused to take me. They thought superheroes were beneath me.

“You need role models that do more than just punch trouble.”

Then I guess I forgot about you. Kids grow out of their superhero phases. It’s probably for the best. I mean if I still considered myself your biggest fan, I would have been disappointed in you when you had that car crash, or the stint in rehab, or the second time in rehab. I mean, kids are judgmental fucks. But I wasn’t paying attention. I finally had real friends. Messed up friends, but friends. And, yeah, I was having my own problems with drugs and alcohol.

I don’t want to go into details. I go to the meetings. I’m making my amends. But somewhere along the way, I realized that your story is my story or at least it could be. I just wanted you to know, that I see you. I see how you’ve gone from Megaboy to Neutron, have you’ve stepped out of the shadow of Mister Mega and your own problems. How you are an inspiration, not just for punching trouble, but by overcoming your own troubles. So, thank you for everything you do.

Sincerely,

Peter Stanley

Dear Mr. Stanley,

  

Thank you for your interest in Neutron. Unfortunately, he is not taking any speaking engagements at this time. We invite you to follow along with his adventures on social media, and his upcoming podcast, “Adventures of a Boy Hero.” It is thanks to the support of fans like you, that Neutron is able to stand tall against evil.

In Victory,

JT  Personal Assistant on behalf of Neutron