Have you ever wondered wh
at you’d look like if you were a superhero? An online store called Firebox.com lets you create a customized superhero—with your face on it.
For about $125, Firebox will create a superhero figurine that looks like you. At least, the head does.
You email Firebox pictures of your face from the front and the side, and the company creates a three-dimensional head that fits onto a superhero figurine body.
You can be Batman, Wondergirl, Power Girl, Captain America, Iron Man, Thor or Superman.
The company sends you the action figure, a stand for it, and a head that looks a lot like yours. The company doesn’t promise that it will look exactly like you—but they say it will be close.
When talking about how accurate the likeness will be, the company’s website says, “It’ll be like looking in a teaspoon.”
The company says the figurines aren’t waterproof and they’re meant to be shown off like a decoration rather than played with like a toy.
But if you’ve ever wanted to be Iron Man without all the hassle of saving the earth, it’s not a bad way to go.
CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS
By Jonathan Tilly
Writing/Discussion Prompt
Lots of people love superheros. In fact, they love eveyrthing about them, from the cartoons, to the comics and movies. Why do you think people have such a connection with superheroes? Which superhero is the most well loved? Why do you think so?
Reading Prompt: Making Inferences / Interpreting Texts
Would you want a superhero figurine that looked like you? Would it be better than a figurine of a hero that already exists? When you play, is it more fun pretending to be someone else than being yourself?
Primary
Make inferences about texts using stated and implied ideas from the texts as evidence (OME, Reading: 1.5).
Junior
Use stated and implied ideas in texts to make inferences and construct meaning (OME, Reading: 1.5).
Intermediate
Develop and explain interpretations of increasingly complex or difficult texts using stated and implied ideas from the texts to support their interpretations (OME, Reading: 1.5).
Grammar Feature: Adjectives
Adjectives are words that describe nouns (people, places, or things). Adjectives give sentences their character, their spice, and their excitement. Using adjectives well is one of the things that make great writers great!
Write a short story about you as a superhero. Include lots of adjectives to make your story come to life. When you’re done, underline all the adjectives and reread the story without the adjectives. Then talk with a friend, parent, or teacher about what a difference adjectives make!
