Ethan Jennings leads Stan Lee’s Super Kid competition

Ethan Jennings, the South Florida sixth-grader behind Florida’s “Good Dad Act” story, is currently No. 1 in his group in the 2026 Stan Lee’s Super Kid competition. Public voting is underway through October 8, with the grand prize set to be announced on or before December 17.

Why it matters: - Ethan Jennings is tied to a Florida law that changed rights for unmarried fathers. - His current lead in a national children’s competition could bring him $25,000, a VIP package for Los Angeles Comic Con and a spot in a Stan Lee comic book. - The competition also raises money for literacy and the narrative arts through the Stan Lee Foundation.

What happened: - Ethan Jennings, a sixth-grade student at Pines Collegiate Academy in Pembroke Pines, Florida, is ranked No. 1 in his group in the 2026 Stan Lee’s Super Kid competition. - Voting is open, and the current Top 10 round is scheduled to end Thursday, October 8. - The final winner is expected to be announced on or before December 17. - Supporters can cast one free daily vote for Ethan through his official competition page: Vote for Ethan Jennings for Stan Lee’s Super Kid.

The details: - The grand-prize winner will receive $25,000, be turned into an illustrated character in a special-edition Stan Lee comic book and get four VIP tickets to the 2027 Los Angeles Comic Con. - The winner will also carry the title “Stan Lee’s Super Kid.” - Ethan says he wants to grow into a responsible person and would choose telekinesis and telepathy if he could pick superpowers. - Ethan names Spider-Man as his favorite superhero and also likes Iron Man. - Ethan says he wants to use his imagined powers to help save people around the world. - Ethan attends Pines Collegiate Academy 6-12 in Broward County Public Schools. - The school emphasizes advanced academics and STEM opportunities, including aeronautics and robotics. - Ethan says he wants to become a microbiologist.

Between the lines: - Ethan’s profile stands out because the story is not just about a contest entry; it is linked to a law and a broader debate over parental rights. - Dr. Bernard Wh Jennings, Ethan’s father, said in 2023 that he did not legally become Ethan’s father until January 9 of that year despite raising him for years. - Jennings’ experience helped drive advocacy that became associated with Florida House Bill 775. - The Florida Legislature passed the bill unanimously, and it took effect July 1, 2023. - The law significantly changed Florida’s legal framework for unmarried biological fathers. - The Good Dad Act movement continues to push the idea that responsible fathers should have a meaningful opportunity to participate in their children’s lives. - Similar debates over shared parenting and fathers’ rights have expanded into other state legislatures. - Jennings later wrote “Ethan’s Good Dad Act: A Father Turns Lemons Into Lemonade for All Good Dads to Take a Sip!” - The 204-page book was published in 2024 and covers his legal fight, fathers’ rights and the family court system. - The official Ethan’s Good Dad Act website describes the book as a dedication to parental rights and meaningful father-child relationships and identifies it as an Amazon top-selling book. - More information is available at the official Ethan’s Good Dad Act website.

What’s next: - Ethan advances through remaining rounds that include the Top 10, Top 5, Group Finals, Wildcard Round, Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Finals. - Public voting will determine the grand-prize winner. - Supporters can return daily to cast the free vote and share Ethan’s page to help him hold first place. - Donation-based votes are also available, and the competition says those donations support The Stan Lee Foundation and its mission to promote literacy and the narrative arts. - The competition is run by Colossal for DTCare, a nationally registered public charity that grants donations to the Stan Lee Foundation.

The bottom line: - Ethan Jennings already helped inspire a Florida law. - Now the boy behind that story is trying to turn a national fan vote into a superhero-style win.