Rewriting the Hero: Face Value Comics and Autistic Heroes
- Sam Shepherd
- Jun 29
- 3 min read
By Vanesa Simic
While children get to experience stories concerning aliens, superheroes, and robots through reading comic books, there is a more common character that has so far lacked representation as a hero in comic books; children with autism. Face Value comics, written by David and Angela Kot, and featuring illustrations by Sky Owens, intends to change that. The protagonist, Michael, has autism and attends middle school set in a steampunk world that is being invaded by aliens [1]. The first edition was released in August 2014 and sold out soon after release [2]. David Kot based Michael, and the other characters with autism, on his own experiences after being diagnosed with autism, putting special care into ensuring the characters were accurate representations [3]. Face Value comics remains one of the only comics that features an autistic protagonist, illustrating how autistic children can be heroes like Superman or Spiderman. David Kot adds “We want the readers to realize that, like the main character, they too can be their own hero and face the world” [4]. As autistic children read about Michael and his friends saving the day, they are exposed to characters who they might be able to relate to more. As a result, Michael inspires kids like him to think about how they can be everyday heroes in their own lives.
Michael is a well-developed character, who enjoys math and tackling challenges [5]. He also has a robot who serves as his aide, assisting him with school. The other characters also have various diagnoses that shape how they navigate the world around them. The second issue features an autistic girl, Myra, who is non-verbal [6]. Myra uses an iPad to communicate, and her autism isn’t portrayed as detrimental to her character, as some problematic portrayals of neurodivergent characters tend to do. Instead, the use of thought bubbles allows readers to see how imaginative she is, and David Kot says “Myra’s biggest strength is how rich of a mind she has” [7]. Each character is carefully written to ensure that their autism or other diagnosis isn’t seen as a detriment or a weakness, but rather just a part of who they are.
The comic itself is accessible to children with autism, going beyond representation through characters to ensure that children with autism can actually read comics that appeal to how they conceptualize the world. Each character's face is drawn with careful detail, ensuring that facial expressions are clearly understood. This offers a way for children with autism who read the comic to recognize the emotions portrayed on the characters’ faces and the behaviors associated with them [8]. Parents and teachers can also read aloud to children, helping them recognize the emotions on the characters' faces [9]. Each page is composed of bright colors and careful visual details, clearly showcasing emotions on the characters’ faces and being interesting enough to keep children engaged. Worried characters have their eyebrows upturned and wrinkles on their foreheads, providing cues as to what emotion they’re experiencing. The comics include activities at the end that help children identify what emotion various characters are experiencing based on their expression [10].
Face Value comics provides representation for autistic people, something which is severely lacking in the comic industry, and does so in a way that is accessible to the people it intends to represent. Michael and his friends aren’t portrayed as being helpless or weak as a result of being neurodivergent, but instead as realistic characters who navigate the world in different ways and have an earnest desire to help others.
Sources
“Face Value Comics #1.” IndyPlanet, June 21, 2021. https://www.indyplanet.com/face-value-comics-1.
“Face Value Comics Create Educational Autism Comic Book.” Diamond Comics. Accessed June 17, 2025. https://www.diamondcomics.com/Article/149073-Face-Value-Comics-Create-Educational-Autism-Comic-Book.
“Create” Diamond Comics.
“Create” Diamond Comics.
Chunhong, Wang and Roni Kaufman. “Face Value Comic Series Has #autistic Superhero #NationalSuperHeroDay #autism.” The Art of Autism, April 28, 2017. https://the-art-of-autism.com/face-value-comic-series-entertains-while-educating-about-autism-and-bullying/.
Art of Autism.
Art of Autism
“Create” Diamond Comics.
“Create” Diamond Comics.
Art of Autism.
