The Starbright Foundation -- a national nonprofit organization that helps create and distribute programs to empower seriously ill or injured children -- has released an educational comic book to help children with serious burns come to terms with their injuries.  The comic book, released on September 9th, is being published in both English and Spanish, and is being made available free of charge to burn centers, hospitals, support organizations, burn camps, and schools.

X-Men:  Life Lessons features a new character named T-Ray, who is severely burned during his X-Men training.  Children can follow as T-Ray learns to deal with his disfiguring burns, picking up important coping strategies themselves along the way, such as how to handle teasing and answering questions about their appearance.  There is also a special section on Starbright's Website on how to use the comic as a learning and coping tool, including questions children may have about their injuries, social reintegration activities, and suggested role playing games.

The Life Lessons project was developed with input from a national healthcare advisory team led by Dr. Robert Sheridan, Chief of Pediatric Burn Surgery at Shriners Burn Hospital for Children in Boston.  The program was sponsored by The Illinois Fire Safety Alliance; the Insurance Industry Charitable Fund; Smith and Nephew Wound Management; the University of Michigan Trauma Burn Center; and the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation.

Starbright gives props to Marvel for putting together this unique comic, however they want to remind retailers and comic enthusiasts that X-Men:  Life Lessons is intended solely to help young burn survivors.