Spider-Mable raises spirits and money at Edmonton autograph session

When you're six years old, signing hundreds of autographs can be hard on your little hand.

During a Friday fundraiser at an Edmonton comic book store, as fans placed prints on a table in front of her, the hero of this story (and many others) carefully wrote her initials on each one.

S.M.

There was no need to write more.

By now, people across the country have become familiar with a loveable, pint-sized superhero known as Spider-Mable.

When she's not fighting crime, or taking selfies with adoring fans, she's a brave little girl fighting a battle with cancer.

Mable Tooke was diagnosed two years ago with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. While in treatment, she read comic books and decided Spider-Man was her favourite superhero.

The Children's Wish Foundation heard about Mable and helped make her dream come true.

On Monday, Spider-Mable spent hours tracking down a villain who had kidnapped Edmonton Oilers captain Andrew Ference.

Word of her exploits was shared across the Inter-web by thousands of people. Stories about Spider-Mable appeared in the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, and on People magazine's website.

Artist James R.V. Clement crafted an original Spider-Mable illustration, and on Friday at Happy Harbor Comics in downtown Edmonton, people stood in line to have prints autographed by the star of the show.

"After seeing her helping the Oilers out, we just thought it was a great opportunity to actually meet a real-life hero in our town," said Mason Ulvestad. "And she is absolutely adorable."

All the money raised will go to help fight leukemia.

Jay Bardyla, who owns the comic book shop, said he was pleased by the big turnout.

"I think the majority of Edmontonians are good people," he said. "So the fact that this is a good story, it just makes sense. I'm not surprised at all. We're just a good city at the end of the day."

Billyjack Kredenchuk waited for his turn, then posed for pictures with Spider-Mable.

"I've never met a live superhero before," he said. "It's humbling to see so much spirit out of someone so small."