“Belle Plaine,” a newspaper cartoon strip by artist Eric Gapstur, who grew up in Belle Plaine, is a finalist for Comic Strip Superstar, an online contest.

Vote for the winner online at Amazon.com through Friday.

The winner of the competition — sponsored by Andrews McMeel Publishing through Amazon.com — receives a publishing contract and a $5,000 advance.

“Belle Plaine” is about Josh and Collingwood, two fifth graders who use their wit and ingenuity to stave off boredom in a small town.

Gapstur told judges he enjoys wrestling and Superman comic books.

The contest judges selected the strip as one of 10 finalists, although one was later disqualified because the cartoonist had signed a publishing contract.

How to vote

To view the comic and vote in the contest, go to Amazon.com

To read a Washington Post blog about the contest, visit http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ comic-riffs