All throughout April, we’re crowdsourcing a coronavirus comics reading list. Each weekday for a month, we’ll post a new recommendation from someone in the comics industry to help folks get through the quarantine. It’ll be a crowdsourced list of recommended reading from writers, artists, letterers, editors, comics journalists, publicists, and more…all paired with a local shop that’s currently selling the books via mail order.

Today’s first selection comes from writer David Pepose…enjoy!

My all-time comfort read has to be Amazing Spider-Man by JMS Omnibus Vol. 1  by J. Michael Straczynski and John Romita, Jr. There's so much heart and emotion and action on display in this book, whether it's the Web-Slinger leaving it all on the field in his battle royale against the unstoppable Morlun, or how a New York icon like Spider-Man faced the real-life tragedies of 9/11, or the decades-in-the-making conversation between Peter and May Parker over his secret identity.

While I've seen some people scoff at the storylines involving Spider-totems, I'd say that's not the point here — Straczynski's stories are so engaging because he does such an amazing job in casting Peter as a hard-luck everyman who loves his family and never gives up, no matter what the world throws at him. Romita, meanwhile, delivers a master class in expressiveness and visual pacing — his 9/11 issue still leaves a chill almost two decades later, while his scenes featuring Peter and Mary Jane are some of the most heartfelt scenes in comics. Can't recommend this book enough. -David Pepose

A former crime reporter turned comic book professional, David Pepose is the Ringo Award-nominated writer of Spencer & Locke, Spencer & Locke 2, Going to the Chapel and the upcoming Spencer & Locke III at Action Lab Entertainment, the upcoming Grand Theft Astro at Image Comics/Top Cow Productions, and more. Beyond his writing work, he has also served as the reviews editor at Newsarama.com.  

Amazing Spider-Man by JMS Omnibus: Vol. 1
Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Artist: John Romita, Jr.
Inks: Scott Hanna
Colors: Dan Kemp
Letters: Wes Abbott
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Solicit: J. Michael Straczynski and John Romita Jr. introduce an enigmatic stranger who will forever change the way Peter Parker views himself...and the origins of his amazing alter ego! Plus, the web-slinger struggles with the most horrific tragedy ever to befall his city: the events of Sept. 11. Then, for years, Peter Parker kept his heroic double identity a guarded secret from his beloved Aunt May. Now that she's finally learned the truth, how will May react to the shocking revelation? Plus: On a trip to California, Spider-Man takes on his classic foe, Doctor Octopus!

Buy Comics Here: Looking for this and other comics during the crisis? Delaware’s The Comic Shop is currently doing shipping, and you can find them here.

Click here for the full coronavirus reading list!