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 selection comes from writer Michael Moreci…enjoy!

So, before we get started, there’s one point of order to mention: When I agreed to contribute to this (really cool) series, I set an important criteria for myself in making my selection—no comic from someone one I know. I’m kinda a grizzled industry vet, believe it or not. I’ve been around and, fortunately, I’ve made some friends. At least I think I have? Anyway, the point is that I came into this looking to recommend a book that wasn’t at all skewed by personal connections. And while I’ve met Rick, I can’t say I know him (though I do think he’s fucking awesome). 

My babbling aside, I recommend: FEAR AGENT! Why? How dare you even ask! 

FEAR AGENT is exactly what I want my fiction (movies, novels, comics, etc.) to be. I love stories that are unafraid to take risks and be bold. And FEAR AGENT is nothing if not wildly bold and original. Sure, it’s a story that’s inspired by EC sci-fi pulps, and Remender fully embraces this. Regardless, all stories are inspired by something, and what really matters, ultimately, is how the story is told. Remender always has a strong voice—he’s got fresh ideas and punk swagger to spare—but FEAR AGENT really sees him marrying the things he does so well into a remarkable, unified whole. On one hand, it’s wild, rollicking pulp sci-fi; but on the other hand, it’s a deeply personal story about family, regret, and more. Rare is the writer who’s able to blend attitude, big concepts, and heart the way Rick does. 

Take it from me, someone who knows a thing or two about sci-fi adventure stories: FEAR AGENT is one of the best stories the comic book medium has produced. It’s fun, it’s smart, and it grabs you by the lapels and demands your interest in a way I wish more comics did. Go get this book, and let it rocket you on a kick-ass journey through both outer space and the human heart. -Michael Moreci

Michael Moreci’s writing includes the novel Black Star Renegades and its sequel, We Are Mayhem. He is also the writer of a long list of comics, including Wasted Space, The Plot, Roche Limit, Archangel 8, Curse, Hexagon, and Star Wars.

Fear Agent
Writer: Rick Remender
Artists: Tony Moore & Jerome Opeña
Publisher: Image Comics
RICK REMENDER, TONY MOORE, and JEROME OPEÑA’s seminal pulp sci-fi classic! Veteran fans and new recruits alike can experience the whiskey-soaked, laser-scorched life of Heath Huston, the galaxy’s last Fear Agent. Loaded with never-before-seen scripts, variant covers, designs, and concept art. When down-and-out alien exterminator Heath Huston stumbles upon an extraterrestrial plot to commit genocide against the human species, he must put down the bottle and resume his role as a peacekeeper...the last Fear Agent!
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Get it from a local comic shop with this directory from the Comics Industry Collective of stores open and doing mail order!

Click here for the full coronavirus reading list!