10 Comic Book Issues Guaranteed To Make You Cry
1. Amazing Spider-Man (vol.2) #36
This issue, of course, was always going to be heartbreaking and powerful.
The plot is simple: Spider-Man swings into the horror of the aftermath of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre on September 11th, 2001.
Told by J. Michael Straczynski and with art from John Romita Jr., Scott Hanna and Dan Kemp, the tale is not silent, but notably, the characters barely speak. Instead a narrator moves the story along through powerful imagery of Marvel superheroes standing side by side with the FDNY, NYPD, FEMA and more as they pull through the wreckage of the Twin Towers, trying to find survivors or some hope in the disaster that befell one of the most well-known cities in the whole world that day.
Even the cover is immediately striking, solid black, no artwork aside from the logos and a ribbon in honour of the victims claimed that day.
Through the story, we see a wide range of the Marvel Universe all descended upon Manhattan to try and help, or to try and make sense of the senseless act. Beyond heroes, even villains stand in the wreckage in shock and horror at an act so horrifically evil they could not comprehend of such a thing. Magneto, Kingpin, Juggernaut and Doctor Doom survey the ruins in grim silence, Doom himself fighting back the tears at the thought of an act so heinous.
The message of the issue is one of strength, unity and wisdom, as it hopes for justice but justice that is honourable and definitive, acknowledging the innocence of those part of the world, creeds and religions the terrorists claimed to commit the act on behalf of.
It takes a moment to acknowledge one of the worst events to befall the modern world, and also to honour the true heroes of the real world, and our capacity to find hope, determination and honour in the heroes we created.
This single issue of The Amazing Spider-Man may well be the most powerful, emotional comic book ever committed to the page, and even now, sixteen years after that awful day, it doesn't fail to break the dam and let the tears and feelings flow.