Fictional characters who shaped my life (not in any order): Harry Osborn

Bein’ all mental (accompanied by incredibly elaborate bouts of self-harm) is a pretty big part of my life, although it’s lessed a lot now. Anyway, it so happens that during the time all that was going on, I was working my way through the Spiderverse, and you know what, I pretty much felt like Harry looks in the fifth image up there.

Anyway, the ironic thing is, a guy made out of ink (and occasionally personified by James Franco) actually helped me a hell of a lot more than the people who were actually supposed to/being paid to. Turns out that no matter how freaky and horrible the voices in your head get, they can eventually be beaten back, especially if you have the right people around. Harry managed it, after all, albeit with several bumps along the way.

And, perhaps most important to me at least, you can be a dick and alienate everyone and you’re still worth saving. (Straight out of one of the many, many Spider-Man companion books: “Peter Parker always believes Harry Osborn is worth saving.”) Always a handy thing to remember.

A very handy thing. So thanks, Harry, sincerely, you and your creators did good. Now go help somebody else.