I always thought my childhood was a fairly normal one and that I was a fairly normal child. However, as I became a teenager life became more complicated and difficult but, largely thanks to reading, I got through those years, coming out the other side in good shape.

Of course reading can be a great distraction and escape from the problems of every day life and I definitely found that to be true for me. But, more importantly, as my favourite story characters experienced similar situations and emotions to me, we 'held hands' to tackle them; if I couldn't find answers around me then I observed how my in-print heroes solved similar problems in their lives. And my biggest hero was Peter Parker, AKA The Amazing Spider-Man*.

When I was 11 my Grandad suddenly died of a heart attack in the street before my eyes. Although he was elderly it was a massive shock and my first raw experience of death. Worse still, as he was only 17, two years later, my brother Gary died of cancer. I also lost my Nan between those times, although not in such a shocking way.

My parents – who I loved dearly and was always very close to - were utterly shattered by these events and had no script for dealing with their own emotions let alone mine. And in the early 70s therapy and counselling were not discussed or not even on offer.

But as an 11 and then 12 year old I took 'comfort' in knowing that Peter Parker was going through similar tragedies as death claimed his uncle, his girlfriend's father and his girlfriend too during his adventures as his alter ego. Like me, he experienced a multitude of feelings: anger, guilt, regret, sorrow, alienation, loss and heartbreak. Importantly though he DID come to terms with these awful tragedies and became stronger and wiser as a result. And I'd like to think I have done the same thanks to our friendship.

On a lighter note, like most teenagers, both Peter and I realised that romance was hard to find so I was reassured that not getting the girl wasn't something that happened to just me!

I also learnt from how Peter reconciled the combined pressures of his college, family, friendship, work and superhero obligations to cope with life with generally positive outcomes. (I didn't need to worry about the latter category though!)

Fifty odd years later I am still friends with Peter, along with many other book characters, past and present, real and fictional. They reassure me, educate me and inspire me and it's always going to be that way. I hope reading can do the same for you!

(*When you've read this blog check out one of my previous ones: 'What's Wrong with Reading Comics?')