Warning: contains major spoilers for Spider-Ham: Great Power, No Responsibility!
Comic strip collection led to the development of comic books and Marvel's Spider-Ham is paying homage to some of the most popular characters in comics strips as Peanuts, Garfield, and Calvin & Hobbes have all found their place in this Spider-Man variant's latest adventure - Spider-Ham: Great Power, No Responsibility. In the issue, these classic characters have all received the Marvel treatment.
Peanuts was created by Charles M. Schulz in 1950, Garfield was created by Jim Davis in 1978, and Calvin & Hobbes was created by Bill Waterson in 1985. All three have had great success. The character of Spider-Ham was created by Larry Hama, Tom DeFalco, and Mark Armstrong in 1983. Initially, he was created for a one-shot comic, but eventually earned his own series and has seen a surge in popularity following his appearance in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018). However, he knows where his roots come from.
Spider-Ham: Great Power, No Responsibility is a newly released graphic novel from the creative team of Steve Foxe, Shadia Amin, and Rae Crawford. It follows the titular hero in a misadventure geared towards young comic fans. Spider-Ham has earned the key to the city, but he naturally loses it and has to figure out where it has gone. During a stop-off at his version of the Daily Bugle (the Daily Beagle), he takes the time to admire and applaud the work of the newspaper's cartoonists.
Each panel places Spider-Ham in the role of a classic comic strip character. First, he is paired with the Green Gobbler to mirror the antics of Charlie Brown trying to kick a football as Lucy pulls it away. Unfortunately for Peter Porker, he's the blockhead failing at the task. Next, he fills the role of Garfield the cat, smelling an appetizing meal that he immediately zips to. Considering Garfield’s love of lasagna, Spider-Ham’s love of hot dogs in this graphic novel may be driving his senses crazy. Finally, he pairs off with Hulk-Bunny, becoming the Calvin to this Hulk variant's Hobbes. While this moment reflects the silliness that Peter Porker is known for, it also does an excellent job of paying homage to some of the most iconic comic moments and characters.
The moment is a throwback to the charm of the comic stip medium in a time when these stories are now being consumed differently. Spider-Ham is kicked out of the Daily Beagle and throws back a retort about just wanting to support the "print publishing industry." These iconic cartoons were all part of the printed Sunday "funnies" era of comic strips. Comic strips have now largely moved to the digital realm and comic books have made more of a push in that direction as well - a prudent move at a time when paper shortages are being faced by the industry and digital consumption is at an all-time high.
While the printed comic era may not look the same, the stories and characters that arose from it are highly influential. They will continue to live on, similar to the way that many of Marvel's characters have for decades - even in new forms like Spider-Man and his variant, Spider-Ham. This moment is silly, yet beautiful, presenting the best of comics and the longevity of the medium. Marvel's Spider-Ham fits in rather well in his world's versions of Peanuts, Garfield, and Calvin & Hobbes.