Spider-Ham

Fictional comic book character, porcine parody of Spider Man

Spider Ham (Peter Porker) is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is an anthropomorphic pig and is a cartoon animal parody version of Spider Man. He was created by Larry Hama, Tom DeFalco, and Mark Armstrong. He first appeared in the one shot humor comic book Marvel Tails Starring Peter Porker, the Spectacular Spider Ham (November 1983), which was then followed by an ongoing bi monthly series, Peter Porker, the Spectacular Spider Ham, under Marvel's Star Comics imprint, with both titles edited by Hama. The character existed on Earth 8311, which was a universe populated by anthropomorphic parody versions of the Marvel superheroes and supervillains. Spider Ham made his feature film debut in Spider Man: Into the Spider Verse (2018), voiced by John Mulaney.

Spider Ham was first featured as star of the 1983 humorous one shot Marvel Tails, with a backup cast of other anthropomorphic talking animal parody versions of popular Marvel superheroes, such as Captain Americat (a cat version of Captain America), Hulk Bunny (a rabbit version of Hulk) and Goose Rider (a goose version of Ghost Rider). Two years later, a solo series, titled Peter Porker, the Spectacular Spider Ham debuted under Marvel's Star Comics imprint. The series, published bi monthly, lasted seventeen issues before its cancellation in 1987. With the cancellation of Peter Porker, the Spectacular Spider Ham, the character became a backup feature in Marvel Tales, a monthly reprint series showcasing Spider Man's past adventures. Beginning with issue #201 (cover dated July 1987), these new Spider Ham stories appeared in issues #201–212, 214–219, 223–230, 233, 236, 237, 239, 240, and 247 before ceasing altogether. In issue #3 of What The ? ! (cover dated October 1988), Porker meets with Raven the Hunter (a parody of Spider Man's nemesis Kraven the Hunter) in a story that satirized the popular "Kraven's Last Hunt" storyline which had been featured a year earlier in Marvel's Spider Man titles. Spider Ham also makes appearances in issues #18, 20, 22, and 24 of What The ? ! The 26th issue of What The ? ! (cover dated fall 1993) features "Spider Ham 15.88", a humorous take off on Peter Parker's future counterpart, Miguel O'Hara a. k. a. Spider Man 2099. The "15.88" is not seen as a year, but rather a humorous take on the price of a ham (the cover states that it was marked down from the original price of $20.99). Spider Ham has also appeared on the cover of Wha Huh? #1, and was referred to as a fictional character in the Earth 616 Marvel Universe, in Generation X #52. Spider Man Family #1 (2005 one shot) features a sixteen page Spider Girl story, in which May Parker (Peter Parker's daughter) watches a DVD showing a small portion of a fictional Spider Ham animated series, discovering that it was created by one of Spider Man's enemies, Jack O'Lantern. Here, Spider Ham appears to mostly be a parody of Batman. Also in the issue, there is a partial reprint of Marvel Tails #1. Spider Ham was selected by fans and retailers to be the focus of the final variant cover by Mike Wieringo to the Spider Man: The Other crossover, Amazing Spider Man #528. In January 2007, J. Michael Straczynski authored the Ultimate Civil War Spider Ham one shot, featuring Spider Ham's attempt to find his missing "thought balloons" against a Civil War parody. The story does not fit in with previously established Spider Ham continuity. Tom Defalco returned to Spider Ham's world in 2009, in the pages of Amazing Spider Man Family #4–5. He introduces Swiney Girl, the daughter of Spider Ham and counterpart of Defalco's other creation Spider Girl. Once again, the story strays away from the established, albeit loose, continuity of the original Spider Ham stories by altering the character's origin and supporting characters, most notably in establishing Peter Porker as a natural born pig bitten by a radioactive spider (directly mirroring Spider Man's origin) and altering his love interest (a counterpart of Mary Jane Watson) from a water buffalo to a crane. He fights alongside the X Babies in issue #4 (March 2010) of their four issue miniseries from 2009 to 2010. To mark the anniversary of Peter Porker, The Spectacular Spider Ham #1, Marvel released the Spider Ham 25th Anniversary Special in July 2010, with Tom Defalco writing both Spider Ham and Swiney Girl stories. These stories feature most of Spider Ham's original cast and origin, but incorporates the Mary Crane Watsow character from Amazing Spider Man Family rather than her original counterpart. In 2022, a graphic novel was published called Spider Ham: Hollywood May Ham. The book features Spider Ham and Mary Jane Waterbuffalo attempt to make a documentary about his status as a superhero with Alfred Peacock (a parody of Alfred Hitchcock). After noticing mysterious happenings on set, he realizes Peacock is actually Mysteriape and attempts to defeat him and the Swinester Six.

Peter Porker was born a spider and resided in the basement lab of May Porker, a scientist who invented an atomic powered hairdryer to revolutionize the hair care industry.

During the Secret Wars event when all universes were destroyed and their remains formed a single planet called Battleworld, Spider Ham found himself the only pig in the domain of the Battleworld called Arachnia and ended up as the captive of its Mayor, Norman Osborn. He was rescued by Spider Gwen, and the two eventually discovered and teamed up with other spider powered people (Spider Man Noir, Spider Man India, Spider UK and Anya Corazon), neither of whom remembered their previous encounter during the original Spider Verse.

Following the conclusion of Secret Wars, the team of six Spiders that formed during the event feature in a new ongoing series called Web Warriors, a name that was coined by the Peter Parker of the Ultimate Spider Man TV series during the original Spider Verse.

Spider Ham appears in Ultimate Spider Man in two different forms. In the first season episode "Run Pig Run", Loki, as payback for foiling a previous scheme of his, transforms Spider Man into an anthropomorphic pig resembling Spider Ham on the day of Asgardsreia, a holiday where Asgardians go on a day long hunt. With the help of Thor, Phil Coulson, Nick Fury, and his fellow S. H. I. E. L. D. trainees, "Spider Ham" evades the Executioner and his Asgardian hunters until he turns back to normal. Spider Ham proper appears in the third and fourth seasons, voiced by Benjamin Diskin. This version is a pig who got his powers from a spider that fell into his Aunt May's vitamin pancake batter, which transferred said vitamins and powers to him. After becoming a superhero and joining his universe's Avengers however, J. Jonah Jackal turned the public against him and forced him to quit. In the episode "The Spider Verse" Pt. 2, Porker encounters the "prime" Spider Man, who encourages him to become Spider Ham once again and help him fight the Green Goblin. Following the battle, Iron Mouse offers Spider Ham a spot on the Avengers again, which he accepts. In "The Spider Verse" Pt. 4, Spider Ham joins forces with a group of alternate reality Spider Men to help the "prime" Spider Man defeat the Spider Goblin and Electro. In "Return to the Spider Verse" Pt. 1, Spider Ham is transported to the "prime" universe by the shattered Siege Perilous. In "Return to the Spider Verse" Pt. 4, he is captured by Wolf Spider, who seeks to drain all of his multiversal counterparts' life forces, before the "prime" Spider Man defeats Wolf Spider.

Spider Ham appears in Spider Man: Into the Spider Verse, voiced by John Mulaney. This version follows similar cartoon animal behavior as seen in cartoons from the golden age of American animation and bears a resemblance to Porky Pig from the Looney Tunes franchise. He arrives in Miles Morales' universe along with Spider Man Noir and Peni Parker due to the Kingpin's machinations before teaming up with them, Morales, Peter B. Parker, and Spider Woman to get back to their respective home universes. Before returning to his universe, he gives his mallet to Morales as a keepsake. Spider Ham appears in the prequel short film Spider Ham: Caught in a Ham, voiced again by Mulaney. He battles and defeats Doctor Crawdaddy until an interdimensional portal appears and whisks him away, leading into his appearance in the film. Spider Ham makes a non speaking cameo appearance in Spider Man: Across the Spider Verse. Spider Ham is planned to appear in Spider Man: Beyond the Spider Verse, voiced again by Mulaney. Mulaney also expressed interest in a potential spin off film starring Spider Ham, describing its plot as a Watergate like story along the lines of The Post or All the President's Men while focusing on the character's career as a reporter. Mulaney returned to voice Spider Ham in the animated short film Back on the Air, which was created to promote the character's appearance in the video game Marvel Contest of Champions (see below).

Spider Ham makes a cameo appearance in a mid credits scene depicted in Spider Man: Shattered Dimensions, voiced by an uncredited, former Activision Associate Producer Kevin Umbricht. He answers Madame Web's call to save the multiverse, but arrives after the Amazing Spider Man, Spider Man Noir, Spider Man 2099, and the Ultimate Spider Man already did so. Spider Ham appears as a support card in Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3s "Heroes vs. Heralds" mode. Spider Ham was available as a purchasable hero in Marvel Super Hero Squad Online on March 15, 2014, to celebrate the game's anniversary. Spider Ham makes cameo appearances in Spider Man: Edge of Time. Spider Ham appears in Marvel Heroes as a purchasable pet. Spider Ham appears as a playable character in Spider Man Unlimited, voiced again by Benjamin Diskin. Spider Ham appears as a playable character in Marvel Puzzle Quest. Spider Ham appears as a playable character in Marvel Contest of Champions, voiced again by John Mulaney. Spider Ham appears in Marvel Snap.

Spider Ham appears in the Twisted ToyFare Theatre parody comic "Four Webbings and a Funeral" as part of The Wizard Spider Man Special. In the comic, Spider Ham appears as one of the entrees being served at Spider Man's funeral. Spider Ham appears in Marvel Battleworld: Mystery of the Thanostones and Treachery at Twilight, voiced by Jesse Inocalla. Spider Ham appears in the web series Marvel TL;DR.

In August 2009, TIME listed Spider Ham as one of the "Top 10 Oddest Marvel Characters".

+TitleMaterial collectedPublished dateISBNPeter Porker, The Spectacular Spider Ham Volume 1Marvel Tails #1, Peter Porker, The Spectacular Spider Ham #1 5June 2010Spider Man: Animal MagnetismSpider Ham 25th Anniversary Special, Ultimate Civil War Spider Ham and Spider Man: Back in Quack, Top Dog #10February 2011Peter Porker, The Spectacular Spider Ham: The Complete Collection Vol. 1Marvel Tails #1, Peter Porker, The Spectacular Spider Ham #1 17July 2019Peter Porker, The Spectacular Spider Ham: The Complete Collection Vol. 2Marvel Tales #201 212, 214–219, 223–230, 233, 236–237, 239–240, 247, What The ? ! #20, Ultimate Civil War: Spider Ham #1, Spider Ham 25th Anniversary Special #1, Spider Man Annual (vol. 3) #1, material from What The ? ! #3, 18, 22, 24, 26, Spider Verse #1February 2021Spider Ham: Aporkalypse NowSpider Ham #1 5August 2020