Spider-Ham (Marvel Comics | Spider-Verse)

Peter Porker, the Spectacular Spider-Ham, is an anthropomorphic pig superhero and a humorous parody of Spider-Man, originating from Earth-8311, a cartoonish universe populated by anthropomorphic animals. Created by writer Tom DeFalco and artist Mark Armstrong, with editorial contributions from Larry Hama, the character first appeared in the one-shot comic Marvel Tails Starring Peter Porker, the Spectacular Spider-Ham #1 in November 1983. In his origin story, Peter begins as a simple spider living in the basement laboratory of May Porker, an eccentric anthropomorphic pig scientist. After May irradiates herself with an atomic-powered hairdryer, she bites Peter in a fit of delirium, transforming him into an anthropomorphic pig while granting him spider-like abilities; May subsequently regresses mentally and adopts the role of his loving Aunt May.

As Spider-Ham, Peter Porker possesses superhuman strength, agility, the ability to cling to walls, and a precognitive "spider-sense," augmented by mechanical web-shooters he designs himself. He works as a photographer for the Daily Beagle under editor J. Jonah Jackal and fights crime in a world filled with animal parodies of Marvel characters, such as Captain Americat and Hulk-Bunny. Following his debut, Spider-Ham starred in an ongoing bi-monthly series, Peter Porker, the Spectacular Spider-Ham, which ran for 17 issues from 1985 to 1987 under Marvel's Star Comics imprint, blending slapstick humor with superhero tropes. Backup stories continued in Marvel Tales until the late 1980s, after which the character largely faded from prominence for nearly two decades.

Spider-Ham experienced a significant revival in the 2014-2015 Spider-Verse crossover event, where he joined a multiversal team of spider-powered heroes to battle the Inheritors, playing a key role in the storyline's resolution and subsequently appearing in the Web Warriors series. This resurgence elevated his profile, leading to prominent cameos and supporting roles in animated media, most notably in the 2018 film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, voiced by John Mulaney, where his comedic personality and fourth-wall-breaking antics endeared him to a new audience. Further appearances in sequels, shorts like Caught in a Ham, and various comics have cemented Spider-Ham as a beloved, enduring figure in Marvel's multiverse.

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