A fixture in the comics for years, Peter Porker hits the big-screen as Spider-Ham in Into The Spider-Verse.
Spider-Ham is quickly emerging as one of the breakout characters in the diverse cast of Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse. There has already been talk of the character getting a movie of his own.
However, four other Spider-People also made their big-screen debut in Spider-Verse. This meant that Spider-Ham’s backstory was only able to be briefly touched on.
This is a shame, as Peter Porker has a surprisingly rich history in the comics. Let’s take a look at some facts about Spider-Ham.
1. Spider-Ham received his powers from May Porker.
Into The Spider-Verse revealed that Spider-Ham was originally a spider bitten by a radioactive pig. What it didn’t tell us is that the radioactive pig was May Porker, that universe’s version of Aunt May.
May was a scientist, and Peter an ordinary spider. After May’s new atomic-powered hair-dryer malfunctions and douses her in radiation, May is briefly driven mad and bites Peter, transforming him into Spider-Ham.
Peter also receives most of May’s scientific knowledge after the bite. This gives him the ability to build his own web-shooters, as his natural webbing was lost in the transformation from spider to pig.
Meanwhile, May comes to believe that she has always been Peter’s Aunt.
2. Spider-Ham shared a comic with animal versions of other classic Marvel Characters
Spider-Ham made his debut in the one-shot comic Marvel Tails.
Released in 1983, Marvel Tails featured stories starring animal versions of other well-known Marvel Heroes. These included Captain Ameri-cat, The Incrdible Hulk-Bunny, and Goose Rider (A parody of Ghost Rider).
Most of these characters reappeared when Spider-Ham received a solo-comic in 1985. The new book also introduced Deerdevil and the Fantastic Fur.
3. Spider-Ham has his own Rogue’s Gallery, including an Arch-Enemy
Spider-Ham’s arch enemy is often stated to be Ducktor Doom, a parody of Doctor Doom. One memorable adventure had Peter Porker foil the Ducktor’s plot to create an army of living Super Vegetables.
Other enemies of Spider-Ham include Raven the Hunter, The King-Pig, and Doctor Octopussy Cat.
4. He is a recurring ally of Spider-Gwen and Spider-Man Noir
When major Spider-verse crossover events occur, you can expect Spider-Ham to play a major role.
You can also expect a Spider-Ham, Spider-Gwen team up. The pair form a friendship during the original ‘Spider-verse’ crossover comic. Gwen later rescues Peter Porker from Battleworld during ‘Secret Wars’.
Spider-Man Noir is another common ally of Spider-Ham during crossovers. This is seen in Into The Spider-Verse, when Ham and Noir enter the story at the same time.
5. Spider-Ham was once part of a team known as the Web Warriors.
After the ‘Secret Wars’ end, a group of Spider-Heroes form a team known as the Web Warriors.
Peter Porker, Spider-Gwen, and Noir are all key members of the team. Spider-Man India, Spider-UK, and two Spider-Girls round out the group.
The Web Warriors have only one goal. They wish to protect the many Universes left without a Spider-Man after the ‘Spider-Verse’ event. From a base on Earth-001, they monitor the multiverse for Spider-less worlds in trouble.
From a one-note joke, Peter Porker has grown into a well-rounded, much loved character. He steals the show in Into the Spider-Verse.
It might not be long before we see the Spectacular Spider-Ham hitting the big screen on his own.
