GREAT POWER, NO RESPONSIBILITY

Spider-Ham isn’t the brightest, despite his good intentions.

In this funny comic, a porcine version of Marvel’s Spider-Man must make sense of responsibility and adventure when he is given—and then loses—the keys to the city! A pig with all the superpowers, strength, and agility of a spider, he’s also “the funniest hero in the multiverse” who still cannot seem to get any respect. After accidentally accepting the key to the city and then losing it, Spider-Ham must retrace his steps to figure out what happened. In doing so he crosses paths with villains and friends who move him along in his attempt to retrieve the lost key. Many of these characters will remind readers of their human versions from the classic Marvel comics. Even the real Spider-Man shows up for a very brief conversation about responsibility. All the characters except Spider-Man are animals. The book is fun and will get younger readers turning pages. However, while the snappy language and glibness in this text might amuse early-elementary readers, the Spider-Ham character doesn’t have much depth. He’s playing video games while being honored by the city, issuing snark and wisecracks and sarcasm in the name of humor—a technique that comes across as pandering to the early-elementary audience.

Younger readers familiar with the genre may enjoy this funny alternative story.