Happy Easter! Or should I say, “Hoppy Easter”, since this extremely specific piece spotlights the unusual commercial stars of the holiday, rabbits? Easter serves the dual function as both a religious and pagan holiday where people who celebrate contemplate death, life, resurrection, and an Easter Bunny who leaves eggs full of candy. Bunnies leaving eggs makes less sense the more you think about it since rabbits are mammals.
Perhaps you don’t take part in Easter and you’re just at a family gathering because there’s food. Maybe you’re like me as a child and you’d rather be hiding in the bathroom reading a book than interacting with people. Well, we’ve created a special list perfectly curated for this bunny-centred holiday to provide you with reading material after stuffing yourself with deviled eggs. Without further ado, hop on down the page and discover 10 comics about rabbits to read for Easter. Be warned, these furry characters aren’t your everyday Easter bunny.
Have a hoppy good time.
1. Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew (1982-1983) #1-20 – Roy Thomas & Scott Shaw
You’ll feel a strange inclination to munch on some crunchy carrots after reading a 20-issue comic run about this cosmic rabbit superhero from the 1980s. The DC Comics series initially introduced the team of anthropomorphic superheroes, The Zoo Crew, in the 1982 comic issue, The New Teen Titans #16. Along with a host of other animals with their own superhero origin stories, the most famous member of the crew is none other than a muscular brown rabbit.
In the Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew comic series, you can read all about Roger Rodney Rabbit and his superpowered endeavors. Our leading hopping hero gained his powers of superstrength, endurance, and, of course, heightened vision, after consuming a cosmic carrot. Read all about the rambunctious bunny, Captain Carrot, in his hilarious comic book series and appearances.
2. Comedy Comics (1943) #14 – Ernie Hart
Throw it back to the 1940s to find a rabbit who carved his only little slice of Americana in Comedy Comics #14. Waffles the walking, talking, pink rabbit was just a simple shoeshine bunny trying to make a living but finding himself harassed by the cops.
After a meltdown, Waffles encounters a witch. She gifts him a magical ring, transforming Waffles into the ultra-powered Super Rabbit with just a simple rub a-la-Green Lantern. This is an adorable comic issue reminiscent of Looney Tunes or early Disney animated shorts to sit back and read after a nice Easter Day meal.
3. Echo of Futurepast (1984) #1 – Larry Hama & Michael Golden
Continuing our theme of humorous comics populated by anthropomorphic animals, Echo of Futurepast #1 featured space cowboy rabbit Bucky O’Hare. Like Waffles, Bucky sports an atypical fur color. The green hare shot his way into the comics sphere in an 8-page short by Larry Hama and Michael Golden.
Any sci-fi fan can appreciate the detailed artistry on display and innovative design work inhabiting every panel. Bucky and his crew members are part of the S.P.A.C.E. organization which works together to fight against an evil colonial empire. The Bucky O’Hare comics resemble a Star Wars and Space Jam mashup that is a blast to read.
4. Legion of Super-Heroes / Bugs Bunny Special #1 – Sam Humphries, Tom Grummett, Scott Hanna, Steve Buccellato, & Josh Reed
DC Comics licensed a plethora of Hanna-Barbera characters in the late 2010s and released revamped Hanna-Barbera titles as well as DCU/Hanna-Barbera mashup comics. In one of these comic specials where DC characters met Hanna-Barbera stars, probably the most famous silly rabbit of all time took center stage. In Legion of Super-heroes/Bugs Bunny Special #1, Bugs Bunny accidentally winds up in the future. There, he meets characters like Brainiac and the Legionnaires in a story hopping with action.
The illustrators explore the genre with fabulous art calling back to the Golden Age of Superheroes while livening up the detailed expressionism. You’ll love reading about superheroes and Bugs Bunny in this special one-shot. That’s all, folks!
5. The Power of Shazam (1995-1999) #29 – Jerry Ordway, Peter Krause, & Dick Giordano
The DC Comics Marvel Family consists of a lot of derivatives. But, did you know there’s another person – or animal – who gains special powers by shouting “Shazam!”? Adding to our colorful cast of rabbits already included, this list would not be complete without mentioning Hoppy the Marvel Bunny. The interdimensional rabbit leapt out of another universe after originally appearing as a spin-off of Captain Marvel in Fawcett Comics’ Funny Animals (1942) #1.
You can read about the superhero bunny in several different comics, but a great jumping-off point for readers can be found in The Power of Shazam #29. Both Hoppy and Billy Batson appear in this issue. Hop on over to this fabulous comic about the sarcastically lovable Hoppy.
6. Spider-Ham (2020) #2 – Zeb Wells, Will Robson, Erick Arciniega, & Joe Caramagna
You’ll be “hoppy” to discover the rarely discussed Red Hulk Bunny from the Spider-Ham comics. Making his debut in Spider-Ham #2, Red Hulk Bunny is an uproariously drawn bunny with bulging muscles you never imagined a rabbit could flex.
After a dangerous villain threatens the world of Earth-8311, readers catch a glimpse of the massive Red Hulk Bunny towering above alternate universe variations of other familiar faces. There’s not a lot of rabbit action in this comic, but the Spider-Ham universe is chockful of funny animal iterations of Marvel characters – like Red Hulk Bunny.
7. Super Spidey Stories #9 – Jean Thomas & Win Mortimer
The only directly Easter-themed rabbit comic on this list, Super Spidey Stories #9 featured an unlikely Easter Bunny villain.
Funny Bunny was once a normal girl until a bully ruined her Easter by squishing her basket of delicious Easter eggs and candy. Her emotional trauma propelled her to turn to a life of crime by destroying other kids’ Easters and stealing from their baskets while dressed up in a creepy bunny suit. Even the White House Easter Egg Roll isn’t safe from the rabbit-gone-wrong in this Spidey issue.
A perfect companion to keep you company while you munch on your own candy, this comic won’t let you down with both its Easter-adjacent storyline and odd rabbit antihero.
8. “The Tunnel to China” in Marvel Mystery Comics (1942) #33 – Ed Robbins
The White Rabbit character is usually associated with Alice in Wonderland. In Marvel Mystery Comics #33, the Wonderland rabbit story crosses over with the popular tale about digging a tunnel to China. Part of the White Kingdom from Earth-616, the White Rabbit makes a brief cameo in the Marvel story about Jimmy Jupiter and Wonderland.
As usual, the human character takes on the lead role. But we had to mention the famous character in this lesser-known comic since he plays a key part in the Alice in Wonderland-esque comic.
9. Usagi Yojimbo – Stan Sakai
Comic enthusiasts will have expected samurai rabbit Miyamoto Usagi to grace a list about comic book bunnies. Stan Sakai’s ultra-popular Usagi Yojimbo long-running comic series centres on a noble ronin rabbit.
With over 100 issues and crossovers in TMNT stories, readers could spend their entire Easter Sunday reading about the aspirational rabbit who fights for honour and justice in his beautifully drawn world. Usagi’s character development drives the narrative with thoughtful reflection and brilliant action sequences amplifying the tension throughout the series.
10. We3 — Grant Morrison, Frank Quitely, Jamie Grant, & Todd Klein
Last but not least, how can I not mention the rabbit from one of my all-time favorite comics, Pirate the Bunny? “3” or “Pirate the Bunny” from Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s We3 is the most silent and has the most tragic story on this list.
Pirate is a cybernetically enhanced bunny crafted to be utilized as a military weapon for the government, along with a cat and a dog. The cybernetic trio set out to find freedom in the heart-wrenching story that will stay with you for a lifetime. Pirate fights for his friends, himself, and tries to overcome impossible odds as a rabbit who fights for an unrestricted existence in We3.
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