Spider-Man, for all its merchandising and marketing, doesn't have people chasing down old content in dying formats. It is supported by new content in modern formats.
> Calvin and Hobbes was extremely mainstream. It only stopped being so because the creator stopped creating content for it.
I think that's exactly the point. It stopped being mainstream. Spiderman continues to be mainstream because the original author passed on the rights and now it will live for longer than the original author. Calvin and Hobbes will continue to shrivel in how well known it is.
(He famously “came back” for a gag, but he hasn’t “sold out” and is apparently happy doing what he does, set for life.)
https://stephanpastis.wordpress.com/2014/06/07/ever-wished-t...