Calvin and Hobbes had a story arc in 1991 where Calvin, having previously cloned himself to disastrous results, upgrades his duplicator machine with an “ethicator” to manifest a twin from his good side. The scheme goes swimmingly at first. The clone’s unflagging virtuousness offers Calvin a smokescreen as he skives off school work and chores. Then the clone courts Susie Derkins, a bridge too far for Calvin, and the two brawl while Hobbes spectates with a quip, “How existential can you get?”
