Twenty-five years ago, Image Comics introduced the world to a powerhouse new character that took the pop culture world by storm. Created by comic superstar Todd McFarlane, Spawn made his true debut in the self-titled series, Spawn #1 in May 1992. That first issue of Spawn was incredibly popular, reaching 1.7 million copies sold. To this day, that critically acclaimed series continues to be considered one of the most popular non-Marvel, non-DC franchises of all time.
Spawn, a/k/a Lt. Colonel Albert Francis “Al” Simmons, began his career as a highly trained Force Recon Marine. After saving the president from an attempted assassination, he was promoted to a highly classified unit within the CIA. Once there, Simmons began to question the morality of what his agency was really doing. Following his murder at the hands of another agent, Simmons’ soul wound up in hell. In order to see his wife again, Simmons traded his soul to the evil being, Malebolgia, Unfortunately, upon his return, five years had passed and Simmons had been transformed into a demonic creature. Simmons gradually came to accept his new life, becoming a dark and brutal antihero. He took on the name Spawn and became the “King of Rat City,” taking down street thugs and gangs on the daily.
His vast powers include superhuman strength, speed, agility and endurance, gliding, immortality, a healing factor, teleportation, shapeshifting, necroplasmic energy blasts, resurrection, empathy, and multiple demonic powers. Not to mention, he's a highly skilled tactician, martial artist, swordsman, marksman, athlete, and acrobat.
Popularity for the series reached an all-time high prior to the release of the 1997 Spawn feature film. Directed and co-written by Mark A.Z. Dippé, the film stars Michael Jai White (Mortal Kombat: Legacy) in the title role, and is the first film to feature an African-American portraying a major comic book superhero. Shortly after 1997, the franchise's popularity suffered a rollercoaster of ups and downs. But by 2011, with the release of issue 200, sales shot back up for Spawn to a remarkable level. This sold out issue featured the work of Greg Capullo, David Finch, Michael Golden, Jim Lee, Rob Liefeld, Marc Silvestri, Danny Miki, and Ashley Wood.
Since its creation, Spawn has inspired several comic spinoffs, including Angela, Curse of the Spawn, Sam & Twitch, and the Japanese manga Shadows of Spawn. Following the 1997 feature film, HBO produced the miniseries Todd McFarlane's Spawn which aired from 1997 to 1999. This animated series actually won two Emmys and two Golden Reel Awards. In addition to film and television, the antihero has starred in several video games, ranging from 1995 to 2013. While the detailed work showcased in Spawn’s line of action figures, cemented McFarlane Toys’ place in the toy industry.
McFarlane had previously announced interest in bringing a new Spawn adaptation to the big screen. Recently, McFarlane confirmed he had completed the script and expressed interest in his hopes to direct. He also warned fans that this new movie will be a horror movie instead of a superhero affair. A release date has yet to be set, but if Spawn’s 25-year track record is any indication, it’ll be worth the wait.
