Close Menu
  • Login
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    Cosmic Spider-Man card details

    [EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW] The Spider-Man Set Gets A 5-Color Legendary Spider

    09/02/2025
    Lee Corso from College Football GameDay in EA Sports games

    EA Sports Always Understood Lee Corso’s Legacy

    09/01/2025
    Peacemaker Season 2 Episode 2 But Why Tho 10

    Spider-Man Is Coming To Magic And It’s Just Like The Comics

    08/29/2025
    Star Wars Visions Volume 3 Black

    ‘Black’ Sets The Tone For A Bold New Mixtape In ‘Star Wars Visions: Volume 3’

    08/28/2025
    Olivia Colman in The Roses

    ‘The Roses’ Is A Reimagining, Not A Remake, And That’s Why It Works So Well

    08/27/2025
  • Indie Games
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Apple TV+
But Why Tho?
Home » Image Comics » REVIEW: ‘King Spawn,’ Issue #1

REVIEW: ‘King Spawn,’ Issue #1

Collier "CJ" JenningsBy Collier "CJ" Jennings08/25/20213 Mins Read
King Spawn #1
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

King Spawn #1

King Spawn #1 is published by Image Comics in association with Todd McFarlane Productions. The series marks the first step in Spawn’s Universe, a new effort from Spawn creator Todd McFarlane to expand the world of his hellish antihero via three new ongoing comic book series. When a rash of bombings leads to the deaths of children, Spawn begins to investigate. However, he learns that someone else is pulling the strings-someone who has a score to settle with Al Simmons.

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

The main story is written by Sean Lewis (with McFarlane providing additional dialogue), illustrated by Javier Fernandez, colored by FCO Plascencia, and lettered by Andworld Design. McFarlane also writes a quartet of backup stories: “Haunt” is illustrated by Stephen Segovia, “Nightmare” is illustrated by Marcio Takara, “The Hero” is illustrated by Philip Tan, and Brett Booth returns to illustrate another Gunslinger Spawn story. Adelso Corona & Daniel Henriques provide additional inks. Andrew Dalhouse, Marcelo Maiolo, Peter Steigerwald, and Dave McCaig provide additional colors, while Tom Orzechowski provides additional lettering for the backups.

Lewis is one of the handfuls of writers other than McFarlane to tackle Spawn, and he definitely has a great handle on Spawn. Al Simmons was a soldier in his past life, and he approaches conflicts as Spawn with a soldier’s mentality—identify the threat, track it down, and neutralize it. He even has an army in the form of allies like Jessica Priest/She-Spawn and Marc Rosen. It not only fits with the supernatural elements of the book—whole wars have been waged over religious belief—but the mission statement that Lewis and McFarlane spoke about in the lead-up to the book’s debut. The “King” element of King Spawn is more metaphorical than literal, though it turns out that Spawn’s newest enemy does view him as a king of sorts—albeit one to be dethroned.

Joining Lewis is Fernandez, who brings the creepy atmosphere that one would expect from a Spawn comic. When Spawn first appears, he is standing in the middle of a graveyard, his trademark red cape wrapped around him. Another sequence features Spawn leaping from rooftop to rooftop, becoming a blur of black and red. Plascencia splashes the scenes with shades of grey and black-including the edges of Spawn’s word balloons-which makes this book truly feel scary whenever Spawn emerges from the shadows, all glowing green eyes, and razor sharp teeth.

In the same vein as Spawn’s Universe #1 and Spawn #300, the issue features a collection of stories that introduce new characters such as the hellish Nightmare and a mysterious figure named Komox. Perhaps the biggest surprise for me was the return of Haunt. McFarlane co-created the character with Robert Kirkman (The Walking Dead, Invincible), who soon wound up being tied into Spawn’s mythos. His return may be a hint at the team-up book titled The Scorched, which is slated to debut this December; I’m glad that McFarlane is willing to utilize the character in this grand experiment of his.

King Spawn #1 is the first stepping stone in Spawn’s Universe, launching a new mission for the hellish antihero while introducing new allies and enemies into his crusade. I definitely recommend this book for newcomers to the Spawn franchise, as well as longtime Spawn fans. It also proves that Spawn is more than capable of standing shoulder to shoulder with Marvel and DC’s most popular heroes.

King Spawn #1 is available now wherever comics are sold.

King Spawn #1
4.5

TL;DR

King Spawn #1 is the first stepping stone in Spawn’s Universe, launching a new mission for the hellish antihero while introducing new allies and enemies into his crusade. I definitely recommend this book for newcomers to the Spawn franchise, as well as longtime Spawn fans. It also proves that Spawn is more than capable of standing shoulder to shoulder with Marvel and DC’s most popular heroes.

  • Buy via ComiXology Affiliate Link

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticleREVIEW: ‘St. Mercy,’ Issue #1
Next Article REVIEW: ‘M.O.M.: Mother of Madness,’ Issue #2
Collier "CJ" Jennings
  • Website
  • Facebook
  • X (Twitter)

Born and raised in Texas, Collier “CJ” Jennings was introduced to geekdom at an early age by his father, who showed him Ultraman and Star Trek: The Next Generation. On his thirteenth birthday, he received a copy of Giant Size X-Men #1 and dove head first into the realm of pop culture, never looking back. His hobbies include: writing screenplays and essays, watching movies and television, card games/RPG’s, and cooking. He currently resides in Seattle.

Related Posts

Tenement #1- But Why Tho

REVIEW: ‘Tenement,’ Issue #1

06/23/2023
Battle Chasers #10- But Why Tho

REVIEW: ‘Battle Chasers,’ Issue #10

06/14/2023
I Hate This Place #9

REVIEW: ‘I Hate This Place,’ Issue #9

06/07/2023
Almighty #5

REVIEW: ‘Almighty,’ Issue #5

06/07/2023
Almighty #4

REVIEW: ‘Almighty,’ Issue #4

05/03/2023
I Hate This Place #8

REVIEW: ‘I Hate This Place,’ Issue #8

05/03/2023

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here
TRENDING POSTS
Cosmic Spider-Man card details Features

[EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW] The Spider-Man Set Gets A 5-Color Legendary Spider

By Kate Sánchez09/02/2025Updated:09/02/2025

An exclusive look at a new 5-Color Spider entering Magic: The Gathering’s Spider-Man set, and Cosmic Spider-Man is going to be a tough one to take on.

Hololive EN at Radio City Music Hall Events

Hololive EN At Radio City Music Hall Was A Pure Expression Of Fandom

By Adrian Ruiz08/31/2025Updated:09/03/2025

Hololive EN turned Radio City in New York City into the pure expression of fandom: chants, penlights, and community in perfect sync.

Karl Anthony Towns in NBA 2k26 But Why Tho
8.5
PS5

REVIEW: ‘NBA 2K26’ Brings Basketball To Life

By Kyle Foley09/03/2025

NBA 2K26 combines improved visuals with some important tweaks to keep the series feeling fresh in the latest yearly release.

Cronos: The New Dawn Nest
8.0
PC

REVIEW: ‘Cronos: The New Dawn’ Does Post-Apocalyptic Psychological Horror Right

By Mick Abrahamson09/03/2025Updated:09/03/2025

While not particularly sacry, Cronos: The New Dawn is a lot of fun as a survival horror that puts you in the futuristic armor of the Traveler.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here