REVIEW: ‘King Spawn,’ Issue #12

King Spawn #12 is written by Sean Lewis (with Todd McFarlane providing additional dialogue), illustrated by Javier Fernandez, colored by FCO Plascencia (with Sheila Saldana providing color flats), and lettered by Andworld Design. Image Comics publishes it. After the explosive ending of last month’s issue, Terry Fitzgerald believes that he’s destroyed the Godthrone and saved Spawn from a horrific fate. Yet his actions may have given birth to something even darker. Meanwhile, Spawn continues his battle with the Court of Priests’ leader Azrael, as the fallen angel tempts him with the possibility of resurrecting his wife, Wanda.

Spawn fans know that the hellish antihero’s origins are connected to a deep, unbreakable love for his wife – and anyone who preys upon that love will be subject to his wrath. This issue plays into that, as Spawn is in no mood to play Azrael’s games. “Azrael thought, somehow, his outcome would be different,” the narrator says while listing off the actions that the fallen angel has taken to try and manipulate Spawn. “That combo is what’s fueling Spawn’s rage!” And that rage is prominent on nearly every page from Fernandez.

One page features Spawn repeatedly pummeling Azrael’s face with his fist and spiked wrist guards drawing blood. Other panels have him ripping off another angel’s wing, and when Azrael impales him with his spear, Spawn simply breaks it in half and charges at the fallen angel. And keeping in line with the horror elements of the book, Fernandez draws a serpent bursting out of Azrael’s eye to attack Spawn. If nothing else, I appreciate how gorgeous this book continues to look.

The color work of Plascencia and Saldana plays a huge part in that gorgeousness. True to a Spawn book, nearly every page is wrapped in shadows, save for a brief detour to Heaven, which is covered in brilliant, blazing light. The colorists also play off Spawn and Azrael’s affiliations to Hell with their respective color schemes. Azrael wears white and gold armor, which provides a great contrast to Spawn’s black and red uniform and blazing green eyes. And topping things off is Andworld, whose letter balloons for Spawn grow bigger and bigger as rage consumes the hero. The same goes for the sound effects, which increase in frequency and size whenever a major wound is inflicted.

All of this would just be pretty pictures without a great story, however, and that’s where Lewis steps in. All throughout the book, Spawn has been fighting the Court of Priests, and by the end of this issue, there is a definitive winner. Lewis also continues to make Terry an integral part of the book, playing off the events of King Spawn #10. When Al Simmons was alive, Terry was his best friend, and that friendship was put to its ultimate test. Terry is determined to stop his friend from making a potential mistake, and given the tragic nature of the Spawn universe, I wouldn’t be surprised if the two come to blows in future issues.

King Spawn #12 acts as the culmination of the series’ main storyline as Spawn’s battle with the Court of Priests reaches a bloody end. And judging from the final page, Spawn may be living up to this series’ title in future issues. “All Hail The King,” indeed.

King Spawn #12 is available wherever comics are sold.