Celebrating King Spawn #50

 

Cover A by Todd McFarlane

One of the great things to come out of Covid-19 period was Todd McFarlane's expansion of his Spawnverse. I covered issues of King Spawn, Gunslinger Spawn, and The Scorched for Comic Book Dispatch, and loved every minute of doing those reviews. It's amazing to realize the Spawnverse has hit 50. Congratulations to Todd McFarlane and his team!

Here's all the info: 

KING SPAWN #50 DEBUTS MASSIVE VARIANT LINEUP

AND 50/50/50 PROGRAM!

 

An oversized milestone issue launches multi-title crossover event and exclusive variant cover program for KING SPAWN #50, GUNSLINGER SPAWN #50, and THE SCORCHED #50.

 

This October, Todd McFarlane Productions will celebrate the next major milestone in the Spawn Universe with the release of King Spawn #50—an oversized anniversary issue launching an exciting new storyline and the official kickoff of the 50/50/50 Program.

 

The 50/50/50 Program will span the three core Spawn Universe titles—King Spawn, Gunslinger Spawn, and The Scorched—as each series reaches its 50^th issue over the coming year. All three issues will feature a matching lineup of variants and incentives from some of the most exciting artists in comics, creating one unified program across the Spawn Universe.

 

Jost over four years ago, the debut of King Spawn #1 set new records as the highest-selling superhero monthly launch of the 21^st century. Now, this special release sets the stage for a crossover event that will unfold across all three landmark issues, as a primordial force returns to target Spawn and forever change one of its core characters. The story will be told with two chapters per issue, brought to life by Spawn Universe artists Carlo Barberi and Stephen Segovia.

 

In celebration of this milestone, King Spawn #50 will debut with an expansive lineup of covers with artwork from Todd McFarlane, Skottie Young, Mark Spears, and Puppeteer Lee, with Lee contributing a connecting cover set across King Spawn #50, Gunslinger Spawn #50, and The Scorched #50.

 

Retailers will also have access to a lineup of high-tier incentive variants, including a 1:50 cover by Mark Spears and multiple premium editions by McFarlane himself, culminating in the 1:1000 Raw Pencil Virgin Variant. Each copy of this 1:1000 variant will contain a one-of-one original sketch, inserted directly into the issue. The first 50 sketches will be drawn by Todd McFarlane. If more than 50 copies are ordered of the 1:000, additional sketches will be provided by Spawn Universe artists Jonathan Glapion, Carlo Barberi, Brett Booth, Stephen Segovia, and Jason Shawn Alexander. Every copy of the 1:1000 is guaranteed to contain an original sketch but sketches other than McFarlane’s will be distributed at random.

Additionally, two of the premium incentive editions—Cover G (1:250) and Cover H (1:1000)—will be signed by Todd McFarlane and will never be signed again. McFarlane has confirmed that these books will be strictly limited to this single wave of signed copies, ensuring their long-term value for collectors and retailers.

 

“As a young comic book collector, I was always excited to see what the comic book companies had in their plans to help celebrate their big anniversary or event books,” said McFarlane. “So, I’ve been very fortunate to have been involved in some of those types of books during my career, which makes this 50/50/50 event something we have been thinking about for a long time.

 

“It is exciting for me to be able to, in a very short period, celebrate three anniversary books that will all co-mingle their storylines as KING SPAWN, GUNSLINGER SPAWN, and THE SCORCHED all hit their milestone 50^th issues. I’ve long said that fifty issues is a mark I wish more creator-owned books got to, as it helps establish characters in fandom’s memories that much easier. In 2021 we officially launched the Spawn Universe and now we get to keep that momentum going with a huge crossover storyline that will affect one of the oldest characters in the Spawn mythology as well as introduce us to a savage villain. I hope you will all come join us for this wild ride.

 

“Lastly, I want to thank all the retailers who have supported us throughout my decades-long career, and hope that some of the incentives are worthy of your support once again. I can tell you for sure that I am not a big sketch guy and don’t attend many conventions, so this is a rare exception I am making to do original sketches for this title and the other two issue #50’s coming in the months to follow.”

McFarlane and CGC will also team up for a special collaboration tied to the 50/50/50 Program. More details will be announced in the months ahead, including a private signing and exclusive collectibles tied to all three milestone issues.

 

King Spawn #50 will be available at comic book shops in October 2025. Final Order Cutoff is slated for September.

 

The full list of variant covers is below:      

Cover B by Puppeteer Lee (Connecting Cover)

 

Cover D Blank Sketch Cover

 

Cover E 1:50 Variant by Mark Spears

 

Cover F 1:100 Virgin Color Variant by Todd McFarlane

    

Cover G 1:250 B/W Inked Variant by Todd McFarlane with McFarlane signature (WILL NEVER SIGN THIS BOOK AGAIN) and CGC Certificate

 

Cover H 1:1000 Raw Pencil Virgin Variant by Todd McFarlane with McFarlane signature (WILL NEVER SIGN THIS BOOK AGAIN), CGC Certificate, and Sketch Insert

 

Not pictured:

Cover C by Skottie Young 

 

King Spawn #50 will also be available across digital platforms, including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play. Follow Todd McFarlane: Instagram // X // Facebook and stay tuned for more updates and announcements on the 50/50/50 program!

 

Thanks to Todd McFarlane Productions for sharing this announcement with us. 

King Spawn #27 Review

 

Writer: Todd McFarlane

Artists: Javi Fernandez & Kevin Keane

Colorist: Ivan Nunes

Letterer: Andworld Design

Cover Artists: Dan Panosian; Don Aguillo

Publisher: Image

Price: $2.99

Release Date: November 1, 2023

 

Spawn doesn’t want Cogliostro on Hell’s Throne. So he asked the Visage to send him there. She did so after warning that he could never return. What battles will Spawn wage in his new home? Let's leap into King Spawn #27 and find out!

 

Story

Al’s past flashes before his eyes as he falls. Powerless to halt his descent, doubts assault him. Questions probe his memory. Why did Hell choose him? What made Al Simmons worthy of returning from the dead?

 

Rage formed him. He tried to ignore what his father taught him. Ultimately, he became what he hated. The military valued his rage. Jason Wynn wished he could find more killers like Al. But Wanda paid for his talent. Al couldn't protect her from himself.

 

In King Spawn #27, Spawn travels to an area forbidden to symbiotes. Before he can accomplish his goal, he must endure testing. Is he just another lost soul striving to protect others? Or does Al Simmons belong in Hell?

 

Art

Spawn falls through a white abyss. Javi Fernandez & Kevin Keane spin memories like shards of glass, revealing childhood abuse, schoolyard fights, death on the battlefield, and meeting Wanda. Tentacles greet Al's entrance to Hell. A face filled with eyes and teeth looms. Scorpions, spiders, and other insects infest this Valley Of The Shadow. If Al Simmons fears Death in King Spawn #27, he doesn’t show it.

 

Spawn's crimson suit and cape paint a trail of pink like a brush across a virgin canvas. At the heart of the green fires, white stars burn in his eyes. Ivan Nunes uses red to amplify a limited palette for Al's memories. He enhances characters, objects, and backgrounds with highlighting, shading, and texturing. Gray smoke surrounds Spawn in the darkness. Yet the fractured floor reflects light, and the tentacled creature glows with unwelcome vitality.

 

Yellow uppercase letters glow within brown narrative boxes as Todd McFarlane retells Al’s origins in King Spawn #27. Andworld Design helps us hear the impact as Spawn hits Hell’s stone floor. The tentacled monster speaks white letters into cloudy black balloons. Spawn responds with his signature-styled balloons. His words are big, black, and beautiful. Yet the color of a stressed word reminds us of his eyes. Does Spawn’s final utterance suggest a link with Gaia? Or is it just the anger that drives him?

 

Thanks to Image Comics and Todd McFarlane Productions for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

Who are we? Where do we belong? Spawn must wrestle with such questions and accept his destiny in King Spawn #27.

 

Rating 9/10

 

For another cover see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.

King Spawn #26 Review

 

Writer: Todd McFarlane

Artist: Javi Fernandez

Colorist: Ivan Nunes

Letterer: Andworld Design

Cover Artists: Mike Deodato, Jr.; Kael Ngu

Publisher: Image

Price: $2.99

Release Date: October 4, 2023

 

While he argued they joined forces to take down Cogliostro, Clown killed Spawn’s friend Yoko. Now Spawn’s fed up. So, he’s gearing up. Spawn won't be a pawn in Heaven and Hell's game. Who is he going after? Let's leap into King Spawn #26 and find out!

 

Story

Knives. Guns. Modern assault armor. Spawn straps it all on, then flies through the night. He searches for a woman. One who can aid him: the Visage.

 

Al Simmons will never join forces with his wife’s murderer. But Clown was right about one thing. Whoever sits on Hell’s throne can harm Earth. Spawn reigns harm upon his enemies to prevent this. He flies through the shadows of our world like a bat out of Hell. All the while, he seeks a kindly old lady.

 

News personalities muse upon the relationship between caped crusaders and global warming. Do costumed superheroes proliferate alongside extreme weather events? Spawn may not be responsible for the latest heatwave in King Spawn #26. Still, is he willing to expose his secrets and risk all to prevent villains like Cogliostro and Clown from controlling Hell?

 

Clown action figure available at Amazon.com

 

 

Art

Gloved fingers grab grenades, load guns, and wreath Spawn’s chest with bands of bullets. Moonlight casts his shadow upon buildings, thanks to artist Javi Fernandez. Lights gleam in the night from New York City skyscrapers as Spawn perches upon a denuded tree in King Spawn #26. His cape carries him like batwings as the symbiote soldier Al Simmons swoops down upon his enemies.

 

Spawn’s crimson cape gives way before the red neon nightclub sign as Al Simmons enters. Red ceiling lights threaten to turn the splattered blood brown. Al's teeth gleam and his eyes glow green as Ivan Nunes imbues King Spawn #26 with colored film noir appeal.

 

Yellow uppercase letters glow within brown narrative boxes as Todd McFarlane relates Spawn's actions. Giant red sound effects punctuate Spawn's Breaking And Entering. Uppercase black letters inhabit white dialogue balloons as Spawn questions his victims and begs his favor. Andworld Design delivers a fast-paced horror adventure that’s Heaven on the eyes in King Spawn #26

 

Final Thoughts

Do the ends ever justify the means? To prevent a greater evil, Al Simmons lays aside his principles and engages in aggressive negotiations with the blood-soaked King Spawn #26.

 

Rating 9.4/10

 

For another cover see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.