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. 

Gunslinger Spawn #26 Review

 

Writer: Todd McFarlane

Artist & Inker: Dexter Soy

Colorist: Ivan Nunes

Letterer: Tom Orzechowski

Cover Artists: Ze Carlos; Gabriel Gomez

Publisher: Image

Price: 2.99

Release Date: November 22, 2023

 

Men came after Javier. He couldn’t kill them all. They tortured him and killed his sister. Why? Let’s leap into Gunslinger Spawn #26 and find out!

 

Story

Javier fashions his unique bullets, intent on killing his torturers and his sister's murderers. Like him, they now live among us. While Javier's thoughts return to the past, Taylor awakens in Waya’s home. He suffers as his body changes. Waya worries about them both. The 19^th Century Gunslinger and the gangly young man need each other.

 

In Gunslinger Spawn #26, Todd McFarlane salts Javier’s past with clues. As the men tortured him, they wanted to know his sister’s last words. They sought the source of his strength. We also learn the name of one assailant. Yet McFarlane leaves the reader demanding more. What did Javier do at his ranch that drew the men’s interest? And what about the uniforms they wore? Were the men sent on an official mission? Or were their uniforms merely disguises?

 

Art

Time and torture burnished Javier’s memories. He hung from a tree as knives pierced his flesh, arrows thudded into his chest, and bullets riddled his body. Left for dead in the grass, Javier lay staring at the sky. The burning sun echoed the fire blazing inside him. Ivan Nunes colors Javier's memories in yellow, orange, brown, and red. Dexter Soy's heavy inks threaten to leave us with silhouettes. Panels evoke sepia-toned photographs that last longer—and impart more warmth and color—than their Black and White cousins.

 

Dexter Soy focuses on foregrounds in Gunslinger Spawn #26. Detail and texture are everything to him. As Javier prepares for his next mission, Soy's panels seem photorealistic. Backgrounds blur away. Yet when Javier summons Dakota's gift, he roars away on a different type of steed. Backgrounds glow with blue, yellow, orange, and red. They swirl like colored liquids of different viscosities in a fish tank. The city rises behind him. The miles fall away. As Javier rides toward his revenge, his mask ripples like liquid metal and transforms his features.

 

Black uppercase words inhabit light yellow narrative boxes. As Todd McFarlane’s words guide us through Gunslinger Spawn #26, Tom Orzechowski outlines these boxes with gray. White dialogue balloons rarely intrude upon this grim tale, where turquoise sound effects match the wings of the insects that feast upon Javier's scarred and bleeding flesh. Dialogue balloons surprise on the final page with a color granted to another character in a recent issue. Does this signal that person’s return? Or something else?

 

Thanks to Image for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

As Javier rides toward his next victim, remembering the blackest day of his life, Taylor suffers, and changes threaten both men in Gunslinger Spawn #26.

 

Rating 8.8/10

 

For another dazzling cover see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.

 

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.

Gunslinger Spawn #25 Review

 

Writer: Todd McFarlane

Artist: Dexter Soy

Inker: Adelso Corona

Colorist: Ivan Nunes

Letterer: Tom Orzechowski

Cover Artists: Dan Panosian; Kevin Keane

Publisher: Image

Price: 2.99

Release Date: October 25, 2023

 

Gunslinger hungers for vengeance, leaving a trail of blood in his wake. Who's his latest target? Let’s leap into Gunslinger Spawn #25 and find out!

 

Story

Truckers work nights for little pay. They’re tireless and loyal, but why? A flaming steed brings one eighteen-wheeler to a halt. When Gunslinger questions him, the trucker admits the truth. He knew what he was transporting.

 

Javier's next target? The depot. Gunslinger slips inside the warehouse and tosses something on the boss's desk. The object startles the man, giving Gunslinger time to garrot him. Or at least question him. But then footsteps sound. So the hellspawn leaves to attend to the man’s workers. But don’t worry, Boss Man! Gunslinger will return!

 

Gunslinger Spawn #25 unreels at a furious pace. Those who hurt his sister Amy will pay. Forsaking his friend Taylor and his shaman Waya, Javier treads a dark road. Yet the darkness doesn’t drown the hellspawn’s soul. Gunslinger uses brains more than weapons to achieve his ends. The guilty must pay. Yet—for the most part—it's by their own hands.

 

Gunslinger Spawn Figure available at McFarlane.com

 

 

Art

Dexter Soy and Adelso Corona avoid double-page spreads and splash pages, delivering detailed, photorealistic art. Changing camera angles captures the energy without jarring the reader. Javier crouches in the shadows while an overweight boss strongarms someone on the phone. Panels focus on the action: knives thud into wood and flesh, feet race down hallways, Javier pulls his gun, and his eyes glow as he says, "I'll be back." Be warned. If King Spawn #26 got your pulse racing three weeks ago, Gunslinger #25 could push your galloping heart into the danger zone!

 

Gunslinger's knife gleams. Every ripple and skull on the hellspawn’s outfit shows. Wherever Javier's boots take him—inside the dark cab, into the dim warehouse, or inside the illuminated Boss Man’s office—Ivan Nunes' shading and highlighting get there first. Darkness and silhouettes enhance drama and tone down the flying blood. Even the details—Post-It Notes on a filing cabinet, books on a floating shelf, a slice of pizza in a cardboard box, or a can of soda—breathe life into this deadly tale,

 

Tom Orzechowski delivers easy-to-read dialogue in stylized balloons in Gunslinger Spawn #25. While the yellow words in brown boxes are slightly smaller, Todd McFarlane's concise narrative won't tax readers. Sparse sound effects accentuate the action as Javier evens the scales. But will achieving his revenge sate Javier's hunger?

 

Final Thoughts

While Javier bathes his gloves in blood, Gunslinger Spawn #25 puts those who treat our planet callously in the crosshairs.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

For another cover see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.

 

The Scorched #22 Review

 

Writers: Sean Lewis & Todd McFarlane

Artist: Stephen Segovia

Colorist: Ulises Arreola

Letterer: Andworld Design

Cover Artists: Mike Deodato, Jr.; Kael Ngu

Publisher: Image

Price: 2.99

Release Date: October 11, 2023

 

Spawn, She-Spawn, and the team confront Terminus. The Senator wields the Spear Of Longinus, stolen from the military base. His kin are on the way. Can the Scorched defend Earth against the Planet Eaters? Let's burn into The Scorched #22 and find out!

 

Story

Death refined Jessica Priest. It galvanized her in the pit. Redeemer, Monolith, and Medieval left her as she fought the virus. What gave her the will to survive was her daughter.

 

Motherhood—protecting a child she hadn’t raised--fueled her fight against Urizen in The Scorched #17. Seeing that Jessica’s daughter might become an orphan, Gaia spared She-Spawn. She also gave She-Spawn a new team. But then, Gaia is the mother of all. Who better to defend her planet than another mother?

 

Terminus was an emissary of the Planet Eaters. But power corrupted him. Nor can Gaia trust Spawn after he teamed up with Urizen in the last issue.

 

Sean Lewis and Todd McFarlane tantalize us with prophecies and potential futures in The Scorched #22. Did Gaia send the Planet Eaters to destroy Earth? Or was finding a champion to turn back the Planet Eaters always the plan? Perhaps Gaia changed her mind? If a woman can do that, why not a god?

 

Art

After a one-issue break to recharge his spawn batteries, Stephen Segovia returns to The Scorched. He delivers the ultimate battle between She-Spawn and Senator Terminus. The others fight, but only Spawn diverts the action from the contenders. The arrival of a space fleet signals a lull in the battle. But this window closes quickly. Terminus wields his sacred spear, yet his arm doesn’t transform like in earlier issues. Something Spawn sees startles him. Incredibly, one member of Jessica’s new team dwarfs even Monolith.

 

Combatants fight against a purple sky. Yet a yellow glow surrounds She-Spawn. Blood—both red and green—flies. Spaceships and weapons cut through the air, leaving a trail of colored light. Redeemer's sword shoots a yellow energy beam at Terminus’ blood beasts. Yet the most intense light—yellow and green—sparks from She-Spawn’s eyes. Her hair and suit match Spawn’s cape and another woman’s dress. These are a sample of the bold and rich colors Ulises Arreola wows readers within The Scorched #22.

 

Yellow words in brown narrative boxes guide readers through this titanic title fight, courtesy of Andworld Design. Black and red uppercase words dominate white narrative boxes with stylized arrows. Jessica and Terminus's dialogue balloons resemble those of ordinary humans--even though both are far more. Minimal sound effects accentuate the intense action. Their absence goes unnoticed amid this issue’s thundering action.

 

Final Thoughts

Still suffering from the virus that nearly killed her, She-Spawn battles the Planet Eaters and combats greed and blindness in The Scorched #22.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

For more cover art 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.

Gunslinger Spawn #24 Review

 

Writer: Todd McFarlane

Artist: Brett Booth

Inker: Adelso Corona

Colorist: Ivan Nunes

Letterer: Tom Orzechowski

Cover Artists: Mike Deodato Jr.; Kael Ngu

Publisher: Image

Price: 2.99

Release Date: September 20, 2023

 

Taylor’s haunted by nightmare visions. Gunslinger wakes him, then tells him they’re Splitsville. Wait? Is the scarred hellspawn breaking up the team? Let’s fall into Gunslinger Spawn #24 and find out!

 

Story

Taylor suffered while growing up due to his less-than-human heritage. He struggled to fit in because his father never explained he didn’t belong. This reminder of his past makes Taylor notice Javier's scars. Taylor's pity reminds his hellspawn friend of unfinished business.

 

Javier abandons Taylor to visit his shaman. Waya reminds Gunslinger of his obligations to the boy. But Javier hasn't had time to train the boy or help Taylor fight the infection poisoning him. After dealing with the angels that pursued him and battling Clown and Violator on Omega Island, Gunslinger wants revenge on the people who hurt him and his sister. He’s waited long enough: it’s time to settle the score.

 

Gunslinger Spawn #24 reminds us of Taylor’s parentage and ups the stakes for his survival. Javier suffers from a similar sickness, but we haven’t seen how his angelic affliction affects him since Waya aided him in issue #18. The friends should go to school with each other. But Javier's tired of running. Make Do and Mend must do until he's balanced the scales. Watch out, villains! If Gunslinger's serving up revenge, it'll be a dish best served scorching hot!

 

Gunslinger Spawn figure available at Amazon.com

 

 

Art

Brett Booth and Adelso Corona open with a double-page spread of Taylor’s hellish suffering. While it doesn’t explain Taylor’s confusion, Dakota’s mention of giving Javier a steed makes more sense when Gunslinger pulls the tiny dinosaur from his pocket. The shape it assumes suggests its owner influences its transformation. Javier’s new ride--and the modern weapons Spawn supplied in issue #19--contrast with the ancient weapons and modern transportation Gunslinger used in this series debut. Two minor quibbles with Booth's otherwise excellent contributions would be the tiny panels that limit the expressiveness of Sharon's boyfriend and don’t show what Javier did to his adversary’s car.

 

Ivan Nunes loads his palette with vibrant colors that provide contrast and a touch of gray in Gunslinger Spawn #24. The fire surrounding Javier’s new steed burns red hot in the verdant forest. Smoky candles provide ambiance to Gunslinger’s sepia-toned scenes with Waya. Forelorn Sharon’s blue-green eyes dazzle, and Gunslinger’s red scarf and green eyes enhance the ferocity of his attack. Yet what lingers is the blood that pervades Taylor's torture.

 

Tom Orzechowski delivers dialogue in stylized balloons in Gunslinger Spawn #24. While the yellow words in brown narrative boxes are usually easy to read, longer sentences reduce the letter size in this issue. Sparse sound effects accentuate the action as Javier charts a new path.

 

 

Final Thoughts

Gunslinger Spawn #24 ponders the hunger for revenge, the universal nature of human suffering, and our responsibility to care for those in need.

 

Rating 9.4/10

 

For more covers see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.

Scorched #21 Review

 

Writers: Sean Lewis & Todd McFarlane

Artist: Dexter Soy & Carlo Barberi

Colorist: Ulises Arreola

Letterer: Andworld Design

Cover Artists: Fede Mele; Francesco Mattina

Publisher: Image

Price: 2.99

Release Date: August 30, 2023

 

The fire burned the forest surrounding little Annie and her grandmother. Through the blackened trees strides Jessica Priest, aka She-Spawn. She vowed she would never see her daughter again, but that was before she died. What are her intentions for her daughter and mother? Let's burn into Scorched #21 and find out!

 

Story

Jessica's got a new team. She now works on Gaia's behalf. After all the disasters that have shaken the Earth, She-Spawn knows the worst is yet to come. For the first time, Jessica apologizes to her mother for making her raise Annie. Jessica warns her a war is coming. What does her mother think when she realizes She-Spawn in Jessica? Does this lessen her dissatisfaction with her daughter? And how about Annie? The little girl may not recognize the woman she believes is her aunt, but at least Jessica got to hold her before assuming the mantle Gaia's given her.

 

The Scorched investigate computer searches at the devastated military base in New Mexico. As they learn that Senator Terminus hunted for records of relics and saints, powerful enemies return to claim they've switched sides and want to protect Earth against the Planet Eaters. Can the Scorched trust them?

 

Sean Lewis and Todd McFarlane beat the war drums loud and fast in Scorched #21. New coalitions emerge to take on Terminus. We learn more about the Planet Eaters and the Blood Beasts' role in Earth's destruction. Perhaps one commentator is correct: ordinary humans are helpless—little more than dust blown by the wind—as these otherworldly, supernatural forces battle for the fate of our planet. 

 

She-Spawn action figure available at Amazon.com

 

 

Art

While Carlo Barberi shows us how the news media interpret recent events, Dexter Soy brings us the battle of the century. Dexter's art looks less fluid than Stephen Segovia's, and Redeemer's and Medieval’s armor is less defined. Still, Terminus shows incredible detail. Mandarin's detailed and polished armor gleams. He exudes a resilience to fight the Scorched should they choose not to join him. Giants like Monolith and Urizen stand in proper proportion, and Spawn's team looks dynamic. Writers Sean Lewis and Todd McFarlane rely on big panels and double-page spreads to convey their epic tale, and Dexter Soy’s cover-worthy pages deliver.

 

Ulises Arreola ups the stakes in this apocalyptic tale with rich, vibrant coloring. Highlights and shadows play across faces and bodies. Even the ground exudes color where spawns don't fear to tread. Flames leap from their mouths and eyes, revealing the unholy fire that drives them. If any comic released this week can match the coloring in Scorched #21, show it to me. I want to see it!

 

Yellow words in brown narrative boxes guide us through Scorched #21, courtesy of Andworld Design. Black and red uppercase words possess white narrative boxes with stylized arrows. One TV commentator's speech reveals how colorful and compelling the news media can be. Intriguingly, Jessica's dialogue balloons resemble that of ordinary humans--even though she died and was reborn--and her eyes burn as hot as Spawn's. 

 

Curious about Scorched? Read the first issue free at the Image website.

 

Final Thoughts

Heroes and villains transform and form new alliances in Scorched #21, a powerful meditation on greed and power.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

To view another cover see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.

 

 

Gunslinger Spawn #23 Review

 

Writer: Todd McFarlane

Artist: Brett Booth

Inker: Adelso Corona & Corey King

Colorist: Ivan Nunes

Letterer: Tom Orzechowski

Cover Artists: Fede Mele; Kevin Keane

Publisher: Image

Price: 2.99

Release Date: August 9, 2023

 

When we last saw our heroes, Violator had gored Gunslinger, and Clown kicked his daughter Dakota into a chasm. Can either survive? Let’s fall into Gunslinger Spawn #23 and find out! 

 

 

Clown & Violator in Spawn #14 (1993)

 

 

Story

Todd McFarlane enlightens us on how the pit on Omega Island relates to Clown's nemesis Cogliostro, aka Sinn. He also reminds us why Clown wants to tick Gunslinger off Spawn's list of allies. His aims are tactical but also personal and harken back to a Banquet Gone Wrong earlier in this series.

 

On the surface, Violator slings Gunslinger off his tusks before leading a charge against the suffering spawn. Javier's friend Taylor arrives to claim a piece of the action. Yet the heart of this story beats in the dark pit: a battle of wills between a Machiavellian father and his headstrong child. 

 

Violator toy available at McFarlane.com

 

 

While family drama slashes through the pit in Gunslinger Spawn #23,  some dialogue and narrative need sharpening. The sentence "Dakota and her catch near their descent" induces head-scratching. A Clown balloon tells us: "I need won't you anymore." When Dakota gets personal, she talks about choosing. Then in the next panel, she says she went without choosing her destination. Taylor got on Gunslinger's case in issue #21 because the illiterate cowboy from ages past had never heard of dinosaurs. Yet, when Dakota suggests to Gunslinger that one of her tiny dinosaurs can transform into a steed, Taylor asks, "You're saying that thing turns into a horse?"

 

"Um, Taylor? What'd you ride in on, buddy?"

 

Still, there's much more to like than dislike in Gunslinger Spawn #23, such as Taylor's return, Gunslinger's rejuvenation, and Dakota's aching hunger for familial affection. My favorite sentence compares shrieking to the baying of injured dogs, which relates to one of Gunslinger's abilities. Best of all: fans learn how darling Dakota forged her affinity with dinosaurs. That alone is worth the price of admission for Mr. Clown's Wild Ride!

 

 

Todd McFarlane shares Dakota's First Appearance

 

 

Art

Brett Booth conveys realism and roughness to Gunslinger Spawn #23. Aided by inkers Adelso Corona & Corey King, dinosaurs and the Violator ignite the big-budget thrills of the Jurassic Park movies. Claws slash, gunfire flashes, blood flies, and hellspawn eyes burn. Momentous action shakes the compound on Omega Island, while at the bottom of the "near-bottomless" pit, light transfixes Dakota from a crack in the wall.

 

A few moments don't quite gel with the narrative. After hitting the bottom of the pit head-first, Clown stands, unbothered, in the next panel. Then Dakota hurls him to the floor again. Although he's struck from a far less height, this fall elicits a pained response. Up top, the narrator claims the minions are in a frenzy. While their eyes glow and innumerable incisors glisten, they're just peering into the pit. Later, the narrator states they surround Gunslinger, yet all we see are individual close-ups. The end—when they see the sun through openings in walls, doesn't marry with the poster-worthy double-page opening battle of issue #21. Hopefully, the next issue will finally unleash the clash of the spawn-titans. 

 

 

Gunslinger Spawn Figure available at McFarlane.com

 

 

 

As this review's length has tested your patience, I'll forego a detailed analysis of coloring and lettering. Ivan Nunes' vivid and luminous photorealism elevates Gunslinger Spawn #23, while Tom Orzechowski ensures that dialogue balloons and narrative boxes are pleasing to the eye and easy to read. Sound effects help you feel the energy coursing through this prehistoric and hellish adventure. One final shout-out: Dakota relates her dinosaur-handling origins via narrative boxes colored somewhere between magenta and brown. It's an eye-catching shade that sets the white letters off beautifully.

 

Final Thoughts

Amid the battle that rocks Omega Island, Gunslinger Spawn #23 examines the tragedy of dysfunctional families. Ironically, a monster’s unexpected act of caring has the final word.

 

Rating 9.2/10

 

To view another cover see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.