Spawn

[needler420]

Hi: I'm new to the forum, I've been reading this thread for a while now. I was a fan of comics back in the 90s and used to read all sorts of titles. I returned a few months ago and I've been catching up with all the new "classic" stuff like Y: The Last Man and Transmetropolitan. I used to love Spawn and I have an incomplete run from issues 1 to about 25 that I'm planning to complete.
What I wanted to ask you guys that have been reading if for so long, is: Up to what issue is it worth buying? Which are good stopping and returning points, say completing from 1 to 26 something like that and then from 180 to 200, just to put a random example. I'm definitly not buying 200+ issues.
I appreciate the help, thank you.

If you're not going to buy all the back issues and you're just trying to get the story then you probably want like the trade paper backs or a compendium or something like that. I think a compendium just came out not sure.

[Dark-Flux]

Id say from 1-100 are all worth reading. But if you dont wanna collect that many issues then Id say read 95-100.
David Hines run was excellent and included the Armageddon arc which could really have been the end of the story if they hadnt chose to continue. His run is 150-184

Endgame wasnt that great, but it did set up alot of important stuff for the current direction. Least of which was introducing Jim Downing as the new Spawn so it might be worth looking into. Thats 185-200

The current run is awesome and worth reading in its entirety. 201-present (219)

TMP are currently reprint a load of past stuff in trade under the "Spawn Origins" moniker.
Both Hines run and Endgame are available in trade too, as is the first 10 or so issues of the current teams run.
A compendium of 1-50 is out soon but you should know that the art is B&W.

[Scott M Davis]

Hines run is out of print now, though your LCS may still have the trades and maybe the back issues in stock.

[defuentes]

Thank you Dark-Flux!. That's what I've been reading all over, that the Armageddon arc would have been a fitting finale, I'm trying to get the TPBs of that because the single issues are too expensive.
About earlier issues I've been looking into it and your opinion is popular, issues 1 - 100 sound interesting. There's an arc there at the end, I think it goes from 95 to 100 or 101 (correct me if I'm wrong please) that looks quite good.
What happens if I jump then from 100 or 101 to 150 for the Armaggedon arc?.
Thanks again for all the help.

[Dark-Flux]

.What happens if I jump then from 100 or 101 to 150 for the Armaggedon arc?.
Thanks again for all the help.

i think youd be okay. Not too much happens in that space of time. It was probably the books lowest point. Spawn becomes moodier, wonders round, fights random villains, forgets who he is, then remembers...
It builds up Mammon to be the main villain but youd get that just fine in Armageddon. The only thing i could think of would be that Nyx gets introduced somewhere in there and shes a recurring character in Armageddon and throughout Hines run. Though you still probabably get the gist of her easy enough.

[Greg Anderson]

I'd only recommend reading between 100-150 for the Nyx and Mammon stuff. Also, the arc with The Redeemer and Cog. Besides that, it's pretty passable.

[Ramage]

Is Image going to continue the Spawn hardcovers collection? I love those things. (Hoping that the Savage Dragon Ultimate collections continue as well and maybe even sometime where a Cyberforce collection starts.)

[Dark-Flux]

Not sure.
It was my thinking that theyd start a new line for 101-200 as the "Origins" imprint doesnt seem that appropriate.
Just have to wait for solicits i guess.

[murch]

I picked up the Spawn Compendium v1 on Wednesday... what a book!

It's a real treat to see the first 50 issues with just the inked pages, especially considering the talent involved.

I wish they would have included the covers to the issues, but it's not a deal-breaker for me. It's kind of cool to be able to read the issues sequentially without any interruption anyway.

[IntellectualAl]

I haven't read Spawn since #200. Is the current run worth reading?

[murch]

I haven't read Spawn since #200. Is the current run worth reading?

In my opinion? Yes. Kudranski's art fits the darker tone of the book perfectly, and McFarlane and Goff have done a great job of weaving the new Spawn into 20 years of existing continuity.

[Dark-Flux]

Yeah i think the book improved dramatically after 200.
Endgame introduced a lot of stuff to establish the new direction but the execution was rather poor imo.
Kudranskis art is a pefect fit too.

[Marc]

Is the compendium worth it? Honestly, how many issues of Spawn are worth the money? Does it ever drop off?

[Dark-Flux]

Yeah hell it drops off! :(
But the first 50 issues are all pretty good at least. The odd dud maybe.

[HellsRider]

So the big 20th Anniversary issue, issue 220 came out this week. I was a little worried at a lack of a preview for this, but in the end I'm glad their wasn't one.

Lets talk art first. The entire issue, for the most part, is a homage to the very first issue almost page by page, panel by panel only modernized with the current artist in the context of the current story and I think Kudranski does a fantastic job once again in the art department. These last three issues in my opinion have been Kudranski's best work on Spawn yet and really nails that Spawn feel in his own way. Despite the fact that some pages/panels were done in the style of issue 1 back in issue 189, their I felt it was rather hollow I suppose to do that where as here the team goes full force and makes it their own which I feel wasn't done in issue 189. So once again, fantastic art work.

On to the content. So it seems they have decided for the time being to put the big revelation about Jim Downing that Malebolgia said last issue in the back burner for now and instead have decided to focus on Jim hunting down answers to his past life as a researcher for the CIA. Their are some mentions here and there of Jim's internal struggle with the symbiote, but right now it seems as though Jim does remember his past life as a researcher that we found out in issue 216 which is where "The Program" comes in which from the back of the cover is supposed to detail the work that Jim did back then or at least Project: RAGNOROK, a part of 'The Program," is supposed to be. The issue does introduce very interesting developments not the least of which is the return of 2 BIG things one of which I couldn't believe and I'm still somewhat shell shocked that he is back. The issue also had the departure of Detective Rowand from the story it seems like. At this point, Rowand wasn't adding much and it seems they are abandoning the idea of Rowand replacing Sam, so now Twitch is by himself which kinda sucks. The final point made is Jim about to begin something with Rat City that I don't think either Heaven or Hell will like and will be interesting to see the ramifications of this story point.

All in all, I came away enjoying the anniversary issue very much though I did have a question in the back of my head with a particular scene when Spawn is in Argentina and took out those soldiers that were about to destroy boxes of "The Project" and that is, didn't Bludd say he has all the files pertaining to Jim's past life, so how did Jim know to go to Argentina and where "The Project" would be? Their is an interview after the story finishes with McFarlane that does talk about somethings that have been re-introduced as well as pages of issue 1 there so it was kinda cool to look at back then and now. Their is also a timeline of Spawn when issues came out, mini series, and so on, two pages showing all 220 covers (not counting the variants), and a vertical poster/image of Spawn. Can't wait till next issue!