Do i have to read Spawn 201+ issues?

[Mexiun]

I want to begin reading spawn again, but i pretty much want to read it for Al Simmons.
So do i have to read it all the way up to date? Because i have no idea whats going on.
I heard that the series ended with a Jim person taking over on 201?
So is it a whole new series with the villians revived or something?

Thanks.

[Dark-Flux]

Its the sames series continuing on, but Jim Downing is now the protagonist.

Its all still the same story/continuity/characters (save Al) etc.

Are yo saying you only want to read the stuff with Al? In which case id recommend David Hines run if you havnt read it. Thats #150-184.
If your interested in the current goings on you could jump on at #185, #201 or #220.

[Mexiun]

Thanks, but im wondering; Whats the difference if i for example read Spawn #1 to issue #150?
Is 150 a whole new story and ends with 184?

Tried looking for some info about it, but its all very confusing (i really have a hard time understanding things in general to be honest).

[murch]

It's an ongoing story from #1 to this month's #221, next month's #222, and so on.

201 provides a good jumping-on point, and there are some great scenes used to get new readers up to speed on the history of Spawn in subsequent issues.

If you don't read 1-200, you won't be lost starting at 201. You might not get as much out of some of the finer details as someone who has read since the beginning, but you'll still be entertained.

Throughout the run there are story arcs that are good, and ones that are not so good - all of that coming down to your personal preference.

Al and his legacy are very much part of the story still, and will still be important as the story progresses regardless of whether he's Spawn or Jim is.

If anything, start with 201 (you can buy the first two New Beginnings trade paperbacks that collect 201-212), and if you want to go back and read other stories that are referenced, you can do that at any point.

The guys are writing it so that a new reader can jump in and get up to speed quite quickly without needing to read the 200+ issues that came before, but they're referencing enough stuff that you may feel intrigued enough to go back and seek out older storylines to get all of the backstory.

[transvestitegod]

I'd never been interested in Spawn before seeing Kudranski's art for #201; I've been buying every issue since then, and I don't feel lost at all. I recommend starting there.

[Scott M Davis]

While the early stuff has some great artwork by McFarlane and Capullo, the stories were always drawn out and most time over written. 201 and up is where you should start. Amazing artwork and stupendous writing by a Will Conrad.

Spawn has been absolutely exciting the last few issues. Feels like the book actually has a direction.

[Dark-Flux]

While the early stuff has some great artwork by McFarlane and Capullo, the stories were always drawn out and most time over written. 201 and up is where you should start. Amazing artwork and stupendous writing by a Will Conrad.

Spawn has been absolutely exciting the last few issues. Feels like the book actually has a direction.

Funny you should should praise Will Carltons writing since its just Todd McFarlane using a pseudonym ;)

[Scott M Davis]

I know.. I was told it was Todd, way before it was announced.

[Mexiun]

Read 5 chapters now.
Pretty awesome so far.

[Jack00]

I want to begin reading spawn again, but i pretty much want to read it for Al Simmons.
So do i have to read it all the way up to date? Because i have no idea whats going on.
I heard that the series ended with a Jim person taking over on 201?
So is it a whole new series with the villians revived or something?

Thanks.

If you want to read it because of Al Simmons then I have some bad news for you, he's not the main character anymore and hasn't been for a while.

Thanks, but im wondering; Whats the difference if i for example read Spawn #1 to issue #150?
Is 150 a whole new story and ends with 184?

Tried looking for some info about it, but its all very confusing (i really have a hard time understanding things in general to be honest).

#1-150 was when Spawn was in it's prime. Anything after #185 sux balls if you ask me, especially since #201. I don't recall recall having less fun reading a comicbook. I keep getting it and reading it because Spawn is the comic book I grew up with and I still have hopes that someday it will go back to the action packed, intrigued heaven and hell conflict, great villains and colorful artwork, but I know those days are long gone and it will never come back again. When I was on the official spawn boards before it shut down I could hear very few positive comments on each new issues we were getting. What you gonna do...

Anyway to answer your question, #1 to 222 is a continuation, but if you want to jump in #185 would be the point to do it as it is when the new main character takes place with Jim Downings.

[Dark-Flux]

Seems to be split opinions here then. From what ive seen 100-149 is regarded to be the books lowest point and David Hines run up to 184 to be one of the high points.
201+ has also been getting way more praise than negativity on the interwebs from what im seeing.

[Greg Anderson]

For me it was all about #150-184. That was damn good stuff. I've been meaning to re-read all that again.