KING SPAWN #27, from Image Comics on 11/1/23, finds Spawn tumbling through the Dead Zone portal for a one-way trip to Hell to reach Hell’s Throne before Sinn. However, his shortcut comes with a price.
The Details
- Written by: Todd McFarlane
- Art by: Javi Fernandez, Kevin Keane
- Colors by: Ivan Nunes
- Letters by: AndWorld Design
- Cover art by: Dan Panosian (cover A)
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover price: $2.99
- Release date: November 1, 2023
Is KING SPAWN #27 Good?
KING SPAWN #27 continues Spawn’s descent into Hell, against the Visage’s warnings, for a surprisingly introspective and illuminating jumping-on point for new readers interested in learning what Spawn is all about. Loyal readers may (rightfully) argue this issue is more recap and treading water than anything else, but McFarlane goes the extra mile to explain Al Simmons’s journey to becoming Spawn and answer the all-important question – Why?
When last we left Spawn, he tore through the city to eliminate evil humans and demons alike in his quest to find the Visage – an immortal watcher who keeps an eye on the affairs of Earth, Hell, and everything in between. After a stern warning about being reckless, the Visage granted Al’s request to open a portal to Hell as a shortcut to beat Sinn to the throne. Now, Al’s tumble through the portal pushes him through a montage of his life’s deeds and misdeeds, remembering who he was and why he eventually became a prime candidate to become a Hellspawn. When Al reaches the bottom, he finds his journey is far from over, and he has more than one obstacle standing in his way.
If you read between the lines, Spawn falls down a hole, lands in Hell, and reorients himself for the next leg of the trip. That’s it. However, the issue is less about the destination and more about the journey when McFarlane engages in a thoughtful exploration of Al Simmons’s life all the way down, presumably to reflect the pain of retribution someone headed to Hell would experience after death.
What’s great about KING SPAWN #27? On the plus side, this issue makes for a great jumping-on point for casual or new readers. You learn about Al’s childhood, his military life, his marriage, and more. You get a close look at the events that shaped him into the man/monster that made him a perfect Hellspawn candidate.
What’s not so great about KING SPAWN #27? Admittedly, the plot of this series barely moves an inch. Spawn falls down a hole, sees his life pass before his eyes, lands, and finds out he’s in the wrong place. Further, loyal fans will already know all of the information Spawn sees during his life recap, so there’s not much to be gained by reading this issue if you’re already up to speed on the character.
How’s the art? Fantastic. Fernandez, Keans, and Nunes are doing Image proud with dynamic figure work and some of the most creative/unique panel layouts we’ve seen in a very long time. Most of the pages contain a kaleidoscope of panels in motion that looks beautifully rendered to convey a sense of moving pictures.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s KING SPAWN #27 About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our KING SPAWN #26 review to find out how many people Spawn needed to kill to find the Visage.
We begin with Spawn tumbling down the rabbit hole. As he falls, Spawn sees his life as Al Simmons flashes before his eyes. He remembers coming up as a troubled boy with an abusive father and a beaten mother. He remembers the darkness growing inside him as he joined the military and learned how to harness that darkness to become a killer. He remembers finding Wanda as the one good thing in his life and how her death only accelerated the darkness.
Broken and lost, Al was ripe to become Malbulgia’s next Hellspawn when he was sacrificed as part of a deal with Jason Wynn. When Spawn hits bottom, he encounters a tentacled monstrosity who’s not fond of uninvited guests.
We conclude the issue with an offer, a rejection, and a warning.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
(Click this link 👇 to order this comic)
KING SPAWN #27 pulls back on the plot progression and gives readers a walking tour of Al Simmons’s life to remind readers exactly why and how he became Spawn. The tour of Al’s life makes for an interesting jumping-on point for new and casual readers, but loyal fans may not get much from this issue.
We hope you found this article interesting. Come back for more reviews, previews, and opinions on comics, and don’t forget to follow us on social media:
If you’re interested in this creator’s works, remember to let your Local Comic Shop know to find more of their work for you. They would appreciate the call, and so would we.
Click here to find your Local Comic Shop: www.ComicShopLocator.com
As an Amazon Associate, we earn revenue from qualifying purchases to help fund this site. Links to Blu-Rays, DVDs, Books, Movies, and more contained in this article are affiliate links. Please consider purchasing if you find something interesting, and thank you for your support.