KING SPAWN #29, by Image Comics on 1/10/24, finds Spawn pushed to his limits as he traverses the forbidden lands of Hellspawn in a race to reach the throne.
The Details
- Written by: Todd McFarlane
- Art by: Javi Fernandez
- Colors by: Ivan Nunes
- Letters by: AndWorld Design
- Cover art by: Federico Sabbatini (cover A)
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover price: $2.99
- Release date: January 10, 2024
Is KING SPAWN #29 Good?
Spawn’s neverending walk through the wastelands of Hell takes an unexpected turn when Al is pushed to his breaking point, prompting an old ally to step in. Todd McFarlane puts Spawn through the wringer in KING SPAWN #29, which puts the anti-hero in the right spot to rise and overcome.
When last we left Spawn, he battled demons of all shapes and sizes for the right to cross the forbidden lands of Hell. Some of the corpses Spawn left in his wake became offerings for even bigger demons on the prowl. Now, Spawn concludes his glowing eye attracts swarms of beasts from above and below, so he blinds himself, making his walk even harder. When the hard walk gets even harder with a fall down a cliffside, a familiar face picks up the beaten Hellspawn in his darkest time of need.
Yes, it sounds strange, but McFarlane almost riffs on Mary Stevens’s poem “Footprints In The Sand.” McFarlane stops short of using KING SPAWN #29 as an allegory for Christ bearing the burdens of the weary, but he comes pretty darn close.
What’s great about KING SPAWN #29? Spawn may be an anti-hero, but McFarlane is certainly putting him through his paces on the classic hero’s journey, akin to Dante’s Inferno, as Spawn traverses one torment after another to reach his goal. You generally don’t associate Spawn’s adventures with classic literature and famous poems, but McFarlane is doing an excellent job of incorporating classical themes into this issue.
What’s not so great about KING SPAWN #29? Spawn eventually meets a familiar character, prompting the two to move on together on Spawn’s journey, but this character’s appearance makes this title’s connection to the ongoing Heaven/Hell war even more confusing. In other titles, such as Spawn, this character and Spawn are already traveling together, so the cross-title synchronicity is becoming a mess.
How’s the art? The art is fantastic. Javi Fernandez delivers powerful imagery, creepy monsters, and gorgeous panels.
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 #29 About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our KING SPAWN #28 review to find out how Spawn fed a very large demon a snack.
We begin with Spawn bearing the burden of his long walk across the forbidden lands to reach the Throne of Hell. His symbiote is starting to grow wild due to extended exposure to Hell’s atmosphere. The beasts, plants, and ground all react to Spawn’s approach, especially when he figures out his glowing eyes create an attraction point for beasts.
In response, Spawn blindfolds himself, slowing his progress and sowing doubt in his mission. During a rough climb, Spawn is attacked by a swarm of demon bats, pitching him over a nearby cliff. We conclude the issue with a forced rest, a friendly face, and footprints in the sand.
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 #29 borrows from classic literature and famous poetry to bring wear Spawn down on his lonely trudge through Hell. McFarlane uses classical themes to put the anti-hero on a spirit-crushing hero’s journey, and Fernandez’s stellar art brings every beast and hellish obstacle to life.
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.