MONOLITH #1, by Image Comics on 5/15/24, begins a 3-part adventure to unveil the secret history of the hulking red Spawn’s connection with Omega Spawn that led to the first meeting with Al Simmons.
Credits:
- Writer: Sean Lewis
- Artist: Valerio Giangiordano
- Colorist: Ulises Arreola
- Letterer: AndWorld Design
- Cover Artist: Valerio Giangiordano (cover A)
- Publisher: Image Comics
- Release Date: May 15, 2024
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover Price: $2.99
- Page Count: 29
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of MONOLITH #1:
Plot Analysis:
Sean Lewis steps into the Spawnverse to unveil the troubled past and future of Spawn’s hulking ally. Filled with violent action, tidbits of data, and hints of what’s to come, Lewis gives the brute a truly original backstory.
Monolith #1 begins with the titular character punching, ripping, and stomping his way through a space prison 1,000 years in the future. Monolith is the last of the Hellspawns, and every alien around wants bragging rights for taking down the only remaining one.
During a brief flashback, we see Monolith returning to Earth in a space shuttle with the hope of going back in Time to stop the events that destroyed the Hellspawns and began the slow but inevitable destruction of the universe.
During his return to Earth orbit, Monolith’s shuttle is caught in a tractor beam by a nearby space prison floating in orbit. The prison is ruled by Omega Spawn, who intends to allow the universe’s destruction to proceed so that he can remake it in his image.
Monolith continues to rip his way through what is now a full prison riot. Omega decides to confront Monolith personally with a mighty sword, and the two are soon engaged in one-on-one combat. Monolith wrests the sword from Omega’s hands and stabs the warden through, weakening him and his hold on the prison. Before Monolith can deliver the killing blow, Gaia, now released from her prison cell, intervenes.
Character Development:
Long on Hulk-ish smashing and short on meaningful dialog or narration, this issue serves to show new readers how dangerous Monolith can be. Readers do get enough explanation as to what Monolith is after and why, but the dimensions of Monolith’s character have yet to be revealed.
Artwork and Presentation:
Valerio Giangiordano’s grim, moody art fit the bill for a comic about a stoic “hero” fighting his way through a gauntlet of enemies with an abundance of detail. Giangiorano’s impressively detailed art is made even more detailed by Ulises Arreola’s surprisingly intricate coloring, highlighting, and shading.
Art Samples:
Pacing and Structure:
Lewis’s pacing for a non-stop action comic is on point. Greater than half of this issue is dedicated to Monolith creating as much havoc as possible with his bare hands, so the fight choreography carries the reader along like a prizefighter in the middle of a battle royale.
Lewis’s structure, however, is where the issue falls a bit short, primarily through the lack of context. Why is a space prison filled with aliens orbiting the Earth? Why is Omega Spawn the boss of said prison? How did Monolith not see the prison that looks like the size of a small city before getting caught in a tractor beam? Why is Gaia a prisoner in a space prison, and how did she get there?
The more you read, the more questions stack up. Granted, some of these questions may have been answered in previous Spawn issues, but there are no editor’s notes to tell you where to look, so the jumping-on access is rough at best.
Thematic Exploration:
All words, deeds, and art are squarely focused on the action from start to finish, so any deeper thematic meaning is lost under the basic concept of “survival.” Monolith fights to survive, presumable to go back in time and help the Spawns survive.
The Bigger Picture:
Series Continuity:
So far, this story is completely isolated from the current events in the Spawnverse and the fallout from the conclusion of the Heaven/Hell war. The following issues may dovetail into current events, but it’s too soon to tell.
Final Thoughts:
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MONOLITH #1 begins a face-punching, limb-ripping battle royale to set the stage for Monolth’s quest to save the Earth and the universe. Lewis and Giangiordano deliver plenty of smashing and a few cameos, but the plot lacks backstory and context.
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