SCORCHED #21, from Image Comics on 8/30/23, begins the next sortie against the Planet Eaters when Spawn and his cohorts form an unlikely alliance with Urizen and Mandarin.
The Details
- Written by: Sean Lewis, Todd McFarlane
- Art by: Dexter Soy, Carlo Barberi
- Colors by: Ulises Arreola
- Letters by: AndWorld Design
- Cover art by: Fede Mele (cover A)
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover price: $2.99
- Release date: August 30, 2023
Is SCORCHED #21 Good?
Scorched #21 dispenses with Terminus’s manipulations and gets down to the business of brawling. Sean Lewis and Todd McFarlane’s script feels smaller and more compact than the previous issues where Terminus incited crowds to outrage and violence, but the self-contained battle has more than enough wow moments to make Spawn fans happy.
When last we left Spawn and his ecto-powered friends, they fended off an attack on a military base by a riled-up crowd, courtesy of Terminus’s manipulative powers of persuasion. Terminus escaped in the chaos to join his fellow Planet Eaters, leaving Spawn and his friends to clean up the mess. Now, Urizen and Mandarin arrive to join the fight against a common enemy, and She-Spawn is called to action by the forces of Gaia.
Again, the oddity of this issue is how small it feels. In the previous issues, Terminus incited crowds, mobs, and the entire public to take action in service of spreading chaos that would burn the world. Here, the issue turns into a simplistic super fight between the Planet Eaters and the Spawn Squad. That change in scale isn’t necessarily a problem, but it’s a noticeable change.
What’s great about this comic? If you read Spawn comics for some kickass Spawn-fighting action, Lewis and McFarlane pull no punches in this issue. Barring a little setup in the beginning between She-Spawn and Gaia’s forces, this issue is 100% focused on brawling.
What’s not so great about this issue? Scaling down Terminus’s approach to burning down the world through influence to a standard brawl feels like a step backward in the story’s scale. Again, if you read Spawn comics for the art and the action, you’ll still be happy with the end result. However, if you liked the potential of Terminus turning the world against itself, presenting Spawn with a threat he couldn’t just punch away, the issue may leave you feeling deflated.
How’s the art? Stellar. Dexter Soy and Carlo Barberi deliver dynamic, action-packed visuals with enough energy to power a small city. Say what you will about the script, McFarlane knows how to pick great artists to keep Spawn’s visual quality on a consistent high.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our SCORCHED #20 review to find out how Terminus almost created a mass casualty event.
We begin with Jessica, aka She-Spawn, saying hello and goodbye to her daughter after being resurrected. The forces of Gaia arrive to inform She-Spawn that her destiny is calling.
Elsewhere, Spawn and his allies search the files left behind by Terminus to figure out the next plan of attack. Suddenly, Mandarin and Urizen arrive to reluctantly join the team against a common enemy.
We conclude the issue with Saints against Sinners, a double cross, and a new contender entering the battlefield.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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SCORCHED #21 scales back the fall of society to focus on the task at hand – pitting the Planet Eaters against Spawn and his allies for the fate of the Earth. The art and action are intense, and the stakes are clearly huge, but the buildup feels like it takes a step back into a standard brawl.
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