SPAWN #349, by Image Comics on 1/24/24, decides winners and losers in the raging war to claim the Throne of Hell.
The Details
- Written by: Rory McConville
- Art by: Carlo Barberi
- Colors by: Jay David Ramos
- Letters by: Tom Orzechowski
- Cover art by: Federico Sabbatini (cover A)
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover price: $2.99
- Release date: January 24, 2024
Is SPAWN #349 Good?
It all comes down to this… almost. SPAWN #349 marks the penultimate issue before the ultimate showdown between warring factions to claim the Throne of Hell. Rory McConville set up all the pins in a row, so anticipation is high to see how well he knocks them down.
When last we left Spawn and the assortment of enemy armies, Sinn nearly decimated Greenworld’s forces, the Scorched launched a rescue mission to save GunSlinger and Medieval, Spawn found encouragement through a visit from Wanda, and Clown completed his takeover of Heaven.
Now, Nyx is ordered to retreat, an order she’s not keen to follow. Rapture learns leading Heaven’s army to take control of Hell may have been a foolish decision. And the long-awaited fight between Sinn and Cataclysm arrives. By the end of this issue, the final battle is about to begin.
If you’ve been keeping track of the other Spawnverse titles, wondering where they all fit in conjunction with the Heaven/Hell war and the overall timeline, we have no idea. The Scorched, King Spawn, and GunSlinger appear in related but separate timelines, so the intersection of events is far from smooth. If you want to keep on the war, stick to Spawn.
What’s great about SPAWN #349? Rory McConville’s building momentum over this arc keeps pushing the reader forward into what feels like a true blue, climactic battle. Some characters win their skirmish, others fall, and the cliffhanger ends in a dramatic faceoff at Hell’s seat of power.
What’s not so great about SPAWN #349? For all the buildup of titanic forces between Sinn and Cataclysm, their battle is unsatisfyingly brief. You’d rightly expect McConville would make the battle between opposing leaders the showpiece of this issue, but it barely gets more than a couple of pages, so it’s a bit of a letdown.
How’s the art? Carlo Barberi’s art is fantastic, as always. Todd McFarlane knows how to pick artists that showcase his creations the best with powerful figure work and creative action.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s SPAWN #349 About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our SPAWN #348 review to find out what happened to Medieval and GunSlinger.
We begin with Nyx receiving the news that Greenworld is in full retreat. Sinn is poised to lose his fight, so Nyx’s masters have decided to cut their losses. Nyx, however, secretly decides to fight until the end.
Meanwhile, Rapture believes his final push to the Throne is imminent as soon as reinforcements from Heaven arrive. He’s shocked when the portal opens, and Clown is the first face he sees. Elsewhere, Sinn and Cataclysm finally meet on the battlefield.
We conclude the issue with death, a whisper, and a convergence.
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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SPAWN #349 builds drama, momentum, energy, and anticipation in the penultimate issue before the final battle to claim Hell’s Throne. McConville’s script is paying off the buildup to the arc’s finale in a big way, and Barberi’s art is top-tier.
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