SPAWN #354 – New Comic Review

SPAWN #354, by Image Comics on 6/19/24, finds Spawn and his new ally chased by Bludd’s vampires, but an unexpected visitor arrives before Spawn is put down for good.

Credits:

• Writer: Rory McConville, Todd McFarlane
• Artist: Brett Booth
• Colorist: Adelso Corona
• Letterer: Jay David Ramos
• Cover Artist: Tom Orzechowski
• Publisher: Puppeteer Lee (cover A)
• Release Date: June 19, 2024
• Comic Rating: Teen
• Cover Price: $2.99
• Page Count: 29
• Format: Single Issue

Covers:

Analysis of SPAWN #354:

Plot Analysis:

Now that Spawn is mortal, it was only a matter of time before the supernatural beasties got their claws on the world’s (former?) Hellspawn. Rory McConville and Todd McFarlane deliver an action-packed issue that doesn’t end well for our hero, but will a new arrival (with a familiar name) shift the balance? Maybe.

When last we saw Spawn in issue #353, he tracked down the mysterious killer gunning for Bludd near one of the vampire king’s mansions in upstate New York. The assassination attempt failed, sending Spawn and the killer fleeing into the nearby woods. Meanwhile, Fixer, Jason Wynn’s field agent, watched the scenario unfold from a safe distance.

In Spawn #354, we begin with a flashback to two months before. Al Simmons, aka Spawn, dozed off while remaining close to Terry, who sustained a life-threatening gunshot. Cyan, Terry’s daughter, woke Al to tell him Terry would be okay and that Wanda managed to get out of Hell. Wanda’s message to Al through Cyan? Let her go and move on.

Now, Spawn and the assassin race through the woods, away from Bludd’s private mansion. Spawn holds the pursuing vampires at bay with his expert gunfire, giving the duo time to reach a motorbike stashed nearby. The killer drives off while Spawn rides the pillion.

Meanwhile, Fixer watches the hunt from a distance and asks Jason Wynn for orders. Wynn permits Fixer to extract Spawn and his partner from the situation as long as he isn’t identified by the vampires who could send word to Bludd. Before Fixer can engage, he’s confronted by a read-haired vampire and taken hostage.

Nearby, Spawn and the killer make it to the nearby ride on their motorcycle, but they’re not fast enough to outrun the flying vampires. Their bike is toppled, and Reaper sends word to Bludd via smartphone that Spawn was captured. Bludd taunts Spawn over the video call and gives our hero a demonstration of his power by ordering Reaper to kill himself with his scythe.

Reaper immediately complies, forcing the giant blade into his chest. Spawn screams at Bludd to make Reaper stop, but he refuses. Suddenly, a green light streaks across the sky and lands in the middle of the fight. Jim Downing, the former Hellspawn and angel, has arrived.

Character Development:

Al Simmons gets a couple of moments to shine by exposing the depth of his feelings in this issue.

First, when Al receives the news about Terry’s recovery and Wanda’s message, he’s clearly wrestling with a mixture of relief and sadness.

Second, when Eddie, aka Reaper, is about to die, Al screams with rage and desperation over the thought of Eddie dying in such a callous act by Bludd.

Artwork and Presentation:

Brett Booth’s artwork is something else, and I mean that in the best way possible. Booth’s character acting, figure work, action choreography, and dramatic presentation are on point. Plus, Jay David Ramos’s coloring is outstanding.

Art Samples:

Pacing and Structure:

McConville’s pacing is smooth, energetic, and purposeful. The plot gives readers an even mix of action and soap-operatic plot development to keep the narrative moving.

Better yet, we learn a little about the killer’s background, and the arrival of Jim Downing is an intriguing twist. In all, McConville delivers a script that satisfies.

Thematic Exploration:

Thematically, this issue is all about sacrifice. Wynn lets Fixer put himself in danger to get his hands on Spawn. Spawn is willing to put himself in danger to save the killer, and Spawn’s larger objective puts him in danger while looking for a cure for vampirism to save Eddie.

The Bigger Picture:

Series Continuity:

As the main title in the Spawnverse, this series spends the most time capitalizing on the fallout from the Heaven/Hell war. The killer’s background hints at a potential loophole in the Earth-sized dead zone, and Jim Downing’s arrival as a possible agent of Greenworld could portend an end to the quarantine Nyx placed on Earth.

Final Thoughts:

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SPAWN #354 is a rock-solid issue in the series with fantastic art, surprising revelations about the mysterious assassin, and the arrival of an old character that could foreshadow the next big development in the series.

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