SPAWN #359, by Image Comics 11/27/24, opens Spawn’s eyes to the possibility that being powerless may not be permanent, but the solution isn’t to Nyx’s liking.
Credits:
- Writer: Rory McConville, Todd McFarlane
- Artist: Brett Booth, Adelso Corona, Todd McFarlane, Daniel Henriques
- Colorist: Robert Nugent
- Letterer: Tom Orzechowski
- Cover Artist: Bjorn Barends (cover A)
- Publisher: Image Comics
- Release Date: November 27, 2024
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover Price: $2.99
- Page Count: 28
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of SPAWN #359:
First Impressions:
Now we’re cooking with necroplasm. Rory McConville and Todd McFarlane delivered on the promise of the previous issue by showing Spawn that the stalemate created when Nyx ascended to the throne of Hell is in danger of breaking loose. Filled with new information and plenty of intriguing teases, the long spell of tension created by Spawn #350 may finally be over.
Plot Analysis:
When last we left the very mortal Al Simmons in Spawn #358, we learned the head of The Agency, Jason Wynn, was using Lyra’s blood to concoct a virus for some unknown purpose, possibly to restore power to de-powered angels and demons. When Spawn broke into the research facility and rescued Lyra, laying waste to everyone in his path, Wyn initiated a burn plan to ensure no evidence led back to him.
In Spawn #359, we begin with a very mobile corpse shambling down the street to find the remains of three vampires slaughtered in a recent skirmish. Elsewhere, Bludd receives word that more attacks have occurred against his vampires. The effectiveness of the attacks suggests Jason Wynn and The Agency are behind it all, but the M.O. points in a new direction.
Up to now, Rory Mc Conville and Todd McFarlane have shepherded Spawn through a one-sided fight for close to a year. Bludd’s held all the cards, and it didn’t look like Spawn could do much more than be an annoyance. When the previous issue let it slip that de-powered angels opted for cybernetic upgrades to even the score, the inkling of a path forward has turned into a sizable spotlight.
Spawn and Lyra showed up to the meeting place in the message they received at the end of the last issue. There, they find Philip Kahn, aka The Curse. He’s a zealot for God and the mastermind behind the cybernetic upgrades for the angels. The Curse believes the Dead Zones have joined and remain in place due to a device placed in each Dead Zone, created and guarded by Bludd. Nyx isn’t responsible for de-powering the world. The Curse invited Spawn and Lyra to join him in taking out the devices, thereby restoring the balance of power to angels and demons against Bludd’s vampire army.
How’s that for a setup? The Curse may be crazy, but Spawn recognizes that the de-powering of angels and demons doesn’t mean all supernatural creatures are gone. The entire issue soon becomes a moral quandary – which of the two evils is lesser? Restoring powers to angels and demons, or letting Bludd and his vampires overtake the world?
The issue concludes with the shambling corpse paying Spawn a visit as the avatar of Nyx with a very specific warning.
Overall, Spawn #359 is light on action, but the implications of the new information to Spawn are clear and huge. By the end, you know which direction Spawn is headed, but there’s no way of telling how it will turn out.
Artwork and Presentation:
We can’t say it enough. Brett Booth is an absolute catch for this series. Booth perfectly emulates Todd McFarlane’s classic Spawn aesthetic while adding little touches and gobs of detail to give the visuals a fresh, modern appearance.
Art Samples:
Final Thoughts:
(Click this link 👇 to order this comic)
SPAWN #359 is, on its surface, a setup issue, but there’s nothing surface-level about the information Spawn receives and the implications of the choices before him. Rory McConville and Todd McFarlane set up a “lesser of two evils” scenario with huge implications for the title going forward, and Brett Booth’s artwork is magnificent.
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.