Sunday, October 9, 2022

Tooniversary: Todd McFarlane's Spawn (1997)

 Spawn is one of two Image comics series that has remained in publication over the course of its 30 years of existence (Savage Dragon is the other). 25 years ago, series creator Todd McFarlane, one of Image's founders, struck a deal with HBO and the Japanese animation studio Madhouse to adapt the series for television.

Todd McFarlane's Spawn lasted just three seasons of six episodes each. Keith David, fresh from Gargoyles, voiced the title character, a demonic mutation of ex-soldier Al Simmons, who had been betrayed and killed five years before his resurrection.


Due to language and adult situations, two things very common with HBO, we can't show any video footage. What we can tell you, though, is that during the 1st season, NHL player Tony Twist filed suit due to one of the villains on the show (and comic book), a mob boss, was his namesake. Twist won the case, and the gangster was written off. A follow-up series was in development 13 years ago, but never really got off the ground.

Spawn has become a cottage industry for Image, with a number of spin-off series currently running.

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