Spawn was one of the quintessential '90s comic books. Created by Todd McFarlane as a part of the Image Comics brand in 1992, Spawn was incredibly popular for much of the decade. Toys, an animated series and a live action movie were all created just a few years following the series' debut.
However, in the years since, the comic's popularity has waned somewhat. Even so, Spawn continued on through the years, and the series is set to release the 250th issue later this year. For many books, the coveted #250 is something that'll never happen, but for Spawn, it's yet another milestone.
Such a milestone is always cause for celebration, but McFarlane has some seriously game-changing plans in store for Spawn #250.
First and foremost, Spawn #250 will see the return of the series' main protagonist, Al Simmons. For those unaware, Simmons is the man everyone associates with the name 'Spawn,' but the character has actually been absent from the comics for more than 50 issues. McFarlane described the return of Spawn as a turning-point for the character, telling USA Today that "it's going to be a lot of the new attitude of what the character's going to be about moving forward."
For those that haven't kept up with the series or simply haven't started, issue #250 will also mark Spawn's digital debut. On top of that, McFarlane has also hinted at moving the entire Spawn library online, though there's no word quite yet on when readers can expect to see the back catalog available in a digital format.
The issue will employ an all-star team, with some major faces from Spawn's history making a return. For starters, the cover art will be handled by Greg Capullo, who worked on the series for over 80 issues during the late '90s. McFarlane speaks incredibly highly of Capullo, even going so far as to say that the artist was behind the definitive run of the character during his time working on the series.
The book's writing and art will be handled by Brian Wood and Jonboy Meyers respectively. McFarlane has said that Wood will have a bit more freedom with Spawn and his abilities now that Simmons is in control of the suit, while Meyers would bring a cleaner look and style to the series that many fans have been craving since Capullo's original run ended in 2000.
Finally, McFarlane said that, despite industry tradition, he would not be resetting Spawn to #1 following the anniversary issue. Aside from being a pointless business decision, McFarlane stated that "I spent 20 years to get to that number, and to just throw it away, I can't do it."
Most books reset to #1 after reaching such a milestone, but Spawn will continue with issue #251 after the side-story Spawn: Resurrection is finished early next year.
While Spawn may not have the same popularity as Marvel or DC's properties, the series maintains a loyal fanbase year after year. Spawn is one of only two Image Comics to continue on from its original release in '92, and with Issue #250 on its way, it's safe to assume that the series still has a long way to go.
Spawn #250 is set for release this December.
