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Review: Spawn #294

Nemesis

Spawn continues to be a title that is incredibly well drawn and colored while providing a continuing story that is engaging and creative.  Issue 293 of Spawn is no exception.  Pushing boundaries in both the unfolding plot line and some incredible action, this issue is surely one to be remembered.

In previous issues, Al Simmons had recovered from a near fatal attack and was intent on gathering resources and recruits to start a new campaign against both Heaven and Hell.  Having learned the truth about his nature and the role Hellspawn were intended to play, Simmons began his war which culminated in a fight between him and an agent of Heaven (see issue #293).  However, as the fight ends, Al lets his symbiotic suit melt away revealing his identity to the world.  Figuratively, Al Simmons, and by extension writer Todd McFarlane, have dropped a nuclear bomb on this secret war that has been going on for millennia.

Fast forward to issue 294 and you are given a front row seat to the world-wide aftermath of those events.  As Al is cuffed and lead away by police he proclaims his identity to the world, imploring everyone watching to research the name Al Simmons.  Furthermore, he asks the press to dig into his past missions and who he worked for while he was still alive.  The press obliges and news reports go out everywhere; wondering how a deceased Lt. Col. Al Simmons, military hero, could be alive and the black clad Spawn.  Predictably, Simmons very public battle and the subsequent revelation of his identity, send shock-waves through the shadowy Earthly consortiums run by the agents of Heaven and Hell.  With those consortiums struggling to maintain their control and Heaven’s agent having failed, Hell dispatches an agent of their own; enter once again Violator.  The clown faced demon, acting as an agent of Malebogia and Hell, returns to confront Al and find out what the hell (pardon the pun) he thinks he is doing.

Violator has always had Simmons’ number, not only because he is an immensely powerful demon but because he was instrumental in the design of the symbiotic costume that Hellspawn wear.  In the past, these two qualities have been major factors in the series of brutal defeats Spawn has suffered at the hands of the clown.  With his usual mixture of profane disdain and grotesqueness, Violator confronts Spawn and implies that another beating is imminent if he doesn’t fall in line.  Simmons’ is not amused and notices that just as he has changed over the years, so has the clown.  As their argument escalates, Violator also notes that a shift in Al Simmons, the Spawn he has shepherded since issue 2 of the series.   Indeed, Al has changed.  He is no longer a man divided, one fighting against his fate.  Instead, Al Simmons — soldier, strategist, warrior, killer — has now fully embraced his role and has decided to give Heaven and Hell “his full attention” to borrow his words.  Invariably, their argument turns to blows and Violator transforms from clown to his immensely powerful demon form.  However, it is here that Al turns the tables on the demon and puts the fear of Spawn into his adversary.  I will not give away the details of their struggle.  Suffice it to say, Spawn’s transformation, the consequences of the fight and the final panel are incredible and are a momentous end to what was already an incredible book.

This is one of those books that is a must own.  Issue #294 is a landmark in the series, it is really that good and that important.  McFarlane has fundamentally transformed the Spawn universe and the character himself in the last couple of issues and this issue in particular.  Not to be outdone, Jason Shawn Alexander has delivered some incredible artwork.  The art in this issue is par excellence, providing a graphic outlet for the menace, supernatural evil, and incredible power on display.  The pages of this book are replete with memorable panels featuring jaw dropping action and awe-inspiring visuals.  Several of these panels had me drooling at the thought of future sculptures based on this artwork.  In summary, this book is a watershed moment in the series and one I can’t recommend highly enough.

 

Writing – 5 of 5 Stars
Art – 5 of 5 Stars

[yasr_overall_rating size=”medium”]

Writer – Todd McFarlane
Art – Jason Shawn Alexander
Color – Fco Plascencia
Letters – Tom Orzechowski

Author Profile

Nemesis
Nemesis is a poet, writer and author of the upcoming novel The Long Game. He is a writer of science fiction and supernatural thrillers. Besides novels and short stories he writes for UK based ASAP Comics developing new stories for Level 8 and OPSEC. Nem is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and tries to bring those experiences into his writing.

He lives and works out of his home in Riverside, California with his wife and three children. When not writing he enjoys reviewing comic books and graphic novels for ComicCrusaders.com and living the Southern California life with his family.
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