COMIC BOOK TITANS COLLIDE: TODD McFARLANE AND J. SCOTT CAMPBELL FINALLY UNLEASH THEIR LONG-AWAITED COLLABORATION

Six Artist Exclusive Variants for The Scorched #52 Bring Two Comic-Book Titans Together for a Must-See She-Spawn Collectible Event

Okay, Spawn fans, this is not a drill. After years of conversations, tantalizing teases, abandoned sketches, and enough fan speculation to fill the deepest corners of the Spawn Universe, Todd McFarlane and J. Scott Campbell are finally joining forces.

The two comic-book powerhouses are officially unveiling an exclusive collection of six Artist Exclusive covers for The Scorched #52, marking their first true collaboration within the Spawn Universe.

Yeah, it took a minute but judging by what these two legends cooked up, the wait may have been worth every second.

First announced during New York Comic Con 2025, the collaboration turns years of creative conversations into a full-blown collectible event. This is not simply Campbell drawing a cover while McFarlane gives it a thumbs-up from across the room. Fans are getting two distinct artistic interpretations born from the same original vision, allowing both creators’ unmistakable styles to stand side by side.

 

McFarlane’s editions take Campbell’s original sketches and push them through Todd’s legendary inking style—that heavy, kinetic, shadow-drenched visual energy that helped redefine superhero comics and turn Spawn into a global icon.

Campbell’s editions, meanwhile, present the artwork completed entirely in his own pencils and inks, delivering the polished character work, dynamic posing, and expressive detail that have made him one of the industry’s most celebrated cover artists.

Acclaimed colorist Sabine Rich provides the color work throughout the collection, adding another layer of visual firepower to an already stacked creative lineup.

Then there is the special McFarlane x Campbell “Green” sketch variant, which combines Campbell’s layouts with McFarlane’s signature inks. That is the true handshake moment—the cover where both artistic identities collide on the same page instead of simply appearing beside one another.

“Having known Scott since the dawning days of the formation of Image Comics, when he was part of the young group at Jim Lee’s WildStorm, it’s been so cool to first see his Danger Girl comic and now, decades later, see Scott become one of the topflight cover artists in our industry,” said McFarlane.

“We’ve been talking about doing a second collaboration since the record-setting Spawn #300. Scott sent me some sketches years ago for those #300 covers and ultimately changed them, but I never forgot those sketches. This book we’re now doing is one example of the hidden gems that the public didn’t get a chance to see from Scott before.”

That history gives this collection some real weight. These are not two creators being randomly paired together for a quick promotional stunt. Their creative paths stretch back to the early days of Image Comics and WildStorm, when Campbell was emerging as a major artistic force and McFarlane was helping reshape the entire comics business.

Now, decades later, one of Campbell’s previously unseen sketches has become the foundation for a collaboration fans have been waiting years to witness.

The collection launches with six exclusive covers for The Scorched #52, including Artist Exclusive variants from both creators and a special dual-signature McFarlane x Campbell edition available only as part of the collection.

For Campbell, the project also represents a genuine full-circle moment.

“That teenager in me who used to go to the comic book shop every Wednesday to pick up the latest issue of Spider-Man by Todd, and later on Spawn, is pinching himself to be in a timeline where Todd and I are now collaborating on a shared project like this!” Campbell said.

“I’m happy that this sketch of mine, which Todd fell in love with years ago, can finally become a fully realized cover! And not just realized by me, but to be getting both Todd’s and my unique takes on the same rough starting sketch, I think that’s a really unique and exciting treat for the fans!”

That is the heart of this release. One original sketch. Two legendary artistic voices. Six exclusive covers. And a She-Spawn showcase designed to hit collectors directly in the “I absolutely need that on my wall” portion of the brain.

The collection will be available exclusively through JScottCampbell.com, beginning Saturday, July 18, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time. Fans are encouraged to join the website’s waiting list and mailing list before launch to receive cover reveals, ordering information, and additional updates.

Considering the names involved, the limited nature of the variants, and the years of anticipation behind this project, collectors may want to arrive early. Because once the McFarlane and Campbell faithful start clicking, those covers could disappear faster than Spawn slipping back into the shadows.

Follow Todd McFarlane on Instagram // X // Facebook and J. Scott Campbell on Instagram // X // Facebook; stay tuned for more updates and announcements about future releases.

The collaboration is finally real, the Spawn Universe just got a serious artistic upgrade, and The Scorched #52 is about to become one of the most talked-about issues on the collector circuit.

The only question left is: Which cover are you hunting—or are you going all-in for the complete set?

THE SCORCHED #52 COLLECTION

Todd McFarlane Variants

• Cover A: Todd’s She-Spawn, color, trade dress – Sketch by JSC, Inks by Todd McFarlane, Colors by Sabine Rich
• Cover B: Todd’s She-Spawn, B&W sketch (inks) – Sketch by JSC, Inks by Todd McFarlane
• Cover C: Todd’s She-Spawn, color, virgin – Sketch by JSC, Inks by Todd McFarlane, Colors by Sabine Rich

J. Scott Campbell Variants

• Cover A: Scott’s She-Spawn, color, trade dress – Sketch by JSC, Pencils and Inks by JSC, Colors by Sabine Rich
• Cover B: Scott’s She-Spawn, B&W sketch (inks) – Sketch by JSC, Inks by JSC
• Cover C: Scott’s She-Spawn, color, virgin – Sketch by JSC, Pencils and Inks by JSC, Colors by Sabine Rich

Duo: McFarlane x Campbell Variant

• Cover D: “Green” Sketch Variant, virgin, dual signature, includes a CGC COA eligible for Signature Series – Layout Sketch by JSC, Pencils by JSC, Inks by Todd McFarlane

ABOUT TODD MCFARLANE
Todd McFarlane is an Emmy and Grammy Award winning Director/Producer and the CEO of McFarlane Toys, McFarlane Films, and President of Image Comics. Best known for his work as the artist on THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, where he co-created Marvel’s top villain, VENOM. McFarlane went on to create his own title, SPAWN. Todd McFarlane’s SPAWN is one of the world’s best-selling comic books. SPAWN’s 1992 debut sold 1.7 million copies. McFarlane made history with SPAWN #300 and record-breaking SPAWN #301, earning the GUINNESS WORLD RECORD for “Longest-running Creator-owned Superhero Comic Book Series.” In 2024, Todd McFarlane celebrated another milestone with Spawn issue #350. SPAWN became an Emmy Award-winning animated series on HBO, and live-action feature film, grossing $100+ million.

Spawn and all related characters and elements © & ™

ABOUT J. SCOTT CAMPBELL
J. Scott Campbell is an internationally acclaimed comic book illustrator and CEO and founder of J. Scott Campbell Ltd. and the fan-destination store jscottcampbell.com. Best known for his iconic renditions of Spider-Man, Mary Jane, and Black Cat, Campbell’s work defined a generation of Marvel covers and earned him one of the most devoted collector followings in the industry. Rising to prominence at Jim Lee’s WildStorm studio, he co-created Gen 13, co-founded the Cliffhanger imprint, and launched the global fan favorite Danger Girl. His creator-owned FairyTale Fantasies franchise spans a long-running premium statue collection with Sideshow Collectibles. Campbell’s retailer-exclusive variant covers are among the most anticipated releases in the collector market, drawing dedicated followings across multiple publishers. His original artwork has been exhibited at Disney and galleries in NYC. With a career spanning more than 30 years, he remains one of the most sought-after cover artists in comics.