SPAWN! A look back at an award-winning collection of graded slabs. 11 11

[J Bill]

It's fascinating to see Spawn persist after all these years. I recall really having to grind it out to make it to the hundredth issue. The stories were... consistent. Capullo's art was always fun though. Remember Image Zero (the mail-in?), it was very disappointing to see everyone submit a story, but Todd just sent in some pin-ups (and let's not get into Image United!). All I think of when I see clips of the movie is how Todd was all enthusiastic in interviews at the time about how amazing it was going to look because Spawn's cape was going to be all CGI, but the money dried up so he only had it for a very limited number of scenes. I do miss Todd's sequential art (I loved his Hulk and ASM runs), but it doesn't feel like we've seen much of it in many decades (!) which is a shame.

All that said, @newshane - I'm very impressed with your dedication to getting these 9.8s so deep into the run! Can't be easy!

[newshane]

On 12/5/2023 at 11:58 AM, lostboys said:

I recently watched The Spawn animated series with my 15 year old daughter. It was pretty good, Id never seen it.

 

Twitch is a badass!

 

 

Yes. It was actually well done. Much better than the movie, for sure. 

[newshane]

On 12/4/2023 at 10:42 PM, captainzombie said:

Do you guys think that Spawn as a franchise/IP will take off in 10-20 years where it does crossover to TV, animation, etc? I know its hard to predict, but it makes you wonder considering that this has been a long running franchise and besides a movie and one HBO animation many years ago, it hasn't taken off in other forms of media. I know the Blumhouse and Jamie Fox talk, but who knows if that will happen.

No. 

Todd won't put the character in competent hands. 

There has been talk of a movie for too long. I don't think it will ever happen. 

[newshane]

On 12/5/2023 at 7:09 PM, J Bill said:

 

All that said, @newshane - I'm very impressed with your dedication to getting these 9.8s so deep into the run! Can't be easy!

Thank you! I'm glad you are enjoying the thread. 

It was extremely difficult and extremely expensive, even ten years ago. 

 

Edited December 6, 2023 by newshane

[newshane]

SPAWN 237 - CGC 9.8 

 

[lostboys]

On 12/5/2023 at 9:21 PM, newshane said:

Yes. It was actually well done. Much better than the movie, for sure. 

Yep, we watched the movie too.

 

No bueno...

 

Leguizamo was good though.

[newshane]

SPAWN 237 TRADESMART VARIANT COVER - CGC 9.8 

These were meant to be released exclusively by brick and mortar retailers, although I can't confirm that's what actually ended up happening. In fact, I /think/ I got this from a mail-order retailer, but I honestly do not remember 

What I DO remember is seeing one on the shelf at Hastings shortly after the release date. 

Not really a remarkable cover, IMHO. Not sure what warranted the variant, but at this point I was asking myself if ANY of them were warranted. 

EDIT: I found the following info on Spawnworld.com: "This limited edition cover was produced for a signing event at Tradesmart in Littleton, CO. Issues were also later available online for a short time."

Thanks to @Lobstrosity for maintaining this incredible resource! 

 

Edited December 7, 2023 by newshane

[newshane]

To be clear, I saw it at a Hastings in Tennessee. 

So, the copies at Littleton must have made their way into the store's distribution network. 

[newshane]

SPAWN 238 - CGC 9.8
 

 

 

Edited December 8, 2023 by newshane

[newshane]

SPAWN 239 - CGC 9.8

 

[newshane]

SPAWN 240 - CGC 9.8 

 

[newshane]

SPAWN 241 - CGC 9.8 

Spawn the amputee? 

 

Edited December 10, 2023 by newshane

[newshane]

SPAWN 242 - CGC 9.8 

Extremely rare (for Spawn) dialogue bubble on the cover art! You definitely don't see too much of that. I'm actually struggling to remember any other examples off the top of my head! If you can, feel free to remind me! 

Silly how a simple dialogue bubble on the cover gives me the feels! It's like I'm back in the gold and silver eras! I have to say...I love it! 

 

 

Edited December 11, 2023 by newshane

[newshane]

I think Spawn 200 Silvestri Variant had a dialogue bubble...hmmm...

[pmpknface]

On 1/5/2023 at 7:44 PM, newshane said:

SPAWN 10 - CGC 9.8 - SIGNED, SKETCHED, AND REMARKED BY DAVE SIM.

A Cerebus sketch on a Spawn book? In ball-point pen? By the creator himself? 

Yeah. This was my book once upon a time. One of my favorites from the run. I mean, how dope is this? Truly unique. Another one I should have kept. 

 

 

 

This was the only one with a bubble that I could think of.  Maybe some of the variants that I've only seen your copies of...?

[Mewie]

On 10/13/2023 at 7:07 PM, newshane said:

SPAWN 220 - CGC 9.8 

An homage cover 20 issues after the original? Come on, Todd. 

Here come the variants folks. A gigantic flood of them that would wear me out and make me quit. 

 

Dialogue balloons on covers... Yes, I remember this one and Spawn 221 (the homage to Amazing Fantasy #15)

[Mewie]

On 10/21/2023 at 9:20 AM, newshane said:

SPAWN 221 - CGC 9.8 

Amazing Fantasy 15 homage! 

Issue 220 kicked off a massive series of homage covers. I'm pretty partial to McFarlane's work, and I must say that he really knocked it out of the park with these! I can't think of a single bad homage cover in this little run of the series, and I look forward to sharing them all with you! 

These are all very desirable issues. 

 

There we go! 

[xela_v]

I believe 220 and 263 have bubbles as well

[newshane]

SPAWN 243 - CGC 9.8 

I'd say this is probably my favorite cover from the Kudranski Era. 

 

[newshane]

SPAWN 244 - CGC 9.8 

You know...this cover really pops as well. 

I don't know for sure, but I'm thinking that Todd probably did the pencils first, and Szymon came in over top with his digital touch. The team is really starting to hit their stride by now.