SPAWN! A look back at an award-winning collection of graded slabs. 10 10

[newshane]

SPAWN 256 - CGC 9.8 

 

[Poutine]

On 1/8/2024 at 6:55 PM, newshane said:

SPAWN 256 - CGC 9.8 

 

I like this cover. Fairly simple and clean. A bit stiff perhaps, but there are worse out there

[newshane]

On 1/9/2024 at 3:16 AM, Poutine said:

I like this cover. Fairly simple and clean. A bit stiff perhaps, but there are worse out there

It's not bad! 

I just don't like Jonboy's "Japanime" style. Also, Spawn with teeth? SMH

[Poutine]

On 1/9/2024 at 1:15 PM, newshane said:

It's not bad! 

I just don't like Jonboy's "Japanime" style. Also, Spawn with teeth? SMH

Yeah I do agree

[newshane]

SPAWN 257 - CGC 9.8 

At this point, Spawn was reduced to a Venom-wannabee. The tongue is a bit much. And the claws? I guess we should throw Wolverine into the gene pool? Or perhaps Shadowhawk if we want to add a little inbreeding?

Have to also say that we've already "been through the center of Hell" and it was done much better with Philip Tan and Brian Haberlin. At least we get Kudranski back on the interiors, but still. I mean, look at that idiotic perspective, where the hind leg looks like a strange, shrunken growth of some sort. It's so bad. Also looks like they tried to "ink" or color their way out of it. 

It's impressive that the book has maintained it's long run, but continuity went out the window a long time ago. The stories. The art. 

It's going to get even worse, but the good news is that it got really cool again just before I stopped. ;) 

I knew at this point I'd be stopping at 275 - an arbitrary number, but it seemed like a nice round figure I knew there was no way I could stick around until issue 300...not with the crappy art and multiple variants. I was doing a death rattle at this point. 

 

Edited January 10 by newshane

[newshane]

SPAWN 258 - CGC 9.8 - SIGNED BY ERIK LARSEN 

I have some thoughts on Larsen's run on the series. Extremely negative ones. 

I'm already feeling negative energy today, and I don't care to go down a rabbit hole right now. although it's coming soon. 

In the meantime...how about this sig book? 

 

[newshane]

SPAWN 259 - CGC 9.8 

The cover of 258 was so terrible that Todd had to step back in.  

Several years ago, there was a guy on eBay who was selling fake double-cover comics. I guess the first clue should have been the number of double-cover comics he had for sale. Quite unusual. But you never know. I decided to roll the dice and bought a copy.

My memory is a little fuzzy because it's been a while and life has moved along, but I'm pretty sure I was instrumental in busting him. 

Even more interesting is the fact that CGC didn't catch it. 

The cover art, otherwise unmemorable, made me flash back to the situation. There is an OLD thread somewhere here on the boards about it, but I quite honestly don't feel like struggling with the board's terrible search system right now. It's been a LONG day. 

Too bad it wasn't a real double cover. That would have been SICK. I've never seen a Spawn double-cover. Have you? 

 

Edited January 12 by newshane

[newshane]

SPAWN 259 SKETCH COVER (SANDOVAL VARIANT) - CGC 9.8 - SIGNED BY GERARDO SANDOVAL 

Wow! I forgot about this one! Gerardo Sandoval rocks! A nice departure from the middle school art class stuff we've been seeing. 

Beautiful signature book I wish I would have kept, looking back on it. Reminds me of the ultra-busy stuff Silvestri, Lee, and McFarlane would sometimes draw. Retains the classic feel of the series, with the exception of the whole "Venom-Spawn" look. 

 

Edited January 13 by newshane

[newshane]

SPAWN 260 - CGC 9.8 - SIGNED BY ERIK LARSEN

A dialogue bubble cover. 

 

[newshane]

Years ago, I left a pretty nasty message on Twitter for Erik Larsen. He responded, and I felt terrible. He was clearly hurt by my criticism, and I knew that I had taken it too far. 

I don't really want to beat up on him anymore, so I won't. 

I'd like to say that the Savage Dragon was awesome. His style fit his creation and was rather unique. He was also an important part of the early days of Image. I give him credit for what he's accomplished! 

But he had no business drawing Spawn, and his short run on the title marked the absolute lowest point for art in the series. 

Take a look at his interior work and judge for yourself. I think this is rather pathetic...

 

[pmpknface]

If you have Amazon Prime look for the Image Revolution.  Saw it the other day.  Pretty cool!  

[newshane]

SPAWN 260 - SANDOVAL VARIANT - CGC 9.8 

Killer cover by Sandoval! Loving his variants. 

 

[newshane]

SPAWN 261 - CGC 9.8 

 

[Poutine]

On 1/15/2024 at 2:29 PM, newshane said:

Years ago, I left a pretty nasty message on Twitter for Erik Larsen. He responded, and I felt terrible. He was clearly hurt by my criticism, and I knew that I had taken it too far. 

I don't really want to beat up on him anymore, so I won't. 

I'd like to say that the Savage Dragon was awesome. His style fit his creation and was rather unique. He was also an important part of the early days of Image. I give him credit for what he's accomplished! 

But he had no business drawing Spawn, and his short run on the title marked the absolute lowest point for art in the series. 

Take a look at his interior work and judge for yourself. I think this is rather pathetic...

 

You weren't wrong. That is totally lazy and uninspired. 

Even Sam Kieth at his laziest is better 

[newshane]

SPAWN 261 - CGC 9.8 - SANDOVAL VARIANT 

This is probably my favorite Sandoval sketch. I love Violator! 

 

[newshane]

SPAWN 262 - CGC 9.8 

Many a pencil has been saved by the competent pen. 

 

[Poutine]

Yeah that isn't a cover to inspire the words "Epic Finale"

[newshane]

SPAWN 262 - SANDOVAL VARIANT - CGC 9.8 

More fire from Sandoval! 

Creep engine slab. You can see the scanner light reflecting off the wrinkled Mylar layer they used to sandwich it together, 

 

Edited January 20 by newshane

[newshane]

SPAWN 263 - CGC 9.8 

Hmm...this cover ain't THAT bad. 

Another dialogue bubble on the cover! I guess there were more than I remember 

 

[newshane]

SPAWN 263 - SKETCH COVER - CGC 9.8