The Spawn universe is expanding. Image Comics has announced that it will create an entire universe of books taking place in the same universe as Todd McFarlane’s Spawn. Nearly 30 years after the character’s creation, he is finally opening the gates for a whole universe, similar to what Marvel and DC have been doing for decades.
“The simple question is this: DC Comics started a shared universe in the late 1930s. Marvel Comics began theirs in the early 1960s… so, can lightning strike a third time beginning in 2021? I personally do not have the answer to that question right now, but the only way to get an answer to that question is to make the attempt in the first place,” said McFarlane.
This will be a multi-character, interconnected Spawn universe. The announcement was initially made by McFarlane, the founder of Image Comics, at the Direct Market Retailers at the Annual ComicsPRO Conference.
Things kick off in June. McFarlane has dubbed “2021 the year of Spawn.” In June, retailers will be able to order Spawn’s Universe #1. This book will set the stage with a story that will then spill out into the other new monthly titles. The first title, King Spawn #1, will release in August. It marks the first time in twenty-eight years that anyone can buy a monthly issue #1 Spawn book, since the original title launched in 1992.
In October comes the second new book, Gunslinger Spawn. This title character has been a huge hit among the fanbase. Lastly, Image will launch a new #1 team book, which will band five characters together to fight against forces too big for any of them to take on alone. It is titled The Scorched. Spawn, Redeemer, Gunslinger, Medieval Spawn and She-Spawn begin the group’s adventures. McFarlane promises a rotating cast of heroes over the coming months to keep the roster of heroes fresh. He also said that he will be bringing in new major villains into the fold, too.
“This is a long-intended plan that will need the help of dozens and dozens of creators to help create hundreds and hundreds of characters. And then to reward those creators if any of their ideas pay off in a big way outside of the comic industry. The quest isn’t to have our ideas exclusively live in the comic book industry but to have merit and value outside of that industry as well,” McFarlane said.
“My character Spawn has been an example of what can happen with creation… so, what are the possibilities if hundreds of creations are brought together? Marvel and DC Comics have shown us that a collective group of characters, together, in a shared universe can resonate globally. I think it is time for David to attempt to join the same arena as the Goliaths of the world,” he added.
McFarlane has recruited an all-star list of comic book creators for these books. It includes Art Adams, Jason Shawn Alexander, Carlo Barberi, Brett Booth, J. Scott Campbell, Greg Capullo, Donny Cates, Jim Cheung, Mike del Mundo, Javier Fernandez, David Finch, Jonathan Glapion, Kevin Keane, Aleš Kot, Puppeteer Lee, Sean Lewis, Sean Gordon Murphy, Ben Oliver, Stephen Segovia, Paulo Siqueira, Marc Silvestri, Marcio Takara, and Frank Quitely. Others will be announced in the coming months.
The Spawn universe kicks off in June.
What do you think? Are you excited for this lineup of Spawn titles? Will you be reading along? Join in on the conversation over on Facebook or Twitter!
