Absolutely nobody oozes 1990s cool like Spawn and the artistic vision of Todd McFarlane. Sure, Al Simmons is “What if Venom but… Chains?” and I’m here to confirm it works. Spawn marked McFarlane’s flagship comic launch after leaving Marvel Comics and co-founding Image Comics in 1992, and the franchise has been incredibly successful, if wildly variant in quality.
Spawn began as the best looking Image series, even as McFarlane’s storytelling tendencies failed to measure up to his design and action mastery. One of the coolest Spawn legacies is how McFarlane pulls in some of the biggest names in comics to write issues of Spawn during the book’s early days, including Alan Moore (Spawn #8), Neil Gaiman (Spawn #9), Frank Miller (Spawn #11), Dave Sim (Spawn #10), and Grant Morrison (Spawn #16 to #18). The trend will continue throughout Spawn’s now 30 year history, as McFarlane is more than willing to collaborate with talented creators to spice up the Spawn legacy.
Below you’ll find a guide to the essential Spawn comics since the character’s creation. There are likely more Image founder crossovers in the early days, but unless the series was notable enough to warrant a collection, or was written by Alan flippin’ Moore, I wouldn’t worry too much about that. As always, let me know any thoughts or suggestions in the comments!
1990’s Spawn Reading Order!
Spawn Compendium, Color Edition Vol. 1
Collects: SPAWN #1-50
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For my full thoughts on these issues, check out this My Marvelous Year special with the awesome Matt Draper!
The various miniseries mentioned before the second volume of the Spawn color series should be read mixed in with volume 1 (I’ll have noted the order where applicable!).
You can read the Frank Miller and Todd McFarlane Bats crossover around Spawn #20.
The Neil Gaiman and Todd McFarlane Angela series should be read before Spawn #29.
The thing about this Spawn/Wildcats crossover is that Alan Moore scripted it. Yes, that Alan Moore. The Todd’s rolodex never fails to blow me away.
Spawn Compendium, Color Edition Vol. 2
Collects: SPAWN #51-100
The Best of Curse of the Spawn
The above anthology is a curated selection of Curse of the Spawn, but it’s in black-and-white, so you may just want to check out the full future war Spawn madness here.
What if Spawn was a 12th century knight?
Collects: Sam and Twitch #1 to #26
Kind of fascinating as it’s some of the earliest Brian Michael Bendis work. If you’re digging it I’d just proceed into the second volume
Spawn in the 2000’s!
Spawn Compendium, Color Edition Vol. 3
Collects: SPAWN #101-150
Spawn Compendium, Color Edition Vol. 4
Collects: SPAWN #151-200
Invincible creators Robert Kirkman and Ryan Ottley, alongside Spawn vets Todd and Greg Capullo. The series launched around 2010.
Collects: Spawn #201 to #212
Spawn #213 to #250
As far as I can tell, Spawn goes uncollected through issue #250. Perhaps this will get rectified with a Spawn Compendium, Color Edition Vol. 5.
Countdown to 300
Todd McFarlane and Paul Jenkins bring back Al Simmons.
Collects: GUNSLINGER SPAWN #1-6
Collects: SPAWN #256-262
Collects: SPAWN #263-275
Collects: SPAWN #276-283
Collects: SPAWN #284-290
Collects: #291-297
Collects: SPAWN #298-301
Hail King Spawn!
Collects: KING SPAWN #1-6
Collects: SPAWN #302-307
Collects: Gunslinger Spawn #1 to #6
Collects: SPAWN #308-314
Collects: Spawn Kills Everyone (2016), Spawn Kills Everyone Too (2018)
This one can be read at pretty much any time.
Awesome job mate, can we get an update on this?
Awesome I’d just been meaning to catch up with it the past couple years, thanks again for this list