Spawn creator Todd McFarlane is teaming up with co-writer and artist Mark Spears on Spawn ’77, a three-issue series based on the original design of the character, which McFarlane drew as a budding 16-year old cartoonist. The series is described as Spears’s “own interpretation [of] the original design,” featuring “a story that expands the mythology surrounding Hellspawns” (the type of demon Al Simmons/Spawn became). More specifically, it “introduces a completely new character and story rooted in the Spawn mythology, exploring the dangers that can come with knowing too much.”
Spawn 77 #1 cover A, by Mark Spears
McFarlane says, “Going back to my roots of when I first developed Spawn as a high school kid, when I was just beginning to feel deeply passionate about collecting comics, and being able to use some of those ideas now 50 years later is really a personal treat for me. To be able to do this miniseries alongside the super-talented Mark Spears will only make my enjoyment that much more special. Mark has been on the top of many fans’ wish lists to see more of his artwork, and we are all excited to show the readers what we have been looking at, from Mark, this past year. I promise you he will not disappoint anyone who is a fan of quality, sophisticated artwork.”
Spears adds, “Getting to work with Todd McFarlane is the main reason I wanted to work in comics. I read every book, watched every video, and studied every panel he created. He inspired me to become both a writer and an artist, and with Spawn 77, everything feels like it has come full circle. Creating new characters within the Spawn Universe is something I’ve dreamed about ever since I picked up Spawn #1 off the rack at my local comic book store. I can’t wait for readers to see what we have in store.”
Spawn 77 #1 will be released in September, and retail at 64 pages for $6.99. It will be released with multiple covers, featuring art by Spears, McFarlane, and Emma Ríos, which will be unveiled at a later date. They will include a “newly redrawn and recolored version of the original artwork by McFarlane, an incentive variant featuring McFarlane’s original 1977 piece, and a special retro logo incentive cover.”
In the meantime, the Spawn Universe continues to go strong in the decades since Spawn #1’s release in 1992, with She-Spawn #3 and more set to release in the coming months. You can also check out an unlettered seven-page preview of Spawn 77 #1 below.
