The Gentle Madness of Spawn Collection: 1994

Spawn #17
Jan 1994

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Spawn/Batman: Red Scarce
Jan 1994
The first Spawn graphic novel is a crossover with Batman released as a companion piece to Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. This crossover, later revealed to be titled 'Red Scarce' is a collaboration between Frank Miller (writer) and Todd McFarlane (artist). Despite such a high-powered combination, it was generally panned by critics. See one selected review.

Compared to the intimate image above, the first DC porcelain statue of Batman and Spawn has both parties looking in opposite direction, see Guide to Spawn Collection.

The Batarang Incident
The crossover with a very grumpy old man ended up with Spawn having a batarang embedded in his face. This was initially acknowledged as the reason why Spawn needs to stitch up his face in Spawn #21. This acknowledgement was subsequently rescinded and both parties refused to admit that the crossover is part of a continuity.

Spawn vs Scorpion
I have no idea of the date of production but the designer called himself 'White Lotus' and his works are original work (as in sprite comics). This issue was printed as Midwood Comics and sold in Japan.

It is placed chronologically below Spawn vs Batman for convenience sake and also that the cover is obviously inspired by it.

Spawn #18
Feb 1994

Bloodstrike #8
Feb 1994
Thanks to 'murch' from the Spawn message board who mentioned that Spawn appeared in a dream sequence with Chapel in this issue.

Batman/Spawn: War Devil
Mar 1994
If you think the review of the first Spawn/Batman crossover is bad, wait till you read this review of the second crossover. This second crossover appeared in March 1994 without fanfare. DC Comics seems to have given up on it even before it was released and till now, lots of fans are not aware of the existence of this second crossover. It was written by a team of THREE writers! Doug Moench, Chuck Dixon and Alan Grant. I guess they were hoping to spread the misery all around.

I find this particular piece where he described his costume as gaudy rather amusing... but awesome power... who would complain of awesome power?

Sonic the Hedgehog #8: Bot's all folks
Mar 1994
Written by Mike Gallagher and pencilled by Dave Manat in Archie Press monthly series of Sonic the Hedgehog. In this issue Dr Robotnik brought out comic inspired robots to battle it out with Sonic - one of them Spawnmower!

I like this panel of Sonic's plan in defeating Spawnmower, precious.

Ninjak Vol 1 #3
Apr 1994
Spawn appeared in a gala charity ball behind the British playboy Colin King aka Ninjak, the Ninja Spy. Ninjak is written by Mark Moretti, illustrated by Joe Quesada and published by Valiants.

Nightwatch #1
Apr 1994
Marvel took a swipe at Image with this poor imitation of Spawn, a black superhero named Dr Kevin Trench with super long cape. The cover image was a toned-down version from the original as shown in the bonus pin-up at the last page but the interior art reveals the cape collar and also the black suit.

Spawn #21
May 1994
The Mystery of the Missing Issues - The original schedule of Spawn at this period was ten issues per year but Image had run considerably late by this time and elected to skip issues #19 and #20. Thus Image decides to go directly to #21 in May 1994 to get UP-TO-DATE! That was the OFFICIAL reason - that from #21 to #24, plotlines would be wrapped up. This unprecedented situation raised considerable alarm: fans wondered if they had missed the two earlier issues while retailers cried foul over missolicitation. The two missing issues would finally surfaced only in October 1994.

More on the Stitching Up - In Spawn #21, Spawn has his face stitched up using a shoelace and because of the proximity to the Spawn/Batman graphic novel, many thought it was due to the batarang incident. As mentioned earlier, it has been renounced officially as the cause. The "bozo in black" that led to the stitch is attributed to Houdini.

Violator #1
May 1994
A three-issue mini-series: Violator written by Alan Moore (his second stab at Spawn) and illustrated by Bart Sears appeared in May 1994. The only appearance of Spawn in the first issue titled 'The World Part I' is a logo on the cover plus icon in almost every page. Spawn is not the star of this mini-series anyway, Violator and his brothers are.

Continuity
This mini-series follows the event after the narrative tale by the Clown of his battle with Medieval Spawn in Spawn #15.

Spawn #22
Jun 1994

Violator #2
Jun 1994
Spawn finally makes his appearance on the very LAST page of the Violator mini-series #2.

Violator #3
Jul 1994

A very naive Spawn received a butt-kicking from Violator in the final issue of this mini-series. Clown is such a perfect foil to the so very serious Spawn.

Supreme #15
Jul 1994
Spawn has a very big role in this issue inked and pencilled by Pedram Shohadai who go by the pen-name of Pedi. Do check out this message board in Bludblood and read what he has to say about McFarlane and Spawn.

Supreme by the way is one of many comics released by Rob Liefeld and he first appeared in November 1992. Spawn would make a second appearance in Supreme on Jan '95.

Spawn #23
Aug 1994

Normalman-Megaton Man Special
Aug 1994
Spawn wearing a beanie in this Image Special of Normalman and Megaton Man entry into their community. Normalman is created by jim Valentino in 1983 as a spoof of the superheroes and Megaton Man is created by Don Simpson as a satircal superhero.

Spawn #24
Sep 1994

Youngblood #8
Sep 1994
Spawn guest-starred in the last three issues of the first Youngblood volume, starting with #8 released in September 1994. There are tons of Youngblood related series from Image and these three issues are written and illustrated by Rob Liefeld, Eric Stephenson and Jim Valentino. Notice that the illustrators are up-to-date with the shoelace.

Youngblood #9
Sep 1994
Spawn is in the bottom right corner, one of the 15 characters giving their opinion on Badrock's impending vacation. Actually, he is the only one who never utter a single word as befits his sourpuss demeanour. Yep, it's an attitude.

Babe #3
Sep 1994
Babe is written and illustrated by John Byrne and published by Dark Horse. A Martian dressed in Spawn costume makes a most welcoming appearance.

Jsedah Vvqevhds the Martian Spawn!

Spawn #25
Oct 1994
Image X - In October 1994, Spawn #25 participated in Image's 'Image X' event, where the six founders switched titles for a single issue. This issue is pencilled by Marc Silvestri.

Spawn #19 and #20
Oct - Nov 1994
The Lost Issues - See above for an explanation as to the delay of Spawn #19 and #20. This 2-issue story is written by Tom Orzechowski and Andrew Grossberg and illustrated by Greg Capullo. The Previews ad in October 1994 referred to them as "the lost issues".

And still on the stitching upThis 2-part story was meant to supersede #21 (which numerically it does anyway) and to explain the origin of how Spawn got a stitched-up face, apparently it was from a bullet's wound. Gratuitous stitching notwithstanding, it was assumed that Spawn refused to heal the wound stems from his reluctance to expend his dwindling power...oh yeah if you believe that excuse, you would believe that Angels wear thongs.

Battlestone #1
Nov 1994
Al Simmons made a cameo appearance in the first two pages of Battlestone, a story about a soldier named John Stone who was brought back from the dead. Written by Rob Liefeld and Eric Stephenson and illustrated by Marat Mychaels, Battlestone would appear in numerous other series but as for this series, it ended with #2.

Spawn #26
Dec 1994
Greg Capullo - Spawn #26 titled 'The Dark'; the final issue of 1994 precedes the events in Angela, the three-issue mini-series launched in the same month. With #26, Greg Capullo was officially made co-artist, in retrospect the first step in McFarlane's removal of himself from his own title. Capullo would continue to illustrate for Spawn until Spawn #100.

Angela #1
Dec 1994
The last month of the year marks the start of a very entertaining Angela-centred three-issue mini series by Neil Gaiman. And Spawn is very much part of the story, in other words, unlike the Violator mini-series, he appeared in all three issues. In the first issue, we get to see Angela's fabulous trophy room which includes Medieval Spawn! (click here for larger image)

Continuity
This mini-series has also been recognised as a continuity in the main series and that it succeeds Spawn #26.

Youngblood #10
Dec 1994
A final confrontation of a live Chapel vs a dead Simmons.

WildCATS #16
Dec 1994
Spawn appeared as a punching bag via a combat simulation program for members of WildCATS.

TOY COMICS
Following are nine non-continuity 12-page short story comics that accompanied each of the nine collectible figures from Spawn Series 1 in December 1994. Except for the issue featuring Medieval Spawn, Al Simmons the Spawn appeared in all of them. In alphabetical order, they are:

Clown
Dec 1994
Clown relating a story about Al Simmons and how he became a Spawn in this short story titled 'No Rest for the Wicked' written by Eldon Asp and pencilled by Flint Henry.

Medieval Spawn
Dec 1994
Series 1's Collectible figures include a Medieval Spawn figure and contained inside the package is a short story 'Darkness' written by Eldon Asp and pencilled by Brad Gorby. This marks the third appearance of the nameless Medieval Spawn. In this version, Medieval Spawn has a happier time.

Overtkill
Dec 1994
Accompanying the collectible figure of Overtkill is this toy comic with Spawn making a guest appearance.

Spawn: Promises and Lies
Dec 1994
A short story titled 'Promises and Lies' written by Eldon Asp and pencilled by Brad Gorby accompanied each Spawn collectible figure.

Spawn: Dead End
Dec 1994
Short story titled 'Dead End' written by Eldon Asp and pencilled by Jason Robinson featuring Spawn, his Spawnmobile and Violator in dog-mode in this Spawn Alley Action Playset attachment. This issue is reproduced in 'Spawn the Game' boardgame (see July 1995) - thanks to 'mikec8785' from the Spawn message board who provide the information before I obtained my own copy.

Spawn Mobile
Dec 1994
Spawn finds an easier way to battle Overtkill - using a souped up car with lots and lots of weapons.

Tremor
Dec 1994
The ultra common theme of comics - one guy (Tremor) started to tear into another guy (Spawn) only to establish that both got common enemies and team up.

Violator
Dec 1994
The Violator behaving strangely petulant when his master issues an order for him to take out Spawn whilst he is watching Seinfeld on TV. 'Hunter & Prey' is written by Eldon Asp and pencilled by John Cleary.