King Spawn #31 is scripted by Todd McFarlane and published by Image Comics. Artwork is by Jeremy Haun, colours by Ivan Nunes and letters by Andworld Design. Main cover art (left) is by Javi Fernandez and Von Randal.
King Spawn #31 is available from today, in print and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your digital copy from Amazon Comixology UK right here.
Synopsis
The aftermath of SPAWN #350 is upon us. It’s six months later, and no one is safe!
Review
Time for the second of this week’s Spawn titles and the turn of Al to pick up the pieces following the landmark 350th issue of the main series. Where Gunslinger Spawn tells a more personal and character focussed tale, King Spawn is aiming for something vastly different which dives deep in to the franchise’s horror roots.
Both of this week’s issues are scripted by Spawn creator Todd McFarlane and he’s certainly not pulling his punches is really diversifying the various titles. Spawn has always been tinged with horror but now we’re seeing just how versatile the franchise can be as Al leans on some local vampires in his own investigation in to the strange turn of events which has left those gifted with powers now mortal.
The story sticks to Spawn’s street-level roots as Al picks up what, at first, seems to be a generic thug named Jimmy. Al questions Jimmy as to the whereabouts of Blake but he’s giving nothing away. At least not until his confronted with a snarling, starved vampire. McFarlane isn’t giving all his cards away though. As Al and Jimmy go back and forth we flashback and get an understanding but not a full picture of who the kindly Mrs. Blake is. As they continue to verbally spar the vampire is like a ticking time bomb getting closer and closer.
The tension is ratcheted up as the issue goes on until it’s make or break for both captor and captive, leading us in to a visually stunning finale and a cliffhanger worthy of keeping us hanging on for next month. As with Gunslinger, McFarlane isn’t giving it all away at once and is in no rush to undo the events the events #350. Spawn has always been a series in no rush to get to its conclusion and this new arc feels much the same.
Jeremy Haun’s artwork is the standout this month. It’s much more heavily stylised than Gunslinger and gives the book a kind of classic 80’s TMNT feel. I could imagine there being a version of this book without colours, much like for early Ninja Turtles days. But what is equally cool is seeing Ivan Nunes approaching this book from a more noir angle. Nunes is colouring both Spawn books this week but the approach, whilst equally dynamic, is very different between the two. It’s striking stuff.
Verdict
Al is not happy about losing his immortality and is hell-bent on investigating. Meanwhile Todd McFarlane is revelling in the versatility of his franchise with a book which really leans in to its horror roots.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
