Spawn #296: History of Spawn (pt. 1)

The road to 300 is here, starting off with a trip down memory lane for Al Simmons and his rough beginnings as Spawn.

The issue reads like a legend that is being passed down to the next generation. With the Redeemer essentially narrating Al’s life story before his untimely death and emergence as Spawn, we find ourselves reminiscing about the most influential moments in his life.

Dubbed part 1 in “The History of Spawn”, the issue really lives up to its name. It’s a retelling of events long passed but it it also a distinct reminder of just how far Spawn has come over the years. Jason Shawn Alexander’s iconic artwork provides a re-imagining that both hints at nostalgia and brings the story into a modern aesthetic remarkably well.

For longtime fans of the series, the refresher could come as a welcome surprise, but new fans looking for a place to jump in will undoubtedly have more to appreciate. I couldn’t recommend a better spot for someone who wanted to check out Spawn before issue #300 releases. It captures the characterizations and dark themes of the popular 90’s stories, but arguably more importantly, it also doesn’t forget to push the overarching narrative forward. Redeemer is meeting with both Cogliostro, Spawn’s longtime on and off again influencer, and the newest villain to be introduced – Godsend.

With Spawn’s plan going so well, those in his target are desperately seeking a way out of the upcoming war. But they must understand their enemy and this leads to the retelling of his origins. Though I was a bit disappointed the history of Spawn didn’t extend further into his story, this is only the first part, so much more could be planned. This issue focused mostly on the events surrounding the downfall of Al Simmon’s and his entanglement with Malebogia to become Spawn.

Overall, The History of Spawn part 1 is an exciting exploration of Spawn’s past that continues to build momentum for the upcoming issue #300. While it is great for longtime fans, new readers will find a wealth of information!

P.s – don’t forget to read the page by page summary from editor Jonn Goff at the end!