Spawn #301: The Record (Spoiler Free!)

It’s finally here.

The record breaking Spawn #301 is on the shelves and in the history books, cementing the long-running series as one of the most significant in all of comics. The news articles and glowing fan reception have all been really exciting as a fan, but amidst all the praise of this great achievement, we must not forget to ask. Is the book actually good? Luckily, that’s an easy question to answer.

Hell yes it is.

There isn’t much that can be said that I and many others haven’t repeated since issue #300 released about a month ago. This is part 2 to the truly epic story that has unfolded with expert precision from the scripting to the illustrations and colors, to every last letter from the brilliant Tom Orzechowski. It’s the ultimate Spawn story, and it delivers on every level.

Spawn #301 is without a doubt a love letter to all of those who have supported the series over the years. And I don’t say that because the issue actually starts with a letter from Todd McFarlane thanking everyone involved. What takes place in this issue is an homage to how Spawn began back in 1992 and the start to an awesome new direction that bodes well for the future.

For those looking to jump in to see what all the talk is about, you might feel a bit lost as to what is happening at first but don’t let it deter you from the story that’s taking place. We see Spawn emerge as something entirely new in this issue, opening doors for the series that I never really thought was possible before. The creative team uses the world-building over the years to expand on the story and create new and exciting opportunities that will be a blast to explore moving forward.

Make no mistake, Spawn #301 delivers on the badass artwork. Fans can always be certain that this series will provide plenty of really cool visuals, but this issue stands apart from them all, even the remarkable issue #300. It’s easy to see this creative team was in their zone and having a lot of fun because every panel is just incredible. You won’t be disappointed.

Ultimately, Spawn #301 delivered everything I wanted and then some. Did this have to be split into two separate issues after an entire arc build up? That’s debatable. But now that it’s all here, it really is impressive. Longtime fans and those looking to finally dive in are all welcome here, while it’s been a long 27 year journey getting here, it looks like the future for Spawn is brighter than ever.