Spawn #302: Hell’s Abortion

After the record breaking issues #300 and #301, Spawn settles back into the routine with a fresh new direction for the long-running horror series that sees Al Simmons assuming a much more traditional superhero role.

To begin, the record breaking didn’t stop with issue #301. The streak continues with #302 thanks to comics legend Tom Orzechowski who, as of this issue, is now in the Guinness Book of World Records with the most consecutive issues lettered by a letterer on a single comic-book series! It’s a remarkably well-earned record for Orzechowski, who has essentially defined how we as fans have interacted with Spawn throughout the years. His distinctive letters have given the series an edge that simply couldn’t have been done by any other letterer.

Now that all the excitement surrounding the landmark issues has passed, we find Spawn in a place unlike anything he has ever been in before. I have been excited for this moment since the Road to 300 began a few months ago because it’s always fun to explore the aftermath of an epic event. Although I had assumed we would be putting the pieces together after a devastating war spurred by Spawn’s plans against heaven and hell, what we find in issue #302 is potentially even more exciting.

A whole new superhero universe awaits, and it starts with SHE-SPAWN.

We were shown a short story about the thrilling developments of Nyx in the landmark issues drawn by J. Scott Campbell, but issue #302 picks up on the story teasing a much larger role for the original She-Spawn. With Al Simmon’s new mission to stop those forcing their will on others, whether they be demon, angel or human, it’s pretty much a no-brainer to see that he needs help. While he is able to uniquely hold his own thanks to his military training through much of this issue, things are going to spiral out of control very quickly with his dwindling powers.

It’s great to see the creative team really hit the ground running with this new direction. It could have been all to easy to kick back for an entire arc and just enjoy the fruits of their labor after the record breaking issues. But Spawn is relentless. This new life mission of Al’s kicks off an explosive story that will hook fans with its classic dark edge and multilayered narrative. We delve into some more typical superhero tropes such as the dichotomy between Al Simmons and Spawn as well as the crusade against all things deemed evil by the now-hero. The result is a book that feels fully realized and prepared to embark on an expansive journey, taking readers to a place with Spawn that really hasn’t been explored in depth before.

Overall, I couldn’t be more excited for where this series is going. Jason Shawn Alexander’s artwork remains absolutely stellar and McFarlane’s scripting is solid, this creative team has simply hit their stride. It’s a great time to be a Spawn fan. We end with a unique short story catching up on what’s happened with Nyx, but the issue ultimately leaves readers with a perfect foundation moving forward. The struggle that has consumed Al Simmons’ life for so long seems to be at rest finally, but this new heroic mission sets the stage for what is sure to be another incredibly thrilling three hundred issues.

Look for the Spawn franchise to only get better from here!