Spawn Origins, Volume 9

Spawn Origins Collection #9

by Todd McFarlane (Writer/Illustrator), Greg Capullo (Illustrator), Danny Miki (Illustrator)

Journey with Spawn as he visits the Fifth Level of Hell, only to battle with none other than the Savage Dragon! Collects Spawn #51-56.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Horror, Superheroes, Comic Book, Ebooks

160 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2011

About the author

Todd McFarlane is a Canadian comic book artist, writer, toy manufacturer/designer, and media entrepreneur who is best known as the creator of the epic occult fantasy series Spawn.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, McFarlane became a comic book superstar due to his work on Marvel Comics' Spider-Man franchise. In 1992, he helped form Image Comics, pulling the occult anti-hero character Spawn from his high school portfolio and updating him for the 1990s. Spawn was one of America's most popular heroes in the 1990's and encouraged a trend in creator-owned comic book properties.

In recent years, McFarlane has illustrated comic books less often, focusing on entrepreneurial efforts, such as McFarlane Toys and Todd McFarlane Entertainment, a film and animation studio.

In September, 2006, it was announced that McFarlane will be the Art Director of the newly formed 38 Studios, formerly Green Monster Games, founded by Curt Schilling.

McFarlane used to be co-owner of National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers but sold his shares to Daryl Katz. He's also a high-profile collector of history-making baseballs.

Reviews

[Jayson · Rating 3 out of 5]

(B) 75% | More than Satisfactory
Notes: No bated breath, it's stretched to death, all filibustered plots, artistic gold but stories told are weak and overwrought.

*Progress updates: Preamble ◦ Issues #51-53 ◦ Issues #54-56

[Gianfranco Mancini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Issues #55/#56 storyline borders to embarassing, but the Spawn/Savage Dragon crossover was a real brutal one, the hell issues were entertaining ones and the Al/Terry reunion was intense.



Capullo's artworks are 100% eye-candy.

[Timo · Rating 3 out of 5]

The big story seems to be somewhat lost here. Spawn wanks around hell and fights and then he meets a mate from the past and so much touchy feely stuff. But nothing takes things closer to wrap anything up. Neither does those sad couple pages of Sam & Twitch.
But the art is nice throughly.

[Eric Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the amazing capstone of Volume 8, this Volume 9 picks up with further delightfully devilish development of Spawns relationship with Hell, and foreshadows some big changes and upgrades. We get more evolution of main characters in further service to the greater narrative. Good times for all. Always of course with exacting caliber of stellar visuals, pencils and inks that cut with brutal elegance. This Volume was a treat, and an interesting cliffhanger.

[Lksreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is it, this is what I been waiting for. This was the payoff. Some old arcs close, some new arcs start, and the characters roles shift again. Let’s go.

Issue 50 is a big mark for the story. As is the status quo, it comes out nowhere but does so much for Spawn’s character. It’s a defining moment and it ushers him into a new role going forward, while also giving the readers a more in-depth glimpse at Hell.

Hell is a sloppy ride. It’s not at all what I expected it to be. It’s no traditional take, nothing akin to The Inferno or the likes, which I can at the least appreciate it being its own thing. It is littered with those large, moody blocks of narration Todd loves to use, and it honestly makes more sense skipping them sometimes. Savage Dragon gets a cameo for… I think no reason other than to make them fight and have Spawn flex his Image Comics muscles.

But, through it we get an exposition dump from Malebolgia, and Spawn’s role is more clearly defined. It’s rewarding to see them share the page finally and get a clearer indication of what’s to come. It’s a big step forward.

Also a huge step forward is the confrontation between Terry and Spawn. So needed, felt so overdue but also timed perfectly according to everything else going on. Cathartic release as Al gets to vent and finally get clarity from his best friend, who takes it all heartily and doesn’t give an inch in return.

If this is the quality going forward, I’ll be very happy.

Also, Capullo is going bananas. Bananas.

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spawn starts off in Hell. There's a bizarre crossover with Savage Dragon where nothing is explained about how he also got to Hell and then he just has disappeared the next issue. Then an even darker version of Spawn returns to Earth and he teams up with Terry to kick their investigation of Jason Wynn into high gear as they go on the offensive. It's about frigging time. This has gone on forever. Kind of like Cy-Gor who has been travelling for about 20 issues on the hunt for Spawn and still hasn't found him.

These collections are put together so shoddily. This one has the creators and issues listed for the last volume. They just copied and pasted it in and then forgot to change it. You can't tell me that McFarlane can't afford to hire a proof reader even though he can pay $3 million for a baseball. The extras at the back continue to be pencil and ink drawings of covers which would be fine except they are only a quarter of the page with the background being a half size pencil drawing. They look so crappy and lo res. I've completely stopped even wasting my time with them.

[Gav451 · Rating 4 out of 5]

As ever the art is sublime. You really cannot knock the work rate and attention to detail here. While grim and dark and full of horror the care taken with each panel is sublime. Action is brilliant in this volume and the use of film like angles and focus continues to impress.

This is a good thing as while the story is good it is still a little dialogue and exposition heavy. Especially from the evil characters. I am not convinced that this needed pantomime maniacal laughter quite this much.

Lets not let this spoil what is a great read however. I am beginning to worry that the story isn't going anywhere but it is a lot of fun.

[The Wintermute System · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, that was dark. I mean, I know Spawn is built on darkness, but some of this volume was extra dark.

And yet, that's part of the appeal here: it goes where comics didn't up until now, brutally real about how brutal humans can be. And much of the brutality, although it's said to be spurred on by Malebolgia and Hell, is just humans being awful to each other in order to try to save loved ones, on occasion, although it's more likely out of greed or a need for power.

And I'm starting to love this: the plot is churning around nicely now, and I'm here for it.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this issue is good. So Terry now knows that Al is Spawn. Surprised that these two end up working together. I have to admit that the image of them hugging in the end tugged my heart strings a little. Unto the next issue. So the weapons is resolved. But why does the major need to be taken next? And second if Violator won’t reveal Spawn’s real name to Jason then what was the point in actually meeting him or aiding him at all?

[Derek Moreland · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last issue in this volume is pretty weak sauce, but everything leading up to it is some of the strongest work we've seen from this series. Shawn's first real confrontation with Malebolgia is exactly what it needs to be, and his burgeoning "Punisher/Micro" relationship with Terry Fitzgerald (who is so overcome with the fact that his friend has returned from the dead he hugs Spawn) is a sheer delight. Great character work from McFarlane, with tremendous support on pencils from Capullo.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume is where Capullo’s work really hammers the signature Spawn look. Not much happens, but Spawn and Terry begin to reconcile their friendship.

[Justin Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Capullo's art in the last issue of this volume is absolutely amazing.

[Martijn Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was great! Never expected Spawn to get this good. Liked the whole Spawn in Hell part and the mission with Terry.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some spawn in hell. Some silly spawn as a tacticool special forces super soldier. Crazy major gets rescued and terry learns it's Al.

[Jeffrey Greek · Rating 5 out of 5]

At long last, they're getting down to resolving some storylines.

[Sarospice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Capullo is going ape shit on art, tiny panels of goo or bloody hearts. Spawn gets to confront Malebolgia, then he gets to confront Terry. A plan formulates to do away with Wynn once and for all.

[47Time · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spawn struggles against the horrors of hell. The second level of hell was all about brute force. The fourth peels away at his psyche, before removing his heart. The fifth level has him fight the Savage Dragon to determine who is to be the messiah of the souls in that real.

The next stop is to be the final one. It's the ninth level of hell where he faces it ruler Malebolgia. Spawn attacks, but is no match for the one who created him. Malebolgia demands Spawn's loyalty and servitude in exchange for leaving Wanda alone. Spawn is then returned to Earth.

Terry's nightmares reveal to him that Spawn is his friend Al. The two work together to find damning evidence against Wynn and weaken his web of global influence. He finds a man named Forsberg. He taught Wynn everything he knows, but his family was still punished for more teachings. Forsberg himself was imprisoned, but may be able help bury Wynn in the end.