What do you think?
Rate this book
Spawn Origins (Deluxe Edition) #1
Spawn Origins, Deluxe Edition Volume 1
THE DEFINITIVE SPAWN COLLECTION IS HERE! Featuring the stories and artwork (by Todd McFarlane himself) that laid the groundwork for the most successful independent comic book ever published, Spawn Origins Deluxe Edition Voume 1 includes the classic Spawn stories written by Alan Moore, Frank Miller, and Grant Morrison in one massive slipcase volume! Collects Spawn #1-25.
- GenresComicsGraphic Novels
620 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 2009
3 people are currently reading
121 people want to read
About the author
Todd McFarlane
1,872 books444 followersTodd 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.
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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 20, 2023
(Zero spoiler review) 2.5/5
Boy, that was a real slog to get through and definitely a case of style over substance. Macfarlane definitely knows his way around a piece of paper and a pencil. And though the art may be quite impressive to look at, in terms of sequential storytelling, it certainly left a lot to be desired. That, and Macfarlane's writing, which is undoubtedly the big weakness of this book. The Toddfather mentioned coming up with Spawn at the age of fourteen, and that's exactly how this reads. Like the over enthusiastic yet underdeveloped meanderings of an adolescent. The idea's are all fine in theory, although their implementation leaves a lot to be desired and I often found the plot's harder to follow than they should have been. Characters are a little flat and one noted, and for the over 600 pages of story, I finished thinking not a lot had been done with the 25 issues contained herein. If you read this as an adolescent, then likely the sense of nostalgia will be more than enough to get you through this. For those of you wanting a little more than colourful 90's era eye candy, you might be best served looking elsewhere. 2.5/5
OmniBen.
Boy, that was a real slog to get through and definitely a case of style over substance. Macfarlane definitely knows his way around a piece of paper and a pencil. And though the art may be quite impressive to look at, in terms of sequential storytelling, it certainly left a lot to be desired. That, and Macfarlane's writing, which is undoubtedly the big weakness of this book. The Toddfather mentioned coming up with Spawn at the age of fourteen, and that's exactly how this reads. Like the over enthusiastic yet underdeveloped meanderings of an adolescent. The idea's are all fine in theory, although their implementation leaves a lot to be desired and I often found the plot's harder to follow than they should have been. Characters are a little flat and one noted, and for the over 600 pages of story, I finished thinking not a lot had been done with the 25 issues contained herein. If you read this as an adolescent, then likely the sense of nostalgia will be more than enough to get you through this. For those of you wanting a little more than colourful 90's era eye candy, you might be best served looking elsewhere. 2.5/5
OmniBen.
May 22, 2011
It is remarkable that Spawn attained such incredible popularity in its early stages with writing like this. This book collects the first two years of the mega-hit series, but I can't wrap my head around it. The world McFarlane created seems completely haphazard and undefined. He makes up new, random facts about his hero to suit whatever circumstance he's in. He has recurring characters that never do anything. Entire blocks of issues pass with no furthering of the plot or characters. Easily half of each issue is devoted to recapping what happened in the previous one thanks to horrible, expository, inhuman dialogue. Every character speaks the same way. Instead of showing events (here in the very visual medium of comic book storytelling), huge blocks of text will explain things that happened offscreen. The only redeeming aspect of Spawn is McFarlane's incredible art, but with nothing interesting happening for extended periods of time, you're basically looking at still-lifes.
The chapters written by Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman and Frank Miller flow markedly better than any by McFarlane, which only serves to show what a real comic book writer can do. However, even the arc written by Grant Morrison suffers from the world being so undefined. And don't get me started on the self-aggrandizing rag of an issue written by Dave Sim. Included is an introduction to that issue, just in case you wanted to see how proud Sim clearly is of himself.
This book took me months to finish, because I dreaded reading it so much. I guess I stuck with it because Spawn has been deemed such a classic character. I don't get it. There are 3-issue miniseries with better development.
The chapters written by Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman and Frank Miller flow markedly better than any by McFarlane, which only serves to show what a real comic book writer can do. However, even the arc written by Grant Morrison suffers from the world being so undefined. And don't get me started on the self-aggrandizing rag of an issue written by Dave Sim. Included is an introduction to that issue, just in case you wanted to see how proud Sim clearly is of himself.
This book took me months to finish, because I dreaded reading it so much. I guess I stuck with it because Spawn has been deemed such a classic character. I don't get it. There are 3-issue miniseries with better development.
June 11, 2023
If you like Batman and wishes he could slay his enemies…you’ll love Spawn.
Fuck the ToddFather haters, I’ve read worse shit from other “notable” writers.
The Gaiman, Miller and Moore issues don’t read any better than Todd’s.
Maybe it’s childhood nostalgia but I love the character and the Spawn world. These first 25 issues still read well in 2023, and the art is some of the best in comics. I remember falling in love with Capullo’s art as a kid thanks to these issues collected in this beautiful deluxe edition.
The story isn’t half bad as well. Hellboy meets “The Count of Monte Cristo.”
Fuck the ToddFather haters, I’ve read worse shit from other “notable” writers.
The Gaiman, Miller and Moore issues don’t read any better than Todd’s.
Maybe it’s childhood nostalgia but I love the character and the Spawn world. These first 25 issues still read well in 2023, and the art is some of the best in comics. I remember falling in love with Capullo’s art as a kid thanks to these issues collected in this beautiful deluxe edition.
The story isn’t half bad as well. Hellboy meets “The Count of Monte Cristo.”
March 12, 2023
Al Simmons. Get to know this man and his introduction to his new life as SPAWN! 25 issues of captivating Todd McFarlane art and writing, as well as some guest writers by some heavy hitters such as Neil Gaiman, Alan Moore and more! This also includes the famous issue #10 crossover with Cerebus and with a book as large as this, it is worth every penny to read it this way. Huge book to display the amazing art work. Get it, go get it now!
June 28, 2023
If it wasn't for the inexcusable misprint (a repeat page) near the end, I'd have given this a 5 stars!
I'm new to Spawn and I really think this has paved the way to me becoming a fan ☠️
I'm new to Spawn and I really think this has paved the way to me becoming a fan ☠️
July 18, 2013
The other review touched on a lot of valid complaints of both this collection and the Spawn series in general, but personally I still love Spawn. It's important to note that the series does get better as you get further along and Spawn hits his stride as a character. This collection certainly has it's share of flaws, but it's also got a lot of great points, namely the art which is still gorgeous today. If you're a fan of Spawn, the collection is well worth your time. If however you've never read a Spawn comic before and are just getting started, I'd actually suggest reading some of the later issues because the earliest issues aren't the best representation of the Spawn comics. Sadly it's true of a lot of comics, the early issues just aren't as good as you'd imagine them to be. Seriously, go read the first issue of Amazing Fantasy and tell me that it's great.
Speaking of just this particular book though, I will say that it's both absolutely gorgeous, and extremely unwieldy. The book itself is beautiful, both in design and in art, but it is massive in every sense of the word, and weighs quite a bit. This of course makes it difficult to read comfortably at times, and it stands out a lot amongst other books. Given the price tag that the book still holds, I'd suggest trying to find a different way of collecting all of the issues, unless you're a diehard Spawn fan.
Speaking of just this particular book though, I will say that it's both absolutely gorgeous, and extremely unwieldy. The book itself is beautiful, both in design and in art, but it is massive in every sense of the word, and weighs quite a bit. This of course makes it difficult to read comfortably at times, and it stands out a lot amongst other books. Given the price tag that the book still holds, I'd suggest trying to find a different way of collecting all of the issues, unless you're a diehard Spawn fan.
September 22, 2018
Il titolo che più di tutti contribuì a cambiare il panorama dei fumetti made in USA e del mercato degli anni 90. Nel bene (e anche nel male), Spawn. Imprescindibile. Un pezzo di storia da leggere, specie in questa pregiatissima edizione che ripropone i primi 25 numeri originali: McFarlane, Moore, Gaiman, il rarissimo Spawn #10, Capullo, Silvestri... Può bastare o continuo?
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews