In a recent panel at Comic-Con@Home 2021, Spawn creator Todd McFarlane speaks about the upcoming King Spawn comic, confirming what the intriguing title actually means for the popular antihero. Given that Hellspawn are relatively common in the Spawn universe – many with designs similar to Spawn himself – fans had wondered if King Spawn could refer to a new character, but McFarlane makes it clear that isn’t the case. King Spawn will follow the original Spawn in an ambitious new role, though not one as literal as the title suggests.
The expansion of the Spawn universe was announced by McFarlane with the release of Spawn’s Universe #1 on June 23, 2021. The new book laid the groundwork for four separate Spawn titles to hit the shelves by the end of 2021: Spawn, King Spawn, Gunslinger, and The Scorched, with King Spawn as the first to be released. Before fans get the chance to read the new Spawn title for themselves, a few details have been clarified during a conversation between McFarlane and co-writer Sean Lewis.
In the Todd McFarlane Takes Over the Universe! panel, McFarlane confirms King Spawn will not depict Spawn as a literal king. “For people thinking you’re going to pick up the first issue, and all of a sudden there’s going to be Spawn sitting on a throne with a thing and whatever else and it’s twenty years in the future, no no no.” says Todd McFarlane, discussing Spawn’s role in the new title, “it’s still the same Spawn from the classic book, it’s just that now he’s really focused on his agenda… King Spawn just sounds regal, and I want our hero to be regal as much as possible.” McFarlane clarifies that King Spawn differs from Spawn only in the way that Batman and Detective Comics co-exist as Batman series that focus on different aspects of the Dark Knight’s mission, saying that while Spawn will continue to follow the antihero as a solo operator, King Spawn will take a larger view of his role in the universe and be something of a war story.
With the new title differentiating between two separate books, McFarlane explains he wants to signify Spawn as a leader rather than brand him as a literal king, and co-writer Sean Lewis whole-heartedly agrees. “It’s more of, like, a symbolic king” says Lewis during his discussion with McFarlane, “it’s kingdoms in the sense that Breaking Bad is basically about kingdoms.” The two comic creators then go into what the new book will be about, teasing action and intrigue as different factions vie for control in a world at war.
Although Todd McFarlane outlined the larger direction intended for King Spawn, he also stressed the importance of Lewis’ own voice in crafting the series. “You were like, don’t worry about writing my Spawn or the Spawn you read,” says Lewis. Lewis explains that the words offered to him by McFarlane after the Spawn creator hired him for the job helped free his creative process and allowed him to channel the writing voice that caught McFarlane’s eye in the first place.
While McFarlane is largely passing the reins of King Spawn off to another well-equipped comic book writer and creator within the Image Comics network, he isn’t done with Spawn by any means. Todd McFarlane will still be the writer behind the flagship Spawn title as well as the new series Gunslinger. There is already much excitement surrounding the new extended Spawn universe, and Image Comics has announced that Spawn’s Universe #1 was the publisher’s best selling debut of the twenty-first century. Fans are on the edge of their seats waiting for these new releases, and it won’t be long now! King Spawn #1 will be available August 25, from Sean Lewis, Todd McFarlane, and a host of artists.
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