Review: Rat City #1

April 10, 2024

By Dustin Cabeal

It has been a long while since I have read a Spawn comic book. I find it infinitely interesting that it is still being published monthly, probably as one of the most consistently published monthly books from Image in general but also from a founder of image. That sheer fact alone makes it an anomaly in comic books as every other creator that founded Image or has moved on from the publisher or is almost incapable of producing a monthly comic book. Eric Larsen is possibly the only other person, but even then, the irregularities of the scheduling of Savage Dragon and its spin-offs makes Spawn a standout and now in 2024. It seems Spawn is expanding its universe; it is becoming More than just Spawn and a few miniseries. I have noticed increasingly that I am seeing different titles related to Spawn, but Rat City caught my attention more than the others.

Cybernetic Spawn is not anything new to the Spawn Universe. I think it actually exists in some form in the action figures first and foremost, but it is relatively new to have an ongoing series about a cybernetic-esque Spawn. Rat City is just a catchy, grungy futuristic name. I mean, no one thinks of rats and goes, that's pleasant. Rat City gives you this futuristic Judge Dread-esque, grimy city to deal with which is a perfect fitting for Spawn and a Spawn spin-off book.

Jeremy Renner joins Jamie Foxx in new SPAWN film cast lineup

July 10, 2018

Press Release

In an exclusive scoop, Deadline broke the news that Academy Award nominated Jeremy Renner will join Jamie Foxx in the cast lineup for Todd McFarlane’s forthcoming Blumhouse film adaptation of SPAWN.

Spawn Is Reborn With A Special 25th Anniversary Director's Cut Edition

May 15, 2017

In celebration of the Hellspawn’s silver anniversary, a special Director’s Cut Edition of SPAWN #1 by comics legend and Image Comics President, Todd McFarlane, will hit stores this week. The Director’s Cut includes the original artboards of SPAWN #1, commentary from McFarlane himself on each page, and bonus, never-before-seen art.

See The First-Ever Spawn #265 Variant Sketch Cover

August 30, 2016

SPAWN, the best-selling independent comic of all time has released two extremely limited variant comics covers for SPAWN issue 265 being sold only by Scorpion Comics. Spawn 265 Gold Blank Variant Cover - This unique covers feature a gold Spawn logo, the traditional markings, borders and bleed lines of the Image Comics art board used by the artist and an extremely rare printing of only 666.

Spawn #265 Red Blank Variant Cover - A classic sketch cover, perfect for your favorite’s artist sketches or signatures. Features a red Spawn logo and a limited print run of only 1500. There have never been variant sketch covers like these before and now fans and collectors can own these limited sketch covers available only at

There have never been variant sketch covers like these before and now fans and collectors can own these limited sketch covers available only at http://www.scorpioncomics.com

Spawn Kills Everyone Fast-Tracked To Second Printing

August 22, 2016

Todd McFarlane, President of Image Comics and creator of SPAWN took the industry by storm with the envelope-pushing parody one-shot SPAWN KILLS EVERYONE! written by McFarlane himself with art by J.J. Kirby. In order to keep up with increased customer demand, Image Comics has fast-tracked SPAWN KILLS EVERYONE! to a second printing. In SPAWN KILLS EVERYONE! Spawn kills, well... everyone. In this laugh-out-loud satire, Spawn heads to Comic Con and nobody escapes his wrath.

SPAWN KILLS EVERYONE!, 2nd printing (Diamond Code JUL168317) will be available in stores on Wednesday, September 14th. The final order cutoff date for retailers is Monday, August 22nd.

SPAWN #265 (Diamond Code APR160779) hits stores on Wednesday, August 31st.

Review: Spawn Kills Everyone #1

August 17, 2016

Yes, you’ve read the title correctly; this is a review of Spawn Kills Everyone, a new one-shot comic out this week from Spawn creator Todd McFarlane and Image Comics. I really wanted to read this book, so I put my name down for it and waited for the review copy. Alas, Image Comics did not send us a review copy. So I did what any self-respecting comic shop owner who also reviews comics would do in my situation and read the bloody thing as soon as my shop's order came in! I'm so glad I did. Let me open up this review by saying… This book is FUCKING AWESOME. I don’t even think you need to be a Spawn fan to appreciate how good it is. If you like comics (I’m assuming you do), I think you’ll like this book.

Now, as far as the story goes, this one-shot follows a miniature version of Spawn (he's kinda like Bat-Mite, but not lame) tearing his way through a lot of your favorite characters. I should, however, point out that these are normal people in cosplay (way to beat the lawyers, Mr. McFarlane). He’s doing it all in an effort to make a big announcement at a comic convention in San Diego and he’ll stop at nothing to make it. If that means he has to cut down a few innocent convention goers, so be it. It was great fun to read and I'm sure it was great fun to make.

Spawn creator Todd McFarlane writes this issue (he also makes a cameo) and he takes every opportunity to highlight how much more important comic book movies and TV shows are than actual comics through the character, because let's face it, they are.

(That’s sarcasm, kids! I’m glad I caught you there before you scrolled all the way past the review and into the comments section to give me a ruddy good tongue-lashing.)

Everything that bugs me about the comic book industry is front and center in this one-shot. McFarlane is on-point with his satire and I’m glad someone in his position of authority is poking fun at it… Personally, I feel it shouldn’t bug any of us that movies and TV shows about comic characters are making comics more popular. Especially as a retailer, I love it. Though, I also love it when people say to me, “well shit, I didn’t know they made a comic book of that movie!” Sarcasm again. I’m sure you’ve heard someone say that too… Anyway, back to the review.

I thought the book was really funny throughout. The lil' guy's crackin' wise the whole time and although I wasn't sold on the art initially, I really didn't care by (about) page three because I was so into the concept and story already. Basically the art you see on the cover is the art you get throughout the book. I thought the cover might've been McFarlane having a poke at Skottie Young’s variants for Marvel... The Liana Hee variant most definitely is, ha-ha. Honestly, the art was a great fit and I ended up liking it more the further I got into the book. There are some great scenes drawn by artist J.J. Kirby and a lot of bloody violence which is fun to see in his style. This book will stick in my mind the next time I see a "someone kills everyone" style book… You gotta beat the man to be the man, and lil’ Spawn is the man!

Verdict: It was pretty damn hard to write this review because I liked it so much. I didn’t want to ruin it for you before you got the chance to read it. I loved it! When you're in your local comic shop this week, do yourself a favor and pick it up. I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy it, too. I just hope Todd decides to make some more of these one-shots because I know I would like to see more.

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Spawn Kills Everyone #1 Writer: Todd McFarlane Artist: J.J. Kirby Colorist: FCO Plascencia Publisher: Image Comics Price: $2.99 Format: One-Shot; Print/Digital [/su_box]