Written by Guest Contributor: Jordan North Spawn continues to pick up as more and more players join the game. The table is set, and the participants in the rat race are beginning to fully realize the rules and regulations. The Leetha suit is proving to be more than what originally met the eye so long ago, at least as far as Jim Downing possesses it. So powerful is it, that even god appears afraid.

As you could imagine that amount of power is heavily sought after and an increasing amount of heavy hitters have started to play ball. The Clown, Redeemer, Malbolgia and even Twitch himself are all here, vying for control of this new power, or in some cases wanting nothing to do with it.

And then you have Jim, the regular guy at the center of it all. How would you react? Maybe as well as Jim does here, sick of the suit’s sway and constant living fever dreams Jim questions who is really in control before asking his symbyote, “if you didn’t have me...what would you do then?” and then he jumps from the top of a tall building, just to see. He doesn’t know if he’ll survive or not but it’s not about that, this is about a man who is refusing to be a tool and that’s a concept we can all relate to.

As of this point in the books it’s the set up that counts. Powers are mobilizing, heaven; hell and all in between are struggling for the power of the K7 Leetha suit and Jim Downing. This is, more than anything else about a reluctant hero (or villain, this has yet to be seen) in Jim Downing. Jim didn’t ask for this power, or this curse, this burden really, and yet it has been thrust upon him. A man who didn’t want the spotlight, but got it anyway. Jim isn’t the most interesting character in comics these days but his position is one that has me curious to see what happens next in each and every issue.

Adding to that is art and color that really make the book into something I want to take in issue after issue. While it can verge on heavy-handed at times the art in these books drips with so much drama and atmosphere that it feels good indulging in the spectacle.

Still a bit slow but interesting and budding and building towards something bombastic, this issue of Spawn moves the plot along in exciting ways, with a few twists and turns along the way.

Score: 4/5

Writer: Todd McFarlane Artist: Szymon Kudranski Publisher: Image Comics Price: $2.99 Release Date: 10/2/13