The best spawn stories from the comics, according to Reddit

Created by Todd McFarlane, the Spawn character has found new life in pop culture with the HBO animated series. As of now, McFarlane is also working on a potential movie. But all that aside, there’s no denying that Spawn revolutionized the portrayal of antiheroes in comics with its morally gray lead.

As evidenced by audiences on Reddit, Spawn yielded iconic story arcs that are still enjoyed today. Most of these stories add a healthy dose of visceral violence. At the same time, the writing is supported by difficult moral questions.

ten Debut – Spawn #01-05

Combining the “Justice” and “Questions” stories, Beginnings is the perfect origin story for Al Simmons who has become one of the strongest comic book characters outside of Marvel and DC. In these five issues, readers find Simmons returning from the dead to find himself as a powerful but physically changed Hellspawn sent five years later into the future. Not only does this establish Simmons’ recurring angst, but it’s also a great start for fans who are just getting started in the comics.

As Redditor corsair1617 says, “…start from the beginning. This is the best way to get to know the character and their enemies/allies.”

9 Armageddon – Apparition #150-164

Armageddon showed how wildly surreal the comic can be as Spawn engages in major battles in the afterlife. As his costume intertwines with his body, Spawn faces not only hellish forces, but even the so-called “Divine Almighty”.

Filled with enough action and spiritual introspection, Armageddon is widely regarded as one of the best Spawn bows. Another reason for the popularity is that these numbers launched David Hine’s stint as a writer, a role he held until Spawn #184. To quote Saito07 from Reddit, “David Hine’s run is the best, imo.” Another Redditor MylesBennettDyson618 added how the series “turned Spawn into a horror title that suited him just fine.”

8 Spawn: The Dark Ages – Miniseries

Set during the time of the Crusades, the 28-issue Image Comics series deals with the emergence of a fallen warrior who is reborn as a Hellspawn. As war continues to ravage the English countryside, this medieval Spawn struggles with a dilemma to choose between the kingdom’s innocent subjects or the evil forces that resurrected him.

The Dark Ages serves as a nice break from the usual Spawn scenarios. The character’s inner psyche is well explored as well as moral questions about violence. “I loved Spawn: The Dark Ages. It’s not about Al Simmons, but I liked it anyway.” says Redditor Weis113.

seven Satan Wars Saga – Spawn #256-262

As Wanda is kidnapped by Satan, Al Simmons tries his best to free her and ultimately fails. Despite its action-packed name, Satan Wars Saga is one of the character’s most introspective arcs as it covers up his guilt. Even though he closes the Dead Zone, he ends up losing not only his wife but also his powers.

Redditor TheDorkKnight8BG feels that while the quality continues to waver Spawn #100 to #200, the series finds its marks with this bow. “It’s starting to get really good again with the Satan Wars Saga at number 256 and it has remained fairly consistent ever since.”

6 Hellspawn – Miniseries

With more than 16 numbers, Hellspawn is an even darker and more disturbing take on Spawn’s violent adventures. The atmospheric setting was created by Brian Michael Bendis, who is otherwise best known for writing Spider-Man and Avengers comic book issues in the 2000s. Spawn regular Ashley Wood completed the story with her artistically grotesque illustrations.

Hellspawn has been praised for standing out as a separate spin-off, much like detective duo Sam and Twitch’s own series. As Saito09 agrees, “Spin-off-wise; Sam & Twitch and Hellspawn are awesome.”

5 Dark Horror – Spawn #276-283

Setting the arc for Spawn’s 300th issue, dark horror involves a former Al reverting to his Spawn form at the behest of Cyan Fitzgerald. The story involves the closing of the gates of Heaven and Hell, allowing Earth’s trapped evil souls to wander into the realm of the living. As Todd McFarlane returns to his comic book writing duties, it’s Jason Shawn Alexander’s art style that makes the storyline stand out.

As an anonymous Reddit user’s comment simply sums it up on a dark horror discussion forum, “this current arc is impressive”.

4 Spawn Story – Spawn #296-297

Set in the larger storyline Revenge, Spawn Story is a fitting homage to the character’s legacy so far. Both issues harken back to the character’s origins as they journey through his tumultuous past as a soldier and his afterlife as a Hellspawn. Redditors often recommend the book to new readers new to the Image comic book series who need a quick throwback.

To quote TheDorkKnight8BG, “This is a great trade to take on if you want to move on to a more current state of the comics as it’s mostly a recap of everything that’s happened so far.”

3 Angela – Spawn #9

It’s a whole different story that Neil Gaiman had a legal dispute with Todd McFarlane in the early 2000s, but Spawn #9 continues to be a beloved title among readers. It’s common knowledge that legendary comic book writers like Frank Miller and Alan Moore served as guest writers on the original series. Gaiman was one of them when he introduced the Hellspawn hunter angel known as Angela in the storyline.

Angela proves to be a formidable foe as she engages in combat with the current Spawn. “I loved Spawn growing up. Mainly for the illustrations, but it went pretty well when Neil Gaiman wrote an issue,” Reddit user ifeelok said.

2 Spawn/Batman – One-Shot

Designed as a cross between Spawn and Batman comic book issues from the 1990s, Spawn/Batman came out in two issues. One was a script under Image comics which was written by Frank Miller and illustrated by McFarlane while the other was released by DC but wasn’t as memorable. Miller’s story involves the main heroes fighting fierce battles to finally unite against a common enemy.

While it might not be the best of the lot, people seem to love it for its humor and some iconic moments like the panel in which Batman punches Spawn by throwing a batarang in his face. As FistFootFacer explains, “The face batarang is one of my favorite early splash panels. I vividly remember bringing it to school to show it off.” Referencing Miller’s other Batman-centric work, TheRear1961 notes, “You really see where Miller is getting his Batman All Star reading this issue.”

1 Gunslinger Appearance – Appearance #175-175

A two-part arch set in the American West two centuries ago, Gunslinger Appearance deals with the titular character’s pursuit of revenge. He is originally portrayed as a pastor who, along with Al Simmons’ great-grandfather, bears the brunt of a racist lynching. When Mammon offers the Pastor a chance for revenge, he willingly dies and is reborn as Gunslinger Spawn, a character who would later appear in his own miniseries.

Due to its two-issue arc, it’s also a perfect read for those who can’t waste a lot of time reading Spawn’s diverse mythology. “All the new side stories like King’s Spawn and gunslinger are friendly enough for beginners. gunslinger would be easier with only 2 problems so far. says Reddit user beergainz.