Spawn

Free Comic Book Day has many great attributes.

For starters, it’s a nationwide day, traditionally the first Saturday in May, when comic book shops treat their readers to a free comic book – special editions published by numerous comics publishers.

Kool Comics of Valdosta regularly participates in Free Comic Book Day.

Free Comic Book Day can introduce a new character to readers. Some issues kick off a larger storyline coming in the regular titles. 

And some remind readers of a character almost forgotten.

How could I have ever forgotten about “Spawn.”

Spawn is the creation of Todd McFarlane, a superstar artist of the comic book world back in the 1980s with memorable runs on titles such as “Spider-Man” and “The Incredible Hulk.”

In the early 1990s, McFarlane and several other top artists and writers founded Image Comics. A company that allowed them to retain the rights to the characters they created.

McFarlane introduced “Spawn,” roughly an assassin who dies, goes to the underworld, makes a deal with the devil and returns to earth as a disoriented, disfigured super-powered being. 

Fueled by McFarlane’s powerful art and storytelling, “Spawn” became a hit, spawned a movie back in the ’90s, etc.

The Free Comic Book Day edition reintroduces “Spawn” to new readers and reminds past readers of all of the character’s strengths and possibilities.

The issue also advertises plenty of past issue collections and other coming attractions, including “Spawn” No. 300 scheduled for release in August.

“Spawn” is worth the re-introduction.