At the time, Spawn was very much considered a poor man’s Batman. But this book is probably the first to come out of Image Comics that really had something to say.

It’s the 30th anniversary of Image Comics, the comic book publishing company that changed the way the industry does comics. We started last video with Youngblood #1, which was April of 1992, and now we’re moving into May of 1992 with the debut of Todd McFarlane’s Spawn.

Now don’t get me wrong. He’s not a storyteller, okay? Todd McFarlane is most definitely not a storyteller by any stretch of the imagination. But he could draw some dynamic scenes, and he knew the story he wanted to tell. Even if it was written, I want to say badly, but it wasn’t great, the artwork carried the rest of the burden for the storytelling. So much so that upon rereading it for this video, the story was actually not bad. This is probably the most cinematic book that was coming out at the time, and that’s saying a lot.

A Dead Man Wakes Up in New York

Spawn #1 takes place in the city of New York, of course, and it’s 1992. The story is of the titular character. He wakes up some years after his corporeal, physical body had died, with few memories. We see Spawn sort of struggle to recall things after returning. Returning from where? That’s what we wanted to find out. He catches fleeting glimmers of the life he left behind, but nothing he can really fully wrap his mind around yet.

So McFarlane does some trope-filled storytelling by giving us an exposition dump, as told through the eyes of television reporters, commentators and personalities. The reports we see are based in 1987 and focus on the death of an American military operative. His name is Al Simmons. He’s a decorated veteran who saved the president’s life once. Mostly it comes through the speculation surrounding Al’s wife, Wanda, at the funeral, which has to do with her being seen with an unusual man. So some people are thinking things, and whatnot. All of this storytelling is eventually going to end up somewhere.

The Deal

Spawn recalls being part of the CIA, specifically Jason Wynn, and his death. He wanted to return to someone, someone he loved. When he sees a vision of his wife, he recalls making a deal with a demon to return.

Later on we find out this demon is known as the Malebolgia, and essentially he’s one of the various dukes of hell. That’s how deep this story goes later.

So he curses the demon, as those were its terms, and now he can’t recall his past life. Spawn feels his new power surging through him, and he decides to go find his wife. Once he gets some answers, he’ll track down the demon who screwed him on the deal.

Sam, Twitch, and a Heart in the Wrong Place

Meanwhile, elsewhere, as comic books will do, we’re at a crime scene. Sam Burke asks another character named Twitch Williams about a mobster’s murder. Twitch explains several times to Burke that while the guy was thrown through a window, he died of his heart being removed from his chest. This is the first of these kinds of things. And ultimately it was removed from his chest and shoved into his mouth.

It’s awesome.

Burke shows a little remorse, as several other major crime syndicate members have been killed recently in a very similar fashion. So clearly we now have some sort of a serial killer.

The Little Teeny Green Speck

Nearby, on a rooftop, Spawn spots several men who are sexually assaulting a woman. He easily disposes of them. Like, super easy. The guy’s not a slouch. He uses a little bit of his energy and essentially blows them up.

It’s insane, because the way Todd McFarlane draws it, it’s literally this little teeny green speck, and then it’s boom, and these guys are running.

But somehow using the power does something to him. It makes him experience a flashback way stronger than the first ones, and he feels like he’s got to find this woman, who he now begins to identify as Wanda. Upon returning to his senses, he finds he’s weeping in the arms of the woman he just got finished saving.

Then we skip to some news reporters, and the news of the day is about the fourth gangland murder. There are also reports of someone who’s been spotted, this vigilante, or whatever they think it might be. Youngblood, whatever. It’s Spawn, obviously. Spoilers.

What Am I?

Spawn is wandering through the streets. He angrily pulls off his mask and he notices, oh my God, my hands feel rough, and my face. What’s going on? What am I? He’s upset. He doesn’t know what’s going on here.

Then we cut back to the police officers, Twitch and Sam. These two characters become real familiar as time goes on. They can’t believe the physical damage Spawn caused several of the gang members with what we later on know to be necroplasm, which is just a real fancy way of saying a big green bomb.

And elsewhere, this demon we knew about, what we now know is the Malebolgia, watches over Simmons. He says out loud to himself that Simmons will have so many more problems coming his way, and he breaks into a maniacal laugh. That’s the Malebolgia. It’s all ha ha ha ha, into the moon.

Next Up: June of 1992

That’s Spawn #1, May of 1992. Next week we get two new issues as we go to June of 1992: Spawn #2 and Youngblood #2.

So there you go, now you know, and if knowing is half the battle, then you’re halfway to being a know-it-all yourself. Let’s keep it real, and don’t forget, everybody loves a know-it-all.

If you picked up Spawn #1 back in May of 1992, tell me how it holds up for you now. The conversation lives in the comments on the video above.