Guide Note

Spawn is a fictional superhero and star of a comic book series published by Image Comics. He is among the most popular comic book characters who is not part owned by Marvel Comics or DC Comics. Spawn was created by Todd McFarlane, and the success of the character carried over into animated features and a major film. McFarlane also parlayed the characters popularity into a line of toys, which in turn led to the creation of McFarlane Toys and Todd McFarlane's fortune.

Fast Facts

1. Creator: Todd McFarlane
2. First Appearance: Spawn #1 (1992)
3. Powers/abilities: Immortality, Flight, Magical abilities
4. Alter Ego: Al Simmons
5. Published by: Image Comics
6. Wears living symbiotic costume capable of evolving

Al Simmons, aka Spawn, is not the only one of his kind. There have been several Spawns through history, all of whom struck deals with the devil to return to life. Simmons did so to return to his wife, only to find that it was 5 years after his death and her remarried. All Spawn-kind suffer similar fates, a cruel machination employed by the Devil to ensure loyalty. Spawn is intended to be a soldier in the war against Heaven, and part of the reason the devil selected him is because of his military background. Over the course of the series, Spawn tangled with agents from both sides, including angels, demons, and some very unsavory human beings.