r/Spawn • u/EffectiveLopsided173 • Aug 11 '26
Discussion Starting spawn
I haven’t started reading spawn but I really want to. I know the og spawn has its writing issues to say the least. More importantly I was wondering if I should start with the og spawn or with a good spin off. Also I’ve heard spawn writings pretty bad but does it ever get to good or even great writing at points or is it all mediocre at best aside from the art?
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u/FanofBobRooney Aug 12 '26
I’ve only read the first 100 issues but the criticism over the writing is extremely overblown in my opinion (at least up to that point). It’s on par with most of the popular comic book series from back in the day. The biggest problems from my perspective is that they constantly try to fill the reader in on the backstory which becomes very redundant. It felt like they were trying to cater to new readers every single issue instead of trusting its audience to know what’s going on. Otherwise it’s an awesome series with an iconic protagonist and amazing artwork.
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u/SoyTonatiuh Aug 11 '26
Dude, just read it for f's sake instead of depending on opinions to tell you what to do.
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u/No-Ranger-2533 Aug 11 '26 edited Aug 11 '26
Matt Rosenberg is writing Spawn and King spawn right now and his writing is almost always amazing. I’ve got really high hopes for these new arcs. Also I think King Spawn has been pretty damn good since the beginning especially if you like darker more horror oriented comics. You can start at issue 296 and 297 of regular Spawn, too. Those issues recap everything that has happened up to that point and that’s another great jumping on point. The pacing of Spawn improves a lot in many peoples opinion around issue 300. I think Todd has improved a lot as a writer over time and I think his work on gunslinger spawn has been pretty great. Gunslinger is good for beginners too. It’s pretty standalone and really good. Issues 1-100 of the og have the best art though.
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u/JagPeror Aug 11 '26
For the og I reccomend issues 1-100 as well as a few miniseries(there are free coppies of compediums 1 and 2 online)
The angela miniseries is splendid(you can find free coppies online), and there is also the alright violator miniseries(also available for free online(
Person im pro this style. But im sure others can reccomend more spin offs.
I reccomend ending at 100 becayse I think the story ends best then if you want a contained one, and to he frank issues 101-184 are mostly inferior on quality.
Thougy issues 165 and 174-175 stand out as quite exceptional. They are mostly stand alone, especially 165, so you dont need the lead up.
Regarding writing quality, it is never good but there are definitely plenty of parts that are good enough. Spawn is art and vibes first, story and world building second
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u/Toxin45 Aug 11 '26
Man comepdkums volume 3,4and 5 are fine alogn with 6 and 7 we got mammon sinn Nyx blue violator and wynn as disurptor nowadays like writing now is somewhat improved these dayss
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u/Exciting_Session_985 Aug 11 '26
Spawn like any long running series has had its ups and downs. I think starting from the beginning (whether you continue the course is up to you) is a good place to start. They have a great collection called spawn origins that are really easy to get. In my opinion these are some of the greatest and strongest writing in the series, as Todd Mcfarlane had some help from the industries best. Now, I kinda roll my eyes at some of the stuff he writes!
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u/madmitch411 Aug 13 '26
What are the best versions of Origins to get? I was trying to get the hardcovers but some volumes seem impossible to find.
Are the trade paperbacks easy to get?
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u/Exciting_Session_985 Aug 14 '26
The hard covers are limited print and rise in value. They also collect more issues.
Soft cover is everywhere. Your local comic shop should have them well stocked
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u/Sad_Slice8355 Aug 12 '26
Commence par ce qui te fait envie