Best Spawn Comics (Updated: October 2025)

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The most compelling Spawn comics really capture the distinctive style of Todd McFarlane. This visual approach was incredibly popular in the 1990s and continues to inspire comic books even now. Spawn played a key role in making comics more mature, and the best issues remain enjoyable reads. We’ve compiled a list of our favorite Spawn stories to introduce you to the character and get you ready to explore everything the Spawn universe has to offer.

Best Spawn comics as of 2025

The launch of Image Comics by McFarlane was a major moment for the comic book world, and Spawn was its leading title. Though its popularity has decreased since then, it was incredibly popular throughout the 1990s, even getting its own movie in 1997. The Spawn franchise has a rather complex history, featuring many spin-offs, one-shot issues, and complete series. You can check out our picks below to get a good grasp of everything Spawn offers and use it as a place to start.

Gunslinger Spawn

I really enjoy dark, intense westerns, especially stories about getting even, and the Gunslinger Spawn comics deliver that perfectly. The series began in 2021 and has already released 46 issues, with more on the way. The story is essentially what would happen if you took the classic Spawn concept and set it 200 years in the past. In this version, Spawn is a man who used to be Jeremy Winston, a preacher in the 1800s. His family and entire church community are brutally murdered by evil men working with demons. Winston is wrongly put to death, sent to Hell, and, just like Al Simmons before him, he returns as a Hellspawn.

One of the best things about Gunslinger Spawn is that it works really well as its own story. Whether you’ve been away from Spawn comics for a while or are completely new to them, this is an excellent place to start. You don’t need to know anything about the past issues – it’s enjoyable right away. And Brett Booth’s artwork is just as impressive. Todd McFarlane’s writing and Booth’s art complement each other perfectly, which isn’t always the case in a series that’s been going for a long time.

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Spawn: Dark Horror

The Spawn: Dark Horror arc consists of 8 issues, from #276 to #283. It’s a crucial part of the story, building up to the landmark issue #300, which became known as the longest-running creator-owned comic book ever. Don’t skip Dark Horror! While Spawn has always had a dark and unsettling tone, this arc really emphasizes his ghostly side, moving away from just a powerful physical presence. In my opinion, it fits the overall story better. This is where the story truly transforms into a full-blown horror experience.

Written by Darragh Savage, Todd McFarlane, and Jason Shawn Alexander-with amazing artwork also by Jason Shawn Alexander-this story arc begins with Spawn taking Cyan to Tokyo for safety. She’s being haunted by the spirit of a young girl, and simultaneously, people in Tokyo are being turned into human bombs. The first issue culminates in one of these bombs detonating. If that opening isn’t both chilling and deeply unsettling, I’d be surprised. It’s a truly disturbing start.

Besides writing, Jason Shawn Alexander also created the artwork starting with issue #276 and continuing through #303. His illustrations add a dreamlike and frightening feel, dramatically changing the comic’s overall mood. It moves away from the typical ’90s comic style and becomes something unique. It’s a truly impressive series of issues.

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Spawn: Satan Saga Wars

This story arc, spanning issues #256-262, is essentially a non-stop battle. With only a few short scenes for plot purposes, it’s almost entirely focused on action. Al Simmons has returned, and he’s determined to confront Hell head-on. He’s not taking any roundabout way; he’s forcefully breaking through the barriers to reclaim Wanda’s soul.

The Satan Saga Wars storyline is fairly simple and doesn’t have a lot of complex layers, but the artwork is really enjoyable. This arc showcases the art of Erik Larsen, which some might need to get used to, but he’s a celebrated illustrator with a strong reputation. The story follows Swarm as he battles demons, grotesque creatures, and massive forces of evil, ultimately culminating in a confrontation with Satan himself.

While it might not be a deeply complicated story, it’s certainly enjoyable. This comic deserves its spot among the best Spawn issues because it successfully brings Al Simmons back into the fold after he’s been gone for a while. I also like how it provides a satisfying conclusion – everything is tied up neatly at the end. It’s a well-rounded read.

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Spawn: Cult of Omega

Omega Spawn is a truly dangerous villain in the Spawn comics, and the ‘Cult of Omega’ storyline really highlights just how powerful he is. Things start to change a lot for the Spawn universe after issue #310. We begin to see a growing number of different types of Spawn, like Gunslinging Spawn and Medieval Spawn, but this expansion isn’t always positive. It creates complications.

Written by Todd McFarlane and illustrated by Carlo Barberi, Cult of Omega is a comic arc that really appeals to fans. The story unfolds in issues #311-313, centering around a group of extremely driven individuals desperate to bring Omega Spawn back to life. If they manage to do so, the consequences will be catastrophic – it won’t just be chaos, but a complete disruption of the timeline. Because Omega Spawn doesn’t belong to either Heaven or Hell, this being has the power to unleash fierce fighters from both realms onto the entire universe.

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Hellspawn

Okay, everyone, this story is pretty unsettling. Hellspawn isn’t considered part of the core Spawn storyline. It’s a separate branch, but it delves into much more disturbing territory. Hellspawn also includes a lot of social commentary, so if you’re expecting a lighthearted Spawn experience, you might be confused. Let’s be real – we’re all here because we enjoy darker content. This is straight-up horror, not just something *with* horror elements.

This time around, Brian Michael Bendis offers his interpretation of the character, focusing heavily on dialogue – think Aaron Sorkin-style, but with a much darker tone. It’s not witty or fast-paced; instead, it’s bleak and filled with a sense of hopelessness. Be warned: the story contains racist and homophobic language. This is intentional, meant to be shocking, and it definitely is. The narrative delves into very difficult territory.

The artwork, particularly from Ashley Wood, is what truly sets this comic apart. It’s a strange, expressive style that feels less like a typical superhero story and more like a vibrant, flowing dream. And when it comes to Surrealism (consider this a quick art history lesson!), the goal isn’t to fully understand everything on the first read. It’s about experiencing a certain feeling. You revisit it later, analyze it, and try to make sense of what you just witnessed. With incredible work from comic greats like Brian Michael Bendis, Steve Niles, Ashley Wood, and Ben Templesmith, Hellspawn is my choice for the best Spawn comic. It’s deeply affecting and stays with you long after you finish reading.

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How we chose the best Spawn comics

We’ve chosen some excellent Spawn comics as a great starting point for anyone new to the series. These issues don’t require a lot of background knowledge about the story or its history. You’ll experience different interpretations of the character, as the series evolved with various writers and artists over time. If I were to add one more, it would be the original Spawn comic, so you can see how it all began. Consider this a collection of the best moments from the Spawn comics. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like we’ll be getting a new Spawn movie reboot anytime soon.

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2025-10-03 05:30