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Spawn by Todd McFarlane – Definitive Collecting Guide and Reading Order

The definitive issue-by-issue collecting guide and trade reading order for Spawn by Todd McFarlane in comic books and omnibus, hardcover, and trade paperback collections. Find every issue and appearance! Part of Crushing Krisis’s Crushing Comics Guide to Collecting Indie & Licensed Comics. Last updated March 2023 with titles scheduled for release through July 2023.

In 1992, Image Comics broke onto the American comic book market with a series of smash hit launches from six formerly famous Marvel artists.

Of those Image launch books (and with almost 30 years of hindsight), Todd McFarlane’s Spawn would go on to be the most commercially successful, enduring, and influential – as well as one of the highest profile black characters in the history of comics.

Part of Spawn’s longevity is the fact that the character comes with a unique mythology that doesn’t feel like a retread of any other existing comics character.

Al Simmons is a CIA operative who dies in the field and makes a deal with the devil so he can see his wife again. The deal leaves him with gaps in his memory and transforms him the newest unwitting pawn in the centuries-long battle between Heaven and Hell – and both sides have long since stopped playing by their own rules.

In addition to the tragic romance and epic religious plot threads, Spawn also squared off against street-level dirtbags and gang members, allowing McFarlane to draw more of the gritty version of New York’s streets and alleys from his run on Spider-Man. The early part of this run also included a timer counting down Spawn’s remaining “necroplasmic energy,” offering fans the tantalizing idea that the comic’s run was limited by how much power he used.

Over time, McFarlane considerably widened the scope of the series as it helped him launch a multimedia empire, including the founding of his still-successful high-end toy line.

Spawn is an impressively self-contained comic series. Though it has had many spinoffs, they are inessential to the core reading order that starts with issue #1 and continues past the record-breaking issue #301 – making it the longest-running creator-owned superhero comic. In that period, there is only a single one-shot – “Resurrection” – which must be integrated into the reading order to get the full story.

The popularity of McFarlane’s flagship title re-ignited with the press around his 300th issue in 2019. That set the Toddfather to plotting how he could expand the universe of his now record-setting, longest-running indie title. Those plans came to fruition in 2021 with the addition of three new ongoing titles to the line – King Spawn, Gunslinger Spawn, and a team-up book called The Scorched. Then, in 2022, McFarlane extended all of the major reprint lines past issue #125 for the first time – with some pushing as far as issue #200!

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Where to Start Reading Spawn

There are four obvious jumping-on points:

Issue #1 – Start at the start! Despite the early part of Spawn’s series being very 90s in style, it’s also one of the best-executed representations of that style and it comes with tons of substance. Plus, issues #1-100 have the best and most-coherent reprint coverage of virtually any comic run ever published!

Issue #150 – Want to read Spawn as conceptualized by someone other than Todd McFarlane? Author David Hine takes over when McFarlane steps away, and the run begins with a big heaping of backstory recap and status quo reset. On the downside, you’ll be stuck reading in floppy or digitally, as this has never been reprinted.

Resurrection & Issue #251 – This is ostensibly a point to return to the title given that it’s the only time McFarlane has ever interrupted it for a non-sequential one-shot. However, having read it, it’s a bit dry and dependent on your existing affection for the character.

Issues #296-297 – Want to jump into the the highly-energized run that returned Spawn to the top of the sales charts? This pair of issues are a complete history of the story so far (or, at least, the bits that still matter) with annotations to explain where the plot beats originally unfurled.

Issues #318-319 & Spawn’s Universe (2021) #1: Are you curious about the Spawn expanded universe? This jumping-on point marks the launch of the three additional books in the line in 2021. You can keep reading the main series, or pivot to any (or all) of the three.

Spawn Bookshelf – Major Collected Edition Formats

Spawn Origins Deluxe Collection

These slipcased ultra-deluxe hardcovers are analogous to DC’s Absolute editions.Spawn Origins Deluxe Edition, Vol. 4

#1-25: Spawn Origins, Deluxe Edition 1 (2010 slipcased oversize hardcover)

#26-50: Spawn Origins, Deluxe Edition 2 (2010 slipcased oversize hardcover)

#51-75: Spawn Origins, Deluxe Edition 3 (2012 slipcased oversize hardcover)

#76-100: Spawn Origins, Deluxe Edition 4 (2013 slipcased oversize hardcover)

#101-125: Spawn Origins, Deluxe Edition 5 (2023 slipcased oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1534324053)

#126-150: Spawn Origins, Deluxe Edition 6 (2023 slipcased oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1534399228)

Jump to this point in the reading order.

Spawn Vault Edition

A series of oversize original art reproductions.

#1-7: Spawn Vault Edition Volume 1 (2017 oversize hardcover)

#8-15: Spawn Vault Edition Volume 2 (2019 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1534313965)

Spawn Origins oversize hardcovers

An oversize hardcover line similar in size to Marvel Omnibus. Please be careful to purchase english language editions of this series, as a similarly named series with similar covers was released in German.

#1-12: Origins Book 1 (2010 hardcover – ISBN 978-1607061533)
This edition reportedly collects issues #9-10, which are omitted from some reprint lines due to rights issues related to Angela.

#13-25: Origins Book 2 (2010 hardcover)

#26-37: Origins Book 3 (2011 hardcover – ISBN 978-1607062370)

#38-50: Origins Book 4 (2011 hardcover)

#51-62: Origins Book 5 (2012 hardcover)

#63-75: Origins Book 6 (2012 hardcover)

#76-87: Origins Book 7 (2012 hardcover – ISBN 978-1607065869)

#88-100: Origins Book 8 (2013 hardcover)

#101-112: Origins Book 9 (2013 hardcover)

#113-125: Origins Book 10 (2016 hardcover)

#126-138: Origins Book 11 (2022 hardcover, ISBN 978-1534324015)

#139-151: Origins Book 12 (2023 hardcover, ISBN 978-1534399761)

Jump to this point in the reading order.

Spawn Origins Collection paperbacks

An ongoing paperback line collecting 5-7 issues per book.

#1-6: Origins Vol. 1 (2009 paperback / digital / 2019 printing, ISBN 978-1534313897)

#7-9 & 11-14: Origins Vol. 2 (2011 paperback / digital)

#15-20: Origins Vol. 3 (2011 paperback / digital)

#21-26: Origins Vol. 4 (2010 paperback / digital)

#27-32: Origins Vol. 5 (2010 paperback / digital)

#33-38: Origins Vol. 6 (2010 paperback / digital)

#39-44: Origins Vol. 7 (2010 paperback / digital)

#45-50: Origins Vol. 8 (2010 paperback / digital)

#51-56: Origins Vol. 9 (2011 paperback / digital)

#57-62: Origins Vol. 10 (2011 paperback / digital)

#63-68: Origins Vol. 11 (2011 paperback / digital)

#69-74: Origins Vol. 12 (2011 paperback / digital)

#75-80: Origins Vol. 13 (2012 paperback / digital)

#81-86: Origins Vol. 14 (2012 paperback / digital)

#87-92: Origins Vol. 15 (2012 paperback / digital)

#93-98: Origins Vol. 16 (2012 paperback / digital)

#99-104: Origins Vol. 17 (2013 paperback / digital)

#105-110: Origins Vol. 18 (2013 paperback / digital)

#111-116: Origins Vol. 19 (2013 paperback / digital)

#117-122: Origins Vol. 20 (2014 paperback / digital)

#123-128: Origins Vol. 21 (2022 paperback, ISBN 978-1534322998 / digital)

#129-134: Origins Vol. 22 (2022 paperback, ISBN 978-1534323988 / digital)

#135-140: Origins Vol. 23 (2022 paperback, ISBN 978-1534324022 / digital)

#141-146: Origins Vol. 24 (2023 paperback, ISBN 978-1534324077 / digital)

#147-153: Origins Vol. 25 (2023 paperback, ISBN 978-1534399747 / digital TBA)

Jump to this point in the reading order.

Spawn Compendium

Giant, phone-book-size, affordable paperback collections. An initial 2012 version was in black-and-white, but the line was later revived in full color! Note that a common complaint about these editions is they do NOT include all of the covers – they’re just a continuous 50 issues of story!

#1-50: Spawn Compendium Volume 1 [black-and-white edition] (2012 black-and-white paperback)

#1-50: Spawn Compendium, Volume 1 Color Edition (2021 paperback, ISBN / digital)

#51-100: Spawn Compendium, Volume 2 Color Edition (2021 paperback, ISBN 978-1534320956 / digital)

#100-150: Spawn Compendium, Volume 3 Color Edition (2022 paperback, ISBN / digital)

#151-200: Spawn Compendium, Volume 4 Color Edition (2022 paperback, ISBN 978-1534323582 / digital)

Jump to this point in the reading order.

Spawn (1992) #1 – present

Spawn (1992) #1-125 by Todd McFarlane & Greg Capullo
(with Brian Holguin [#71-149] et al)

Spawn (1992) #1

Spawn’s initial 11 year run was written or co-written almost entirely by Todd McFarlane, with pencils by McFarlane and Greg Capullo on all but nine of the first 100 issues. This initial decade and change is considered the core of “classic” Spawn and as such it has been collected in many formats!

McFarlane pencils solo through issue #15, at which point art duties are taken over by Greg Capullo, with McFarlane returning on #21-24, co-pencilling #26-34 & 50 with Capullo (and frequently contributing to inks).

Marc Silvestri pencils #25 as part of Image X-Month, though McFarlane still scripts given the density of the series continuity by that point. Tony Daniel pencils #38, 40, 42, 44, 46, & 48, alternating with Capullo. Dwayne Turner pencils #76-77. Angel Medina takes over art duties with #101 (and continues through #150).

Issue #10 was written by Dave Sims and is frequently omitted from collected editions because it depicts Marvel and DC characters in cameo.

Alan Moore co-writes issue #8 (and later co-writes #37), introducing Vindicator. Neil Gaiman writes issue #9 (and later co-writes #26), which introduces Angela and Medieval Spawn. Issue #11 was written by Frank Miller. Grant Morrison writes the arc from #16-18, and Andrew Grossberg #19-20. Julia Simmons co-writes #38. Steve Niles co-writes #100 & 105-106.

Original United Kingdom trade paperback collections (1995-2001)

This original trade paperback line ran with painted covers starting with volume four (and with reprints of the first three editions) to appeal to the Sandman-oriented bookstore audience.

#1-5: Vol. 1: Creation (paperback ISBN 978-1852868284 / hardcover ISBN 978-1840234206)

#6-11: Vol. 2: Evolution (ISBN 978-1852868291)
May omit issue #10

#12-15: Vol. 3: Revelation (ISBN 978-1852868307)

#16-20: Vol. 4: Escalation (ISBN 978-1852868314)

#21-25: Vol. 5: Confrontation (ISBN 978-1852868321)

#26-30: Vol. 6: Retribution (ISBN 9781852868338)

#31-36: Vol. 7: Transformation (1998 paperback, ISBN 978-1852868345)

#37-42: Vol. 8: Abduction (1998 or 1999 paperback, ISBN 978-1840230048)

#43-48: Vol. 9: Sanction (1998 paperback, ISBN 978-1840230192)

#49-53: Vol. 10: Damnation (1999 paperback, ISBN 978-1840230307)

#54-58: Vol. 11: Corruption (1999 paperback, ISBN 978-1840230314)

#59-64: Vol. 12: Devastation (2000 paperback, ISBN 978-1840231601)

#65-70: Vol. 13: Termination (2000 paperback, ISBN 978-1840231618)

#71-76: Vol. 14: Resurrection (2001 paperback, ISBN 978-1840232622)

#77-82: Vol. 15: Ascension (2001 paperback, ISBN 978-1840232639)

Spawn Collection (2005-2008)

A six-volume paperback line collecting issues #1-116

#1-8 & 11-12: Collection Vol. 1 (2005 paperback)

#13-33: Collection Vol. 2 (2006 paperback)

#34-54: Collection Vol. 3 (2007 paperback)

#55-75: Collection Vol. 4 (2007 paperback)

#76-95: Collection Vol. 5 (2008 paperback)

#96-116: Collection Vol. 6 (2008 paperback)
Sources differ on if this collection includes issue #96.

Original trade paperback collections
(with some other series integrated into the reading order)

This original trade paperback line ran with painted covers starting with volume four (and with reprints of the first three editions) to appeal to the Sandman-oriented bookstore audience. [Buy this series digitally]

Before #1: Youngblood Strikefile (1993) #1-3: See Guide to Youngblood. Originally, the six imprints of the Image universe were much more closely tied together. At that time, Chapel – a Youngblood character – had specific ties to Spawn’s origin as Al Simmons. Simmons cameos here in this origin of Chapel.

#1-5: Vol. 1: Beginnings (1995 paperback, ISBN 978-1887279505)
This volume was originally issued with a standard comic cover and the same title (ISBN 978-1887279017) and also in the UK as “Creation” (both paperback ISBN 978-1852868284 and hardcover ISBN 978-1840234206)

#6-11: Vol. 2 Dark Discoveries (1996 paperback, ISBN 978-1887279536)
Painted cover version may omit #10 due to the cameos of Marvel characters.. This volume was originally issued with a standard comic cover and the same title (ISBN 978-1887279185) and also in the UK as “Evolution” (ISBN 978-1852868291)

#12-15: Vol. 3 (1996 paperback, ISBN 978-1887279543)
This volume was also issued with a standard comic cover in the UK as “Revelation” (ISBN 978-1852868307)

#16-20: Vol. 4 [may be titled “Home”?] (1997 paperback, ISBN 978-1887279529)
This volume was also issued with a standard comic cover in the UK as “Escalation” (ISBN 978-1852868314)

Spawn-Batman (1994) One-Shot (A.K.A. The Red Scare) (Amazon)
Note that the corresponding Batman/Spawn one-shot from DC does not fit in well with Spawn’s chronology.

#21-25: Vol. 5: Death and Rebirth (1997 paperback, ISBN 9781887279710)
This volume was also issued with a standard comic cover in the UK as “Confrontation” (ISBN 978-1852868321)

Violator (1994) #1-3: Not collected in English. Written by Alan Moore. This occurs at the same time as the prior arc, “The Hunt,” in #21-24.

Spawn: Fan Edition (1996) #1-3: Not collected. Distributed polybagged with Overstreet’s FAN #16-18. Written by Beau Smith with pencils by C. Bradford Gorby. While this may fit earlier in chronology (it features a Norse version of Spawn), it relates to the Violator series and makes the most sense to read adjacent to that.

Youngblood #7-8 & 10: See Youngblood (eventually). “The Death of Chapel,” which is a lead-in to issue #27

#26-30: Vol. 6: Pathway to Judgement (1998 paperback, ISBN 978-1582400013)
This volume was also issued with a standard comic cover in the UK as “Retribution” (ISBN 9781852868338)

Angela (1994) #1-3: See Angela (eventually). This occurs between #28-29.

Violator vs. Badrock (1995) #1-4: Violator vs. Badrock (1996 paperback, ISBN 978-1887279116)
While this may occur later in terms of Spawn’s series, it happens more or less directly after Violator for Violator.

#31-34: Vol. 7: Deadman’s Touch (1998 paperback, ISBN 9781582400204)

Spawn: Blood Feud #1-4: Not collected in English. Written by Alan Moore. Best read after #32

#35-38: Vol. 8: Betrayal of Blood (1999 paperback, ISBN 978-1582400211)

After #39: Spawn/WildC.A.T.s #1-4

#39-42: Vol. 9: Urban Jungle (1999 paperback, ISBN 978-1582401119)

#43-47: Vol. 10: Vengeance of the Dead (2000 paperback, ISBN 978-1582401317)

#48-50: Vol. 11: Crossroads (2000 paperback, ISBN 978-1582401324)

#51-54: Vol. 12: Immortality (2001 paperback, ISBN 978-1582401980)

After #52: Savage Dragon #30: While this is a Spawn appearance, it is not critical to his own story – it’s more promotional, than anything else.

#55: Not collected in the original trades, but collected in other formats above

After #55: Spawn: The Impaler #1-3

#56-66: Not collected in the original trades, but collected in other formats above

After #66: Spawn: Blood and Salvation (1999) AKA Annual 1999, Altered Image #1-3

#67-87: Not collected in the original trades, but collected in other formats above

After #87: Spawn: Blood and Shadows (1999) AKA Annual 1999

#88-100: Not collected in the original trades, but collected in other formats above

Hellspawn (2000) #1-16: See below. This can be read after #100 or 106

#101-125: Not collected in the original trades, but collected in other formats above

#125-149 (May 2003 – Sept 2005)
by Brian Holguin and Angel Medina (with Todd McFarlane)

This run of Spawn was plotted by McFarlane and falls after the close of traditional origins collections. It is penciled entirely by Angel Medina except for #139-141 by Nat Jones.

#125-129: Not collected in original trades or by storyline, but collected in other formats above. “Wake Up Dreaming” [eBay / Digital: 125, 126, 127, 128, 129]

#130-131: Not collected in original trades or by storyline, but collected in other formats above. “Seven and a Half Ghosts” [eBay]

#132: Not collected in original trades or by storyline, but collected in other formats above. [eBay]

Spawn: Architects of Fear OGN (2011 paperback, ISBN 978-1582408385)
This is an ostensibly in-continuity tale from the creators of the French BD Simony, above. Other chronologers have tentatively placed this after issue #132.

#133: Not collected in original trades or by storyline, but collected in other formats above. [eBay]

#134-138: Not collected; “A Thousand Clowns” [eBay]

#139-141: Not collected in original trades or by storyline, but collected in other formats above. “Hellbound” [eBay]

#142-144: Not collected in original trades or by storyline, but collected in other formats above. “Devil to Pay” [eBay]

#145-146: Not collected in original trades or by storyline, but collected in other formats above. “Destination Anywhere” [eBay]

#147: Not collected in original trades or by storyline, but collected in other formats above. [eBay]

#148-149: Not collected in original trades or by storyline, but collected in other formats above.”Random Patterns” [eBay]

#150-184 (Oct 2005 – Oct 2008)
by David Hine with Philip Tan & Brian Haberlin

For the first time, Todd McFarlane steps away from writing Spawn full-time for more than a handful of issues.

#150-164: Spawn: The Complete Armageddon Collection (2007 paperback, ISBN 978-1582408378 / digital)
Pencilled by Philip Tan Previously collected as issues #150-155 in The Armageddon Collection, Part 1 and #156-163 in The Armageddon Collection, Part 2.

The Origins Deluxe, Origins oversize hardcover, and Origins Collection paperback lines currently end here.

#165: Not collected in original trades or by storyline, but collected in other formats above. “Mandarin Spawn” penciled by Lan Medina [eBay / Digital]

You can read Spawn: Godslayer here, though it is Alternate Universe

#166-169: Spawn: New Flesh Collection (2008 paperback, 978-1582408613)
Penciled by Brian Haberlin. Also collects material from Image Holiday Special (2005) OGN SC

#170-175: Spawn: Neo Noir (2008 paperback, ISBN 978-1582409818)
Penciled by Brian Haberlin except the two-part “Gunslinger” in #174-175 by Bing Cansino and Geirrod Van Dyke

#176-177: Not collected in original trades or by storyline, but collected in other formats above. “The Monster in the Bubble” [eBay]

#178-184: Not collected in original trades or by storyline, but collected in other formats above. Penciled or co-penciled by Brian Haberlin except #179, “War Spawn,” by Mike Mayhew. [eBay]

#185-200 (Oct 2008 – Jan 2011)
by Todd McFarlane with Whilce Portacio & Greg Capullo

Issues #185-190 co-written with Brian Holguin. Whilce Portacio pencils #185-192, 194-195, & 197 (with Capullo on layouts #190-191 and penciling #193 and portions of 195-196).

#185-196: Spawn: Endgame Collection (2010 paperback, ISBN 978-1607062356)
Previously collected as #185-190 in Endgame Vol. 1 and #191-196 in Endgame Vol. 2

#197-200: Not collected in original trades or by storyline, but collected in other formats above. The prologue of #200 is written (and penciled!) by Robert Kirkman of Walking Dead fame. The prologue of #200 ties into Image United. [eBay / Digital: 197, 198, 199, 200]

Image United (2009) #1-3: Not collected, except for issue #1 with Haunt. Features Jim Downing Spawn and ties into Haunt. Issue #0 is a reprint-only issue. [eBay]

#201-250 (Jan 2011 – Feb 2015)
by Todd McFarlane & Jonathan David Goff with Szymon Kudranski

The series settles into a lengthy new status quo with penciler Szymon Kudranski for several years. This run includes the series’ 20th Anniversary issue with 220, which is followed by a year of homage covers.

The Compendium paperback collection line currently ends here.

#201-206: Spawn: New Beginnings, Vol. 1 (2011 paperback, ISBN 978-1607062233 / digital)

#207-212: Spawn: New Beginnings, Vol. 2 (2012 paperback, ISBN 978-1607065005 / digital)

#213-218: Not collected; “The Gathering Storm” [eBay / Digital: 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218]

#219-228: Not collected; a series of homage covers [eBay]

#229-234: Not collected; “Celebrity Savior” [eBay]

#235-250: Not collected [eBay]

#251-295 & Spawn Resurrection (2015) #1 (March 2015 – May 2019)
by Todd McFarlane & Jason Shawn Alexander

Jason Shawn Alexander pencils most issues from #276 through 265. Szymon Kudranski returns to pencils with issues #267-283. Image founder Erik Larsen co-writes and co-pencils issues #259-266

Spawn Resurrection (2015) #1 & 251-255: Spawn Resurrection, Vol. 1 (2015 paperback, ISBN 978-1632155634 / digital)

#256-262: Satan Saga Wars (2016 paperback, ISBN 978-1632158079 / digital)

#263-275: Spawn: Hell on Earth (2017 paperback, ISBN 978-1534304468 / digital)
Note that #265-266 cross over to Savage Dragon #216-217 for “Alzayah Stone” but they are not collected here.

#276-283: Dark Horror (2019 paperback, ISBN 978-1534313101 / digital)

#284-290: Enemy of the State (2019 paperback, ISBN 978-1534314429 / digital)
Confirmed issue range in book indicia page.

#291-297: Spawn: Vengeance (2020 paperback, ISBN 978-1534316874 / digital)
Issues #296-297 were a “History of Spawn” recap heading into the issue #300 anniversary. [Digital: 291, 292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 297]

#298 – ongoing (June 2019 – present)

#298-301: The Record-Breaker (2022 paperback, ISBN 978-1534322981 / digital)
Pending collection information [Digital: 298, 299, 300, 301]

#302-307: Aftermath (2022 paperback, ISBN 978-1534323995 / digital)
[Digital: 302, 303, 304]

#308-314: Omega (2022 paperback, ISBN 978-1534324039 / digital)

#315-317: Collections not yet announced; “Chain Gang” [Digital: 315, 316, 317]

#318-319 & Spawn’s Universe (2021) #1: Collections not yet announced. Issue #318-319 were billed as a new onboarding point, with stories that continued into Universe #1, which in turn launches the three new titles in the line – King Spawn (2021), Gunslinger Spawn (2021), & The Scorched (2022). [Digital: 318, Universe, 319]

#320-323: Collections not yet announced. Todd McFarlane splits script duties with Rory McConville in issue #323. [Digital: 320, 321, 322, 323]

#324-(ongoing): Collections not yet announced. Written by Rory McConville with art largely by Carlo Barberi. With all the spin-offs now launched, this run begins with the book re-centering its focus on Al Simmons as he faces off against Sinn in a war for the Dead Zones. [Digital: 324, 325, 326, 327, 328, 329, 330, 331, 332, 333, 334, 335, 336, 337, 338, 339, 340, 341]

Ongoing Series

Curse of the Spawn (1996) #1-29 (Nov 1996 – March 1999)

This title was a spin-off expanding the stories of previous Hellspawn and the supporting cast of the main title.

#1-4: Vol. 1: Sacrifice of the Soul (1999 paperback, ISBN 978-1582400969)
A tale of a far-future Hellspawn

#5-8: Vol. 2: Blood & Sutures (1999 paperback, ISBN 978-1582401133)

#9-11: Vol. 3: Shades of Gray (2000 paperback ISBN 978-1582401348)
Also collects #29.

#12-14 & 22: Vol. 4 Lost Values (2000 paperback, ISBN 978-1582401621)

#12-16 & 20-29: Best of the Curse of the Spawn (2006 paperback, ISBN 978-1582406169)
Collects 23 issues of this 29 issue series – #1-8, 12-16, & 20-29

#17-19: Not collected [eBay]

Spawn: The Undead (1999) #1-9 (June 1999 – Feb 2000)

A horror-themed series focused on Al Simmons.

#1-9: Spawn: The Undead (2008 paperback, ISBN 978-1582409399)
Note that this edition is notorious for its poor binding.

Spawn: The Dark Ages (1999) #1-28 (March 1999 – Oct 2001)

This series follows a 12th Century Hellspawn.

#1-28: Spawn: The Dark Ages – The Complete Collection (2013 hardcover, ISBN 978-1607066866/ digital)

Hellspawn (2000) #1-16 (Aug 2000 – April 2003)

This can be read following issue #100 or 106

#1-16: Hellspawn: The Complete Collection (2010 hardcover, ISBN 978-1607061557)
Issues #1-10 previously collected in Hellspawn: The Ashley Wood Collection (2006 paperback, ISBN 978-1582405988)

Spawn: Godslayer (2006) One-Shot & #1-8 (Sept 2006 – June 2008)

A fantasy reimagining of Hellspawn.

One-Shot (2006, ISBN 978-1582407104) [digital]

#1-8: Not collected [eBay]

King Spawn (2021) #1-(TBA) (Aug 2021 – ongoing)

#1-6: Volume 1 (2022 paperback, ISBN 978-1534323117 / digital)

#7-12: Volume 2 (2023 paperback, ISBN 978-1534399778 / digital)

Gunslinger Spawn (2021) #1-(TBA) (Oct 2021 – ongoing)

#1-6: Volume 1 (2022 paperback, ISBN 978-1534324008 / digital)
This volume opens with a note that it occurs entirely before The Scorched (2021) #1

#7-12: Volume 2 (2023 paperback, ISBN 978-1534399754 / digital TBA)

The Scorched (2021) #1-(TBA) (Jan 2022 – ongoing)

#1-6: The Scorched, Volume 1 (2022 paperback, ISBN 978-1534324046 / digital)

#7-(TBA): Pending collection announcement

Limited Series & One-Shots
(in chronological order by release)

Batman-Spawn: War Devil OGN (1994, ISBN 978-1563891441)
Released by DC Comics. Written by long-time Batman scribe Doug Moench. This does not fit well with Spawn chronology. Recollected as Batman/Spawn: The Classic Collection (2022 hardcover, ISBN 978-1779521507 / digital) and Batman/Spawn: The Deluxe Edition (2023 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1779522818).

Spawn-Batman One-Shot (1994) (A.K.A. The Red Scare) [Amazon]
Released by Image Comics. While not a part of official continuity, this fits into continuity after issue #20, as indicated above. Recollected as Batman/Spawn: The Classic Collection (2022 hardcover, ISBN 978-1779521507 / digital) and Batman/Spawn: The Deluxe Edition (2023 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1779522818).

Violator (1994) #1-3: Not collected in English. Written by Alan Moore. This occurs at the same time as “The Hunt,” in #21-24. [Amazon / eBay]

Angela (1994) #1-3: See Angela (eventually). This occurs between #28-29.

Spawn: Blood Feud (1995) #1-4: Not collected; written by Alan Moore. This fits into continuity after issue #34, as indicated above. [Amazon / eBay]

Violator vs. Badrock (1995) #1-4: Violator vs. Badrock (1996 paperback, ISBN 978-1887279116)
While this may occur later in terms of Spawn’s series, it happens more or less directly after Violator for Violator.

Medieval Spawn/Witchblade (1996) #1-3: Medieval Spawn/Witchblade (1997/98 paperback, ISBN 978-1887279444)
We first meet Medieval Spawn in issues #9 & 14-15.

Spawn Bible (1996) #1: Not collected. A handbook style collection of character information and bios. [Amazon / eBay]

Spawn: Fan Edition (1996) #1-3: Not collected. Included in polybags with Overstreet’s FAN #16-18. Written by Beau Smith with pencils by C. Bradford Gorby. It includes a Norse version of Spawn and can be read either as a prologue to Spawn or after issue #24 and the Violator mini-series. [Amazon / eBay]

Spawn the Impaler (1996) #1-3: Not collected; by Mike Grell. This conflicts with existing Spawn continuity, but can be read after #55. [Amazon / eBay]

Spawn/WildC.A.T.s (1996) #1-4: Alan Moore: Wild Worlds (2007 paperback, ISBN 978-1401213794)
Collects Deathblow: Byblows (1999) #1-3, Spawn/WildC.A.T.s (1996) #1-4, Voodoo (1997) #1-4, WildC.A.T.s: Covert Action Teams (1992) #50, and Wildstorm Spotlight (1997) #1

Spawn: Movie Adaptation OGN (1997)

Spawn: The Book of Souls (1998) #1: Not collected; similar to the Bible handbook one-shot.

Spawn: Blood and Shadows (1999) AKA Annual 1999: Not collected. By Paul Jenkins & Ashley Wood. [eBay]

Spawn: Blood and Salvation (1999) AKA Annual 1999: Not collected. By Alan McElroy & Ashley Wood. [eBay]

Spawn: Simony (2004 paperback, ISBN 978-1582403656): Translates a two-issue French Spawn story

Spawn: Shadows of Spawn (2005) AKA Spawn Manga #1-3: Shadows of Spawn (2006 paperback, ISBN 9781582406589)
Originally released in a trio of 200-page Manga volumes – Vol. 1 (ISBN 978-1582405711), Vol. 2 (ISBN 978-1582405421), & Vol. 3 (ISBN 978-1582405766)

The Adventures of Spawn (2007) #1-2: Not collected; a reimagination of Spawn in the style of Saturday morning cartoons [eBay]

Spawn: Book of the Dead (2008 hardcover, ISBN 978-1607060369 / 2009 paperback, ISBN 978-1607061496)
An illustrated guidebook

Spawn: Architects of Fear OGN (2011, ISBN 978-1582408385)
This is an ostensibly in-continuity tale from the creators of the French BD Simony, above. Other chronologers have tentatively placed this after issue #132.

Spawn Resurrection (2015) One Shot: See above

Spawn Kills Everyone! (2016) #1 & Spawn Kills Everyone! Too (2018) #1-4: Spawn Kills Everyone: The Complete Collection Volume 1 (2019 paperback, ISBN 978-1534312227)

Medieval Spawn & Witchblade (2018) #1-4: Medieval Spawn & Witchblade, Vol. 1 (2018 paperback, ISBN 978-1534308435))

Spawn: A Holiday Krampus Tale (2019) #1: [digital]

Spawn Cover Gallery Volume 1 (2019 hardcover, ISBN 978-1534314221)
Collects the covers of the first 100 issues.

Spawn’s Universe (2021) #1: Spawn’s Universe Collection (2023 paperback, ISBN 978-1534324299)
This June 2021 one-shot acted as the gateway to the newly-expanded world of Spawn. This collection was solicited for 2023 but has not been released as of this writing. That might have to do with the fact that it was originally planned to reprint stories from Gunslinger #1 and The Scorched #1, but may be retooled now that both of those titles are 12+ issues into their runs.

Batman/Spawn (2022) One-Shot: Batman/Spawn: The Deluxe Edition (2023 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1779522818)
Collects Batman-Spawn: War Devil (1994) OGN, Spawn-Batman One-Shot (1994) (A.K.A. The Red Scare), & Batman/Spawn (2022) One-Shot, plus original artwork from all three issues.

Spawn: Unwanted Violence (2023) #1-2: A mini-series from Todd McFarlane and otherworldly artist Mike Del Mundo

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Comments

  1. Grant Bagwell says

    The omission of 10, AFAIK, was nothing to do with the Marvel characters and more that Dave Sim said he didn’t want it reprinted. The whole situation is covered in the Origin Book 1 hardcover

    Reply

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