F*cking What?
This comic is really f*cking weird!
We've reached our third and possibly final look at Spawn, and dear lord do we have a strange one today. Like our last two outings, we have a special guest writer, a fellow by the name of Dave Sim. Unlike the last two issues however, I'm not as familiar with this guy's work. All I know is that he apparently created some greaser Aardvark named Cerebus who appears later in this issue, and apparently, in preparation for this comic he and Todd McFarlane probably raided Grant Morrison's drug stash. Oh yeah, it's that kind of comic.
We open with what appears to be Spawn. I say appears to be because the narration caption says "I am Spawn" briefly before saying, on the same page mind you, "I am not Spawn" So, he is Spawn, and he's not Spawn and he is I am she is you are they are we are all together I am the walrus goo goo kachoo. Anywho, our narrator says that he is Spawn because he has all of Spawns memories, but he is not Spawn because he knows things that Spawn does not know. He knows every inch of Spawn's world, except for one thing, he doesn't know what lurks on the seventh level of hell. He teleports there, though it is not like teleporting, for he already exists everywhere in Spawns world. On the seventh level of hell, we find several people with black bags over their head. On the other side of the room.... is where the mind f*ck happens. What we see is a prison cell that is filled with Marvel and DC super heroes and villains. They all demand to be saved and give Spawn/Not Spawn their power... I think. Eventually, Superman pipes up and gives Spawn/Not Spawn a spiel about how he has to save the world even though he can't, I don't know, this part's confusing.
And now, Violator with boobs.
Just let that mental imagery sink in.
You're welcome.
He's wearing a dress made of dollar bills and holding a scale with tons of money in one pan and a black shriveled up heart in the other. To quote another prominent internet reviewer: SYMBOLISM!!!!
Eventually, the previously mentioned greaser Aardvark shows up to attempt to restore some semblance of sanity. Also, for reasons beyond my understanding, the comic has now become black and white. Cerebus, while talking in third person, explains that the men in black bags are comic book creators who sold the creative license to their characters, condemning them to eternal damnation. Cerebus takes Spawn/Not Spawn to his home with his wife and daughter and OH MY GOD THAT'S THE MOST TERRIFYING DRAWING OF A CHILD I'VE EVER SEEN! It has an adult female head with a baby's body. Spawn/Not Spawn says she's beautiful, no she isn't. Cerebus says she looks like Winston Churchill, Winston Churchill wearing nothing but a diaper would be more pleasant to look as than this abomination. Oh well, at least we end on a happy note with a declaration that Spawn will always be a trademark and copyright of Todd Mcfarlane.
What Works:
All joking aside, I really liked this issue. It comes off as a tremendous labour of love from two creators who deeply care about the character's they've created.
What Doesn't:
Occasionally this issue seems preachy and incoherent, but never to a point where it's bad. Also, scary demon child.
Overall:
5/5
This issue is too nuts not too be good. Well, the next issue is written by Frank Miller, and since I don't feel like reading about a psychotic moron who thinks he's Batman shouting at or about prostitutes, this closes out our look at Spawn. So, what's the verdict. Is Spawn bad, eh, not really. Is Spawn good, yeah, sort of. Is Spawn weird, oh lord yes!
