By T.W. Worn — It's dark. The smell of stagnant water and mildew fill my nostrils. Wet, moss-coated rock surrounds me. It had been six hours since I entered the mouth of the cavern. The distant echo of bats wash the otherwise silent void. Bats, and my footsteps. I was here to find it. To find the door. The one the old man at the gas station a few miles back told me to avoid at all costs, regardless of how curious I may be. 

I stop for a break. I sit on the moist ground. In my bag of supplies is a review of King Spawn #1, written by Sean Lewis (THUMBS/BLISS), and Todd McFarlane, father of Spawn, Co-Founder and President of Image Comics. This issue is thick. A bomb, crammed with ideas and explorations. The first new Spawn series in nearly three decades. I wanted to stop for only a few minutes to give my feet a break, but from the moment I open the issue, I find myself stuck in place. 

My interest in the Spawn franchise could be described as "passing" at best. I remember late nights in elementary school where I would stay up late to sneakily watch episodes of the animated series. The exhilaration I felt then is swimming inside my head now. Even though I don't recognize a number of these characters, and have fleeting memories of others, I follow. It has been decades since I set foot in this world, but here I am. Falling deeper and deeper into the hole that is the war between angelic and demonic beings. Characters are clear and concise. I understand the risk and motivation of our hero, as well as the other characters that fill this thick issue's pages. A story that is raw and unwelcoming in the best way. From the very first panel I am able to follow the tangled web of a tale, but wonder how well would I have been able to follow if I knew nothing of the character at all.  

I close the book. I have to go deeper into the cave. I need to find the door. It's the only way I can fix this. What I have done. What I am going to do. I stand up and travel further. Images flash in my periphery. Is something here with me, or is my mind playing tricks on me? Visions from the comic haunting my solitude? Or is this what happens when you get closer to the door? 

The art of King Spawn #1 is exactly what you want from a Spawn comic; Dark, brooding, bloody. But there is also a surprising amount of light. The Spawn I saw late at night is no longer the one we know. Javi Fernadez (Batman/Magneto) brings new life to the character. Similar to the infamous art of McFarlane, but also quite different. Like comparing a memory to a home movie. There are similarities, but the overall experience is something unique only to the individual. The tones, the violence, the stillness and the action. It is all here. Both jagged and smooth, the almost impossible object that is the Spawnverse coats each page. Combined with the colors of FCO Plascencia (Batman/Invincible,) a new life is brought into the classic hero. 

It has been three hours since I have continued on after my break, and the sound of the bats are gone. Now, a doldrum hum floats throughout the still cave. At moments angelic, but at others, nightmarish. I feel as though I will never reach the door. The door that was mentioned in a book, buried deep into the rare books collection of the library at home. The door that will set me free. 

I must mention that the entire issue is not dedicated to Spawn alone. The second half of King Spawn #1 is dedicated to the other players in this world. Characters that I do not know, but nonetheless sink their claws deep into my curiosity. Each of the additional stories set the baseline for other tales and titles to come, and each having their own dedicated team of artists. Stephen Segovia (Action Comics/Hellions) Marcio Takara (Wolverine: The Long Night/Nightwing) Dave McCaig (Low/The Walking Dead) and Marcelo Maiolo (Pacific Rim: Tales From the Rift/Demon Knights) are just a few of the names tied to these additional stories. Every new chapter is an entry way into a different part of this shared universe, showing us the horrors of angelic war. 

I'm here. The door. I was expecting something more, esoteric? Ethereal? Grand? No, a simple wooden door with a brass handle is embedded in the wall. The hum is louder. Deafening. The vibration makes me sick. Dizzy. Grabbing the handle, I feel the energy shoot through my whole body. Every muscle seizing, I fight through it to turn the handle. I pull, and with it the crack of Thunder, a bright light blinding me. And then, silence. Emptiness. Void. My flashlight shines but the light falls onto a never-ending nothingness. Forever alone. Me, darkness, and King Spawn #1. 

Overall: King Spawn #1 starts off fast, and grows its universe even faster. While existing SPAWN fans will love the new edition to the universe, it may not be the best jumping in point for people looking to dive into the series. 7/10

REVIEW: King Spawn #1

King Spawn #1
Writers: Sean Lewis, Todd McFarlane
Artist: Javier Fernadez
Additional Artists: Stephen Segovia, Marcio Takara, Philip Tan, Brett Booth
Colorist: FCO Plascencia
Additional Colorists: Andrew Dalhouse, Marcelo Maiolo, Peter Steigerwald, Dave McCaig
Letterer: Andworld Design
Additional Letterer: Tom Orzechowski
Publisher: Image Comics 
A historical NEW ongoing SPAWN series begins!
The launch of this book, nearly three decades in the making, further expands the SPAWN UNIVERSE with a growing presence of Hell, Heaven, and Heroes here on Earth.
A classic villain from Spawn's past has begun asserting his powers on Earth by corrupting as many souls as possible. And only Spawn knows that he even exists. Continuing the dramatic battles from SPAWN'S UNIVERSE #1, this is where it all begins!!!!!
Don't miss out...the last time a new ongoing SPAWN series launched was in 1992.
Price: $5.99
More Info: King Spawn #1

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I'm T.W. Worn (@twworn) and the door is open.