Spawn #2: Questions Part 2 Review

Spawn #2: Questions Part 2 Review

Medium: Comic

Release date: 7/1/1992

Review date: 9/23/2024

Score: 7/10

This issue kept the mystery going from Issue #1, but didn't do a whole lot more than that. Spawn kind of just stood around talking to himself again; like yeah, we see he can use his powers to disguise himself as human temporarily (which decreases the green countdown clock introduced in Issue #1), but he doesn't do anything with that new knowledge. We get to meet and spend a bit more time with the character of the Violator, and he seems fun enough: a trash talking, short lard-ball who transforms into a really alien looking demon that rips out people's (but maybe just bad guys’) hearts is a solid setup. I didn't mention it for the last issue, but the shoutouts to the other flagship Image titles like “Youngblood” and “Savage Dragon” in the script stood out to me - I hadn't realized Image pushed for its titles being in a shared universe early on. It's very interesting to see that integrated in the “Spawn” book with what I know about Todd McFarlane and the clashes he has had with other Image creators after the imprint’s launch; I wonder if that sort of crossover stuff falls off the longer the series goes on. I still like the framing device of the news reports filling the reader in and showing the passage of time, though I do think it'd be weird for the news to mention the charitable contributions of the widow of a famous soldier who was killed five years ago, but whatever, that’s not a real complaint. I'm worried a bit by Spawn’s disguise powers - Todd choosing to make Al Simmons (Spawn) black is a cool choice, especially when you really look at the total number of high profile black superheroes (even writing this in 2024), but I don't have the most faith in nerdy comic book writers from the 90s being able to write convincing black characters (yeah I’m stereotyping dorky Canadian white guys who drew Spider-Man comics in the 80’s - sue me), and giving Al the ability to shape change, but only into a white guy, just seems like a recipe for a poorly written disaster, so I hope Todd shows a bit more restraint than I know he will. I also really hope the pace of the comic picks up, because I don't really need to see Spawn just stand around brooding for another entire issue.