Spawn, Compendium 4

Spawn Compendium #4

by Todd McFarlane, David Hine, Brian Holguin

TODD MCFARLANE unleashed his signature creation, SPAWN, in 1992. In doing so, he created the most successful independent comic book in history. Now for the first time Issues 151-200 are collected in FULL Color. Some of these issues have never been collected before! SPAWN COMPENDIUM VOL. 4 presents the continued tales of Spawn, as he discovers the true meaning of becoming a Hell spawn. He settles on a path of bloody revenge in search of a way back to his humanity!

Collects SPAWN #151-200

Genres: Comics, Horror, Fiction, Graphic Novels Manga, Graphic Novels

1114 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Todd McFarlane is a Canadian comic book artist, writer, toy manufacturer/designer, and media entrepreneur who is best known as the creator of the epic occult fantasy series Spawn.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, McFarlane became a comic book superstar due to his work on Marvel Comics' Spider-Man franchise. In 1992, he helped form Image Comics, pulling the occult anti-hero character Spawn from his high school portfolio and updating him for the 1990s. Spawn was one of America's most popular heroes in the 1990's and encouraged a trend in creator-owned comic book properties.

In recent years, McFarlane has illustrated comic books less often, focusing on entrepreneurial efforts, such as McFarlane Toys and Todd McFarlane Entertainment, a film and animation studio.

In September, 2006, it was announced that McFarlane will be the Art Director of the newly formed 38 Studios, formerly Green Monster Games, founded by Curt Schilling.

McFarlane used to be co-owner of National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers but sold his shares to Daryl Katz. He's also a high-profile collector of history-making baseballs.

Reviews

[Darth_Odan · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you finished Spawn Compendium 3 you will be at a crossroads: do you want to slug through another Compendium to reach the 66% of Spawn or do you want to drop it? Much to my chagrin, this compendium leaned a lot towards the latter category. This compendium will continue McFarlane's poor attempts of making things up as he goes, retconning where necessary, and doing a reboot. The art, as always, is Spawn's strongest point and it was the sole thing keeping me going for many issues. At some points, you will laugh at how ridiculous some plot points are because how they don't make sense with the original (first 100 or so issues) overall plot. If you remember to those issues, you'll notice how there really wasn't foreshadowing since McFarlane never planned on any of this, and at some points Al will act in ways that will frustrate you.

However, there is a silver lining to this compendium: there is a reboot towards the latter half of Compendium and a new main character. The compendium ends with a glimmer of potential hope: this new protagonist may add some much needed direction to the run.

[Patrick Poe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read sooo much Spawn at this point. The thing about the Compendiums and giving them a rating is that within 50 issues of Spawn generally some of those issues are really good and some are really not, so while some of this volume maybe some of the worst of Spawn the “Endgame” arc starting at issue 185 is some of the best of Spawn. So I’m going with 4 stars maybe it should be three cuz 12 really good issues among 50 isn’t a great batting average but oh well.

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first two-thirds of this are actually pretty good. David Hine actually has things happen in the book. Then McFarlane comes back in issue #185 and wipes it all away. The thing is he doesn't do anything to really signal a reboot. There's just a new Spawn and most of the things Hine setup are retconned. It's odd and confusing. But now there's a new white guy as Spawn. He has no memories. Things move real slowly because it's McFarlane writing the book again. All we really find out is that he was experimented on as patient 47 as if that's a big reveal. Issue #200 is also confusing because it apparently spins out of Image United which was never finished and only had 3 of the 6 issues ever come out. Spawn fights some Omega Spawn and I didn't really know what was happening. The art is good throughout the book with Phillip Tan and Whilce Portacio as the two main artists.

[Logan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first Spawn comic I’ve ever read. I realize this is #4 so I am a little late and unknowledgeable on multiple things but the story is very interesting.

The artwork changes and the threat level dramatically drops halfway through the book, but the stories are intriguing nonetheless.

The heaven/hell war story is phenomenal. My favorite part is when the blind grandmother dies and goes to heaven. Her wish to see what granted, but all she ends up seeing is warriors and battles instead of angels and peace.

After that is over and the artwork changes, it does become a lot more mellow but it is still very enjoyable. Strange instances happen around town where a girl is peeling off her skin and people are getting abducted.

I do hope to read the rest of the series one day so I can know the lore of the character and his motives, but the artwork and stories are amazing :)

[Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really want to like the idea of a “new” spawn but this compendium was the hardest one to get through of all the ones I’ve read. I really miss the older style of art but Portacio is doing a good job here but not what I imagine out of a spawn book.

Spawn always get by making up the story as they go with seemingly no idea where they are going but this one felt really aimless. 300 the story ramps up again but there’s still one more volume before then. Fingers crossed compendium 5 will pick up the story a bit.

[Sam Judge · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've now read volume 1-4, the first thing that struck me was the big change in the art style, I don't mind it too much however it did take some time for me to get used to Al not being the Spawn anymore. Looking forward to seeing where volume 5 takes the story.

[Cameron Fraser · Rating 3 out of 5]

From story to art easily the weakest run of issues in Spawn so far, 151 through to 160 something are strong but it just gets worse and worse after that leading up to issue 200.