Todd McFarlaneknows exactly howSpawnwill end, but he hopes you will never find out. Debuting over 30 years ago, Todd McFarlane’sSpawnis still going strong, even after many of its contemporaries faded away into obscurity. TheSpawnfranchise shows no signs of slowing down, but if it ever needs to come to an end, its creator knows how it will happen.
Speaking withScreenRantat WonderCon,Spawncreator and co-founder of Image Comics Todd McFarlane answered a variety of questions.Spawn’slongevity was brought up, and when asked about the possibility of the book coming to an end, McFarlane had this to say:
Todd McFarlane: Yeah, I’ve had it from the very beginning. I always knew what the ending was. I just hoped that I never would have to tell it. It’s sort of funny when you go and pitch stuff in Hollywood. You go and pitch these big grand stories and stuff, and it’s interesting how many executives ask, “How does it end?” And I am like, “Why would you ask that? That’s a defeatist question.” Whenever they ask, I go, “What’s the end of Superman?” The answer should be that you never want to tell it.
The fact thatSpawnhas been in continuous publication since 1992 adds weight to McFarlane’s words. McFarlane then added:
But I’ve always had it, so what I’ll probably do is put it in an envelope and put it away. My kids will have it so that it’ll always be there in case anybody after my death wants to pull the plug on the character or whatever. They’ll go, “Here’s what Todd’s ending was.” Even if people look at it and go, “That was dumb, Todd,” I’ll be dead! It won’t matter anyway.
McFarlane concluded this segment by stating he had two goals whenSpawnbegan: for the character to live on after he’s gone and for there to always be an Image logo on the book.
Spawn, the Flagship Hero of Image Comics, Explained
Spawn Has Helped Change the Face of Comics
Todd McFarlane, along with other top Marvel artists, broke from the company in the early 1990s to form Image Comics, and hisSpawntitle would become the fledgling publisher’s flagship title.Spawntells the story of Al Simmons, a former Marine who is killed in action. In Hell, he makes a deal with a demon and returns to Earth as a Hellspawn.Spawnwas a massive hit, and it helped Image Comics challenge the hegemony Marvel and DC had established.Spawn’ssuccess helped change the face of comics in North America, and helped make Image a presence in the industry.
Spawnnow also holds the record for being the longest-running independent title in America, passing the previous one set by Dave Sim’sCerebus.
Thesuccess of theSpawncomicinspired a multimedia franchise that grew to encompass movies, animation and action figures, yet for most of its existence, it has been a solitary title. While McFarlane has largely stepped back from day-to-day duties on the title, he nevertheless maintains control of the franchise, and recently took steps to expand it in comics by unveiling a slew of new titles that helped expand theSpawnuniverse further.Spawnnow also holds the record for being the longest-running independent title in America, passing the previous one set by Dave Sim’sCerebus.
Fans Should Not Hold Their Breath ForSpawn’sEnding.
“This Is Freakin' Awesome”: How Spawn Helped David Dastmalchian Embrace His Love of Horror
In an interview, actor David Dastmalchian spoke about his fandom for Todd McFarlane’s Spawn, citing its influential blend of superheroes and horror.
This recent expansion of theSpawnfranchise, as well as its continuing presence in the comics’ scene, most likely means it will not be ending anytime soon, but it is fascinating that Todd McFarlane has an ending planned. At the timeSpawnwas created, the idea of an American superhero comic having a set ending was virtually unheard of. Endings would gain traction in the industry by decade’s end, however, proving McFarlane was ahead of the curve again. McFarlane wanted to create something special and enduring, and by all counts, it looks like he has done just that.
In the interview,Todd McFarlanedid not offer any clues as to howSpawnmight end, and judging from his response, fans will not find out anytime in the future either. This could spark intense debates amongSpawnfans over whether the character will get a happy ending or not. McFarlane stated in the interview that he wantedSpawnto continue after he’s gone, just like Superman persists after 80-plus years, and he has succeeded here beyond his wildest dreams, meaning it may never come to an end.
