Matthew Rosenberg’s approach to Spawn and King Spawn is arguably one of the best things to happen to the hellish antihero. Not only is Rosenberg taking a wild swing by exploring an Earth where Heaven and Hell have abandoned humanity, but he’s also reintroduced an element of ambiguity by hinting that Spawn might be the cause of an apocalypse. That makes King Spawn #57 sing as it’s revealed that Al Simmons is alive…and working at a local diner. Though Hudson Hill is still convinced that he’ll bring about the end of the world, Al wants nothing more than to live his life.
The idea of Spawn living a (semi) normal life is intriguing, particularly given the status quo Rosenberg set up. What happens when he isn’t constantly fighting the forces of Heaven and Hell? What happens when he finally achieves his lifelong goal of reuniting with his wife, Wanda? From the little glimpses that are offered into his life, it looks like Simmons has finally achieved a sort of peace. Then again, with Hudson learning his secret and the laws of storytelling all but demanding conflict, it’s no surprise that this peace is short-lived.
Readers will also get another glimpse into the dark forces that are lurking in the world, and in true Spawn fashion, they’re absolutely horrifying. Thomas Nalchik’s art works to this advantage, displaying scenes chock-full of carnage. A would-be magician has a girl that’s flayed alive hanging in his basement; vampires are shown bleeding from the eyes. Even Spawn is no stranger to spilling blood once he enters the fray, though that’s an image that needs to be seen for itself. What really sells the horror is Nalchik’s close ups, which allow the horror of these images to linger with the viewer.
The same could be said of Ivan Nunes’ colors. Nunes leans into the reds and blacks that define Spawn’s suit, leading to a grisly juxtaposition of shadows and blood throughout the issue. These hues also don’t shy away from the grime of the world Simmons, Hudson, and others inhabit, as a moment where Hudson goes to get high sees him entering the filthiest bathroom you’ll ever see in your life. Nunes does shake it up whenever Spawn uses his powers, as the faint green glow from his eyes is a hint toward his true nature.
Throughout King Spawn #57, a question is raised: will Spawn be the savior of the world, or its inherent destroyer? While his actions lean toward the former option, there’s the fact that Hudson had a vision of him ending the world – and given how often Spawn tends to battle with powerful forces, that’s not an outcome that’s entirely off the table. Rosenberg’s approach to this conflict mirrors the one he’s currently taking in his original series, If Destruction Be Our Lot, which takes as much time to immerse readers in its world as it does to unfurl the plot. In both cases, I’m hooked.
King Spawn #57 features a massive status quo change for Al Simmons, and further explores the strange new world he lives in. It’s more than worth a read, whether you’re into Spawn or not.
