Is Spawn in DC or Marvel? Is Spawn a Marvel character? Before Spawn ever met Batman, the iconic Image character had a secret DC and Marvel crossover that saw him wielding Superman’s power. Following his battle with Heaven’s hunter Angela, Spawn finds himself in Hell’s Seventh Sphere. Inside he discovers an arcane prison that is later revealed to be full of famous comic book characters. When his powers don’t seem to break through, the imprisoned characters offer their power, one of them being one of the most famous and recognized characters of all time, Superman.
Is Spawn in DC or Marvel?
No, Spawn is not a DC character.
While Spawn has similarities to multiple DC heroes and villains, he doesn’t belong to the same comic house as Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, or the Watchmen. He was created in 1992 by Todd McFarlane, a Canadian artist who once worked with Marvel, and then started his own company.
Is Spawn a Marvel character?
No, Spawn is not a Marvel character, either.
He certainly throws similar vibes to Venom and even Black Suit Spider-Man, having a symbiote costume that’s alive and has a mind of his own. He can also create weapons and shields similar to symbiotes. However, while he also shares his looks with Deadpool and the Prowler, he doesn’t belong to their comic house.
As far as his powers and abilities are concerned, he already possessed formidable skills as a human assassin. Returning as Hellspawn, however, he got his symbiotic powers with the suit and other special abilities such as shape-shifting, superhuman strength, durability, and teleportation.
Spawn’s Marvel & DC Crossover Gave Him Superman’s Power
Before Spawn ever met Batman, the iconic Image character had a secret DC and Marvel crossover that saw him wielding Superman’s power. Following his battle with Heaven’s hunter Angela, Spawn finds himself in Hell’s Seventh Sphere. Inside he discovers an arcane prison that is later revealed to be full of famous comic book characters. When his powers don’t seem to break through, the imprisoned characters offer their power, one of them being one of the most famous and recognized characters of all time, Superman.
When Spawn tries to operate Angela’s abandoned lance following their battle, the weapon unleashes some kind of failsafe that causes Spawn to disappear, teleporting him to Hell where he enters the Sphere known simply as Erebus. He discovers it to be full of an ancient yet still stable prison across from a line of prisoners who are bound with hoods over their faces.
Realizing they have a visitor, the prisoners reach out for Spawn, not out of hostility but with the hope that he’ll be able to free them. Although only one arm is visible, it is clear that the prisoners are well recognized DC and Marvel characters, both heroes and villains trapped for an unknown period of time.
In Spawn #10 by writer Dave Sim and artist Todd McFarlane, Spawn uses the full extent of his powers, in an attempt to free them, throwing any caution about the consequences to the wind. The former Al Simmons’ mind is flooded with hundreds of thousands of voices offering their power in hopes that it’ll be enough to break through.
One of those voices, although his face isn’t clearly shown, belongs to Superman, whose voice both calms and inspires Spawn. The hero called “He- Who-Came-First” offers his power and convinces Spawn its now or never, ending their brief interaction with a wink and smile that Spawn reciprocates with a respectful nod under his mask.
Even though the story is considered non-canonical within the Spawn universe itself, it doesn’t make Superman’s appearance nor his transference of power any less significant. Although he couldn’t be portrayed completely, the issues creators drop enough hints, both verbally and artistically, to make it clear whom Spawn is talking to.
Not only is Superman one of DC Comics’ greatest and most recognizable heroes, but he’s also one of the comic genre’s earliest superheroes. His powers essentially make him a god within his world so adding that to Spawn’s influx of unfathomable power would make the Hellspawn one of the most powerful character in comics, period.
Although Spawn’s power are at levels he could have never imagined, his explosive efforts do nothing to destroy the prison or release his captives. The formerly jovial Superman resolves himself to his cell where he ominously utters, “Doomsday,” a reference to both the creature who infamously killed him and the futility of hoping for freedom.
The writer Dave Sim, whose most popular work Cerebus also makes an appearance, uses the comic as a criticism about creators’ rights within the comic book industry, with the hooded figures representing the creators who sold their rights for money and now suffer as they hear their creations lamenting in captivity. This wouldn’t be the last time Spawn would cross over with other DC characters (though he has yet to have an official Marvel crossover), but one can only imagine what would happen if he should meet Superman again, and if they would be foes or allies.
Which Universe Does Spawn Fit Better
While Spawn may be published under Image Comics, there’s still an ongoing debate over which other comics universe Spawn fits into better. There are actually aspects of his story and design that point toward both universes. Having been retconned into actually having a symbiote suit in the style of Venom, as well as living in a world based on regular Earth, there are overlaps with Marvel.
A simple comparison between Spawn and Venom shows an obvious design overlap and both characters, and spin-off characters like Carnage, share their love for uninhibited violence. However, Al Simmons is much more in control of himself and his abilities than Eddie Brock is with Venom.
Stories like Spawn/Batman, a collaboration between Todd McFarlane and Frank Miller (who had written stories for both Spawn and Batman), made the case for Spawn’s place at DC. Considering the fact Spawn’s earliest creators were largely involved with DC (Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman, Frank Miller, and Grant Morrison), the universes’ tones certainly match.
The world of Spawn’s New York, at least back then, was much closer to the DC’s Gotham than the brighter New York of Marvel. Since the hero has shared a total of three crossovers with Batman, he’d certainly feel more at home in the DCU than he would in the 616. However, his much more lethal tactics, coupled with his often destructive need to control, might be a better fit for Marvel’s darkest corners. Ultimately, more signs point towards DC.
Above is information about Is Spawn in DC or Marvel? Is Spawn a Marvel character? that we have compiled. Hopefully, through the above content, you have a more detailed understanding of Spawn in DC or Marvel. Thank you for reading our post.
