Review: SPAWN #311Â Â
[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]
Writer: Todd McFarlane
Artist: Carlo Barberi
Letters: Tom Orzechowski
Colors: Â
Reviewed by: Carl Bryan
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Summary
““Cult of Omega” (Part One) SPAWN raises some of the ‘dead’ as he storms a palace that has been hiding the secrets of a hidden society whose members can combine to become more powerful than any SPAWN throughout time!Lead by their new king… the OMEGA SPAWN! TODD McFARLANE and Carlo Barberi launch an exciting and dangerous new chapter for SPAWN!
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Positives
Readers of Spawn have noted since Issue #1 that Al Simmons is an African-American hero of the book. While this former soldier has constantly battled with both Heaven and Hell due to the deal made for his love for his wife Wanda, he has been a strong literary representative in comics of the African-American community.
Obviously, that comes from Todd McFarlane in creating a strong role model in comics. McFarlane pays homage and respect to Chadwick Boseman who left us too soon and will long be remembered for his portrayal of such iconic figures as Jackie Robinson and the favorite of fiction, The Black Panther.
This cover screams “Wakanda Forever” as Al poses in a Wakandian salute overlooking a belt buckle and cape adornments that are an homage to The Black Panther, and most certainly Chadwick Boseman’s portrayal of said hero. Â
Positives 2.0
Spawn #311 is art imitating life. A pandemic started by the government and medicine administered to patients that is not life saving at all. Whew…McFarlane plays with our current COVID-19 like no one else. Stephen King anyone?
Not to mention, a return to Spawn inaugural issues in that Jim Downing (remember him…when Spawn tried to reveal himself to Wanda in early issues, he took on the image of a blonde Caucasian guy). Al knows that he needs Jim if he is to assemble a team to take on both Heaven and Hell. Jim’s not an easy sale.
We do get to see oldie but goodie villains in Cy-Gor, Overt-Kill and The Freak… whew. Time has been tough on them!
What about Gunslinger Spawn? Get out your Clint Eastwood whistle…he’s here too.
Accolades for World Record Setting
Each issue of Spawn sets a new World Record for independent comics. That’s history every time you buy an issue!
Shades of Batman?
McFarlane got an early start drawing Bruce, but if this issue is not an all out look at a combination Man-Bat and Batman character, I don’t know what is. Mr. Gupta, head of Big Pharma, and composed of hundreds of bats (you have to see his entrance) that make Bruce Wayne look like….well…not like a real Batman.Â
Negatives
Okay…McFarlane keeps introducing all these new Spawns on covers and in the press, but I have yet to see a Ninja Spawn in action. They are trickling out at a snail’s pace. Anticipation…. not a negative, but these issues have been superlative and full of new life since #300.
Verdict
Spawn #311 – We march towards a team of Spawns, a new incarnation of Batman, Big Medicine poisoning the world, and Spawn’s tank is filling up slowly. Love that power meter!
