Spawn Godslayer (Vol. 2)

(Image, 2007–2008)
™ and © 2007 Todd McFarlane Productions, Inc.

This ongoing series picks up where the Spawn: Godslayer one-shot leaves off, as young Bairn, who finds himself filling the role of Spawn in this fantasy re-imagining, has just killed his most recent prey: Llyra of the Four-Hundred Graces. Now her fellow Old Gods prepare for war with this demon-sent warrior, who really just wants to be with Neva, his lover. Unfortunately, his master will not let him do so until he has wiped out the other Old Gods as well.

Godslayer is an interesting re-telling of the Spawn story set in vaguely medieval times; the mythology it employs seems to combine aspects of both Norse and Greek belief, and in places feels a bit like a Neil Gaiman work, as Spawn’s mission here is apparently to destroy the Old Gods to make way for the New. Philip Tan’s pencils do a great job of capturing the classical epic feel of this comic, as does Brian Holguin’s script, which is just dripping with the kind of dramatic dialog that really sells a story like this.

— Eric Garneau

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