Todd McFarlane’s original Spawn concept finally gets official in Spawn 77

Todd McFarlane’s original Spawn design, from way back in 1977, is heading to publication. Spawn 77 #1 arrives in September.

Spawn, as you don’t know him

Remember seeing those old Spawn drawings floating around the web? You know the ones, where the character struck only a passing resemblance to the Spawn that we all know. That design was the first dreamt up by creator Todd McFarlane, back when he was a teenager. And while we’ve already seen that Spawn make an appearance as an action figure, he’s about to be a heck of a lot more than a novelty.

That’ll come via a new comic mini-series that Image Comics has just revealed, dubbed Spawn 77. McFarlane himself will be on board for this title, cowriting it with Mark Spears, who’ll also be providing the interiors. If you’re unfamiliar, Spears’ work is a painterly style, one that should set the book apart from the rest of the line.

And while we don’t know what the story details will be for this three-issue miniseries just yet, we do have a hint as to some of the themes in play. Maybe the biggest of those, is that fans shouldn’t expect the title character to be a familiar one.

Even though the tale will play out in the past (presumably), Image Comics says he’s a “completely new character”. But that’s not to say it won’t be linked to Spawn’s Universe. On the contrary, Spawn 77 will present a “story rooted in the Spawn mythology”, one that’ll explore “the dangers that can come with knowing too much”

“Going back to my roots of when I first developed Spawn as a high school kid, when I was just beginning to feel deeply passionate about collecting comics, and being able to use some of those ideas now 50 years later is really a personal treat for me,” said McFarlane. “To be able to do this miniseries alongside the super-talented Mark Spears will only make my enjoyment that much more special. Mark has been on the top of many fans’ wish lists to see more of his artwork, and we are all excited to show the readers what we have been looking at, from Mark, this past year. I promise you he will not disappoint anyone who is a fan of quality, sophisticated artwork.”

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Spears added: “Getting to work with Todd McFarlane is the main reason I wanted to work in comics. I read every book, watched every video, and studied every panel he created. He inspired me to become both a writer and an artist, and with Spawn 77, everything feels like it has come full circle. Creating new characters within the SpawnUniverse is something I’ve dreamed about ever since I picked up Spawn #1 off the rack at my local comic book store. I can’t wait for readers to see what we have in store.”

Image Comics press release

Look for Spawn 77 #1 (of 3) to hit the racks in September, 2026. The first issue will be a jumbo 64 page affair, and be tagged at $6.99 USD. Digital fans will be able to buy it as well, “across digital platforms, including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play.”

Variants aplenty

Along with the above interior preview, we’ve also got a look at the first variant covers for Spawn 77 #1. Not that what Image Comics has shared are all of them though. While only two images have been released thus far, the publisher says that there’s more to come.

According to the press release, the series of covers will be “extensive”, and include several based on the original 1977 design. As far as names, both McFarlane and Spears will be involved, along with Emma Ríos.

• Cover A by Mark Spears – UPC: 70985304854100111
• Cover B by Mark Spears and Todd McFarlane – UPC: 70985304854100121
• Cover C original 1977 update variant by Todd McFarlane – UPC: 70985304854100131
• Cover D by Emma Ríos – UPC: 70985304854100141
• Cover E Blank Sketch – UPC: 70985304854100151
• Cover F 1:25 copy incentive retro logo variant by Todd McFarlane – UPC: 70985304854100161
• Cover G 1:50 copy incentive variant by Todd McFarlane – UPC: 70985304854100171
• Cover H 1:100 copy incentive original 1977 variant by Todd McFarlane – UPC: 70985304854100181
• Cover I 1:250 copy incentive foil variant by Todd McFarlane, with McFarlane signature – UPC: 70985304854100191
• Cover J 1:500 copy incentive foil variant by Mark Spears and Todd McFarlane, with Spears and McFarlane signature – UPC: 70985304863300111

Image Comics press release