Spawn (1997)

User Rating:

4.8/10   

Director:

Mark A.Z. Dippé

Writers (WGA):

Todd McFarlane (comic book)
Alan B. McElroy (screen story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

1 August 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Thriller | Action | Fantasy | Horror

Tagline:

Born in darkness. Sworn to justice.

Plot:

A mercenary is killed, but comes back from Hell as a reluctant soldier of the Devil.

Plot Keywords:

Devil | Hell | Clown | Deal With The Devil | Revenge

Awards:

1 win & 5 nominations

Cast

Michael Jai White	...	Al Simmons / Spawn
John Leguizamo	...	Clown / Violator
Martin Sheen	...	Jason Wynn
Theresa Randle	...	Wanda Blake
Nicol Williamson	...	Cogliostro
D.B. Sweeney	...	Terry Fitzgerald
Melinda Clarke	...	Jessica Priest
Miko Hughes	...	Zack
Sydni Beaudoin	...	Cyan
Michael Papajohn	...	Glen, Zack's Dad
Frank Welker	...	The Devil Malebolgia (voice)
Robia LaMorte	...	XNN Reporter (as Robia La Morte)
John Cothran Jr.	...	African Liaison
Caroline Gibson	...	News Anchor
Tony Haney	...	African Liaison
Marc Robinson	...	Punk
Darryl Warren	...	Security Guard
Chris Coppola	...	Punk
Mike Akrawi	...	Foreign Dignitary
Jay Caputo	...	Punk #3
Romeo Akrawi	...	Foreign Dignitary
Jack Coleman	...	Doctor
Laura Stepp	...	Angela
Garrison Singer	...	Anesthesiologist
Todd McFarlane	...	Bum
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Angelie Almendare	...	Diplomat's Wife (uncredited)
Anthony Genovese	...	Bearded TV News Anchor (uncredited)
Stewart Lew	...	Clown on top of building (uncredited)

Directed by
Mark A.Z. Dippé

Writing credits (WGA)
Todd McFarlane		(comic book)
Alan B. McElroy		(screen story) (as Alan McElroy) and
Mark A.Z. Dippé		(screen story)
Alan B. McElroy		(screenplay) (as Alan McElroy)

Produced by
Alan C. Blomquist	....	executive producer
Adrianna A.J. Cohen	....	co-executive producer
Terry Fitzgerald	....	associate producer
Clint Goldman	....	producer
Todd McFarlane	....	executive producer
Brian Witten	....	co-executive producer

Original Music by
Graeme Revell

Cinematography by
Guillermo Navarro

Film Editing by
Todd Busch		(End Credits)
Michael N. Knue

Casting by
Bruce H. Newberg
Mary Jo Slater

Production Design by
Philip Harrison

Art Direction by
Eric Orbom

Set Decoration by
Dena Roth

Costume Design by
Daniel J. Lester		(as Dan Lester)

Makeup Department
David LeRoy Anderson	....	special makeup effects key artist: John Leguizamo
Howard Berger	....	animatronic creature effects
Howard Berger	....	special makeup effects
Norman Cabrera	....	special makeup effects artist
Donna Cicatelli-Lewis	....	key makeup artist
Greg Funk	....	special makeup effects artist
Chris Hanson	....	special makeup effects artist
Robert Kurtzman	....	animatronic creature effects
Robert Kurtzman	....	special makeup effects
Gregory Nicotero	....	animatronic creature effects
Gregory Nicotero	....	special makeup effects
Cristina Patterson Ceret	....	contact lens technician (as Cristina Patterson)
Cindy J. Williams	....	makeup artist (as Cindy Jane Williams)
Bill Zahn	....	makeup effects crew
Gabriella Pollino	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Daryl Kass	....	unit production manager
Claire O'Brien	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Richard Graves	....	assistant director
J. Michael Haynie	....	first assistant director
Martin Jedlicka	....	second assistant director
Steve 'Spaz' Williams	....	second unit director

Art Department
Fanée Aaron	....	set designer
Karen Agresti	....	buyer
Sharon E. Alshams	....	set designer
Richard F. Anderson	....	set dresser
Robert A. Blackburn	....	construction coordinator
Joseph Calta	....	stand-by painter
TyRuben Ellingson	....	conceptual designer
Marc Gabbana	....	concept artist
Robert Greenfield	....	leadman
Ron Greenwood	....	property master
Michael Holcomb	....	painter
Travis Huffman	....	propmaker
Dorn Merrill Kennison	....	set designer
Carolyn Lassek	....	on-set dresser
Barry Lehrman	....	set designer
P.K. MacCarthy	....	storyboard artist
Adam Martyn	....	moldmaker-fiberglasser
Peter Pace	....	concept designer
William H. Phen Jr.	....	propmaker foreman
Mark Weissenfluh	....	leadman
Helen Wilson	....	upholsterer
Mark Pacella	....	conceptual artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Paul Berolzheimer	....	sound effects designer
Dean Beville	....	supervising sound editor
Harry Cohen	....	sound effects editor
Damon Cohoon	....	assistant sound editor
Scott Curtis	....	foley editor
Chris David	....	sound re-recording mixer
Linda Di Franco	....	foley editor
Michael Dressel	....	foley editor
Jim Fitzpatrick	....	sound re-recording mixer
Linda Folk	....	adr editor
Greg Hedgepath	....	sound editor
Scott A. Jennings	....	sound effects editor
Jeffrey Kaplan	....	sound designer
Jeffrey Kaplan	....	sound effects editor
Shawn Kennelly	....	foley mixer
Patricio A. Libenson	....	sound effects editor
Laura Macias	....	foley walker
Vince Nicastro	....	foley walker
Jeffrey R. Payne	....	foley supervising editor
Philip Rogers	....	sound recordist
Joan Rowe	....	foley walker
Sean Rowe	....	foley walker
Solange S. Schwalbe	....	sound editor
Frank Smathers	....	sound editor
D. Chris Smith	....	sound effects editor
Liz Sroka	....	sound re-recording mixer: predubs
David E. Stone	....	sound editor
Bruce Stubblefield	....	sound effects editor
Eric Thompson	....	foley mixer
James Thornton	....	sound mixer
James Thornton	....	sound (as Jim Thornton)
Brian Williams	....	sound designer
Bob Wishnefsky	....	assistant sound editor
Evan T. Chen	....	sound editor (uncredited)
William Jacobs	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)
Elizabeth Kenton	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Chris Brenczewski	....	special effects technician
Evan Campbell	....	sculptor
Christian Eubank	....	special effects technician
Larry Odien	....	mechanical effects
Jon Thackery	....	special effects technician
Wayne Toth	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Sandra Almond	....	visual effects producer
Lisa Atkinson	....	digital production manager
Ken Banks	....	visual effects
Berj Bannayan	....	software engineer
Alan Barnett	....	digital effects supervisor: Sight Effects
Anders J.L. Beer	....	animator: BFtR
David Biedny	....	visual effects supervisor: IDIG Inc.
Constance Bracewell	....	CGI animator
Bruce Branit	....	digital effects artist
Brian Brecht	....	CG staff: ILM
Ronn Brown	....	matte artist
Nathalie Buce	....	animator
Michelle Butler	....	production coordinator: SBS
Sonia Calvert	....	digital compositor: Cinesite
Casey Cannon	....	visual effects producer: BFTRE
Glenn Cannon	....	computer graphic artist
Tom Capizzi	....	computer animator
Daniel Chuba	....	visual effects: Hammerhead Productions (as Dan Chuba)
Marc Chu	....	character animator: ILM
Gregory Creaser	....	visual effects editorial: Digital Magic
Colin Cunningham	....	3D animator: C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures
Melissa Davies	....	digital effects supervisor: Sight Effects
Jamie Dixon	....	visual effects supervisor: Hammerhead Productions
James Doherty	....	digital modeler
Bernard Edlington	....	shader artist
John Ford Jr.	....	digital artist
Russell Frazier	....	digital compositor: title sequence
Gil Gagnon	....	vice president/head of production: Cinesite
Angela Giannoni	....	visual effects: title sequence
Scott Gordon	....	digital effects designer
Richard Grandy	....	technical director
Susan Greenhow	....	visual effects coordinator
Orin Green	....	compositor
Mary Beth Haggerty	....	digital artist
Tim Harrington	....	character animator: ILM
Jordan Harris	....	digital animator
Rudy Hassen	....	digital effects supervisor: Sight Effects
B. Ian Hayden	....	digital effects artist
Christophe Hery	....	visual effects co-supervisor: ILM
Diane Holland	....	digital effects liason: ILM
Dave R. Howe	....	digital artist
Ian Hulbert	....	animator: Rhythm & Hues
Alex Jaeger	....	concept/storybaord artist: ILM
Arthur Jeppe	....	digital artist: Santa Barbara Studios
Bruce Jones	....	visual effects producer
Michael Kaelin	....	technical assistant: SBS
Wayne Kennedy	....	digital modeler: ILM
Greg Killmaster	....	technical director
Jeanmarie King	....	visual effects coordinator
Karen Klein	....	roto supervisor
Christian Kubsch	....	animation and visual effects producer: ILM
Roger Kupelian	....	digital artist
Ali Laventhol	....	digital compositor
Scott Leberecht	....	visual effects art director
Stewart Lew	....	chief digital model supervisor: ILM
Jim Livolsi	....	digital production manager: title sequence
Scott Lukowski	....	model maker
Darren Lurie	....	digital effects designer
Jason MacLeod	....	computer graphics artist
Michele Maples	....	visual effects producer: Cinesite
Terrence Masson	....	visual effects
David Meny	....	digital effects artist
Todd Mesher	....	digital compositor
Richard Miller	....	sculptor
David Manos Morris	....	CG matchmove artist
Brian Moylan	....	digital compositing artist
Greg Notzelman	....	digital artist
George Oliver	....	rotoscope
David Parsons	....	character animator
Eddie Pasquarello	....	digital compositor
Tom C. Peitzman	....	visual effects producer
Stephen Price	....	visual effects executive producer: C.O.R.E. Digital
Paul Patrick Quinn	....	visual effects producer
Kevin Reuter	....	digital effects artist
Matt Rhodes	....	software development
Jay Riddle	....	visual effects supervisor
Kathi Samec	....	systems manager: SBS
Debra Sanderson	....	visual effects video editor/clearance
Trish Schutz-Krause	....	animator: ILM
Ralph Sevazlian	....	digital artist: C.O.R.E. Digital pictures
Jimi Simmons	....	director of visual effects
Douglas James Smith	....	digital effects artist
Brian Sorbo	....	digital effects technical assistant: ILM
Matthew Talbot-Kelly	....	digital animator
Jonathan Taylor	....	director of photography: visual effects unit
Lucy Taylor	....	compositor
Stephanie Taylor	....	visual effects coordinator
Peter G. Travers	....	digital effects designer
Alan Trombla	....	software research and development
Dennis Turner	....	animation supervisor: ILM
Courtney Vanderslice	....	head of production: Cinesite
Yon Van Kline	....	visual effects editor: Santa Barbara Studios
John 'JW' Warner	....	key grip: visual effects unit
Bill Westenhofer	....	technical director: Rhythm & Hues
Kelly Wilcox	....	computer graphics animator
Lance Wilhoite	....	visual effects compositor
Steve 'Spaz' Williams	....	visual effects supervisor
Habib Zargarpour	....	visual effects co-supervisor: ILM
Chris DeAngelis	....	visual effects editor: EFilm (uncredited)
Mark Edwards	....	visual effects coordinator: EFilm (uncredited)
Louis Katz	....	animatic artist (uncredited)
Tim Ketzer	....	computer graphics animator: Cinesite (uncredited)
Garrick McLaughlin	....	technical assistant: Western Images (uncredited)
Matt Merkovich	....	digital artist (uncredited)
Stephen Sobisky	....	3D modeling producer (uncredited)
Jason Wardle	....	CG Animator (uncredited)
R. Christopher White	....	digital artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Tony Brubaker	....	stunts
Jay Caputo	....	stunts
Debbie Lee Carrington	....	stunts (as Debbie Carrington)
Doc D. Charbonneau	....	stunts (as Doc Charbonneau)
Charles Croughwell	....	stunt coordinator
Tom Elliott	....	stunt double: Martin Sheen
Tom Elliott	....	stunts
Dane Farwell	....	stunts
Ramiro González	....	stunts
Tabby Hanson	....	stunts
Mark Hicks	....	stunt double
Kane Hodder	....	stunts
Will Leong	....	stunt double: Soldier
Jake Lombard	....	stunts (as Jack Lombard)
Faith Minton	....	stunts
Gary Morgan	....	stunts
Jimmy Ortega	....	stunts
Michael Papajohn	....	stunts
Denney Pierce	....	stunts
Jalon Raney	....	stunts
Simon Rhee	....	stunts
David Rowden	....	stunts
Ben Scott	....	stunts
Gregg Smrz	....	stunts (as Greg Smrz)
Scott Sproule	....	assistant stunt coordinator
Scott Sproule	....	utility stunts
William Washington	....	stunts: Fire Gag
Danny Wong	....	stunts
Roger Yuan	....	stunts
John Branagan	....	stunts (uncredited)
Hubie Kerns Jr.	....	stunts (uncredited)
John Koyama	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jimmy N. Roberts	....	stunts (uncredited)
Spice Williams-Crosby	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Kenneth J. Appel	....	electrian
John Crimins	....	best boy electric
Jeffrey De La Rosa	....	rigging gaffer
Allen D. Easton	....	camera operator
Paul Gibilisco	....	second assistant camera
Keith A. Hascher	....	electrician
Nathan Hathaway	....	best boy electric
Peter Iovino	....	still photographer
Timothy James Kane	....	assistant camera
Dan Kneece	....	Steadicam operator
Dan Kneece	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Dennis J. Laine	....	Steadicam operator
Dennis J. Laine	....	camera operator: "a" camera, second unit
David Lee	....	gaffer
Steven Mann	....	Steadicam assistant
Steven Mann	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Alexandre Naufel	....	set lighting
Evan A. Nesbitt	....	first assistant camera: VistaVision camera
Ray Patrick	....	super technocrane operator
Tim Soronen	....	best boy grip
Rick Stribling	....	key grip
Jonathan Taylor	....	director of photography: second unit
Marshall Valentine	....	rigging grip
Matthew Devitt	....	rigging grip (uncredited)

Animation Department
Richard Bennett	....	background designer
Matthew Talbot-Kelly	....	animator
Mark Wendell	....	animator

Casting Department
Jennifer Bender	....	extras casting

Editorial Department
Steve Ansell	....	assistant editor
Todd Busch	....	first assistant editor
Anthony J. Camaioni	....	apprentice editor
Joe Fineman	....	post-production consultant
Mike Mertens	....	color timer
Joëlle Taar	....	assistant editor
Neil Eric Wenger	....	assistant editor

Music Department
George Acogny	....	music supervisor
Joe Fischer	....	music coordinator: Album music
Paul Haslinger	....	additional orchestrator
Graeme Revell	....	orchestrator
Happy Walters	....	music supervisor
Brian Williams	....	music designer
Joshua Winget	....	music editor
Ashley Revell	....	assistant music editor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Scott Doyle	....	transportation
Theresa M. Roehner	....	driver

Other crew
Robin Anderson	....	script supervisor
Laurie Arnow-Epstein	....	construction accountant
Gerard Averill	....	assistant location manager
Jimmy Badstibner	....	production assistant
Brian Bero	....	suit fabricator: Spawn suit
Ericka Bryce	....	construction medic
Unjoo Lee Byars	....	main title producer
Anthony J. Camaioni	....	production assistant
Glenn Cannon	....	computer and video playback supervisor
Glenn Cannon	....	on-set playback supervisor: Banned from the Ranch Entertainment
Kyle Cooper	....	title designer
Andrea Fellers	....	photo double
Tracy Gossett	....	assistant to executive producer
Derrick Goulet	....	assistant accountant
Sissy Grover	....	playback coordinator
Eric Hedayat	....	location manager
Christopher Kahn	....	assistant production coordinator
Harriet Katz-Stevens	....	first assistant accountant
Harry Lu	....	weapons master
Hilary Momberger	....	script supervisor
Christopher Raimo	....	production associate
Christina Rollo	....	office production assistant
Eric Schafer	....	software development: Industrial Light & Magic
Bill H. Schwocho	....	craft service
John Semedik	....	assistant accountant
Steven E. Simon	....	set production assistant
Eric Smith	....	title designer
Tony Swatton	....	armorer
Alan Tuskes	....	makeup effects crew: K.N.B. EFX Group Inc.
Robert West	....	assistant to producer
Deborah Wuliger	....	unit publicist
Donald E. Wygal	....	production assistant (as Don Wygal)
Matthew Goodman	....	production associate (uncredited)
Jerry Macaluso	....	combat suit designer and builder: "Priest" (uncredited)
Scott Strozier	....	stand-in (uncredited)

Thanks
Russell Frazier	....	acknowledgment: for D.Rez Hollywood

Production Companies

• New Line Cinema
• Pull Down Your Pants Pictures
• Todd McFarlane Entertainment

Distributors

• New Line Cinema (1997) (USA) (theatrical)
• Fox Network (2001) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Constantin Film (Germany)
• EDKO Film (Hong Kong)
• Edifilmes (Portugal)
• Entertainment (UK)
• GAGA Humax
• GAGA
• Líder Films (Spain)
• Metropolitan Filmexport
• New Line Home Video (video)
• Roadshow Entertainment Video (Australia) (VHS)
• Roadshow Entertainment
• Roadshow Film Distributors (NZ) Ltd.
• VCL Communications (Germany) (video)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) (special animation and visual effects)
• K.N.B. Effects Group (special make-up and animatronic effects)
• Banned from the Ranch Entertainment (BFTRE) (computer graphics and video displays created by)
• C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures
• Santa Barbara Studios (visual effects created by)
• EFX Unlimited (additional visual effects)
• Digital Muse
• Hammerhead Productions (spawn eye enhancement)
• Rhythm and Hues
• Western Images

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Epic Records  soundtrack
• Image Comics  comic books
• Imaginary Forces  titles and opticals
• Immortal Records  soundtrack

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements involving the demonic underworld, violence, intense fantasy action and crude humor.

Runtime:

96 min | USA:98 min (director's cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Germany:18 (director's cut) | Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | South Korea:12 | Ireland:12 | Ireland:18 (director's cut) | Australia:M | Brazil:12 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:14A | Canada:PA (Manitoba) (director's cut) | Canada:18A (director's cut) | Finland:K-16 (video premiere) (director's cut) | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | UK:12 | UK:15 (director's cut) | USA:PG-13 | USA:R (director's cut) | Mexico:B

Filming Locations:

Hollywood Center Studios - 1040 N. Las Palmas Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

New Line Cinema

Trivia:

The FN P90 and H&K MP7-PDW submachine guns used by Spawn and other characters in the movie are not genuine P90s or MP7s. Both weapon types in this film were actually heavily modified Ingram MAC-10s dressed up to look like real P90s and MP7s by the film's armorer, Harry Lu.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the battle in Hell, when Cogliostro is approached by the Violator, he extends his Necro-sword twice.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Cogliostro: The battle between Heaven and Hell has waged eternal, their armies fueled by souls harvested on Earth. The devil, Malebolgia, has sent a lieutenant to Earth to recruit men who will turn the world into a place of death in exchange for wealth and power, a place that will provide enough souls to complete his army and allow Armageddon to begin. All the Dark Lord needs now is a great soldier, someone who can lead his hordes to the gates of Heaven and burn them down.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Todd McFarlane: Chapter & Verse (1998) (V)

Soundtrack:

For Whom the Bell Tolls (The Irony of it All)

"Spawn"-lite

"Spawn" is a special effects spectacle unlike anything before it. It has some dazzling CGI effects to complement its dark tone and breathe life into the Gothic fantasy, and wondrous cinematography to carry it out. Unfortunately, that's all it has to offer, which is a real shame, because this had the potential to be one hell (pun intended) of a movie.

As a reader of "Spawn" comics and collector of "Spawn" merchandise (and affiliated McFarlane Toys products), I saw at an early age how "Spawn" revolutionized the comics industry with its mystical premise, graphic visuals, Heaven vs. Hell battle theme and gratuitous sex and violence, and while such gusto has been embraced by fans, this 1997 film adaptation of Todd McFarlane's popular underground comic, directed by Mark A.Z. Dippe', is rated "PG-13" (subsequent home video versions were of the "R"-rated director's cut, which contained additional footage), the watered-down violence more cartoonish than graphic. In short, in the comic book world, Spawn is not like anything else out there.

The story is that the demon Malebolgia needs fresh souls for his ever-growing army of undead soldiers to lead an eventual conquest of Earth, and then, Heaven, in what will eventually bring about Armageddon. All Malebolgia needs is a general for his army, and, Holy Lazarus, recently deceased CIA operative Al Simmons (newcomer Michael Jai White) has just the extra-crispy corpse for the job.

See, Simmons was set up by his insane former employer Jason Wynn (Martin Sheen) after making a bargain with Malebolgia's go-to guy and Earthbound lieutenant, the pudgy, disgusting Clown (John Leguizamo, completely unrecognizable in his get-up), to kill Simmons so that he would be sent to Hell. While in Hell (which looks like a CGI version of a Marilyn Manson concert on steroids), Simmons makes a deal with Malebolgia to lead his army, in exchange for one last chance to see his wife Wanda Blake (Theresa Randle), who is now married to his best friend Terry Fitzgerald (D.B. Sweeney) and together the two now have a young daughter named Cyan (Sydni Beaudoin).

Back on Earth and unaware that five years have passed, Simmons has a burnt-to-a-crisp visage that doesn't sit well with people not accustomed to undead soldiers from Hell. He establishes sympathetic links with the homeless denizens of alley Rat City, chiefly young Zack (Miko Hughes), and is watched over by the Godsend Cogliostro (Nicol Williamson). When Simmons's body comes out of its larval stage and transforms him into a "Hellspawn," a being with an endoplasmic and invincible suit of armor, he sees his chance to use these new powers to exact vengeance on Wynn, his lethal vixen Jessica Priest (Melinda Clarke), reunite with Wanda, and seek a way to break out of his agreement with Hell.

As stated earlier, "Spawn" is one hell of a special effects spectacle, and it looks great, but a lot goes wrong in too many places. I was dazzled to see one of my favorite superheroes on the screen nearly 10 years ago as an impressionable pre-teen. Now at 21, I am sorely disappointed by what I see today. "Spawn" still could have been good, even without with the full-on graphic content and Heaven & Hell mysticism of the source material. While a largely accurate reflection of the comics, it still gives more credence to my assertion that this is "Spawn"-lite. Presumably, studio bosses weren't keen on marketing a Hellbound superhero to the masses, so measures were probably taken to make the vehicle more accessible. (Take my advice and stick to the animated HBO miniseries.)

On the plus side, Michael Jai White makes an efficient hero and this remains the actor's most well-known part. We do feel his pain (even if it seems forced at times), his quips, and overall faithful portrayal of the character. Sheen makes for a coolly sadistic madman but it's Leguizamo who steals the show. His gross-out-humor, maggot-munching portrayal of the Clown is just what takes this movie out of the dregs and into full-blown camp territory. Lastly, the soundtrack, a mix of heavy metal and techno, does have some pretty wicked sounds.

It's easy to see that only core fans will want to stick with this picture. It had such a great chance to be something unlike anything else out there. With the comic book craze still in full swing in Hollywood, "Spawn" seems forgotten, or at the very least, sitting on the sidelines. But "Spawn," to me, seems to be an example of mis-marketing, a brilliant idea gone haywire. Maybe it should have stayed in Hell, where it belongs.

5/10