The Comic Source Podcast

Spawn #78 - Story - Todd McFarlane & Brian Holguin, Pencils - Greg Capullo, Inks - Danny Miki, Letters - Tom Orzechowski, Colors - Brian Haberlin & Dan Kemp

With Twitch on his deathbed, Sam makes a deal with Spawn to save his partner's life. The price both Sam and Twitch will pay is be be Spawn's minions, but what does that entail? Well to start with, Spawn has them set out to find out who is behind the gruesome murders of the homeless in the alleys of Rat City. Just when the stakes can't get any higher, the identity of the latest victim sends outrage through all three of the unlikely allies.

Get ready for an epic rant from Jace! That's right, it isn't Rocky railing against a book when the guys chat about the DC titles for the week of April 23, 2024. This time it's Jace with his biggest rant ever! There's way more good than bad this week though, so be sure to listen in to find out why the guys loved Detective Comics, the Penguin and Batman Dark Age.

Spawn #77 - Story - Todd McFarlane & Brian Holguin, Pencils - Dwayne Turner, Inks - Danny Miki, Letters - Tom Orzechowski, Colors - Brian Haberlin, Dan Kemp & Andy Troy

Cog's secret stands revealed and if Spawn thinks that's the craziest thing the mysterious character has to tell him, he is in for a HUGE shock. This issue starts several very important plot threads and is all out action from start to finish. Add in some emotional torment and moments from Bobby and you have a well-balanced issue that shows Spawn, as a series, is really hitting its stride.

Curse Of The Spawn #29 - Writer - Alan McElroy, Penciller - Clayton Crain, Inker, Chance Wolf & Todd McFarlane, Color Artist - Todd Broeker & Mark Nicholas, Letterer - Tom Orzechowski

Jonathan Edward Custer is the administrator of Purgatory. A place between, a place where souls who aren't quite worthy of heaven can go in hopes of making up for minor transgressions and achieving everlasting salvation. What happens when the world has become so black and white that there are no "fence-straddlers"? And what will that mean for Custer, who's entire existence has revolved around watching, judging and caretaking in this special realm of the afterlife.

Curse Of The Spawn #25 - Writer - Alan McElroy, Penciller - Clayton Crain, Inker, Chance Wolf & Todd McFarlane, Color Artist - Todd Broeker & Mark Nicholas, Letterer - Tom Orzechowski

Harley is a typical teenager, trying to deal with high school crushes, navigate an afterschool job and keep his grades up. When a hellspawn he calls "Angel" begins to haunt him and, worse, continually goads him to commit acts of extreme violence, is it only a matter of time until he snaps? Harley tries to drowned out this "anti-christ" hellspawn with his favorite rock music, but will it work?

Curse Of The Spawn #22 - Writer - Alan McElroy, Penciller - Dwayne Turner, Inker, Chance Wolf, Color Artist - Todd Broeker & Mark Nicholas, Letterer - Tom Orzechowski

Ryan Hatchett, a bullied, despressed and would-be suicide victim from the world we know, finds himself transported during the attempt to take his own life. He finds himself in the world of The Zombie Spawn where various versions of the undead attempt to devour the flesh of the living or offer humans they have captured of the few remaining as tribute to their Zombie leader. This hellspawn crashed to earth in an asteroid and was birthed forth along with a tidal flood of worms that burrowed into the earth bringing to life all those who had been buried. Can Ryan, in his new form as the undead hero Hatchet, defeat the Zombie Spawn and rescue this apocalyptic earth?

Spawn #76 - Story - Todd McFarlane & Brian Holguin, Pencils - Dwayne Turner, Inks - Danny Miki, Letters - Tom Orzechowski, Colors - Brian Haberlin, Dan Kemp & Tyson Wengler

It what is definitely the most romantic issue of Spawn to date, Al learns the "secret origin" of Granny Blake and how much he and Wanda have in common with Granny and her late husband, Jack. We get gorgeous line and color work illustrating this issue that covers decades of history and goes from a graveyard on Earth to heaven and back again. It's not only a nice chance for Al Simmons to catch his breath after all the tumultuous action he has seen lately, but it's a chance for readers to catch there breath also. That doesn't mean it isn't a must-read though as the themes of love and devotion are a reminder of how those ideas are at the very heart of Spawn as a character and were present from the beginning. Sure the chains, spikes and capes are cool, but despite the demons and monsters and hellfire, Spawn IS a love story.

Jace is joined by actor, author and film maker Luke Arnold and TV/Animation writer/producer Chris "Doc" Wyatt to talk all about their Kickstarter Campaign for ESSENTIALS. This is a wildly imaginative book that takes a very strange and somewhat elaborate premise and makes it imminently relatable. Also, the co-main leads of the story are so vastly different, but somehow still remain relatable as the represent different aspects of humanity we all have within us. When you add in the huge roster of talented artist you have an incredible title that deserves your attention. Check out the campaign and be sure to share it with your fellow comic readers.

DC has dropped a huge announcement with details about the upcoming big event, Absolute Power. Amanda Waller finally has a chance to achieve the goal she's been working for all these years, taking the power of all the superhumans in the DCU. How she does it working alongside the Brainiac Queen and Failsafe remains to be seen. Perhaps even more compelling, is how this triumvirate DC is dubbing the " Trinity Of Evil" will get along once the smoke clears. They are all huge, alpha villains with egos that don't seem to indicate they will allow themselves to be subservient to others. Plus there's plenty of hints about some revelations for Waller that will help us understand her motivations and perhaps in relate to the character. Can you imagine a world where Amanda Waller is actually sympathetic? Yeah we can't either. Either way, there are tons of series announce and the guys give their thoughts on each one, along with some thoughts on the new characters we will see in the event and how they look visually. For dates and creative line-ups for the series. Please see the Official DC Press Release below and watch the video on YouTube for more preview art and to get our thoughts on what we know so far!

Spawn #75 - Story - Todd McFarlane & Brian Holguin, Pencils - Greg Capullo, Inks - Danny Miki, Letters - Tom Orzechowski, Colors - Brian Haberlin, Dan Kemp & Tyson Wnegler

We find out who has taken Spawn from Earth and why, but it isn't good news for Spawn or perhaps the planet either. As these beings explain their motivations to Spawn and grant him a new ability they deem a "gift", it appears that Spawn may not survive using this new ability. An ultimate sacrifice is made to return Spawn to Earth, but the price that is paid is high and the consequences of these events feel like something Spawn will be dealing with for a long time. It seems ever since his latest resurrection, Al Simmons hasn't known a moments peace. Unfortunately, it appears that his life is only getting more complicated.