What would you do if at the moment of death
a voice from the darkness
offered you a chance to live again?
Have your answer?
There's no time to think about it,
you're a heartbeat away from flatlining.
Quick, what's the answer?
I'm Todd McFarlane, and I created " Spawn."
I hope you'll consider the question I just posed,
because a man named Al Simmons didn't .
When the question got popped on him,
he signed like some stupid rookie in blood.
See, Al had qualities he didn't even know he had,
a special kind of wiring, that Malebolgia,
the devil, looks for.
When he said " yes" to that voice,
he signed on for a lot more than he bargained for.
So before you find yourself in a similar situation,
and a voice calls to you in the darkness,
think of Al, or as you may see,
you'll have all eternity to think about your mistake, too.
And now " Spawn," so turn off your lights.
Four hundred years have passed.
Once again, it is time for a new warrior to emerge
from the darkness.
Throughout time,
the battlefields have changed.
But the prize has always remained the same...
the human soul.
Take out your press I.D.,
I want him to see we're legit.
This is ugly shit we're talking about, Bennett.
We get verifiable information
and we got the byline of the decade!
I know.
This way.
You know we're screwed if he doesn't show.
Relax, he's a good source.
Now do me a favor, take a Valium or something
you're making me crazy.
Mr. Stevens?
I'm Dave Bennett, this is Kenny Hayes.
We spoke on the phone.
Looks like...
your meeting's been cut short.
God!
Oh God!
God ain't here boy,
I'll take the message.
Now, do I look like I'm in the mood
to run a marathon?
Do I?
Okay asshole, next question.
Who else knows?
I'm waiting for your answer, smart boy.
No one, I didn't tell anybody else.
Don't lie to me, smart boy.
Don't you piss me off
by trying that crap with me.
Each warrior's born as a clean slate,
knowing nothing.
The only instincts which they can act upon
are drawn from their past.
So?
He's see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.
Good, let's do this thing and go.
Don't do this, you don't have to.
I won't say anything, I swear, please.
I got a family, kids.
And for their sakes,
I hope decent life insurance.
Let him go.
Jesus!
What the hell are you?
Stay back!
You don't want to do that.
Help me!
I love you, Al.
Oh no, I came back for you!
Where are you?
Hell does not allow its warrior children
to roam unchecked.
And so each is given their proper escort.
Oh man, I love it.
Especially the gent with his head on backwards!
That is sweet.
Check his shorts,
I bet they're brimmin' over!
I so enjoy the shameful details.
Now this is very tasty.
I mean look at him, you look at you,
you're a matched set.
What do you think, Spawn?
Spawn?
Yeah, as in hell, Spawn.
Hey, it's what you are, baby.
So get used to it.
Did I do this?
Instinct, sweetheart.
You're a killer!
Born and bred.
You see violence, you act.
It's a gift.
That's why he picked you.
I can't remember anything.
What's wrong with me?
Too long under the tanning booth by the look of it.
It's me!
What's happened?
Who am I?
Hey Bobby, I think he's come around.
Wanda...
Jesus Christ on a crutch,
what the hell is that?
I don't know.
But he might need help.
Hey mister, are you okay?
You've been screaming and moaning for ten minutes.
Wanda... she'll know who I am.
Maybe you should lie down or something, you know?
Sleep it off, I know how I get.
Too much Thunderbird and I'm dancing naked in Times Square.
She's ... my wife.
Wanda.
Are you crazy?
You saw what he did to those poor bastards!
Probably speeding on PCP or something!
Maybe what you need is a little hair of the dog that...
Get away from me!
Just trying to help, okay?
I don't want your help!
What you want and need aren't the same.
This place is a refuge from the maelstrom.
Get out of my way, old man.
You don't remember, it doesn't matter.
It's what you learn now that's important.
I just wanna go home.
Now move or be moved.
Listen, we all want to go home, my friend.
But it's war getting there.
Amazing...
You mafia, dirt-bag, piece of shit.
You never looked better.
Sir, I don't think the CSU
is going to appreciate you sprinkling donut crumbs
onto the deceased.
I hate early morning.
Nothing human up at this hour.
No sir, just us civil servants.
And dead mob scumbags.
Nicely put, sir.
Tony Twist is gonna need serious drugs
when he finds out.
These three bozos were his best hitters.
So...
one of these things is not like the others.
What's his story?
David Bennett,
journalist with the Washington Post.
Same as the one at the alley's far end.
Except Bennett's won a Pulitzer for his investigative piece
on the congressional scandal three years ago.
If it ain't on ESPN I couldn't give a shit.
No, sir.
Okay, so we got two dead reporters from Washington,
three dead hitters for Tony Twist.
What about the other stiff?
Homeless, no I.D. yet,
his prints came up nil.
Probably just an alley mushroom
popped up at the wrong time.
Another verbal ace, sir.
- Twitch? - Sir.
Find me a connection between all these toe-tags,
but first,
find me something with chocolate sprinkles.
Two dozen, sir?
Half that, you know I'm on a diet.
That's your best friend...
... best friend....
Here's to Al Simmons,
the best friend a poor number punchin' jerk like me
could ever have.
Dad...
- Wait, honey. - Daddy.
Someone wants to say goodbye.
Bye bye, Daddy.
See you later, sweetness.
Perhaps you can do that with me later, mister.
Bye-Bye, sweetie.
- Bye-Bye. - Bye-Bye.
Okay Cyan, let's get you off day care.
As they tear away each new layer,
there's also an agonizing price to pay.
How long has it been?
Where have I been?
Goddamnit, what's happened to me?
It's hell's plan to keep the new recruits confused,
hoping to discourage the warriors of any
personal mission.
Oh, please!
Don't tell me you're getting all bent out of shape
over a woman!
Okay, so she was the love of your life
and the only thing that mattered to you
in this whole disgusting,
putrid, little universe.
Okay, so now your former best friend comes in
and the amigo is putting it to her
on a regular basis.
Okay, so she wanted kids
and you were obviously firing blanks.
Want a lick?
It's Rocky Road.
Get away from me.
You can't blame her, though.
After all,
you've been dead almost five years.
You're lying.
If I'm lying I'm dying,
which would be kind of redundant.
Anyway, Spawn,
your former self, meaning one hell-bent for leather,
kick-ass, take no prisoners, government assassin
by the name of Al Simmons,
is dead.
It's not true!
Sure it is, and you know it.
Hey, tough guy,
where do you think you're going?
I haven't gotten to the best part yet.
Don't you want to know where you've been?
You did ask, so you must wanna know.
Look, back off,
before I permanently introduce your face
to your colon.
You know, you're kinda cute,
when you get all indignant like that.
You got nowhere to go, Spawn.
Don't you want to know where you've been all this time?
I'll give you a hint.
Where do you think someone who slaughtered people
for a living,
would end up after he's dead?
You came back for her, Spawn.
You came back for Wanda.
She's got a life now,
she's got a child you couldn't give her
and a husband who's still wearing his face.
What do you got, char baby?
What do you got?
Not me-- I'm me.
Goddamnit, I'm not dead.
I'm not here.
The new Spawns
each try to deny what they've become,
hoping that a small spark of truth
will awaken them from their nightmare.
With this ring, I thee wed.
Oh, God!
Why God?
Why?
How did this happen to me?
You made a deal, you stupid son of a bitch.
You made a deal with Malebolgia.
You cut a deal for your soul.
The deal was you see Wanda
and then become hell's Spawn,
a ranking officer in the devil's army.
Well now you've seen her.
Time to pay the piper.
Get off me!
Now cast from hell,
the warriors cross paths
with their own demons in human form.
Those scumbag, douche bag-eating,
motherfucking, cocksucking shit,
motherfucking prick!
I'll take your fucking head and chop it off!
Calm down, Tony.
Just tell me what went wrong?
What went wrong
is somebody took three of my best guys
and threw them into what must have been
a walking wood chipper!
This was supposed to be a simple gig, Wynn!
What the hell are you trying to pull on me, huh?
I mean we're talking about my best kick men
gettin' mercilessly whacked over here!
Now how am I supposed to deal with this?
They were ambushed, snipered, what?
They're now wearing their heads on backwards
is what I'm saying.
Their bones get pretzeled by somebody who knows
how to do it right.
I see.
Yeah, I see, too.
I see you asking me to do you a favor
and suddenly my cleaning crew gets taken out by some asshole
who thinks he's the Terminator.
I'm sensing an accusation here, Tony.
All I'm saying is,
this smells like the work of
a Goddamn government trained assassin!
And that just happens to be your stock in trade.
It wasn't any of mine.
And if I were you,
I'd be very careful about the next time
I made such strong implications
without the facts.
So what about the journalists?
- Hear tomorrow's a bitch. - Good.
Yeah for you.
This shit's cost me big time.
You'll be amply compensated for your loss.
Let me know
what you find out about this mystery assassin.
I'll send you his liver and maybe a couple of fingers.
Hello.
The newsmen have been dealt with.
Who did you use?
Mafia elements, nothing traceable.
Good, thank you.
And as we discussed...
the appropriations are already in place.
As of now you've got unlimited credit
with the Department of Defense.
I appreciate that, Senator.
Believe me, it was worth it.
I'll feel free to call
if there are any further complications.
Of course, but tell me,
how long do you intend to cover for him?
As long as I have to.
He's a child killer.
Look, we've been through this before--
You don't have a son,
let alone one you can't give your name to.
So what he does is my problem, understand?
These journalists won't be the last.
You can't keep this quiet forever.
Yes I can. You see, the dead keep their secrets.
Okay man, what'd I do?
Shut up and get your ass on the ground now!
What'd I do, man?
Well, if it isn't Officer Hector from Internal Affairs.
You know word is,
you told the captain we're skimming off the top.
Listen, if you can't keep your mouth shut,
- we'll shut it for you! - What kind of shit is...
Why is it that people with authority
abuse their power?
Word of advice, Officer...
retire.
That's it Spawn, let yourself go.
Get pissed, do some damage!
Don't take shit from nobody!
And oh yeah the big boy downstairs,
'cause this is the way the world ends.
Not with a bang,
but a lot of blood and torn flesh
and broken bones!
And I just love it.
And so the game has begun, again.
After four hundred years,
a new warrior takes center stage,
preparing for the great battle.
And with him comes pain, death,
and the vile stench of brimstone.