Does Spawn‘s 20th anniversary celebration lose some steam in this latest outing?  Read on to find out.

The official description from Image:

SPAWN’S LANDMARK 20th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION CONTINUES! ALL-NEW TODD MCFARLANE COVER, FEATURING A RARE BLACK-AND-WHITE VARIANT! LONG-AWAITED ANSWERS COME TO LIGHT! PLUS A FAN-FAVORITE CHARACTER IS CHANGED… FOREVER!

Spawn and Tremor take a prisoner in their ongoing war to discover the truth behind The Program – the clandestine military operation that made them both monsters. As the interrogation heats up, the reality of Jim’s memories begin to take shape. Was he the architect of his own downfall, or a victim of those with far more sinister intent?

Tremor and Spawn are having a little talk with the mysterious Agent, as they try to piece together their tortured lives in this dialogue heavy issue.  This latest release is sure to grab readers in the first few panels in a way that will leave many fans eagerly flipping through pages as more and more narrative tidbits are revealed.

Todd McFarlane pens an engaging and thought provoking story, that puts our hero into some rather uncomfortable psychological situations as he attempts to discover the mysteries of his past.   It’s a tale told by an Agent under some serious duress and subject to increasingly painful (but creative) torture that ultimately yields some interesting results.  The most fascinating part of this little jaunt is the overall atmosphere of the script, which carries an added feeling of cautious disbelief that sells the revelations and the content therein.

Szymon Kudranski does a splendid job on the art.  His style and finesse perpetuates a dynamice, dark and dreary world that perfectly fits the narrative.  He employs heavy shadows to emphasive not just emotional ques but visual flares that ignite the thematic scenes beautifully.  If the script wasn’t enough of a reason to purchase this issue, get it for the art.

Spawn #223 is an excellent release that may be dialogue heavy but it yields a very a riveting read.  Highly recommended.

4.5/5