Spawn: Todd McFarlane announces new comics and TV series

Spawn

This is a rather interesting period for Todd McFarlane and the universe of Spawn, the character that the author created for Image Comics at the time of the founding of the publishing house in 1992 that McFarlane opened together with R ob Liefeld, Erik Larsen, Jim Lee, Jim Valentino, Marc Silvestri and Whilce Portacio. Specifically, McFarlane has announced the arrival of new comic series on the character and some adaptations for television.

Spawn - Todd McFarlane announces new comic series and for TV

We know Todd McFarlane has long been working on making his own Spawn movie, and he's busy writing the screenplay for the film. As for the character's comic universe, Spawn Unvierse was launched during the summer, a set of titles revolving around the main one, Spawn Unverse, King Spawn, The Gunslinger and The Scorched. In a recent interview McFarlane gave to Bleedingcool, the author revealed that this comic universe will see further expansion with new titles, but also that there are projects in the works for television as well.

Regarding the release of Scorched, arriving in America in December 2021, a question was asked to McFarlane about the title of the magazine, without the Spawn brand, which could therefore also affect the same sales. Its author responded by taking the example of Action Comics and Detective Comics, the two series that gave birth to Superman and Batman, and explaining that the choice was made considering the presence of the main character within it. It will therefore not be a series focused solely on the protagonist, but which will see various characters that are part of his universe rotate on its pages. The original name was to be, in this sense, The Chain Gang. Later on the cards were overturned by the anticipations of the December releases, in which the title appears with the name Spawn: The Scorched.

You can retrieve the original stories of Spawn thanks to Panini Comics, which has recently started to reprint Todd McFarlane's main series in hardcover volumes found on Amazon.it

For the foreseeable future, Todd McFarlane has revealed that he has other series in the pipeline for 2022, bringing the total of titles to the universe of Spawn to a total of 9. Well aware that this is a very high number, McFarlane has reassured readers and sellers, urging them to follow the ones they like most depending on the characters or authors involved.

About to the transpositions for cinema and television, in addition to the aforementioned film McFarlane is working on, we know that a TV series by Sam and Twitch, supporting characters of the Spawn universe, is also being built. On new projects, especially for television, the author revealed that there are several, one still secret and another that will be announced shortly, but which is already being discussed about the main idea with the broadcaster and studies. In total, 4 projects should therefore be in the pipeline to take Spawn out of his comics.

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‘Venom 2’: Could Carnage Spawn More Symbiote Spider-Man Villains?

As far as symbiote Spider-Man villains go, Venom and Carnage remain the most well-known. Carnage spawned from Venom and became a major nuisance to both Spider-Man and Venom. However, both alien creatures have spawned several more alien foes. Could audiences expect to see future symbiotes beyond Venom 2?

Cosplayer as Carnage | Ollie Millington/WireImageVenom and Carnage were the first symbiote Spider-Man villains, but far from the last

The original appearance of Venom occurred in the 1985 Secret Wars comic event as Spider-Man’s slick, new black costume. However, this suit had a mind of its own.

Once Peter Parker managed to ditch the symbiote, it attached itself to Eddie Brock to terrorize the web-slinger for years to come.

Their dynamic changed again when Carnage came into the mix, though. The Venom 2 film looks to replicate Carnage’s origin faithfully. Serial killer Cletus Kasady bonds with Venom’s offspring, a red symbiote, and incites a prison break.

Spider-Man and Venom formed a rocky alliance to stop the rampaging Carnage. Spider-Man, Venom, and Carnage have clashed, teamed up, and tangled numerous times in years since then.

While they served as the first symbiote Spider-Man villains, both Venom and Carnage spawned multiple other symbiotes. Some of Venom’s spawns already appeared in the 2018 Venom movie, such as Riot and allegedly Phage (the yellow symbiote).

As Carnage steals center stage, could his spawns come into play as well in the Venom sequel?

Symbiote Spider-Man villains Scorn and Raze

In an attempt to harness the symbiotes, industrialist Michael Hall attempted to use the Carnage symbiote to create adaptive prosthetics. However, these experiments went awry and led to Carnage’s first spawn, Scorn.

Scorn’s primary host was psychiatrist Tanis Nieves. The Scorn symbiote grew from her prosthetic arm, and she cut it off in fear.

For a time, the Scorn symbiote partially bonded to Carnage’s love interest, Shriek, played by Naomie Harris in Venom 2. While there no have leaned toward Shriek obtaining her symbiote, Sony could always have a surprise tucked away.

Carnage’s other spawn, Raze, debuted five years after Scorn. An FBI agent named Claire Dixon hunted Carnage but ultimately became a test subject for Carnage’s latest offspring.

The Raze symbiote was ultimately destroyed during a battle with an HP Lovecraft-inspired monster (it’s a long story).

Toxin, a more heroic symbiote

Ironically, Carnage’s first spawn became the most heroic. Marking the 1000th symbiote in their lineage, Toxin earned the fear of both Venom and Carnage.

Bonding with policeman Pat Mulligan, Toxin seemed far better intentioned than his father or grandfather (apart from a morbid sense of humor). And The Irishman’s Stephen Graham has been cast to play Detective Milligan.

Of all the symbiotes, Toxin has been the only consistent ally of Spider-Man.

Sony looks for ways to expand its universe beyond Venom and Venom: Let There Be Carnage, and a protagonist far more heroic than Venom could serve as a moral change on things.

Venom 2 releases on Oct. 1, 2021, and Tom Hardy already has ideas for Venom 3. Whether those ideas lead to more symbiote Spider-Man villains (or heroes) has yet to be seen.

RELATED: ‘Venom 2’: Naomie Harris’ Villain Shares a Major X-Men Connection in the Comics