THE CURRENT IMAGE: BRIAN HABERLIN ON SPAWN

[MattBrady]

by Benjamin Ong Pang Kean

When Brian Haberlin took over as Editor-in-Chief of the Spawn line in 2005, his marching orders from Todd McFarlane was to “kick his creative ass.”

So, he and the then-new team of writer David Hine and artist Philip Tan brought Armageddon to Earth (and Spawn readers’ consciousness), thus destroying all of humanity, only to remake them again in Spawn’s own image.

The series went through a makeover (again) with the sold-out issue #166 - a new beginning with a focus on psychological style horror, and a new artist in the form of Haberlin himself.

We spoke with Haberlin about McFarlane’s greatest creation that once spawned (no pun intended) a feature film in 1997, an HBO animated series, and a line of action figures whose unprecedented attention to detail made McFarlane Toys a toy industry giant.

Newsarama: The 15-part “Armageddon” arc (issues #150 to #164) gave us the feeling that the chapter that started with McFarlane's issue #1 back in 1992 is now closed, and the Spawn mythos begins anew again in line with the creator's wish to "direct, produce and fund" a new " R-rated, cool, creepy, psychological thriller that will hopefully keep you on the edge of your seat".

First of all, Brian, as E-i-C of the Spawn series, why the need to close the old chapter and begin with a new direction?

Brian Haberlin: I don’t think we closed the old chapter really. “Armageddon” was more a way to tie up a bunch of dangling Spawn story lines from the past. Sort of put his narrative house in order. Al is still Al and we’re finding out more about him and what has really been going on behind the scenes for the past 166 issues. There are some things coming up that will knock fans old and new on their asses!

NRAMA: Spawn was once the top seller but many, many fans have left the franchise altogether in the last decade... Top Cow's Witchblade gets a new bearer, so why not Spawn? As mentioned, “Armageddon” is over and done with, although everyone still remembers the Rapture but with a new world re-created by Spawn, why did you decide to further tell the adventures of Al Simmons as the HellSpawn even though there've been many HellSpawns in the past with many more to come?

BH: Witchblade? Who’s that character… I’m not familiar with it? [winks]

In any case, we are actively pursuing stories with new Spawns and using them as buffers in between story arcs of the regular Spawn series.

NRAMA: Yeah, Mandarin Spawn was featured in issue #165 of the main series. Are there plans to highlight/spotlight the Lord Covenant Hellspawn from The Dark Ages series, Daniel Llanso, Pirate Spawn aka Cut Throat, Abdiel, Raenius, and others in "filler" issues in the ongoing series or some other projects?

BH: That’s right. We just did Mandarin Spawn (from Todd’s toy line) and we have Gunslinger Spawn and World War One Spawn waiting in the wings. And who knows down the line maybe another new Spawn series with a new Spawn… there has been talk.

But what I find encouraging with the new direction is we’ve gotten a lot of emails from folks who were Spawn readers when Todd was doing the book himself, who went away from Spawn and perhaps comics (seems people do that… go away for a bit then gravitate back) and are now older… more mature and just love the new take on their old hero. We might have just lucked into some good timing there.

NRAMA: We've not seen the last of Mammon, Man of Miracles, Christopher, Sam & Twitch, and the others, have we?

BH: Nope. Sam and Twitch are major players in the book right now. And we are bringing back a slew of the old characters but with fresh new twists to them.

NRAMA: What's in store of Spawn readers and fans in the months ahead?

BH: Hopefully a comic that will keep them on the edge of their nail biting seats! We have several old Spawn cast members returning as we build of Spawn’s core group of characters, The Clown/Violator, Nyx, Ab and Zab, Mammon… and we even have a storyline coming up dealing with Al’s brothers really revealing more as to why Al is Spawn. I think what people will find if they pick up the book is a Spawn that is more real, more adult, and more scary than ever before. It’s hard to say much about upcoming storylines as David Hine is writing such jaw-dropping stuff you hate to ruin the surprises.

NRAMA: Moving on to other new Spawn projects, we have Adventures of Spawn by Jonathan David Goff and Khary Randolph, edited by Tyler Jeffers. With a webcomic and the 48-page Director's Cut edition already out, what's in store for fans in the coming months?

BH: Yep, they are at it again. New pages are being drawn at this moment. Look for new stuff around San Diego Convention time.

NRAMA: Will there be more webcomics and comics based on previous and/or upcoming McFarlane Toy's Spawn action figure series?

BH: Absolutely, the Adventures of Spawn webcomic was quite a success both online and in print. I think you’ll find a lot more new content coming from us. And a lot of it crossing from web to press and visa versa.

NRAMA: There's also the Godslayer monthly by Brian Holguin and Philip Tan. How does the once warrior prince known as Bairn who's now the Godslayer tie into the overall Spawn mythology/saga?

BH: From the get go, we decided he was a Spawn from a another time and another place. He is really isolated from the rest of the Earth Spawn mythos. Really an excuse to get our fantasy itch scratched. And Philip and Brian really are amazing when it comes to that genre and by them not being tied to Earth history they are able to freely create a new reality.

NRAMA: More Ken Kurosawa and Shadows of Spawn aka Spawn Manga? There's supposed to be four volumes in total, right?

BH: Ken may come back at some time but only 3 Manga were done in Japan… so for now 3 it is.

NRAMA: Got it. Okay, speaking of other Spawn projects, Arthur Clare and Aleksi Briclot are working on a new graphic novel, Spawn: Architects of Fear. What's it about? Since it's by the team that brought us Spawn: Simony, will it feature a familiar character, eg Cogliostro/Cain? Or will it introduce a totally new character?

BH: It’s Spawn and Angels and Demons, what more can you ask, and fully painted by Aleksi… who has become totally amazing as an artist. Not that Simony wasn’t cool but now Aleksi is truly world class. The story takes place outside Spawn regular continuity. So what happens there happens only there.

NRAMA: More crossovers with Batman and other characters from other publishers?

BH: Not until we get Spawn/Batman out.

NRAMA: Finally, will we ever get to see Steve Niles's Spawn: Book of the Dead?

BH: Probably in some form. It may have a place in an Art of Spawn book.

Related stories:
DAVID HINE ON SPAWN'S NEW LOOK, NEW WORLD, NEW MISSION

TALKING SPAWN WITH TODD McFARLANE

[nikoli29]

My brother keeps telling me I need to give this book another try. Maybe I will end up doing so...

[innocentboy]

cool. liking how the new direction Spawn's taking sounds

[Scorned1]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

NRAMA: More crossovers with Batman and other characters from other publishers?

BH: Not until we get Spawn/Batman out.

When is it coming out? I thought it was supposed to be last year during Christmas time.

[CATT]

I've really been getting into this book. If you have not looked at it lately I say give it a chance.

[JAZANWILD]

I love the new direction. The clown looks wicked COOL! Keep up the good work!!!! JAZAN WILD


JAZAN WILD'S FUNHOUSE OF HORRORS!!!!

[TheGrayHulk]

I always take every opportunity I can to say how much I like Hine's new Spawn. It's the best monthly today outside Marvel/DC.

(Oh, and I want it even darker and creepier!!!)

[Charlie Hustle]

well I gave up on this book years ago and this might be the first time i pick it up again. I really really like the art, it's cinematic but gritty. one of the things I didn't like about some artists on spawn was the way they over-did the comic book exaggeration of foregrounds, this one looks better and i like the story idea. I mostly get graphic novels now so i'll have to decide if i want to get this as single issues tho.

[matchesmalone]

That's some great artwork. The cover before this one really jumped out as a moody, high-quality piece.

[IronWolf]

Spawn Rawks one of my top books, I like that they stay with all simmons its like the old school fan in me that likes this one character being the guy, but its cool they still have other spawns but al is THE spawn.

[HNutz]

Soo.... it's been relaunched, you're saying?


Is there a trade of that last arc, by any chance?

[FIG]

This new horror direction, isn't this what Todd McFarlane wanted to do with a new Spawn movie? Make it with Spawn but like Se7en where you only see Spawn near the end and there are more horror aspects to what he does and how people are scared of him and view him as a monster? Either way, its good news when an old comic like this gets a revamp to reinvigorate it.

[Dark Light]

Can't wait for the new Godslayer series. I'm also still waiting for the Spawn/Batman one-shot. The regular series keeps on getting better. The darker Spawn has been a lot better than the super-hero Spawn.

[TheGrayHulk]

Originally Posted by FIG

This new horror direction, isn't this what Todd McFarlane wanted to do with a new Spawn movie? Make it with Spawn but like Se7en where you only see Spawn near the end and there are more horror aspects to what he does and how people are scared of him and view him as a monster? Either way, its good news when an old comic like this gets a revamp to reinvigorate it.

Whatever McFarlane wanted to accomplish with the movie... he definitely didn't pull it off.
Actually that movie is the opposite of this comic, because it was practically a movie for kids...

[idkidd]

The second issue of the new direction (#167) was even stronger than the first.

It was nice to see Jason Wynn back and I really liked the new interpretation of him. Does anyone know when he last appeared and how his previous arc ended?

Anyone on the fence about giving this book a try, go for it! You will not be sorry.