"Spawn" (1997) TV series 1997-1999

User Rating:

8.5/10   

Directors:

John Hays
Thomas A. Nelson

Writers:

Rebekah Bradford (writer)
John Leekley (writer)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

16 May 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Action | Crime | Drama | Fantasy | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

The War Between Heaven And Hell Continues...

Plot:

Spawn goes after his killer, the head of the top secret agency for which he formerly worked.

Plot Keywords:

Hell | Soul | Personification Of Satan | Gore | Superhero

Awards:

Won 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Keith David	...	Spawn (18 episodes, 1997-1999)
Richard Dysart	...	Cogliostro (18 episodes, 1997-1999)
Dominique Jennings	...	Wanda Blake (18 episodes, 1997-1999)
James Keane	...	Sam Burke / ... (17 episodes, 1997-1999)
Michael McShane	...	Gareb / ... (17 episodes, 1997-1999)
John Rafter Lee	...	Jason Wynn (17 episodes, 1997-1999)
Victor Love	...	Bobby / ... (12 episodes, 1997-1998)
Michael Nicolosi	...	Clown (11 episodes, 1997-1999)
Kath Soucie	...	Additional Voices / ... (9 episodes, 1997-1998)

Also Known As:

"Todd McFarlane's Spawn"

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for violence and some brief drug references.

Runtime:

30 min (18 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Singapore:M18 | Singapore:M18 (Vol 3 to 5) | Singapore:NC-16 (Vol 1,2 & 6) | UK:18 | USA:PG-13 (cut version) | Canada:R (re-rating) | Canada:14A (season 3) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) (season 2 & 3) | Canada:16+ (Quebec) (season 1) | Canada:18A (Season 1 & 2) | USA:TV-MA | Australia:M | Canada:18+ (TV rating)

Company:

D.R. Movie

Trivia:

The whip-crack sound effect of Spawn/Al Simmons' chains popping out from his robes is the same as the activation of the alien's heat vision in Predator (1987).

Quotes:

Clown: A creature far superior to humans. A true native of Hell. Something no Spawn will ever be.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Comic Book Superheroes Unmasked (2003) (TV)

This was near perfection of Spawn

I agree with what many reviewers said and I wont rehash the story line anymore - many folks have done so already.

What I'd like to add is that HBO Cable Networks did a wonderful thing in showing this as a weekly series. I was glued to the television weekly at midnight - not just me but all of my friends as well. I don't care what I was doing, I HAD to watch this. We all loved this animated working of Spawn. The animation was crisp, the storytelling was adult and intelligent, the vocal casting was superb. This is what adult animation and comic book adaptation was about. The first season was better than the second one to me but both were groundbreaking.

What I disliked more than anything -- was the feature film of "Spawn". It did not hold a candle to this series and just ruined what was already done. Sad thing, HBO hasn't re-shown repeats of this and they should. And HBO hasn't produced & adapted other comics, which it should be doing along these lines. There are many production lessons here as well as a great adaptation lesson.

Todd MacFarlane's creation is the best here. I hope they show it again, release a DVD if so, do not miss this. Be forewarned - adult themes run through this version. The first season is NOT for the kiddies or a PG-13 oriented. It is dark, it is wonderful and it is the world of Spawn as it should be seen and interpreted.