Superhero Origins: Spawn

Superhero Origins: Spawn He was tricked into becoming Hell’s champion, but instead became its mortal enemy! Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we will explore the comic book origins of Al Simmons, otherwise known as Spawn. As with most comic book characters, there are often re-imaginings and different versions to a character’s past. We have chosen to primarily follow the storyline which unfolded in 1992’s Spawn Vol.1. Al Simmons was once the world’s greatest soldier and assassin. In fact, he was enlisted as a member of the U.S. Security Group task force for saving the President’s life. While this seemed like the chance he had wanted to better serve his country, it soon made him aware of the ugly truth behind the Government’s internal dealings. This led to doubts and questions that eventually caught the attention of his superior Jason Wynn. Labeled a traitor, Al’s partner and friend Chapel was ordered to assassinate him. Upon his death, Al found himself engulfed in flame and sent straight to Hell for having killed innocents in the service of his country. Arriving in the underworld, Al pledged his soul to the ruler of the Eighth Sphere of Hell, a demonic creature called Malebolgia, in order to see his wife Wanda once again. Because of the demon’s twisted sense of humor, he was returned to Earth five years after his death, transformed into a Hellspawn with a badly disfigured body, and given little recollection of his past. Al was likewise given a sentient symbiotic suit and demonic powers. These included superhuman strength, speed, agility, flight, as well as the capability to teleport; shape shift and release Necroplasmic energy bursts. He also became immortal and immune to anything not originating from, or modified by the spirit realm. Despite his amnesia, Al’s memories soon resurfaced and he realized the awful price he had paid, as his wife had re-married and had a child with his best friend Terry. Regardless of this revelation, he vowed to protect Wanda and her new family, while secluding himself within the city’s dark alleyways. This prompted the appearance of a demonic clown-looking guide called the Violator. This demon revealed Spawn’s mission on Earth. Namely, to serve as the Malebolgia’s general and most powerful servant, who would amass the army of souls needed to destroy Heaven. This task was to be accomplished by committing mass acts of murder. At first, Spawn played the role of anti-hero, only taking out thugs and child molesters. However, his rage soon prompted him to fight off the Violator and renounce his pact, as he sought vengeance against hell and those who damned him. During this ongoing struggle, did battle with many of Hell’s minions in a war to prevent a crusade against heaven. This caused him to meet many unlikely allies, such as a detective duo and an angel who hunted hell spawn for sport. Spawn even came to discover a mentor in the form of a mysterious homeless man named Cog, who was eventually revealed to have once been a Hellspawn himself. A popular comic book anti-hero, Spawn continues to find himself caught between the forces of Heaven and Hell in his struggle for redemption. He has likewise received an overhauled look, enhanced powers, acclaimed toy line, feature film and mature-rated animated series.