This animated TV series is based on Spawn, a comic that was quite popular when it came out. I think after a while the adoration cooled, but as someone who didn't think I'd like the story, I must say there is definite merit in this show. It is indeed quite dark, but it's not evil.
Spawn may be regarded as a superhero (he wears a mask and cape), but unlike Batman, Superman or Spider-Man, he's undead. He is sent by hell to kill evil people, so the devil (here called Malebolgia) gets their souls to use in war against heaven. Wouldn't the evil people die eventually without a Spawn? That question is my only problem with this idea. Anyway, Spawn struggles with his evil and humanity, with a former-Spawn named Cogliostro trying to get him to reject Malebolgia and evil.
The look of the show is quite dark (lots of shadow and night scenes), and that fits in with dark subject matter. Season 1 features a child rapist and killer; season 2 has a racist serial killer; season 3 has a brutal vampire. Adding to the adult nature, the fact that this show ran on HBO means the show featured heavy profanity and even some nudity. This darkness can sometimes be too heavy, so that watching several episodes on DVD at one time can become too much. But one or two episodes can be wonderful, unafraid to tackle darkness in reality. The nudity doesn't start out that great (one scene has two naked women being shot in bed, which comes a bit close to misogyny), but I loved seeing Jade's breasts during a naked ritual in season 3.
Season 3 is my favourite of the six-episode seasons; Jade, the powerful woman sent by heaven to kill Spawn, is an attractive character. The episode Hunter's Moon has heaven sending a vampire to kill Spawn. My favourite part of that episode is that the word "vampire" is never used, because we don't need to hear it to know she is one. But there also is some paradox that she would be sent by heaven, and indeed one driving concept of the show is that good and evil aren't pure, something stated by creator Todd McFarlane in one of the show's openings. It's a good point though some Christians might regard it as blasphemy.
One problem I have with this show is that in action scenes it can be hard to tell what's going on. Spawn works best as psychological horror (how many other cartoons can be characterized as horror?). It is this quality that will hopefully make the show remembered as the years go on.
Spawn may be regarded as a superhero (he wears a mask and cape), but unlike Batman, Superman or Spider-Man, he's undead. He is sent by hell to kill evil people, so the devil (here called Malebolgia) gets their souls to use in war against heaven. Wouldn't the evil people die eventually without a Spawn? That question is my only problem with this idea. Anyway, Spawn struggles with his evil and humanity, with a former-Spawn named Cogliostro trying to get him to reject Malebolgia and evil.
The look of the show is quite dark (lots of shadow and night scenes), and that fits in with dark subject matter. Season 1 features a child rapist and killer; season 2 has a racist serial killer; season 3 has a brutal vampire. Adding to the adult nature, the fact that this show ran on HBO means the show featured heavy profanity and even some nudity. This darkness can sometimes be too heavy, so that watching several episodes on DVD at one time can become too much. But one or two episodes can be wonderful, unafraid to tackle darkness in reality. The nudity doesn't start out that great (one scene has two naked women being shot in bed, which comes a bit close to misogyny), but I loved seeing Jade's breasts during a naked ritual in season 3.
Season 3 is my favourite of the six-episode seasons; Jade, the powerful woman sent by heaven to kill Spawn, is an attractive character. The episode Hunter's Moon has heaven sending a vampire to kill Spawn. My favourite part of that episode is that the word "vampire" is never used, because we don't need to hear it to know she is one. But there also is some paradox that she would be sent by heaven, and indeed one driving concept of the show is that good and evil aren't pure, something stated by creator Todd McFarlane in one of the show's openings. It's a good point though some Christians might regard it as blasphemy.
One problem I have with this show is that in action scenes it can be hard to tell what's going on. Spawn works best as psychological horror (how many other cartoons can be characterized as horror?). It is this quality that will hopefully make the show remembered as the years go on.