It’s about 30 years since Image Comics launched shifting the comics landscape in ways that are still rippling. A few years after that launch, one of the stars of Image, Spawn, teamed up with one of the characters that built DC Comics. 1994 saw the two come together written by Frank Miller with art by Todd McFarlane. All these decades later, Todd McFarlane now takes the reigns as the writer, teaming up again with Greg Capullo who at one point penciled McFarlane’s Spawn. Batman/Spawn #1 is an interesting return to the cross-company crossover, but interesting doesn’t necessarily mean good.

Batman/Spawn #1 follows a lot of tropes bringing together the two characters to take on a more modern villain. The Court of Owls has a goal of eliminating Batman/Bruce Wayne but also open up some portal they need him for. It’s all rather confusing and not quite clear. They manipulate Spawn convincing him that Batman killed Wanda and for some reason that happened on the same date that Bruce’s mother Martha was killed.

McFarlane lays out a lot in this packed and oversized issue. There’s a lot of interesting ideas but it never quite makes sense or clicks together. There’s talk of killing Batman/Bruce but then he’s also needed to open up some portal. There’s talk of manipulating reality but that power isn’t enough to kill our heroes. But, really, we’re here for how Spawn and Batman get along and that’s also just ok.

McFarlane focuses on how similar these characters are. Both were born out of tragedy and darkness. Each has a family to rely on. One was born out of hell and the other went through hell but turned towards the light. There’s something there to really chew on but it’s presented in such a ham-fisted way. McFarlane’s dialogue is clunky and scenes make no sense for the narrative beyond just setting up the current focus. The duo make it to the Joker who delivers some advise and also teases the two characters in multiple ways. But, that entire scene’s goal is to set up a sequel. A moment in the Batcave is just Spawn lecturing Batman about the future and his path, which clearly isn’t going to go in the direction Spawn thinks. There’s all sorts of talk of “my world” and “my reality” when I’m not sure what comic reality we’re in. Nothing is explained quite enough and too much is thrown in without proper depth and explanation. Again, lots of good ideas with a bad execution.

Unfortunately, Capullo’s work isn’t enough to save the comic either. With McFarlane’s inks, color by Dave McCaig, and lettering by Tom Napolitano, it overall is just ok. While you’d expect dynamic visuals that leave you wanting more, the art feels a bit stilted lacking the flow the narrative has. Fight scenes never quite reach the level you’d expect and while the details are nice, the overall look of the comic lacks that grand expectation of the duo swooping around Gotham to fight crime.

Batman/Spawn #1 is very much a remnant of the 90s. It has some great ideas that are never fleshed out and what’s presented is a choppy narrative that never flows. The art is the driver and even that isn’t quite as good as we’d expect from this team. Overall, this is one for those who are hooked on nostalgia and not much more than that.

Story: Todd McFarlane Art: Greg Capullo
Ink: Todd McFarlane Color: Dave McCaig Letterer: Tom Napolitano
Story: 7.0 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7.0 Recommendation: Read

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – comiXology/Kindle