# Todd McFarlane's Spawn
**Todd McFarlane's Spawn** is an American adults-only animated television series that aired on HBO from 1997 through 1999, based on the Spawn character created by Todd McFarlane for Image Comics.[1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwxLCajRMw4) It follows [Al Simmons](https://www.edgepedia.org/al-simmons), a CIA hit man whose death leads him to seal a deal with the devil, [Malebolgia](https://www.edgepedia.org/malebolgia), who transforms him into hell spawn, a dark warrior who battles the forces of evil on earth and within himself.[2](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/1928/todd-macfarlanes-spawn) The series won a Primetime Emmy Award in 1999 for Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming More Than One Hour).[3](https://www.televisionacademy.com/shows/todd-mcfarlanes-spawn)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Network and run | HBO, May 16, 1997 to May 28, 1999; three seasons[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/todd_mcfarlanes_spawn) • [5](https://dcanimated.com/WF/sections/specials/spawn/tas/releases/dvd/anniversary/) |
| Episodes | 18 episodes across three production seasons[5](https://dcanimated.com/WF/sections/specials/spawn/tas/releases/dvd/anniversary/) |
| Rating | TV-MA; the first American comic series adapted into a mature-rated animated television show[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/todd_mcfarlanes_spawn) • [6](https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/literature-and-writing/spawn/) |
| Animation | Japanese studio Madhouse, at a reported budget of one million dollars per episode[7](https://www.starburstmagazine.com/features/the-telephemera-years-1996-part-2/) |
| Lead voice | Keith David as Spawn, with Richard Dysart as Cogliostro and Michael Nicolosi as Clown[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/todd_mcfarlanes_spawn) |
| Emmy | Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming More Than One Hour), 1999[3](https://www.televisionacademy.com/shows/todd-mcfarlanes-spawn) |
| Home video | HBO Video sold 500,000 copies of the series[8](https://core.ac.uk/download/12826435.pdf) |
## Premise and source material
The series adapts the Spawn comic, which debuted in May 1992 as part of the first wave of [Image Comics](https://www.edgepedia.org/image-comics), an artist-led, creator-owned publisher McFarlane co-founded as an alternative to Marvel and DC.[7](https://www.starburstmagazine.com/features/the-telephemera-years-1996-part-2/) In the comic, former soldier Al Simmons is killed, makes a Faustian bargain with the devil to see his wife Wanda one more time, and is returned to Earth as a scarred, superpowered corpse whose powers shorten his lifespan each time he uses them.[6](https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/literature-and-writing/spawn/) The television version keeps this frame: a government assassin returns from death with supernatural powers and confronts the devil's minion, Clown, also known as [Violator](https://www.edgepedia.org/violator-comics).[9](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/spawn/) • [6](https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/literature-and-writing/spawn/)
## Production
HBO launched the show as the flagship title of its animation division in May 1997 and budgeted it at a million dollars an episode, contracting the Japanese studio Madhouse, then known for *Wicked City* and *Ninja Scroll*, to handle the animation.[5](https://dcanimated.com/WF/sections/specials/spawn/tas/releases/dvd/anniversary/) • [7](https://www.starburstmagazine.com/features/the-telephemera-years-1996-part-2/) McFarlane worked closely with scripter Alan B. McElroy, who was also working on the live-action [Spawn](https://www.edgepedia.org/spawn-1997-film) film then in production at New Line, and with directors Erik Radomski and John Hays to adapt the comic's storylines for television.[7](https://www.starburstmagazine.com/features/the-telephemera-years-1996-part-2/)
**Talent from Batman: The Animated Series.** The production drew on the team behind *Batman: The Animated Series*: Eric Radomski served as supervising director for the first two seasons and Frank Paur for the final season, while Shirley Walker scored the first two seasons.[5](https://dcanimated.com/WF/sections/specials/spawn/tas/releases/dvd/anniversary/) During pre-production, McFarlane and an unnamed studio had parted ways after three or four months of development because the material being generated was not up to his standards.[10](https://www.awn.com/mag/issue5.08/AWNMag5.08.pdf)
## Broadcast and reception
Season 1 premiered in May 1997, Season 2 in May 1998, and Season 3 in May 1999, with the finale, "Prophecy," airing May 28, 1999.[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/todd_mcfarlanes_spawn) • [2](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/1928/todd-macfarlanes-spawn) The series carried a TV-MA rating, and EBSCO's research summary identifies Spawn as the first American comic series adapted into a mature-rated animated television show.[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/todd_mcfarlanes_spawn) • [6](https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/literature-and-writing/spawn/) At the 1999 Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards in Pasadena, McFarlane accepted the award for Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming More Than One Hour) on HBO.[11](https://www.toonsmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Encyclopedia-of-Comic-Books-and-Graphic-Novels.pdf) • [3](https://www.televisionacademy.com/shows/todd-mcfarlanes-spawn) The show also received two wins and two nominations from the [Motion Picture Sound Editors](https://www.edgepedia.org/motion-picture-sound-editors) and two Annie Award nominations.[9](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/spawn/)
The series left HBO in 1999, and McFarlane later said he had been asked almost daily when it would return.[12](https://www.superherohype.com/news/85531-mcfarlane-to-bring-back-spawn-the-animated-series) HBO Video sold 500,000 copies of the series on home video.[8](https://core.ac.uk/download/12826435.pdf)
## Context in the Spawn franchise
The animated series was one part of a rapid multimedia expansion. Spawn #1, released in May 1992, sold approximately 1.7 million copies, the highest single-issue sale for an independent publisher to that date, and the character also produced a toy line, video games, and a 1997 live-action feature film that grossed $100 million.[11](https://www.toonsmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Encyclopedia-of-Comic-Books-and-Graphic-Novels.pdf) • [13](https://imagecomics.com/press-releases/wiip-partners-with-emmy-and-grammy-winner-todd-mcfarlane-to-develop-spawn-characters-sam-twitch-as-a-premium-television-drama-series) The comic later earned the Guinness World Record for the longest-running creator-owned superhero comic book series.[13](https://imagecomics.com/press-releases/wiip-partners-with-emmy-and-grammy-winner-todd-mcfarlane-to-develop-spawn-characters-sam-twitch-as-a-premium-television-drama-series)
**Later animation projects.** In 2016, McFarlane said a new animated series was underway with a story mapped, voice acting recorded, and background animation completed, describing it as a soft reboot that would indirectly reference the HBO series.[14](https://comicbook.com/comicbook/news/todd-mcfarlane-shares-an-update-on-the-spawn-animated-series/) In 2026 he revealed a nearly finished Spawn animated movie, fully voiced, with [Keith David](https://www.edgepedia.org/keith-david) as Spawn and [Mark Hamill](https://www.edgepedia.org/mark-hamill) as Twitch.[15](https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/2167986-mark-hamill-keith-david-spawn-movie-sdcc-2026-update) The original series remains available to stream on [HBO Max](https://www.edgepedia.org/hbo-max).[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/todd_mcfarlanes_spawn)
## References
1. [Spawn the Animated Series: Todd McFarlane and Keith David Look Back, SYFY WIRE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwxLCajRMw4)
2. [Todd MacFarlane's Spawn, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/1928/todd-macfarlanes-spawn)
3. [Todd McFarlane's Spawn, Emmy Awards and Nominations, Television Academy](https://www.televisionacademy.com/shows/todd-mcfarlanes-spawn)
4. [Todd McFarlane's Spawn, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/todd_mcfarlanes_spawn)
5. [Todd McFarlane's Spawn anniversary DVD feature, dcanimated.com](https://dcanimated.com/WF/sections/specials/spawn/tas/releases/dvd/anniversary/)
6. [Spawn, Research Starters, EBSCOhost](https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/literature-and-writing/spawn/)
7. [The Telephemera Years: 1996, part 2, STARBURST Magazine](https://www.starburstmagazine.com/features/the-telephemera-years-1996-part-2/)
8. [Aggrega, CORE](https://core.ac.uk/download/12826435.pdf)
9. [Spawn Reviews, Metacritic (TV)](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/spawn/)
10. [AWN Magazine issue 5.08](https://www.awn.com/mag/issue5.08/AWNMag5.08.pdf)
11. [Encyclopedia of Comic Books and Graphic Novels](https://www.toonsmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Encyclopedia-of-Comic-Books-and-Graphic-Novels.pdf)
12. [McFarlane to Bring Back Spawn: The Animated Series, SuperHeroHype](https://www.superherohype.com/news/85531-mcfarlane-to-bring-back-spawn-the-animated-series)
13. [WIIP Partners with Todd McFarlane to Develop Sam & Twitch, Image Comics press release](https://imagecomics.com/press-releases/wiip-partners-with-emmy-and-grammy-winner-todd-mcfarlane-to-develop-spawn-characters-sam-twitch-as-a-premium-television-drama-series)
14. [Todd McFarlane Shares An Update On The Spawn Animated Series, ComicBook.com](https://comicbook.com/comicbook/news/todd-mcfarlane-shares-an-update-on-the-spawn-animated-series/)
15. [Spawn: New Keith David & Mark Hamill Movie Is Nearly Ready to Be Released, ComingSoon.net](https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/2167986-mark-hamill-keith-david-spawn-movie-sdcc-2026-update)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Scripted television and comedy series › Adapted and franchise screen series › Comic-book and superhero television series*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license