A super-exclusive variant cover to Batman/Spawn (2022) has been released by McFarlane Toys in a promotion that sees it partnered with a website-wide discount code. While stocks last, customers can choose between four different versions of the variant cover, two of which are signed by McFarlane himself. Each one is free with a discounted purchase within a set price bracket.
The venture marks a collision of two of Todd McFarlane’s business worlds; comics and action figures. He’s known in comics, not for the breadth of his work, but for its significance. His exaggerated poses and attention to detail led to a memorable run on Spider-Man, where he was the first artist to fully illustrate Venom. Then he co-founded Image Comics, which was the stable for his creator-owned title Spawn. McFarlane left Marvel because editors were unhappy with the dark tone he brought to the Spider-Man series he was both writing and illustrating, Spawn gave him the opportunity and freedom to make things as dark and nasty as he wanted.
Spawn became a massive hit from the off, selling 1.7 million copies of the first issue, a record for an independent comic. It even made the leap into a movie adaptation in 1997. Before that, in 1994, DC and Image linked up their two biggest characters. Batman/Spawn: War Devil was soon followed by Spawn/Batman. The second release was written by no less than the legendary Batman: Year One and Dark Knight Returns writer Frank Miller. McFarlane himself was otherwise occupied starting the next phase of his empire that same year.
Initially, he started McFarlane Toys to make Spawn action figures (though it started out as Todd Toys until Mattel applied for a cease-and-desist because they had a Barbie line called Todd) but its success allowed it to spread out into other areas of popular culture.
Leapfrog over twenty-five years (and McFarlane’s expansion into film, animation, music video, and TV) and we finally have a new Batman/Spawn crossover. This time McFarlane’s the writer again, and the book’s beautifully illustrated by Greg Capullo; who has great form with both characters, having drawn Batman through the phenomenally popular Scott Snyder era and previously served on Spawn as a regular penciler.
The issue saw Batman and Spawn facing off against each other, with the old superpowers issue having to be addressed to make it a fair fight. It was free from both sets of continuity, although it did feature the Court of Owls, and a brief appearance from the Joker. Plus, there was a twist in the ending which would allow a great excuse for a follow-up. You can read our review here.
It was, of course, a sales success. So much so that not only did it receive a coveted reprint, but a black and white and “silent” edition, known as Batman/Spawn: Unplugged. This version was released so that fans could appreciate Capullo’s layouts and McFarlane’s inking.
This brings us to this new variant cover featuring two McFarlane Toys action figures recreating one of the two main cover variants (the other had Spawn standing over Batman’s prone figure). The choice of Batman appears to be the version made to replicate the DC Rebirth era, a Batsuit that Capullo designed. The photograph makes good use of the Bat symbol design on the chest, which is outlined in yellow.
So, how do you get your free copy? While the photograph is the same for all the variants, as is the 5% discount, the type of variant you can claim depends on the amount you spend on the site. Two of the variant styles feature the much sought-after signature of Todd McFarlane. The breakdown is as follows:
- BATSP50 | Orders $50+ Exclusive Variant Cover Batman Spawn Comic Book
- BATSP100 | Orders $100+ Exclusive GOLD Foil Variant Batman Spawn Comic Book
- BATSP300 | Orders $300+ Exclusive Todd McFarlane Signed Variant Cover Batman Spawn Comic Book
- BATSP400 | Orders $400+ Exclusive Todd McFarlane Signed GOLD Foil Variant Cover Batman Spawn Comic Book
So, one of the top names in action figures, and the ONLY name that straddles both toys and comics is the one person uniquely represented in this limited-edition product. Plus, while Marvel and DC don’t seem likely to ever again produce team-ups between their characters, Batman/Spawn represents the biggest cross-publishing events around. Surely that makes this a double win.
For more details follow the link here.
Product details:
Limited Edition Issue #1 Batman Spawn Exclusive Variant Cover Comic Book with qualifying purchase. Apply coupon code at checkout to get comic and bonus 5% Discount.
- BATSP50 | Orders $50+ Exclusive Variant Cover Batman Spawn Comic Book
- BATSP100 | Orders $100+ Exclusive GOLD Foil Variant Batman Spawn Comic Book
- BATSP300 | Orders $300+ Exclusive Todd McFarlane Signed Variant Cover Batman Spawn Comic Book
- BATSP400 | Orders $400+ Exclusive Todd McFarlane Signed GOLD Foil Variant Cover Batman Spawn Comic Book
Only While Supplies Last. Qualifying purchase applies to order subtotal, not including tax or shipping.
Images, and press release courtesy of McFarlane Toys, and DC Entertainment