In 2022, Batman and Spawn, two of comics’ most troubled heroes, starred in a long-awaited Image Comics and DC crossover that thrilled longtime fans and new readers alike. United by a common cause and troubled, tragic roots, the Dark Knight and the Hellspawn joined forces to combat the Court of Owls with flying colors. This time, Batman Spawn #1 is back in a striking black-and-white.
Stripped down to wordless and colorless black and white, Batman/Spawn Unplugged #1, by Todd McFarlane and Greg Capullo, with inking assistance by Jonathan Glapion, presents the iconic issue in its rawest and most authentic form.
Todd McFarlane’s name has become synonymous with the ’90s, when darkness reigned and edgy anti-heroes roamed the streets. It was a time of extremes — something that McFarlane’s stark, gritty visual and narrative style, with its muscly character designs and penchant for pessimism and violence, perfectly encapsulated. With the recent resurgence in ’90s nostalgia, everything old is new once again, especially fitting the apocalyptic tastes of the late 2010s and early 2020s, making McFarlane’s updated iteration of Batman and Spawn especially relevant.
Batman/Spawn Unplugged #1 shows a level of sophistication and softness at the edges, betraying a contemporary ethos and sensibility. There is plenty of grime and grunge to be found in the dour imagery in this issue, especially notable without colors. McFarlane’s taste for violence shines through the narrative, thanks to Capullo’s pencils and McFarlane and Glapion’s inks.
Even without any dialogue or color, Batman/Spawn Unplugged #1 is a visual confection — a dark, beautifully rotten, and brilliantly bitter treat. The level of intricate detail and technical skill is undeniable. Rotting flesh, desiccated bodies, rust, filth, sewage, and all manner of urban decay are rendered in surprisingly delicate, wispy lines. Unfortunately, this intense level of detail suffers when there is too much on one page. The excellent art becomes muddied, stifled, and cramped in crowded, compressed panels, such as the initial brawl in the alley or when too many finely rendered characters are placed close together. Seeing a few of these scenes in black and white reminds the reader of the clarity color can bring.
Capullo, McFarlane, and Glapion’s art is strongest when they give the art room to breathe. The excellent use of black and white to convey space and volume cannot be understated. The use of stark black allows Batman and Spawn to cut strong figures and stand out against backgrounds riddled with intricate details. This use of space allows characters to express themselves through body language and facial expressions. The fact that Glapion’s inked lines read as soft, smooth, and fluid despite the ragged imagery lends a gentler, more contemporary look to the issue.
Even stripped to its skeleton, Batman/Spawn Unplugged #1 has the same raw power and impact as its colored and lettered counterpart. A celebration of darkness and artistry at equal turns, Batman/Spawn Unplugged #1 harkens to a simpler time when doom and gloom reigned but pays service to a more complicated, sophisticated present.