10 Best Todd McFarlane Comics Characters (That Aren’t Venom or Spawn)

by

Todd McFarlane is a highly influential comic book artist and writer known for his intricate artwork and complex characters. Throughout his work with DC, Marvel, and Image Comics, he’s created many compelling figures who aren’t simply good or evil. His most famous creations are likely Eddie Brock (Venom) from Marvel and Al Simmons (Spawn) from Image. Both are violent heroes with dark sides and powerful, shape-shifting black suits, but they have distinct abilities and backstories. Beyond these two, McFarlane has also developed a number of other noteworthy characters throughout his career.

Throughout his career, Todd McFarlane has created many iconic heroes and villains. These characters are beloved by fans because of their unique designs, powers, histories, and personalities.

10) Sinn

After Spawn returned to Earth as a Hellspawn, Cogliostro was the only person who genuinely helped and guided him. For years, Cogliostro mentored Spawn as he adjusted to being undead. However, it was later revealed that Cogliostro was actually Cain, the very first murderer and a Hellspawn himself. Cain, also known as Sinn, tried to manipulate Spawn into overthrowing the rulers of Hell, hoping to seize the throne for himself. This betrayal was a major moment in the Spawn story, and Sinn has since become one of Spawn’s most dangerous and cunning foes.

9) Artemis Crock

Artemis Crock, the daughter of classic DC villains Sportsmaster and Tigress, is a skilled archer who initially followed in her mother’s footsteps as an enemy of the Justice Society. She joined multiple versions of the Injustice Society in her efforts to defeat them and even married a fellow villain, Icicle Jr. However, Artemis has been reinterpreted over time. During the New 52 comics, she became an ally of the Teen Titans. Many fans also know her as a heroic character from the popular animated series Young Justice, where she’s portrayed as Green Arrow’s former protégé trying to overcome her parents’ past mistakes.

8) Haunt

Haunt, another superhero created by Todd McFarlane for Image Comics, is similar to Venom in that he’s a combination of two beings. He’s formed from a living preacher, Daniel Kilgore, and the ghost of his brother, Kurt, fused together by a ghostly substance called ectoplasm. This ectoplasm also makes up Haunt’s suit, which he can manipulate to create weapons or even swing through the city like Spider-Man. Just like Venom’s hosts, Daniel and Kurt have a compelling relationship, often battling for dominance but also learning to cooperate.

7) Mr. Bones

Robert Todd, better known as Mr. Bones, started as a minor villain in DC Comics. But over time, this small-time criminal transformed into a hugely important figure. Created through genetic experiments, Mr. Bones was born with see-through skin, giving him a frightening skeletal appearance. He can even sweat cyanide, a deadly poison on contact. Despite his terrifying look, powers, and past crimes, Mr. Bones was given a chance to turn his life around by joining the superhero team Infinity Inc. Later, he became the leader of the Department of External Operations (DEO), an organization that protects the world from people with superpowers. Mr. Bones’s journey is one of the most significant transformations of any character in DC Comics.

6) She-Spawn

Jessica Priest started as a ruthless mercenary responsible for Al Simmons’ death, sending him to Hell and turning him into Spawn. But she changed over time, especially through her friendship with a witch named Nyx. When a spell to save Nyx failed, Jessica was transformed into She-Spawn, another Hellspawn. Seeking to understand her new powers, she turned to the man she once killed. Despite a rocky start, Spawn and She-Spawn put their history aside and formed a strong bond. Spawn even came to trust her enough to lead a superhero team called the Scorched. She-Spawn’s journey of personal growth has been a key part of the recent Spawn comics.

5) Malebolgia

Malebolgia is the original villain in the Spawn story. As ruler of the Eighth Circle of Hell, he created the Hellspawn warriors to fight Heaven. He tricked Al Simmons into becoming a Hellspawn by promising he could be reunited with his wife, Wanda, if he led Hell’s army. However, Malebolgia betrayed Al, horribly disfiguring him, erasing parts of his memory, and sending him to Earth. By the time Al arrived, Wanda had remarried, fueling Spawn’s quest for revenge against Hell. Though defeated in 2000, Malebolgia has returned to try and regain control of Hell.

4) Gunslinger Spawn

Besides Al Simmons, the most well-known Hellspawn is Jermi Winston, also known as Gunslinger Spawn. He’s Al’s great-grandfather and shares his brutal nature. After being wrongly accused and executed for his family’s murder, Jermi struck a deal with the demon Mammon to become a Hellspawn and exact revenge. Gunslinger Spawn is a hugely popular character in the Spawn Universe, and a recent time warp brought him to the present day. Now, he’s using his sharpshooting skills and tough personality as a member of the Hellspawn superhero team, the Scorched.

3) Sam and Twitch

The Spawn Universe is filled with terrifying demons, angels, cyborgs, and monsters, but among its most popular characters are the ordinary NYPD detectives Sam Burke and Maximilian “Twitch” Williams. Since the very first issue of Spawn, Sam and Twitch have provided a realistic viewpoint, offering a contrast to the more fantastical elements of the comic. Sam is the muscle, while Twitch is the strategist, and their strong personalities and teamwork have made them fan favorites. Because of their connection to Spawn and positive reception, Sam and Twitch even starred in their own comic series, detailing their gritty, supernatural investigations.

2) Angela

Angela first appeared as an enemy of Spawn, but quickly became an ally in his fight against Hell. A legal dispute between her creators, Todd McFarlane and Neil Gaiman, eventually led to Gaiman selling the character to Marvel Comics. Despite this change, Angela remained a popular character. Marvel reimagined her as Thor’s long-lost sister and a formidable Asgardian warrior. Even though McFarlane no longer owned the rights, Angela flourished and became a great addition to the world of Thor.

1) Violator

Among all the frightening monsters and villains created by Image Comics, Violator, Spawn’s greatest enemy, is particularly cruel. Originally a low-level demon serving Malebolgia, he was tasked with training Spawn while disguised as a human clown. But Violator resented the idea of a human leading Hell’s army and quickly turned against Spawn, attempting to destroy him. He’s able to shed his disguise to reveal a truly terrifying appearance. For over 300 issues, this sadistic demon has relentlessly tormented Spawn, cementing his place as one of Todd McFarlane’s most memorable creations.

What do you think? Leave a Comment below and join the conversation in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/comics/list/10-best-todd-mcfarlane-covers-that-changed-comic-history/embed/#

Read More

2026-03-28 20:16