29 Years Ago, The Most Iconic ’90s Superhero Got an Even Better Animated Series (And We Need More)

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As a long-time cinema fan, I still think about a show that premiered on HBO way back in 1997 – it was so ahead of its time, and the fans of the original comic book really deserve more recognition for it. It’s hard to believe now, but back then, gritty, adult superhero stories were pretty rare. While I’m sad that The Boys is wrapping up after seven seasons, ending its run of wild superhero satire, there’s plenty of other dark superhero content out there to fill the void. Even Invincible on Prime Video, which was hugely popular in April 2026, proves there’s a real appetite for this kind of mature, R-rated superhero storytelling.

It’s hard to imagine Invincible becoming popular in the 1990s with its extreme violence and mature themes. Back then, adult animation was largely defined by The Simpsons and a few similar shows, and more dramatic animated series weren’t widely accepted. This was the environment in which Todd McFarlane’s Spawn first aired on HBO on May 16, 1997. As one of HBO’s first adult animated shows, Todd McFarlane’s Spawn even won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Animation Program (longer than one hour) in 1999.

The First Episode of Todd McFarlane’s Spawn Originally Aired On May 16, 1997

Based on the popular Image Comics series that first appeared in 1992, Todd McFarlane’s Spawn follows Al Simmons, a former CIA hitman. After being killed, he’s sent to Hell and makes a deal with the devil: he’ll serve the devil if he can briefly return to see his wife. Predictably, the deal is a deception. Al comes back to Earth transformed into a terrifying creature called a Hellspawn, only to discover five years have passed and his wife has begun a new life.

Al Simmons, a soldier seemingly lost to fate and burdened with demonic abilities, finds a new calling as the vengeful hero known as Spawn. The 1997 live-action Spawn movie, directed by Mark A.Z. Dippé, attempted to tell his story but was largely considered a failure, despite featuring a talented cast including Michael Jai White, John Leguizamo, and Martin Sheen. However, the animated HBO series Todd McFarlane’s Spawn was a different story. With its striking music, unique visual style, and dark atmosphere, the series foreshadowed the rise of more mature, R-rated superhero content that would become popular in later years.

Spawn’s Animated Series Was Way Ahead of Its Time

While films like 2009’s Defendor and 2010’s Super hinted at the potential for more adult superhero stories, it wasn’t until 2016’s Deadpool that these types of films really took off with wider audiences. Since then, we’ve seen a surge of shows and movies aimed at mature viewers, including Logan, Deadpool 2, Joker, and series like Harley Quinn, Legion, Titans, Invincible, HBO’s Watchmen, Gen V, and, notably, The Boys.

Although these shows and movies all found viewers, Spawn, created by Todd McFarlane, came out about 20 years before its time and the current popularity of similar content. Since the show ended, Spawn has become a beloved cult classic, and many believe a new adaptation would finally give it the recognition it deserves.

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2026-05-16 16:42