Spawn Timeline

[Megatron]

Legend:
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Spawn = 000000
Savage Dragon = 00FF00
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Comics
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Timeline
1987
????
Spawn (1992) #2, "Questions, Part 2" (Pag. 16-17)
Spawn (1992) #1, "Questions, Part 1" (Pag. 4, 15-16, 3)

1992
????
Spawn (1992) #1, "Questions, Part 1" (Pag. 5, 1-2, 6-15, 16-21)
Spawn (1992) #2, "Questions, Part 2" (Pag. 1-16, 17-22)
Spawn (1992) #3, "Questions, Part 3"
Spawn (1992) #4, "Questions, Part 4" (Pag. 1-20)
Savage Dragon (1992) #3, "Rock This Town" (Pag. 1-17)
Spawn (1992) #4, "Questions, Part 4" (Pag. 20-21)
Savage Dragon (1992) #3, "Rock This Town" (Pag. 17-18)
Spawn (1992) #4, "Questions, Part 4" (Pag. 21)
Savage Dragon (1992) #3, "Rock This Town" (Pag. 18-29)
Spawn (1992) #4, "Questions, Part 4" (Pag. 22)

Simplified Order
Spawn (1992) #1-4
Savage Dragon (1992) #3
Spawn (1992) #5

 

[Megatron]

Helpfull tips for you guys.

• Spawn #1 - The Youngbloods exist at least since 1987.
• Spawn #2 - The Youngbloods change clothes to match eachothers; Dragon makes his debut during the events of this issue!
• Spawn #4 - Dragon is on TV! That scene is from Savage Dragon Miniseries #3.
• Savage Dragon Miniseries #3 - Spawn watches Dragon on TV! That is a scene from Spawn #4.

(I'll keep Updating this)

 

[selfishmisery]

Please update if possible.

 

[Megatron]

Please update if possible.

it will be more difficult for me, as uni started, so until summer I'll focus on video games or TV/Films timelines rather than comic book ones, but if I have time, I'll try to update it to the best of my possibilities.

 

[selfishmisery]

Spawn (the animated series) 100% takes place in 1997 as opposed to 1992.

In episode 3, there's a Ryker's prisoner report on a guy whose date of birth in is '76, and he's said to be a child-killer.
Has to be 21 and not 16, he's treated like an adult. Also the show premiere in '97.

So it's a timeline where Al Simmon's origin + the comic events (albeit under different circumstances) occurred 5 years later than the comic's timeline.

 

[selfishmisery]

I guess if you wanted to tie the Savage Dragon cartoon to Spawn's cartoon, there's a mention in the very first episode (of Spawn) of a congressional scandal 3 years prior.

1994. Nothing in the real world, but the Savage Dragon cartoon's "Dragonsmasher" episode involved a corrupt congressional member that attracted some supervillain plot.

 

[GradoNite]

Spawn (the animated series) 100% takes place in 1997 as opposed to 1992.

In episode 3, there's a Ryker's prisoner report on a guy whose date of birth in is '76, and he's said to be a child-killer.
Has to be 21 and not 16, he's treated like an adult. Also the show premiere in '97.

So it's a timeline where Al Simmon's origin + the comic events (albeit under different circumstances) occurred 5 years later than the comic's timeline.

It could also be 1996 since that was when the show began being produced, which also gives a nicer, rounder, number (20) to the criminal

 

[selfishmisery]

Spawn #184 is set in 2002, 10 years into Al Simmons' Hellspawn career.
The James Downing era in the following issues is 4 years later, in 2006.

#225 is set in November 2008. NOT 2012, despite "Election 2012" stamp on the cover. Jason Wynn says its Obama's first term in the next issue and there are flashbacks to 1985 (23 years ago) and 1989 (19 years ago) when the Soviet regime was overthrown by revolutionists.

 

[LegionAOD]

Would love to see an Image Universe (or the closest we can get to it!) timeline - this is a very good start!

 

[selfishmisery]

Would love to see an Image Universe (or the closest we can get to it!) timeline - this is a very good start!

I thought making an independent thread for it tbh.

 

[Megatron]

I thought making an independent thread for it tbh.

that was my plan, making provvisory threads for each series, helping eachother in the process and then making a final combined thread with everything.

 

[selfishmisery]

that was my plan, making provvisory threads for each series, helping eachother in the process and then making a final combined thread with everything.

From my understanding, there are 6 "versions" of the Image Universe.
1st one had Wildstorm as canon
2nd version is the old canon but with Wildstorm removed.
3rd version (via Supreme's 'revision') that lead into the Alan Moore era.
A weird in-between and short 4th one via a "Blue Rose" Revision arc from Supreme released in the previous decade.
5th version after the Blue Rose Revision that was mostly independent-published Liefeld comics until that Kirkman-written "Supreme Sacrifice" comic where Lady Supreme is butchered by a cult and the male Supreme creates the FINAL Revision in a fit of rage.

The 6th version is the current one. From my understanding, is all of Invincible's canon and it's crossovers, Jim Downing era of Spawn onwards, maybe the Witchblade reboot (need to research that), and certain later issues of Savage Dragon... long after the Galactus rip off destroyed some alternate Earth was he was.

 

[selfishmisery]

https://imagecomics.fandom.com/wiki/Savage_Dragon_Vol_1_107

Okay, here's where Savage Dragon's canon begins via the 6th version of the Image Universe.

 

[selfishmisery]

that was my plan, making provvisory threads for each series, helping eachother in the process and then making a final combined thread with everything.

I will be happy to collab on it when the time comes. Working the 6th/current iteration in the Invincible thread.

 

[selfishmisery]

From my understanding, there are 6 "versions" of the Image Universe.
1st one had Wildstorm as canon
2nd version is the old canon but with Wildstorm removed.
3rd version (via Supreme's 'revision') that lead into the Alan Moore era.
A weird in-between and short 4th one via a "Blue Rose" Revision arc from Supreme released in the previous decade.
5th version after the Blue Rose Revision that was mostly independent-published Liefeld comics until that Kirkman-written "Supreme Sacrifice" comic where Lady Supreme is butchered by a cult and the male Supreme creates the FINAL Revision in a fit of rage.

The 6th version is the current one. From my understanding, is all of Invincible's canon and it's crossovers, Jim Downing era of Spawn onwards, maybe the Witchblade reboot (need to research that), and certain later issues of Savage Dragon... long after the Galactus rip off destroyed some alternate Earth was he was.

To give an idea, here is when the Revisions set in:
Shattered Image ends Image v.1, which once had Wildstorm, in August 1996.
Image v.2 ends shortly after sometime in 1997.
Image v.3 (Alan Moore's) ends in 1998.
Image v.4 (Blue Rose) an undetermined point between 1998 and 2006. Maybe 2002.
Image v.5 ("Independent era") ends in 2006.

The plan for the eventual thread, and feel free to provide suggestions:
The first two timelines will be the "First" timeline post in the thread. (Spawn events in this version end at #57)
Post #2 will be Alan Moore / Blue Rose. (Spawn events from #58-#184)
Post #3 will be the brief "independent" era. (Won't include Spawn here. Bear in the mind the 4 year time jump in #185.)
Post #4 will hold Invincible canon, Spawn #185-onwards, Savage Dragon #107-onwards, Witchblade's reboot + Switch mini-run (maybe), etc.

Savage Dragon will be interesting to map out…

@Megatron

 

[Megatron]

Thanks for your guidelines. Tho what we do with flashbacks?

Let's Say that in Spawn #200, a flashback happens that Is set before issue 40, does It take place in Post 1 ora post 4?

 

[selfishmisery]

Thanks for your guidelines. Tho what we do with flashbacks?

Let's Say that in Spawn #200, a flashback happens that Is set before issue 40, does It take place in Post 1 ora post 4?

It's canonized history in the current iteration akin to Gunn's DCU reusing footage from TSS.

 

[Megatron]

Heya @selfishmisery , I apologise in the case that I'm disturbing you, but I tought about making a group chat for the Image Universe (failing miserable, as it didn't allow me to DM you). To my understanding only me and you are working on this rn, right? (me with Spawn, you with Invincible).

So while diving in the internet I found this cute reading order for the Extreme Universe: https://extremeexcursus.com/01-the-early-image-universe/

It doesn't give us dates, I agree with you, but it gives as a guideline of version 1 of the Image Universe, as it has Spawn, Savage Dragon and any issues that were set in the world.

as for the Image Thread I tought of something like this, as to avoid our main enemy (The Character Limiter):

Post #1 - Introduction, legend and Simplified Order
Post #2 - Image Universe versions 1 & 2 (1992-1997) + past 5 Supreme versions(?)
Post #3 - Image Universe versions 3 & 4 (1997-2002)
Post #4 - Image Universe version 5 (2002-2006)
Post #5 - Image Universe version 6 (2006-present)
Post #6 & 7 - In case the character limiter gives us problems we have this bonus posts

as for crossover characters we can leave out Hellboy, as New Men is canon in the Image Universe, it's stated that the Hellboy that appears in this comic is from the in-universe Mike Mignola's comics; as for Lara Croft, the games could be still canon, tho I'd ignore them as we're focusing on these other comics (Tho the idea of Omni-Man and Lara Croft living in the same universe is quite.... interesting I'd say)

P.S. If I forgot anyone working on Extreme, Savage Dragon or Top Cow you can add them.

 

[Megatron]

I've found a timeline for the Extreme Universe @selfishmisery

https://imagecomics.fandom.com/wiki/Extreme_Universe

Just click on their respective main articles for the timeline.

 

[selfishmisery]

Heya @selfishmisery , I apologise in the case that I'm disturbing you, but I tought about making a group chat for the Image Universe (failing miserable, as it didn't allow me to DM you). To my understanding only me and you are working on this rn, right? (me with Spawn, you with Invincible).

So while diving in the internet I found this cute reading order for the Extreme Universe: https://extremeexcursus.com/01-the-early-image-universe/

It doesn't give us dates, I agree with you, but it gives as a guideline of version 1 of the Image Universe, as it has Spawn, Savage Dragon and any issues that were set in the world.

as for the Image Thread I tought of something like this, as to avoid our main enemy (The Character Limiter):

Post #1 - Introduction, legend and Simplified Order
Post #2 - Image Universe versions 1 & 2 (1992-1997) + past 5 Supreme versions(?)
Post #3 - Image Universe versions 3 & 4 (1997-2002)
Post #4 - Image Universe version 5 (2002-2006)
Post #5 - Image Universe version 6 (2006-present)
Post #6 & 7 - In case the character limiter gives us problems we have this bonus posts

as for crossover characters we can leave out Hellboy, as New Men is canon in the Image Universe, it's stated that the Hellboy that appears in this comic is from the in-universe Mike Mignola's comics; as for Lara Croft, the games could be still canon, tho I'd ignore them as we're focusing on these other comics (Tho the idea of Omni-Man and Lara Croft living in the same universe is quite.... interesting I'd say)

P.S. If I forgot anyone working on Extreme, Savage Dragon or Top Cow you can add them.

I've found a timeline for the Extreme Universe @selfishmisery

https://imagecomics.fandom.com/wiki/Extreme_Universe

Just click on their respective main articles for the timeline.

Thank you for providing research. We're talking like thousands of issues here, around 3000+ lol.

 

[Ashler]

I guess if you wanted to tie the Savage Dragon cartoon to Spawn's cartoon, there's a mention in the very first episode (of Spawn) of a congressional scandal 3 years prior.

1994. Nothing in the real world, but the Savage Dragon cartoon's "Dragonsmasher" episode involved a corrupt congressional member that attracted some supervillain plot.

The Savage Dragon animated series features a crossover with Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm, and Wing Commander Academy through the character The Warrior King (https://streetfighter.fandom.com/wiki/The_Warrior_King).

There are also two other animation projects from WildStorm: WildC.A.T.s and Gen13 (the latter being a movie currently available on YouTube)—that are strong candidates for inclusion in this timeline.

Youngblood TAS never made it past the promotional pilot stage.

 

[selfishmisery]

I find it funny that the ONE Spawn issue I have great difficulty trying to find to read (Issue #289) is the one where Al Simmons confronts Trump about corruption. It's totally blanked out.

 

[Megatron]

I find it funny that the ONE Spawn issue I have great difficulty trying to find to read (Issue #289) is the one where Al Simmons confronts Trump about corruption. It's totally blanked out.

I wonder why....

 

[TK37564]

The Savage Dragon animated series features a crossover with Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm, and Wing Commander Academy through the character The Warrior King (https://streetfighter.fandom.com/wiki/The_Warrior_King).

There are also two other animation projects from WildStorm: WildC.A.T.s and Gen13 (the latter being a movie currently available on YouTube)—that are strong candidates for inclusion in this timeline.

Youngblood TAS never made it past the promotional pilot stage.

Gen13 movie started production while Wildstorm was still an Image partner studio but was released after Jim Lee sold Wildstorm to DC Comics. Do to the movie release after the sale to DC Comics its the only DC Animated property made by Disney.

 

[selfishmisery]

BTW I am doing a separate Spawn timeline on Google Docs that I will share with you in DMs when I get farther along @Megatron .

 

[JudgeDreddpool]

I find it funny that the ONE Spawn issue I have great difficulty trying to find to read (Issue #289) is the one where Al Simmons confronts Trump about corruption. It's totally blanked out.

Bruh, why did they give Trump the same hairstyle Josuke has? XD

 

[selfishmisery]

Here's the problem I ran into with the timeline:
I've read a vasty majority of the Spawn universe by this point. There can't be years long time jumps at random points like I originally thought.

Time and history shifts after Spawn recreates the universe in #163. Or you can chalk it up to a Revision of the wider "Image Universe" if you want (see Supreme: Supreme Sacrifice #1). Which came first, Earth in Savage Dragon getting destroyed or the Earth in Spawn - in the context of the greater Image Universe it's Spawn's Earth dying then a few years later in Savage Dragon the Earth is eaten by Universo (logistically meaning Spawn restored the Earth for nothing) - but in the context of the Spawn comics *alone* Spawn recreating the universe IS the time shifting point.

Regardless of any hypothetical attempts to insert time jumps, by #169 (the issue where Spawn meets Nyx) it becomes undeniable we're closer to the Obama election/re-election. The events happen too close together, but also the prior events in Spawn's history has slid closer to this point, as more recent in the timeline than previously.

The evidence:
1. Cyan is 17 by Spawn #289, which her 4 issue "Misery" mini-series is set after. Canonically, she was born a year prior to the events of Spawn #1.
2. Also by #289, we are inescapable set in 2017 (late-Fall specifically due to what's said in #284) due to the Trump presidency already being in effect. Meaning, the Obama election issue in #226 is set in 2012, NOT 2008. Five years pass since.
3. Onscreen dates in Misery don't add up nor matter (Cyan's original 1991 birth year is blurry on a sheet of paper she's looking at one point + the missing child poster has years that can't be the current year) - but for 99% of the time, Todd MacFarlane abandons using onscreen dates in favor of "-- Years Ago" mentions.

In order to create a Spawn timeline, you need to take into account a "Year One, Year Two, Year Three, etc." method.
Year One originally was 1992. That's now 2001, post-Revision of the Earth.

(Ironically, Savage Dragon's timeline stands firm with no changes, regardless of Spawn's sliding timescale; but keep in mind that outside of Spawn's titles or recent crossovers these old crossovers like Altered Image don't matter to the greater narrative of Spawn.)

@Megatron @Ashler I cracked the code.

 

[selfishmisery]

Also, the wiki is wrong about the Revision in Supreme #63 being before the Revision in Supreme: Supreme Sacrifice.

Supreme #63-68 (the Erick Larson run) is in the early 2010s. This is when the Invincible storyline becomes imbedded in the timeline, because Omni Man is a good guy by this point (i.e. very late into the Invincible comic storyline) by the end of that Larson run of Supreme. Therefore:

1st iteration - ends with Shattered Image

2nd iteration - includes Spawn's Earth dying then his recreation of Earth dying in Savage Dragon #102-103; SD hops over to Savage World where a Supreme variant supposedly is. Then the traumatic events of Supreme: Supreme Sacrifice #1 lead to a Revision that presumably merges the destroyed Image Universe (via SD #103) and Savage World timelines together.

3rd iteration - the "overlap" era that I'm still looking into. Most of the Extreme Universe comics like Angelyne published by Arcade Comics (aka Avatar Press) are canon at this point...but they're terrible and hard to find. Those aren't canon after the Revision in Supreme #63.

BLUE ROSE iteration - according to tidbits I read from Rob Liefeld and Erik Larson, the Blue Rose: Supreme 7-issue run is an adjacent timeline created by the aftermath of Supreme's citadel falling in #63. Supposedly this is what causes the Extreme Universe comics as they are now to remain split off from Image's main continuity entirely, but AT THE SAME TIME:

4th / CURRENT iteration - true "Image Universe" canon by this point. Includes Spawn #169-onwards, Invincible, anything Invincible has interacted with, etc.

Top Cow stuff like Witchblade, The Darkness, Cyberforce and all that fun stuff I'll be looking into next to see there's any overlap or "stopping/restarting" points.

 

[selfishmisery]

Last sidenote: The "multiverse" that was destroyed in Savage Dragon #225 I think was clarified in the story that it was the "local multiverse" that Damien DarkLord had a role in altering in his little Dimension X temporal nexus and not most of the ones that were naturally apart of the greater multiverse.

 

[Ashler]

I'm having a difficult week with family matters, so I won't be able to provide a detailed response right now. Hopefully, I'll be able to elaborate further this weekend.

I'll just say that I fully agree that the wiki is mistaken on certain points regarding Extreme Universe and other topics.