Black Superhero Appreciation Month: Al Simmons (Spawn)
Lt. Colonel Albert Francis Simmons, a.k.a Al Simmons, a.k.a Spawn blazed onto the comics scene in the very early nineties and has been adapted into short-lived television and movie series by HBO and New Line Cinema respectively. Michael Jai White (who later went on to star in the titular role of Black Dynamite in a movie of the same name) portrayed Simmons in the live action movie which gave him the accolade of being the first African-American to portray a major comic book superhero in a major motion picture.
Spawn was one of the many anti-hero characters who gained or regained popularity in the early to mid-nineties (including Deadpool, Wolverine, and Ghost Rider to name a few) who, while fighting for good reasons weren’t paragons of virtue. They were grittier and willing to explore morally grey territory, and Simmons was no exception. After knowingly killing innocents and dying in a fiery inferno Simmons fell to Hell. Simmons made a deal with an evil being named Malebolgia. His powers stem from giving his soul to Malebolgia in exchange for the ability to see his wife one last time.
Spawn is the brainchild of writer, artist, and later toy creating machine Todd McFarlane, who had gained prominence as the writer/artist for Spider-Man comics. The first issue of Spawn sold 1.7 million copies upon release and later issues featured stories and characters created by Sandman writer Neil Gaiman. The Spawn brand is often credited as being the property to carry the then new Image Comics brand to its immediate success.
Recently Spawn #260 came out, which means it is now 41 issues away from being the longest running independent comic in history. I look forward to enjoying the adventures of Al Simmons — as the Hellspawn or however he is portrayed — for years to come.
(Ed. — Feature photo is of Knightmage, taken at C2E2 2013 for us by Ron ‘Soul Crash’ Ladao.)
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Dixon Place presents PASS/FAIL, written and performed by Ashley Lauren Rogers, directed by Samantha Elizabeth Turlington
Ashley Lauren Rogers humorously tackles the pervasive nature of passing privilege within transgender circles by analyzing her own failures and “instances of not passing.”
Dixon Place Lounge, February 27, 2016 at 7:30pm
161A Chrystie Street, New York, NY 10002 (btwn Delancey and Rivington, west side of Chrystie)
The Dixon Place Lounge is open before, during, and after the show. Bar proceeds directly support DP’s artists and mission.
