Comic book creator and Image Comics co-founder Todd McFarlane revealed a new variant cover for Spawn #313 featuring the Hellspawn's longtime nemesis The Violator in a Santa Claus costume.
The cover, by artist Björn Barends, depicts the evil Violator in his clown persona standing on a roof while wearing a dirty and unkempt Santa costume. Spawn's nemesis mockingly makes the silence gesture while looking directly at the viewer as he prepares to slide down the chimney while carrying a sack full of macabre gifts. The roof's green-colored Christmas lights are reminiscent of Spawn's necroplasm and also give the image an eerie glow.
"Since Spawn issue 313 comes out TWO DAYS before Christmas, I had to take the opportunity for a COOL CREEPY COVER!" McFarlane tweeted. He also noted it "will make a PERFECT gift for any Spawn (or Clown) fan!" The variant comes hot on the heels of the previously revealed cover, which depicts a gigantic, hulking Hellspawn drawn by McFarlane.
Created in 1992 as part of the Image Comics explosion, Spawn tells the story of Al Simmons, a former mercenary and the latest in the line of Hellspawns recruited by Malebolgia. Unable to accept his fate and longing to return to his wife Wanda, Simmons makes a literal deal with the devil, though his new powers come with a price. The Violator was tasked to ensure Spawn's descent into evil and has been his nemesis ever since. He even made the transition to live-action, as portrayed by actor John Leguizamo in the 1997 Spawn film.
Spawn recently become the longest-running independent comic book series. The current storyline details the ramifications of altering the timeline and Spawn's war against the Omega Spawn while preventing the forces of Heaven and Hell from destroying the world.
Spawn #313, by Todd McFarlane and Carlo Barberi, goes on sale Dec. 23 from Image Comics.
Source: Twitter