Spawn #1 (1992)First appearance of Spawn (Al Simmons)
How much is Spawn #1 worth? Over a million copies were printed, so most copies sell for modest amounts. The price comes down to the grade, whether you have a newsstand copy, and whether it is the 1992 original or a later reprint. Check which copy you have below, then compare it with what the same grade actually sold for.
- Publisher
- Image Comics
- Cover date
- May 1992
- Cover price
- $1.95
- Writer
- Todd McFarlane
- Artist
- Todd McFarlane (pencils, inks and cover)
- Key
- First appearance of Spawn (Al Simmons)
- Also first
- Malebolgia; detectives Sam Burke and Twitch Williams
Spawn #1 prices by CGC grade
Grade moves the price more than anything else. Each eBay link searches the copies for sale now in that grade, with reprints and later editions filtered out of the search where eBay allows. The Heritage link lists past auction results for graded copies; Heritage shows the sold price once you sign in with a free account.
- For sale: CGC 9.8Near Mint/Mint, the top common grade
- For sale: CGC 9.6Near Mint+
- For sale: CGC 9.4Near Mint
- For sale: CGC 9.2 / 9.0Near Mint- and Very Fine/Near Mint
- For sale: CGC 8.5 / 8.0Very Fine+ and Very Fine
- For sale: CBCS, any gradeThe other big grading company
- For sale: Raw (not graded)Ungraded copies: judge condition from the photos
- Past sales: Heritage AuctionsPast auction results for CGC-graded copies; a free Heritage account shows the sold prices
- Sold on eBay (sign-in needed)eBay's completed sales, all grades; eBay asks you to sign in to see them
The eBay links show copies for sale now and work without an eBay account. To see sold prices, eBay asks you to sign in and Heritage asks for a free account. ComicSeeker doesn't show prices or sell anything.
Which copy do you have?
Newsstand vs. direct edition
Most copies were sold in comic shops (the direct edition). Copies sold at newsstands carry a UPC barcode and are scarcer. In top grades a newsstand copy usually sells for more than a direct copy in the same grade.
Original vs. later editions
Spawn #1 has been reprinted, including a black-and-white edition given to shops as a retailer incentive and the 2017 25th Anniversary Director's Cut. The black-and-white edition is rare and priced on its own; the Director's Cut is a modern book. Check the cover price ($1.95) and the 1992 date before you compare prices.
For sale now, auction results and price guides
- eBay — for sale nowBuy-it-now and auctions, reprints filtered out
- ComicLinkCurrent auctions for the title (all issues)
- MyComicShopLarge back-issue dealer
- HipComicMarketplace for raw and graded comics
- GoCollectPrice guide based on recorded sales
- League of Comic GeeksEvery cover and variant listed
- Comic VineCredits, story and first appearances
Why is Spawn #1 worth so much?
Spawn #1 introduces Al Simmons, a murdered agent who returns from Hell as Spawn after a deal with the demon Malebolgia. Todd McFarlane wrote and drew it as one of Image Comics' first titles, and it sold about 1.7 million copies. That huge print run is why ordinary copies are easy to find, and why only high-grade and newsstand copies bring strong prices.
More Spawn key issues
Spawn #1: common questions
How much is Spawn #1 worth?
Most copies sell for modest amounts because about 1.7 million were printed. High grades (CGC 9.6 to 9.8) and newsstand copies sell for much more. Compare with sold prices (the sign-in links above); the grade links show what is for sale now.
Is the newsstand edition worth more?
Usually yes, in top grades. Newsstand copies have a UPC barcode and are scarcer than direct-edition copies.
What is the black-and-white Spawn #1?
A later black-and-white reprint given to shops as a retailer incentive. It was a limited retailer-incentive run (1997), and it sells on its own market, separate from the 1992 original.
Who created Spawn?
Todd McFarlane wrote and drew Spawn #1, published by Image Comics in 1992.