24 Years Before Invincible, Another R-Rated Superhero Cartoon Reminded Us That There Was More Than Marvel & DC
When HBO’sSpawnpremiered in 1997, it shocked audiences with its bold storytelling, adult content, and brutal imagery. For years, superhero animation had primarily catered to younger viewers, butSpawnchanged all that.Animation for adultswas now possible. Airing from 1997 to 1999, the animated series embraced a grim, no-holds-barred approach to storytelling. One of the standout elements ofSpawnwas its refusal to sugarcoat its protagonist. Al Simmons wasnt a clean-cut hero far from it. As for the animation itself,Spawnwas unabashedly R-rated....