I have a bit of a double-edged question here.
Two of the most popular comics characters created over the last 30 years are John Constantine and Spawn. However, which one is more popular? True, Spawn has had both a cartoon series and a movie, but does that have more to do with McFarlane's self-promotion side or actual popularity?
Additionally, both character have carried their own titles for many years. However, Spawn has seen frequent gaps in it's printing schedule. Would Spawn still be a going concern had it been consistently in print?
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Don't forget Constantine has had a movie, too! (Much as we might like to...)
I'm not sure which is more popular. I think Spawn is probably more recognizable to the general public, at least of a certain generation. But I suspect people care more about the character of John Constantine than they do about Spawn -- possibly because, for at least certain points in the book's history, Spawn hasn't been as concerned with telling Spawn's story so much as telling other people's stories for Spawn to show up in, a la the Spectre or the Phantom Stranger. (At least that's been my impression; I could be completely off base there.)
I've never seen it, but apparently the Spawn cartoon (on MTV?) rocked the world for a while there, so there must be a certain catchment of 90s proto-hipsters who look back on it fondly. The cartoon probably didn't go anywhere plotwise either...
Constantine is possibly read by lots of people who wouldn't read too many other comics, but I doubt they'd compare sizewise to MTV's 90s audience, or even the audience for the 90s Spawn movie.
The cartoon was either on Showtime of HBO here in the US. I never really watched it however; while it looked visually interesting, I could see there was nothing else going on. And no, I hadn't forgotten the Constantine movie.
Those are slim pickings for breakthrough stars coming through from comics in the last 20-30 years. Is there anyone we can add to the list?
Maybe the Watchmen are more famous than either? (Not to mention the war...)
I agree with what Rob said.
I'm with Rob as well. I think there's at least a chance a non-comics reader would recognize Spawn, if only from the movie, which I think made a bigger splash than the Constantine one. Not to mention the fact that Constantine was absent from his own movie!
I said not to mention the war.
Was it only a "military conflict" or "police action"?
PowerBook Pete (aka Tim Cousar) said: