Spawn / Batman is your basic and typical by-the-books crossover story whenever 2 competing Superheroes hook up. Their paths cross. They kick each other's asses. They join forces. They take down an Arms Dealer. They save the city. They go their separate ways. Then end.

This book could have been so much better and a whole lot more meaningful if it wasn't just a one-shot deal. How can you expect to really have any depth story-wise if all we get is one comic book? Most crossovers of this magnitude with Characters this big and popular warrant at least 4 issues worth of story and art. For whatever reason, this was not the case here.

The writing was a little too on-the-nose. My guess is that Frank really had to edit himself here since he had to accommodate to Todd's art and panel work. Don't take this the wrong way. Todd's art is pretty slick and nice to look at. But the way he draws panels does have a tendency to not leave a lot of room to expand on the dialogue and story.

If it matters to anyone, Spawn / Batman is a "companion" to that of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns as it takes place during the same time. Other than that there is no other tie-in, storywise or character-wise.

I only recommend this if you like McFarlane's art. That's it.

Rating: 3 Stars out of 5