THE MAN BEHIND `SPAWN': COMIC CREATOR BRINGS CHARACTER TO BIG SCREEN.Byline: Amy Dawes Daily News Film Writer Actor John Leguizamo John Leguizamo (born July 22, 1964) is an Emmy Award-winning and Golden Globe-nominated Colombian comedian, actor and producer. Biography Early life Leguizamo was born in Bogotá, Colombia. calls ``Spawn'' creator Todd McFarlane ``the Jimmy Swaggart Jimmy Lee Swaggart (born March 15, 1935 in Ferriday, Louisiana) is a Pentecostal preacher and pioneer of televangelism who reached the height of his popularity in the 1980s. Swaggart is first cousin to recording artists Jerry Lee Lewis and Mickey Gilley. of comics,'' referring to his blustering blus·ter v. blus·tered, blus·ter·ing, blus·ters v.intr. 1. To blow in loud, violent gusts, as the wind during a storm. 2. a. To speak in a loudly arrogant or bullying manner. , evangelical style. Indeed, on the eve On the Eve (Накануне in Russian) is the third novel by famous Russian writer Ivan Turgenev, best known for his short stories and the novel Fathers and Sons. of the opening of the first feature film ever based on his work, the 35-year-old comic book artist and entrepreneur comes across like an oldtime circuit preacher as he talks about his five-year-long grass-roots effort to ``spread the gospel'' and ``bring my people with me.'' ``Spawn,'' a complex tale about a dark hero who has become an agent of the devil during his quest for personal justice, debuted in 1992 and is considered a groundbreaking work in the comic book world - challenging its audience and offering no simplistic sim·plism n. The tendency to oversimplify an issue or a problem by ignoring complexities or complications. [French simplisme, from simple, simple, from Old French; see simple happy endings. Its theme might be summed up as ``life is cruel, and the good guys don't always win.'' And it's enormously popular, having sold more than 100 million books in 34 countries and 13 languages worldwide. McFarlane has a rabid fan base that clamors to see him at comic book conventions (``I'm like Tom Cruise in some circles''). More than anything, the dark-haired, green-eyed Canadian-born artist says he wants ``his people'' to know that he didn't let them down. ``At least they can say that Todd did not sell us out,'' says McFarlane. ``The leader of our cult did not sell us out. I'm not gonna line my pockets unless it's the right deal for my people. ``My track record proves that I understand this cult that keeps growing every day. I know how they move. I know how to feed them. And I'll die before I let them do it the wrong way. I'll make no `Spawn' movie before I make a bad one.'' In the movie and the comic, the cape-wearing superhero su·per·he·ro n. pl. su·per·he·roes A figure, especially in a comic strip or cartoon, endowed with superhuman powers and usually portrayed as fighting evil or crime. Spawn is actually Al Simmons, a covert government operative (played by Michael Jai White) who was assassinated as·sas·si·nate tr.v. as·sas·si·nat·ed, as·sas·si·nat·ing, as·sas·si·nates 1. To murder (a prominent person) by surprise attack, as for political reasons. 2. , separating him from his beloved wife, Wanda (Theresa Randle). In order to return to life, he makes a Faustian pact with the devil, agreeing to lead hell's army in the destruction of mankind. But as he explores the chameleonlike powers his evil master has bestowed on him, he meets two mysterious figures (played by Nicol Williamson and Leguizamo) who try to get him to use his talents for two opposing reasons - one for good and one for evil. Mark Dippe, the movie's director, says he emphasized ``the macabre, Dante-esque aspects of the story, as well as Todd's amazing visual illustrations.'' With more than 400 visual effects shots, filmmakers labored down to the wire, completing the movie only 10 days before its scheduled release. ``I'm like a proud papa. I want the world to see this kid,'' said McFarlane, who now lives in Phoenix with his wife and two young children. ``Is it high art? No. But it's cool and bitchen bitch·en adj. Slang Variant of bitchin'. . It's just good, clean fun. And on Aug. 1, the cult is coming.'' |
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