 It was Image's second release, following the release of Rob Liefeld's "Youngblood" the month prior.Upon its release in 1992, "Spawn" #1 (May 1992) sold 1.7 million copies, still a record for an independent comic book.Responding to harsh criticism of his abilities as a writer, McFarlane hired acclaimed writers to guest-write issues #8–11, including Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman, Dave Sim, and Frank Miller.