Al Simmons, a highly-skilled black ops operative, is double-crossed and murdered by his corrupt boss, Jason Wynn, to cover up their involvement in illegal dealings. Al finds himself in Hell, where he makes a pact with the devil Malebolgia to return to Earth and see his beloved wife Wanda again. However, the deal comes with a catch: Al is transformed into Spawn, a dark, disfigured Hellspawn warrior with extraordinary powers bestowed upon him by the devil. As Spawn returns to Earth, he is guided by a demonic clown named the Violator who pretends to be his ally but secretly serves Malebolgia's sinister agenda.

Spawn struggles to piece together his fragmented memories while grappling with his new, monstrous identity. He discovers that the world has moved on without him, with Wynn rising to greater power and Wanda now married to his best friend, Terry Fitzgerald. Spawn is torn between seeking vengeance against those who wronged him and protecting the innocent from their fiendish schemes. Along his journey, he encounters Cogliostro, a mysterious mentor figure who reveals more about his powers and destiny. Spawn must confront the forces of Hell and make choices that will ultimately define whether he remains a pawn in their game or becomes something more.