Editing Spawn (character) (section)

===Origin===
Born in [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]], '''Albert Francis''' "'''Al'''" '''Simmons''' is the second oldest of three siblings. His father, Bernard Simmons, is a traveling salesman, and his mother, Esther Simmons, is a devil worshipper. Al Simmons eventually becomes a highly decorated officer in the [[United States Marine Corps|U.S. Marine Corps]], attaining the rank of [[Lieutenant Colonel (United States)|Lieutenant Colonel]] while serving with [[United States Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance|Force Recon]]. He later joins the [[United States Secret Service|Secret Service]], becomes a high-ranking official, and is recruited by the [[Central Intelligence Agency]]. Simmons later joins the U.S. Security Group, an umbrella agency encompassing the CIA, [[NSA]], and [[United States National Security Council|NSC]], commanded by Director [[Jason Wynn]], and becomes a capable assassin.

During a mission in Botswana, Wynn grows tired of Simmons' increasing sense of morality. As a result of this, Simmons' friend and partner Bruce Stinson (codename [[Chapel (comics)|Chapel]]) is secretly hired to kill him. Simmons is burned to death and sent to [[Hell]].<ref name="Nelson2012">{{cite book|last=Nelson|first=Victoria|title=Gothicka: Vampire Heroes, Human Gods, and the New Supernatural|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KeTmjxcT0g8C&pg=PT103|date=May 8, 2012|publisher=Harvard University Press|location=Cambridge, MA|isbn=978-0-674-06540-6|pages=103–104}}</ref><ref name=booker>{{cite book|editor=M. Keith Booker|title=Encyclopedia of Comic Books and Graphic Novels|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K2J7DpUItEMC&pg=PA583|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-0-313-35746-6|pages=583–585|year=2010}}</ref><ref name="Boyd2008">{{cite book|last=Boyd|first=Todd|author-link=Todd Boyd|title=African Americans and Popular Culture &#91;3 volumes&#93;|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Evxm9Wd6P6EC&pg=RA2-PA174|date=October 30, 2008|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-0-313-06408-1|page=174}}</ref> Making a deal with the devil [[Malebolgia]], Simmons agrees to become a Hellspawn. After swearing to serve Malebolgia, he is allowed to see his wife Wanda one last time. Malebolgia returns Simmons to the living realm with a severely burned body, and a demonic guardian named the [[Violator (comics)|Violator]].<ref name="DuncanSmith2013">{{cite book|last1=Duncan|first1=Randy|last2=Smith|first2=Matthew J.|title=Icons of the American Comic Book: From Captain America to Wonder Woman|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2GNaoeiY51EC&pg=PA503|date=January 2013|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-0-313-39923-7|page=503}}</ref>

Simmons, now a Hellspawn, returns to Earth with a lack of understanding of his previous identity. He wanders in a state of confusion with only vague memories of his former life, including his own name, his marriage to Wanda and the fact that he was once deceased. Spawn occasionally experiences painful flashbacks and eventually remembers his deal with Malebolgia. Using CIA files, he tracks down his wife and finds her married to his former best friend Terry, with whom she has a daughter named Cyan.<ref name=booker/> He realizes five years have passed since his death.

Spawn runs into a fellow Hellspawn, who informs him that his powers are fueled by Necroplasm and that once they are depleted, he will return to Hell. Not wanting to return to Hell, Spawn attempts to find a new purpose in life while using as little power as possible. Spawn is thrust into several antihero adventures, taking down street gangs and organized crime in [[New York City]]. Battling against various criminals, Spawn finds a new purpose in stopping evil.