From the introduction: Welcome, to the Universe of Spawn. A dark, violent world where Heaven and Hell battle endlessly for human souls and Armageddon is only a moment away. Though a long-standing truce has forbid the full might of Heaven and Hell warring on the face of the Earth, elite agents of both powers roam the surface of the planet, furthering the agendas of their respective masters. You will begin your 10 years here about a week after Al Simmons has awakened in a trash-filled alley, or the latter half of 1992 according to the comic’s timeline. You, too, will awaken in New York City – also in a trash-filled alley, though not the same one. Everyone’s gotta start somewhere...