In life, Spawn was Albert Francis Simmons. Born in Detroit, Michigan, he was the second eldest of three children (Marc, Albert, and Richard) born to Bernard Simmons- a traveling salesman- and Esther Simmons- a devil worshipper. Simmons was a highly intelligent and physically strong Lieutenant Colonel in U.S. Marine Corps Force Recon. He later joined the Secret Service and becomes a highly decorated member. This leads to his recruitment to the Central Intelligence Agency. Once in the CIA, Simmons joins the U.S. Security Group- an umbrella agency encompassing the CIA, the NSA, and the NSC- commanded by Director Jason Wynn, and becomes a highly capable assassin.