The Crow 1958053 223406245 2008-07-03T23:03:20Z Lightbot 7178666 Units/dates/other {{otheruses}} [[Image:thecrow.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Cover of ''The Crow'' (illustration by [[James O'Barr]])]] '''''The Crow''''' is a [[comic book]] [[ongoing series|series]] created by [[James O'Barr]]. The series was originally written by O'Barr as a means of dealing with the death of his girlfriend at the hands of a drunk driver. It was later published by [[Caliber Comics]] in 1989, and became an underground success, with some movie studios seeking the rights. It was adapted into [[The Crow (film)|a film]] in [[1994 in film|1994]]. Three film sequels, a television series, and numerous books and comic books have also been produced. The character has since become a cult icon of modern Goth culture, mostly fueled by the success of the first film. ==Plot synopsis== The story revolves around an unfortunate young man named Eric. He and his fiancée, Shelly, are assaulted by a gang of street thugs after their car breaks down. Eric is shot in the head and is [[paralysis|paralyzed]], and can only watch as Shelly is savagely beaten and [[rape]]d until she dies at the scene. Eric survives and is taken to a hospital, but while surgeons are trying to save him, the [[The Crow (character)|Crow]] comes to him and convinces him he needs to let go of his life. Only by dying can the Crow help him exact his [[revenge]]. One year later, Eric is [[resurrection|resurrected]] by the Crow to seek out vengeance on the [[murder]]ers, methodically stalking and killing them. When not on the hunt, Eric stays in the house he shared with Shelly, spending most of his time there lost in memories of Shelly; her absence is torture for him, and he stays in hideous emotional pain, even engaging in [[self-harm|self-mutilation]]. However, this provides him little release; any injury he suffers (save those that are self-inflicted) heals rapidly, leaving him scarred but intact. He realises he has supernatural powers which give him superhuman agility and accelerated healing. The Crow acts as both guide and goad for Eric, giving him information that helps him in his quest but also chastising him for dwelling on Shelly's death, seeing his pining as useless self-indulgence that distracts him from his purpose. ==Characters== The main character, Eric, is modeled after three musical influences on O'Barr's life. Firstly, [[Joy Division]] lead singer [[Ian Curtis]], whose melancholic [[lyrics]] and spastic onstage dance movements inspired Eric's somber [[dialogue]] and pained [[convulsions]] when remembering his and Shelly's deaths. Secondly, [[Bauhaus (band)|Bauhaus]] lead singer [[Peter John Murphy|Peter Murphy]] inspired his imposing physical presence, ghostly [[makeup]], and sharp, high cheek bones. Finally, Eric's physicality/anatomy is based on punk legend [[Iggy Pop]]. Additionally, the names of Officer Albrecht and Captain Hook are allusions to Joy Division members [[Bernard Sumner|Bernard (Albrecht) Sumner]] and [[Peter Hook]]. Other influences on ''The Crow'' range from the [[Gothic novel|Gothic]] [[imagery]] of [[Arthur Rimbaud]]'s [[poetry]] to the bleakness of [[the Cure]]'s early albums. All these characteristics were carried over to the movie. === Supporting Characters === * Sherri - A young girl that Eric gives Shelly's engagement ring to when he returns for revenge (plays little part in graphic novel. (Re-named Sarah in the movie) *T-Bird - The head of the gang that murders Shelly and Eric. *Funboy - T-Bird's right-hand man, a [[morphine]] addict who is sleeping with Sherri's mother. *Top Dollar - A low-level [[illegal drug trade|drug dealer]]. *Tin-Tin - The first of T-Bird's gang to be eliminated by Eric. *Tom-Tom - One of T-Bird's soldiers, and one of Shelly's rapists. (In the movie he was replaced by Skank) *Skank - One of T-Bird's soldiers, and one of Shelly's rapists. (Only in the movie) *Gideon - A [[pawnbroker]] who is used by T-Bird's lackeys to [[Fence (criminal)|fence]] Shelly's engagement ring. *Officer Albrecht - A beat cop who confronts Eric outside Gideon's pawnshop. *Captain Hook - The [[detective]] who originally handled Eric and Shelly's case. Eric sends him his regards through Albrecht. == Author's Edition == Since 1998, O'Barr has spoken of "The Crow Author's Edition",{{Fact|date=April 2008}} stating in a 2004 interview that it would contain at least "60 pages of new material that no one has ever seen. Half of that are pages that had to be removed for space reasons". O'Barr describes the additions as including "more romance flashback scenes between Eric and Shelly" as well as sequences which will make the work "more visually interesting."<ref name="SG04">{{cite web|url=http://suicidegirls.com/interviews/James+OBarr+creator+of+The+Crow/|title=James OBarr creator of The Crow|last=Epstein|first=Daniel Robert|date=May 21, 2004|publisher=Suicide Girls|accessdate=2008-04-24}} [http://www.webcitation.org/5XJejlhFl Archived] on [[2008-04-24]].</ref> On January 12, 2008, O'Barr revealed at the Dallas Comic Con that [[Pocket Books]] currently owns publication rights to the book, and as such, the Author's Edition has been postponed until their sales drop below 25,000 copies per year. However, based on the numbers for 2007, O'Barr speculated the new version could possibly see print in 2009.{{Fact|date=April 2008}} That year also marks The Crow's 20th anniversary. ==Album== In 1994 the album Trust Obey: [[Fear and Bullets]] was released. It was created through a collaboration between James O'Barr and longtime friend John Bergin as a soundtrack to O'Barr's graphic novel The Crow. ==Adaptations== In [[1994 in film|1994]], a film based on the comic (simply titled [[The Crow (film)|''The Crow'']]) was released to theaters by [[Miramax Films]]. The film was both a critical and commercial success and gained a cult following, in part due to the tragic accidental death of its star [[Brandon Lee]]. Three sequels have been made so far: ''[[The Crow: City of Angels]]'' (1996), starring [[Vincent Perez]] (as The Crow), [[Mia Kirshner]], [[Richard Brooks (actor)|Richard Brooks]] and [[Iggy Pop]]; ''[[The Crow: Salvation]]'' (2000), starring [[Eric Mabius]] (as The Crow), [[Kirsten Dunst]], and [[Fred Ward]]; and ''[[The Crow: Wicked Prayer]]'' (2005), starring [[Edward Furlong]] (as The Crow), [[David Boreanaz]], and [[Tara Reid]]. All of the sequels have been critical and commercial flops; the latter two movies have been relegated to [[direct to video]] release. A short-lived [[television|TV]] series ''[[The Crow: Stairway to Heaven]]'' (1998), was based on the first movie with [[Mark Dacascos]] reprising the role of Eric Draven. From 1996-1998, [[Kitchen Sink Press]] published five [[limited series|mini-series]] and a [[one-shot (comics)|one-shot]] based on The Crow concept with a new avatar in each series. Following the Kitchen Sink series, [[London Night Studios]] published ''The Crow/Razor'' in 1998, with Eric Draven again in the role and paired with [[Everette Hartsoe]]'s [[bad-girl art|bad-girl]] character Razor. Also in 1998, O'Barr and editor [[Ed Kramer]] asked an array of [[fiction]] writers, poets, and artists (including [[Gene Wolfe]], [[Alan Dean Foster]], [[Charles de Lint]], [[Jack Dann]], [[Jane Yolen]], [[Henry Rollins]], and [[Iggy Pop]]) to interpret this [[gothic fiction]] phenomenon. ''[[The Crow: Shattered Lives & Broken Dreams]]'' was released by [[Random House]] on Halloween, and a year later, in a limited signed and numbered volume, by Donald M. Grant Publishing. In 1999, [[Image Comics]] released a new comic series of ''The Crow'', based on the original comic book. It ran for ten issues, ending in November of that year. ==See also== *[[The Raven]] *[[Devil's Night]] *[[List of comic books]] *[[List of fictional birds]] *[[Crow face]] *[[The Crow (film)]] *[[The Crow (character)]] ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== * [http://www.jamesobarr.net The official fan site for James O'Barr] * [http://www.chamberoom.com/ The Crow Chamberoom, The official Crow and James O'Barr forum] * [http://www.crowfans.com CrowFans.com - An Online Community for fans of The Crow] {{The Crow}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Crow, The}} [[Category:1989 comic debuts]] [[Category:Fantasy comics]] [[Category:Image Comics titles]] [[Category:Caliber Comics titles]] [[de:The Crow]] [[es:El cuervo (1994)]] [[fr:The Crow (comic)]] [[it:Il corvo (fumetto)]] [[he:העורב (קומיקס)]] [[sv:The Crow]]