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'''The Crow''' is a comic book 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 in 1989, and became an underground success, with some movie studios seeking the rights to adapt it to film. It was adapted into a film in 1994. Three sequels, a remake, and a television series have also been made.
The character has since become a cult icon of modern Goth culture, mostly fueled by the success of the first film.

Contents

Plot synopsis

Characters

Supporting characters

Author's Edition

Adaptations

See also

External links

Plot synopsis

The story revolves around a 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 paralyzed, and can only watch as Shelly is savagely beaten and raped. She dies at the scene. Eric survives and is taken to a hospital, but while surgeons are trying to save him, the 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 resurrected by the Crow to seek out vengeance on the murderers, methodically stalking and killing them. When not on the hunt, Eric stays in the house he shared with Shelly. He spends 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-mutilation. However, this provides him no release, as he cannot feel physical pain and any injury he suffers heals rapidly, leaving him scarred but intact. 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 two 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 lead singer Peter Murphy inspired his imposing physical presence, ghostly makeup, and sharp, high cheek bones. Additionally, the names of Officer Albrecht and Captain Hook are allusions to Joy Division members Bernard (Albrecht) Sumner and Peter Hook.
Other influences on ''The Crow'' range from the Gothic imagery of Arthur Rimbaud's poetry to the unrelenting bleakness of the Cure's early albums. All these characteristics were carried over to the movie.

Supporting characters

★ Sherri - A street urchin Eric befriends after his rebirth. (Re-named Sarah in the movie)

★ T-Bird - The head of the gang that murders Eric and Shelly.

★ Funboy - T-Bird's right-hand man, a morphine addict who is sleeping with Sherri's mother.

★ Top Dollar - A low-level 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.

★ Gideon - A pawnbroker who is used by T-Bird's lackeys to 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

For a long time the author has been talking about 'The Crow Author's Edition', that would have more than '60 new pages of unseen material'. Some of this material was excluded by mistake from the original book and some is completely new. However, since this book never came out, a 'petition' has been started to bring it to print, finally.

Adaptations

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.
Also in 1999, 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. '' was released by Random House on Halloween, and a year later, in a limited signed and numbered volume, by Donald M. Grant Publishing.
Three sequels to the movie have been made so far: '' (1996), starring Vincent Perez (as the titular character), Mia Kirshner, Richard Brooks and Iggy Pop; '' (2000), starring Eric Mabius (as the titular character), Kirsten Dunst, and Fred Ward; and '' (2005), starring Edward Furlong (as the titular character), 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. The TV series '' (1998), was based on the first movie.

See also

★ Devil's Night

★ List of comic books

★ List of fictional birds

★ Crow face

★ The Crow (film)

★ The Crow (character)

External links

★ The Crow's Loft

★ CrowFans.com An Online Community for fans of The Crow

★ The Crow Chamberoom, The official Crow and James O'Barr forum

★ CrowFansOnline.com, a fan site for ''The Crow'' and James O'Barr

★ Fansite for John Shirley cowriter (with David Schow) of the movie "The Crow"

★ The Crow: A Dead Man Visits You