The Crow Paperback – January 1, 1997

"The Crow" by James O'Barr is an absolute masterpiece in the world of graphic novels. From the first page to the last, it immerses you in a dark and hauntingly beautiful tale of love, loss, and revenge. O'Barr's artwork is incredibly detailed and atmospheric, perfectly capturing the somber tone of the story.The characters in "The Crow" are complex and deeply emotional, making their journey all the more poignant. Eric Draven, the protagonist, is a tragic figure seeking justice for the senseless murder of his fiancée. His transformation into a vengeful avenger is both haunting and captivating.What sets "The Crow" apart is its ability to evoke strong emotions. It explores themes of grief, love, and the human desire for redemption, all while painting a bleak but mesmerizing world. The dialogue is poignant and thought-provoking, adding depth to the characters' actions and motivations.The storytelling in "The Crow" is gripping, taking readers on a thrilling and suspenseful ride. O'Barr's use of symbolism and visual storytelling adds an extra layer of depth to the narrative, creating an unforgettable reading experience.Overall, "The Crow" is a timeless classic that deserves its status as a must-read graphic novel. Whether you're a fan of the genre or new to the medium, this graphic novel will captivate you with its stunning artwork, emotional depth, and unforgettable story. Prepare to be enthralled by the dark and haunting world of "The Crow."

There’s something so unbelievably raw and human about this. James O’Barr has poured his entire soul, his agony, his self-hatred, his misery, into one of the most beautiful and devastating pieces of fiction maybe ever. It is an examination of love, of the unimaginable misery of losing that love, and the journey that comes after that. O’Barr has created a journey to self-forgiveness, and reasons that it is truly the only way forward. To begin to understand ourselves, accept ourselves, even love ourselves, we must first begin to forgive ourselves. I don’t know if a single task has ever been more difficult as a human, but O’Barr wagers it’s worth trying. I hope he’s happy.

I am very pleased with the production value and detail shown in this book.

Wow ... first of all, thank you AMAZON, this book arrived five days earlier than its expected release date. I've been a huge fan of 'The Crow' since 1994, when the amazing movie version opened at a trashy theatre in a local factory city and introduced me to things like poetry and rock and roll, thus quickly leading me to O' Barr's original graphic novel (two versions before this special edition). 'The Crow' by James O' Barr is probably the biological Father of most modern gothic revenge tales, inspiring ssssoooo many subsequent graphic novels and Hollywood flicks of the 90's - 'Blade' and 'The Matrix' come immediately to mind.The movie was an astonishing success, supported by an endless wave of rave-reviews and tremendous word of mouth ... a fairy-tale-toned hyper-violent version of Blade Runner, set against the backdrop of a fantastic Motor City in flames. It deserved every bit of the praise it got. YET, as phenomenal as the Proyas/Lee movie was, it was considerably removed from the comic that inspired it. O' Barr's original independent comic-book masterpice is far more violent, philisophical, and unforgiving; the characters speak in extended bits of Shakespearean poetry, the lengthy shootouts unfold like a demented ballet, the ceaceless gore is as pc and unsettling as a snuff film ... in a way, O' Barr's work reminds me of Clive Barker's most challenging stuff (ironically, Barker has a quote on the back of this new edition). There are quite a few changes in O' Barr's new version - the most important of which are additional flashbacks highlighting Eric and Shelly's romance. These flashbacks are welcome additions and gel perfectly with the original narrative. As mentioned by above readers, some alterations stand out immediatley, although none distracted me much except for the omitted "The Hanging Garden" by The Cure (replaced by a powerful original poem by O' Barr). If this was done because of Copyright complications, it's a shame - BUT O' Barr CERTAINLY doesn't get enough credit for the elegance of his writing, and the new poetry that replaces 'The Hanging Garden' is equally effective and memorable. I like 'ANODYNE' (the new poem) more than Robert Smith's original excerpt, actually. Other than that, most of the lyrics/musical references from the previous versions seem to be pretty much intact, including Joy Division's complete 'Decades,' opening chapter titles referencing Ian Curtis, and numerous references to Rimbaud and Voltaire and Iggy Pop ...... and there are NEW COMPLETE POEMS scattered throughout, too - such as a memorable piece by Baudelaire!What struck me the most: The new ending involving the "Horse in the Barbed Wire," a story element initially limited to the prelude ('Shattered In The Head'). This additional closing sequence makes a more direct emotional statement than the original finale, which allowed the story - and the reader - to drift away like a soul catching a boat across the River Styx. The 'Skull Cowboy' makes a return appeareance, and there is an extended coversation between Eric and The Crow (the actual bird) that may or may not have been necessary. For Crow fans who have felt repeatadly insulted by what the 'Powers That Be' have offered them (I feel sorry for the kids whos introduction to 'The Crow' is 'WICKED PRAYER') I think it is DEFINTELY worth double-dipping the wallet for this new version of the comic. The 'August Noel' chapter alone is probably a True Blue bookmark to why many people fell in love with 'The Crow' in the first place. These few pages brought me to tears, and I know I will miss 'August Noel' whenever I look at the old book. (BTW - as mentioned in his opening statement, this is a deeply personal sequence for O' Barr, and it couldn't have been easy for him to reconstruct).Of course, there are many out there who will not like the changes. There are definitely bold alterations in the book, so those who have grown up with O' Barr's vision and know every original panel by heart will take immediate pause at the new bits. YET without a doubt: this is the coolest thing to happen to the realm of 'THE CROW' since the original film was released seventeen years ago. O' Barr has put a final stride in the journey that started it all, giving the character of Shelly a deeper voice and strenghtening the dynamic between Eric & Albrect ... as well as punctuating the ending with a beautiful new sequence (however unnecessary, 'SparkleHorse' is truly beautiful).I would say if you were considering seeing the oft-discussed much-delayed Hollywood remake/reboot somewhere down the line, save the money you would spend on that ticket and order O' Barr's Speical Edition instead. This re-release puts the story back into the hands of its creator, regardless of how the reader feels about the changes.Thank you, James. Your work is why the fans are still around.

The Crow by James O’Barr is some of the most expressive and dark art I’ve seen. The story behind the comic is very interesting and it’s nice to get the authors insights into these experiences. The book came in fantastic condition. Thank you, Amazon. Thank you, James O’Barr

Great love story. Epic. Awesome read. Thank you James. Beautiful art. Rip Brandon Lee. So glad I read the comic

Wow. Just wow.I loved it. It was sad, lonely, touching, and so many intense feelings.I love the art style and how genuine it is. I could feel the pain and the struggle of the author through his art, which is, to say the least, very intense.The only reason I gave it 4 stars is because it was too intense for me. I wasn't expecting it to affect me like this. Maybe if I read it while on a different path in life, I would not have been as affected.Just be careful when reading it. There are many trigger warnings.

James o Barrs masterpiece what can I say, love the story, the dark gothic feel, and the symbolism behind James o barrs life in the book.

El arte es muy bueno. Edición bien resumida. Me gustó mucho.

I just wanted The graphic novel It’s in mint condition. I’m happy.

Det är en av mina favoriter berättelse.

Beautiful.

I watched the original The Crow movie and was curious to see how the comic compared. I have to say I am impressed. This comic book is fantastic. The illustrations are incredibly well detailed and the cover is well designed too. The story is a real page turner. James O'Barr does a great job at developing Eric's character and the journey he goes on for vengeance. Overall I think this is an perfect way to owner Brandon Lee and it is definately worth a read.