The Crow

In one word, it’s wild. Intense from start to finish. Does not let up. Unrelentingly violent. It doesn’t spare the reader of the brutal details of Eric’s reality. It’s a simple story, just like the film. You can easily breeze through the book in under two hours, but you’ll want to sit and reflect and go back a page to look at the art again…it will shock you, even after all these years and all of the desensitization to the evils that humans inflict on each other that we have been exposed to in the internet age. This story hurts to read, if you have issues with depression you may want to avoid it. I’d say if you are generally optimistic and happy, this story may bum you out a little but you’ll appreciate that you took the time to read it. James O’Barr had some deep emotional scars that are evident in his writing. The artwork perfectly matches the tone. I couldn’t imagine it any other way. 1980’s Detroit, mostly abandoned or burned, is the perfect setting, I don’t think the crimes committed by the villains in this book would be realistic in any other place or time. The extras are great, I especially appreciated the color artwork at the end.I don’t know if I have the tenacity to revisit this one, even though I’ve watched the movie countless times. This is quite a bit heavier and it stays with you for days. One of the only graphic novels that didn’t bore me at some point in the story.

Nicely made book and great story, this feels good to hold and read as well as display, I'm happy I bought it.

A true classic! Every fan should have a copy!

Nothing to not like... Just as described

Fans of The Crow or James O'Barr might know this, but this comic was O'Barr's way of coping with his girlfriend's death at the hands of a drunk driver. This and other details are explained further in this special edition, but I wanted to mention it for people who don't know.This comic is a very stylized and violent story of a man and woman, Eric Draven and Shelley, respectively, who are murdered by a gang of criminals. Eric returns as an undead, not quite vampiric (he's not a zombie but he doesn't physically heal either) man to seek justice on this gang that wronged him and Shelley. The movie translates most of this very well, but I want to add that a main difference is that Eric is virtually unstoppable in the comic and there's a lot of things that can be considered sensitive subjects. Most notably, drug use and a heavy amount of violence. There is some in the movie, but the comic has way more of it. The term "graphic novel" is very applicable to this comic book.But there is a great, painful story if you can get through it.

I highly recommend reading this book it let you see so much more than the theatrical release. This book let's you feel the love and devotion between a man and a woman. The passion and rage of love, the graphic novel edition is excellent when it comes to justice over rage over anger he lets you see the rhyme and reason for his power and rage.The best way I can describe this is the fan based movie is more along the lines of what the graphic novel is based on, but the theater version was changed so much from the graphic novel version you wouldn't recognize. I was not a fan of the movie the Crow but I have been made one.

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.

You’ll read a lot of comic books but you won’t often read an honest/sad one like this. The art is raw. The story is filled with so much sorrow and it’s inspiring and makes you want to love the people you love even more. Read the Crow!

Love the comic. Pristine until someone put it in the envelope. About a third of the bottom corners were turned up & bent when I took it out. Not a big thing maybe but it is for comics/graphic novels.I've sandwiched it between my other ones & they seem to be straightening without creases. Which is good. So please be careful when packaging these items.

Its written like a comic book - dark and gothy - and has a tale to tell - would recommend - not for children this is an adult comic book

Excellent story and the artwork is sublime

Great graphic novel, you can really feel that James O'Barr really put all the pain he was feeling into this book. Perfect for anyone that takes the time to read it.

Great graphic Novel!! If your a Fan of The Crow the movie or graphic novels in general this is a Win! Win! 🤘😎!!!