THE CROW

written & illustrated by James O’Barr

published by Pocket Books

ISBN-10: 074344647X

ISBN-13: 978-0743446471

reviewed by Adam Armstrong

07.12.2008

What a difference a lens can make…

Eric and Shelly are a young engaged couple out for a picnic when their car breaks down. A group of men on drugs stops by to offer help, but instead they shoot Eric in the head paralyzing him then rape and kill Shelly. Eric dies in the hospital when a crow comes in and begins to talk to him. A year later Eric comes back to seek revenge on the five men. The only wounds that do not heal are the ones that are self inflicted and the only way to make him stop is for the revenge to be complete.

I’ve been a long term fan of the movie but have only recently picked up the graphic novel. Reading through the book and going over all the intricate detail in the drawings you can actually feel the rage pulsing off of the page. The rendering of physicality of the characters give them a realism that is often absent in the comic book, which typically goes for exaggeration. Although there is very little character development (Eric is the only character that we really get to follow at a given length), the book more than makes up for it by focusing on atmosphere and emotion. Any fan of the movie would enjoy reading the original story here, but the story is only vaguely similar.

Great read but you may want to wait for the Author’s edition (possible 2009 release) before you buy it: 5 out of 5