The Crow<\/em>\u00a0was so successful that it spawned numerous sequels and a movie and television franchise that persisted for decades after its publication.\u00a0 What\u2019s most telling is the fact that the original series is as moving and compelling today as it was nearly 30 years ago.<\/p>\n How did this veritable David outpace the mainstream Goliaths?\u00a0 In a sentence,\u00a0The Crow<\/em>\u00a0was both a labor of love and moving love story.<\/p>\n For those unfamiliar with the story, a short synopsis is useful and spoils nothing; the reason being that, in a real sense, there is nothing to spoil.\u00a0 There are no plot twists or surprises \u2013 simply a story of love, loss, pain, and coping.\u00a0 The core of the story centers on the tragedy of Eric, a young man who was cruelly and wantonly murdered along with his fianc\u00e9e Shelly when they have the misfortune to breakdown in a lonely spot where they are found by a gang of street thugs.\u00a0 About a year later, Eric is granted a chance to come back and set things right.\u00a0 His soul is transported to the land of the living by a crow, who is both the source of his strength as well as his spirit guide and advisor.<\/p>\n Gifted with invulnerability and superhuman reflexes and strength, Eric begins hunting down the scum who killed him and his fianc\u00e9e, extracting brutal revenge in a variety methods. His abilities are not exactly classic super powers and it is probably fairer to say that his invulnerability doesn\u2019t protect him from harm so much as it keeps him unharmed even while he is \u2018harmed\u2019.\u00a0 For example, when stabbed with a knife, the blade bites deep, severing flesh and causing blood to flow, but the wounds cause neither pain nor lasting damage.<\/p>\n There is little to no suspense as he achieves his revenge.\u00a0 The story starts with Eric already resurrected, already empowered, and already seeking revenge.\u00a0 O\u2019Barr makes it clear that Eric will have his revenge and he will make the punks pay dearly.\u00a0 The only questions of where, when, and how are minor considerations. The story gets its drive and interest from poetry of love and pain that comes to the reader as he learns more about the love and joy Eric and Shelly shared before the fateful day where they encountered the punks, the pain and suffering of that encounter, and the aftermath of the tragedy.<\/p>\n The story of The Crow is so compelling that it could have succeeded with mediocre art and routine writing.\u00a0 Fortunately, O\u2019Barr\u2019s art is first rate and his writing above average, turning the tale into a classic.<\/p>\n His visual stylings are basically divided into two parts:\u00a0 clean lines and well-constructed panels for real-world sequences, and \u2018hazy-focused\u2019, softened images for the more emotional or tender sequences.\u00a0 He is great in using character expressions to enhance the evocative nature of the story, especially around the gut-wrenching events when Eric and Shelly are killed.\u00a0 Consider the following panel progression just after their car has broken down and the punks have arrived to help.<\/p>\n The narrative portion of the writing is solid and, while not often moving, does not detract from the story in any substantial way.\u00a0 The dialog is where O\u2019Barr shines creating some of the most haunting phrases including \u2018Mother is the name for God in the lips and hearts of all children.\u2019 and \u2018Amazing God would waste skin on trash like that\u2026\u2019.<\/p>\n One of the best comes in the following exchange between the Crow and Funboy:<\/p>\n![\"Crow](\"http:\/\/aboutcomics.blogwyrm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Crow-Cover-Picture.jpg\")
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