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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 by Caliber Comics in 1989, and became an underground success, with some movie studios seeking the rights. It was adapted into a film in 1994. Three film sequels, a television series and numerous books and comic books have also been produced. The character has since become a cult icon of modern Goth culture.

The story revolves around an unfortunate young man named Eric. He and his fiance, 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. They're then left for dead on the side of the road.

He is resurrected by a Crow and seeks vengeance on the murderers, methodically stalking and killing them. When not on the hunt, Eric stays in the house he shared with Shelly, spending most of his time there lost in memories of her. Her absence is torture for him; he is in emotional pain, even engaging in self-mutilation. Eric is immortal as long as he seeks his revenge but when he inflicts pain on himself, the wounds do not heal.

The Crow acts as both guide and god 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.

For a list of main protagonists in spin-off comics, novels, film and television adaptations see The Crow series.

The main character, Eric, is modeled after three musical influences on O'Barr's life. Joy Division's lead singer Ian Curtis, whose melancholic lyrics and spasmodic onstage dance movements inspired Eric's somber dialogue and pained convulsions when remembering his and Shelly's deaths. Bauhaus lead singer Peter Murphy inspired his imposing physical presence, ghostly makeup, and sharp, high cheek bones. Eric's physicality/anatomy is based on punk legend Iggy Pop. 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 bleakness of the Cure's early albums. All these characteristics were carried over to the movie.

Since 1998, O'Barr has spoken of "The Crow: Author's Edition", stating in a 2004 interview that it would contain at least "60 pages of new material that no one has ever seen. Half of that are pages that had to be removed for space reasons". O'Barr describes the additions as including "more romance flashback scenes between Eric and Shelly", as well as sequences which will make the work "more visually interesting".

On January 12, 2008, O'Barr revealed at the Dallas Comic Con that Pocket Books currently owns publication rights to the book, and as such, the Author's Edition has been postponed until their sales drop below 25,000 copies per year. However, based on the numbers for 2007, O'Barr speculated the new version could possibly see print in 2009. That year also marks The Crow's 20th anniversary.

In 1994, the album Trust Obey: Fear and Bullets was released. It was created through a collaboration between James O'Barr and longtime friend John Bergin as a soundtrack to O'Barr's graphic novel.

In 1994, a film based on the comic (simply titled The Crow) was released to theaters by Miramax Films. The film was both a critical and commercial success and gained a cult following, in part due to the tragic accidental death of its star Brandon Lee. Three sequels have been made so far: The Crow: City of Angels (1996), starring Vincent Perez (as The Crow), Mia Kirshner, Richard Brooks and Iggy Pop; The Crow: Salvation (2000), starring Eric Mabius (as The Crow), Kirsten Dunst and Fred Ward; and The Crow: Wicked Prayer (2005), starring Edward Furlong (as The Crow), 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. A short-lived TV series, The Crow: Stairway to Heaven (1998), was based on the first movie with Mark Dacascos reprising the role of Eric Draven.

On December 14, 2008, Stephen Norrington announced in Variety that he planned to write and direct a "reinvention" of The Crow. Norrington distinguished between the original and the remake: Whereas Proyas original was gloriously gothic and stylized, the new movie will be realistic, hard-edged and mysterious, almost documentary-style. Ryan Kavanaughs Relativity Media is currently negotiating with Ed Pressman for both the film's rights and financing.

From 1996-1998, Kitchen Sink Press published five mini-series and a one-shot based on The Crow concept with a new avatar in each series.

Following the Kitchen Sink series, London Night Studios published The Crow/Razor: Kill the Pain in 1998, with Eric Draven again in the role and paired with Everette Hartsoe's bad girl character Razor.