The Crow

Originally released as a graphic novel in 1989, O'Barr's best-known work spawned several films and left a lasting legacy in the pop culture landscape. Inspired by events in the author's life and created as a form of catharsis, this work tells the story of Eric Draven, a man murdered along with his fiancee by street thugs. Eric is brought back to life by a crow as an unstoppable avatar of vengeance, systematically working his way through the killers. O'Barr's black-and-white artwork fluctuates wonderfully between brutal, inky darkness and picturesque beauty, mirroring a narrative torn between Eric's memories of his fiancee and the bloody task at hand. Verdict A few nits can be picked with this special edition, such as the replacement of the song lyrics by The Cure printed in the original version with poetry by O'Barr. But these are minor quibbles, easily outweighed by the inclusion of all-new chapters and re-created sequences for which the original artwork was lost. A new introduction by O'Barr sheds additional light on the story's conception. This is essential for longtime fans. For the uninitiated, it is recommended for readers of underground comics and action/revenge stories.-Pete Petruski, Cumberland Cty. Lib. Syst., Carlisle, PA (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.