Comic Book Hero:
30+ Years of Darkness
The Crow was created in 1989 by comic book creator and artist, James O’Barr. There’s over 45 issues in The Crow comic book series. The dark fantasy superhero comics ran from 1989 to 1999 with its first publisher being Caliber Comics.
James O’Barr created The Crow from two sources of inspiration. He drew inspiration from personal tragedies, from losing his father and the death of his fiancée caused by a drunk driver. To also being inspired by reading the story of a young couple who were murdered over a $20 engagement ring. It’s interesting to note how this story was reported in a Detroit newspaper while The Crow is also set in a crime-ridden city of Detroit.
‘People once believed that when someone dies, a crow carries their soul to the land of the dead.’
The Star Behind The Crow
The Crow comic book series is so popular that it ranks at number 37 in the list of top 100 comic book heroes of all time. Since its release in 1989, more than 750,000 copies have been sold. Miramax then picked up the rights to the comic books and created the first movie of the franchise, The Crow in 1994.
There were big hopes for The Crow’s leading man, Brandon Lee, just having gained popularity in the action film, Rapid Fire (1992). But tragically, on 31st March 1993, Lee was fatally shot on set. Tragedy struck when filming the scene where Eric Draven (Brandon Lee) is shot by Funboy (Michael Massee).
But the dummy bullets became dislodged from the casing within the prop gun. This meant that the gun actually held the deadly force of real bullets. So, when Massee (as Funboy) aimed the gun, its powerful impact fatally injured Brandon Lee, who died aged just 28 after being rushed off to emergency surgery.
The film was nearly finished with just a few days left of filming. It was eventually completed using a mix of CGI and Lee’s stunt double, Chad Stahelski, who stepped in for the remaining scenes featuring Eric Draven/The Crow.
The Legacy of a Fallen Hero
Funboy actor, Michael Massee was traumatized by the incident and took a year out of his acting career. The Crow (1994) was also Massee’s first major Hollywood film. He heartbreakingly remarked on the incident saying, “I don’t think you ever get over something like that.”
The Crow (1994) has since been plagued with conspiracy theories around Brandon Lee’s death. In similar circumstances, Brandon’s father, the legendary martial artist and movie star, Bruce Lee died just days before the release of his last movie, Enter the Dragon in 1973.
Although, the cult-classic iconic Goth movie is still beloved among fans today, but the tragic events cannot help but overshadow the movie’s name. The tragic passing of Brandon Lee remains as one of Hollywood’s biggest on-set tragedies.
But in recent news, the tragedy on the set of Rust (2024) sparked similar debates about the use of guns on movie sets. As cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins was fatally shot and passed away on the production of Rust. The movie was set to be released in 2024, but production has since been halted by legal disputes.
Since the comic books and the success of The Crow (1994), a franchise of sequels and a TV series have spawned and expanded the legacy of this iconic gothic superhero. The original film had a budget of just over $20 million and gained a worldwide grossing of $95 million at the box-office.
Movies:
The Crow (1994)
It’s the night before their wedding. But Musician, Eric Draven (Brandon Lee) and Shelly Webster (Sofia Shinas) are murdered by a street gang. Exactly a year later, on the anniversary of their deaths, Eric is resurrected. Rising from the grave, he takes on a new identity.
‘It Can’t Rain All The Time.’
Now known as The Crow, he is the dark superhero avenging his own and his fiancée’s deaths. As well as saving his city from the deadly criminal gangs who patrol the streets of his Detroit town.
The Crow starts killing the gang members one by one. Making the city safer one kill at a time. But he meets his match in tough competition against gang leader, Top Dollar (Michael Wincott). To finish his revenge mission, he must stop Top Dollar once and for all if he wants to seek complete justice.
The Crow: City of Angels (1996)
Set in Los Angeles, also known as, ‘the City of Angels’. Mechanic Ashe Corven (Vincent Perez) and his son Danny (Eric Acosta) are murdered by a ruthless gang after they witness a drug dealers murder. But Sarah Mohr, a tattoo artist in the city is a friend of the late Eric Draven. She knows more about the legend of ‘The Crow’ than anyone else. However, she starts having nightmares about Ashe and Danny.
‘One crow, sorrow. Two crows, joy. Three crows, a letter! Four crows, a boy.’
It’s one night that a crow leads her to the place of their deaths that she sees Ashe. In the flesh. Now resurrected from his grave by the crow. It becomes Ashe’s mission to avenge his own death and Danny’s life. Drug kingpin, Judah Earl runs the Los Angeles gang. Now, it’s up to Ashe to take down Judah, his righthand man, Curve and the dangerous gang.
Believe in the power of another… it’s another time. It’s another world. And another has been chosen.
The Crow: City of Angels, 1996
The Crow: Salvation (2000)
In Salt Lake City, Utah, Alex Corvis (Eric Mabius) is framed and wrongly sentenced to execution by the electric chair on his 21st birthday. After having been falsely convicted of murdering his girlfriend, Lauren Randall (Jodi Lyn O’Keefe). But Alex pleads his innocence right to the end and remarks that the killer had distinctive scars.
Although, it happens that the police finds no trace of this mysterious killer. Alex then suffers three years on death row and faces a disastrous execution. Said to have stabbed Lauren 53 times, Alex dies at the hands of the justice system.
‘I Don’t Bleed.’
But soon after his death, a crow resurrects Alex. He is brought back to the world of the living to avenge the love of his life, Lauren’s death. And he knows it’s time to right the wrongs. Eventually, Alex summons the help of Lauren’s sister Erin Randall (Kirsten Dunst). With her help he searches for the killer. But in this instalment of The Crow, the killer is not a drug lord. Instead, they are someone who is meant to be on the right side of the law.
The Crow: Wicked Prayer (2005)
Ex-criminal, Jimmy Cuervo (Edward Furlong) and his fiancée, Lilly (Emmanuelle Chriqui) are brutally murdered by a biker gang. Escaped convict and satanic bike gang leader, Luc “Death” Crash AKA The Devil (David Boreanaz) cuts out Jimmy’s heart to be used in a sacrificial ritual. As Luc goes on a journey to become an immortal demon. The slaying of Jimmy is said to bring the rebirth of the Antichrist.
‘Someone owes me two lifetimes and a set of perfect blue eyes.’
Set in the mining town of Lake Ravasu. The polluted town is home to the spiritual and sacred, Raven Aztec Reservation. But stuck on probation, Jimmy had no place else to run. After starting plans to escape the town and start anew with Lola, they become trapped by the gang. But soon after their deaths, Jimmy is resurrected by none other than the legend of the crow. Time to enact his revenge, Jimmy goes on a spree to seek revenge on those that wronged him.
Yet he soon gets his revenge on Luc and his girlfriend, Lola Bryne (Tara Reid) and their gang, the ‘Horseman of the Apocalypse.’ But the man in charge, mob boss and satanic preacher, El Niño is an even bigger feat to master as he is the main guy pulling the biker gang’s strings. But Jimmy with the power of the crow ignites death on the criminals who kill.
The Crow (2024)
The Crow (2024) is a modern reimagining of the original, The Crow in 1994. The 2024 revival follows young, smitten soulmates Eric Draven (Bill Skarsgård) and Shelly Webster (FKA Twigs). But one dark night, figures from their past return and murder them in a brutal rampage. However, Eric is given an ultimatum. It’s the last chance to save Shelly.
But it means he must sacrifice himself. Eric travels to the underworld. And eventually cuts a deal with Kronos (Sam Bouajila), a spirit from another world. Kronos instructs Eric on a mission for revenge.
‘My Soul, for Hers!’
Eric finally reaches crime lord, Vincent Roeg (Danny Huston) who is behind the killings. But Eric Draven/The Crow must go through Vincent’s endless stream of bodyguards first to get to him. However, when Eric Draven becomes The Crow, he realises that he and Shelly will never be together again.
This doomed, tragic forbidden love story holds onto hope that true love does exist. But happy endings are never certain. Eric sacrifices his life for Shelly. Although he must come to terms with the end to their love story. But their love transcends even beyond death.
TV Series:
The Crow: Stairway to Heaven (1998-1999)
Following the same storyline as the original, The Crow (1994), this TV series adaptation ran for one year from 1998 to 1999 by series creator, Bryce Zabel. The series consists of 22 episodes with an average runtime of 45 minutes. The Crow: Stairway to Heaven starts exactly at the one-year anniversary after the brutal murder of Eric Draven (Mark Dacascos) and his girlfriend, Shelly Webster (Sabine Karsenti).
The fallen musician then finds himself resurrected to life. Now back, he takes on the role of an undead mime. He is led through this new journey by a crow who acts as his spirit guide. Eric now finds himself with psychic powers that make him one step ahead of other ‘humans’. His first mission is to seek revenge on the murderer who killed him and Shelly.
‘Send her to heaven and I’ll chase you all the way to hell.’
But Eric is torn apart even further once he discovers that he will never be reunited with Shelly in the same world again. Now separated, Eric is back on earth and must reunite this balance between both good and evil. The Crow TV series received two Leo Awards nominations in 1999, including ‘Best Cinematography in a Dramatic Series’ and ‘Best Picture Editing in a Dramatic Series’.
The Crow cannot stop resurrecting. The most recent reimagining is The Crow from 2024. Who knows what’s next in store for the future of this cult-classic franchise?
Thirty hours of pain all at once, all for you.
The Crow: Stairway to Heaven (1998-1999)
Where to Watch
Currently The Crow: City of Angels (1996) is available to stream free on Paramount+ in the UK.
And The Crow: Salvation (2000) is available to stream free on PLEX in the UK.
Want to learn more about Hollywood movies?
Check out my article analysing the ‘Makeover Scene’ in Hollywood Rom-Com movies here.