James O’Barr’s “The Crow” is probably best known for being the 1994 movie of the same name especially as the movie set was the setting for the unfortunate death of Brandon Lee. There was a couple of sequels to the movie and a tv series, but only the original movie does a good job of standing tall. Anyway I picked up the original “The Crow” comic the other day. I read it late last night. The story was originally between the early 80’s and early 90’s and was written as a result of the authors loss of his fiancée. It was in a drunk driving incident and was an unpunished crime.
John Bergin does warn you of this fact in his introduction;
One day you are going to lose everything you have. Nothing will prepare you for that day. Not faith. Not religion. Nothing. When someone you love dies, you will know complete emptiness. You will know what it is to be completely and utterly alone.
What he does not warn you about is how wrenching the tale actually is. Armed with the knowledge that the author has experienced everything that you see the protagonist go through and for the same reasons really drives this home. The art is entirely black and white and is an appropriately stark companion to the tale. It is certainly one of the most emotionally impacting comics I have ever read.