The Crow by J. O'Barr Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Crow
Book Review: The Goth Fantasy
Summary: 4 Stars
There is a kind of moral despair that a person can give themselves over to - a willing step into the abyss of destruction and self-destruction embodied to a near pitch of perfection in J. O'Barr's masterwork, "The Crow". As I read this graphic novel I was often moved by the fatal unanswerability of the work. "The Crow" is a violent assertion of the negativity at the root of our being so fierce Mr. O'Barr seems to be saying there is no healing response, or suasion, or argument in replied that either God or humanity can possibly make. It takes the famous line from Shakespeare, "Cry havoc and let loose the dogs of war" and pushes it past an ultimate extreme.
The Crow is an authentic goth, adolescent fantasy full of that mysterious blend of beauty, wit, and cataclysm that contrives a spirit of utter invulnerability in the midst of utter vulnerabilty, a psychodynamic that is dreadful to experience in real life but makes for fascinating and un-nerving reading. Some how the Crow suggests that we the readers are guilty of the murder of his beloved; only the children our innocent. The rest of us are all contaminated by the central trauma of the story. The Crow goes a step beyond the Jobean question that haunts most of us "Why did God ALLOW such evil . .?" and replaces it with the final ruin of an assertion "God, you bastard, you did it."
"The Crow" is not just an adolescent fantasy, it is a fantasy for intelligent, poetic adolescents, would-be Hamlets in an Elsinore that is as large as the cosmos.
The art-work is superior. There are certain expressions in the Crow's eyes that required great vision and great technical skill; eyes that contain the insanity of grief, the purity of hatred, and a wit that is hazardously free of all restraint.
I hope more readers will give themselves over to this masterpiece, a work that seeks to destroy all perspectives.
Book Review: The quintessential revenge story
Summary: 5 Stars
The "Revenge" story has been told many times, from many perspectives, and with varying success. Most have been less than enjoyable, with bad plots and characterizations. Some have been masterful, such as (in my opinion) Kill Bill and Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo.
James O'barr's The Crow, however, is easily the best "revenge" story I have ever had the privilege to read. Eric feels like a real person, not some bland characterization. You feel how much he loves Shelly, and you see his innate goodness. You even can't help but understand his rage during his highly ethically questionable killing spree.
O'barr weaves a vivid, powerful story here of love lost and rage unquenched as he follows Eric, a man who returns from the dead to avenge his and his lover's gruesome murders. During the whole ordeal, there are glimpses of Eric's true humanity and kindness, and one gets the sense that he must purposefully sublimate this side of himself in order for his soul to gain peace.
This tale is a gritty masterpiece, and easily one of the best graphic novels ever produced. I heartily recommend it to anyone who enjoys comic books, and if you feel that comics are low-brow, I encourage you to take a look at this.
You might just change your mind.
Book Review: THE GREATEST GRAPHIC NOVEL EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
"The Crow" is a lot different from the movie that made Brandon Lee a legend. The title refers to the main character, Eric, when after he died he saw a crow that told him to "not look," which becomes his persona when he comes back. However, Eric/the Crow is the most realistic comic character to us all who were torn away from/or rejected by those we love. The art is very remonescent of the late Will Eisner, the "god" of comics. "The Crow" is definately a comic book classic.Book Review: Untitled
Summary: 5 Stars
I have not yet read the book, but the movie was the best movie I had ever seen. I know i am just a kid, but it really touched my heart. Erik loved Shelly and there was a price to pay for the bad guys and a huge one at that. Even though it is fiction, the emotions of longing, love, anger, and sorrow were very real to me. But we all know, it can't rain all the time. Book Review: It was awesome!!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Pain and revenge. Two great topics to write off of. A great story line and the illustrations were absolutely fantastic. I enjoyed the ending so much that I read the book again. To the author: Congratulations on the best book written about love.