Sources

The imformation in this blog has Come from The Crow offiacal site and is from my own knowledge on the artist i have spent many years reading information on James and haven enjoyed writting this blog for others to read.
http://www.thecrow.info/

James O'barr

Early Life

James was born in January 1960. He Grew up in Detroit while in and out institutions and foster care. He did this right up through. His artist side came out in his early teens when we started teaching himself art through observation, he studied Renaissance sculpture particularly Michelangelo’s work. He also studied live models and Photographic still lifes. His career started for him when he lost his first love and fiancé to a drunk driver. He joined the marines and found he needed to vent as he felt his anger would destroy him as I am sure we all feel some times. This venting system became the most independently sold comic of all time. After sitting on a shelf for seven years since he finished it someone took an interest and wanted to publish it Gary Reed of Caliber Press.

Career

His work is influenced by many people such as Will Eisner; Creator of the 1940s comic strip “The Spirit” This was one of the first comic to bring cinematic visuals in comic storytelling. James learned a lot from Eisner’s work and other at the time when he started his career.

However his influences did not just come through Artists he drew inspiration from music. For his first part of The Crow was dedicated to Ian Curtis who hung himself.  The four comic contain many references to music. Some of references as blank as song names from Ian’s band or lyrics from the Cure throughout them. Even Eric’s movements are inspired by Iggy Pop.

Eric’s Face paint that he has on is based on a British drama Three Faces (Pain Irony and Despair) which really comes through in his story line and the face paint in its self is very iconic.

The Crow was released in 1989 and due to money issue’s had to stop however in 1991 Tundra printing took over the story and re packaged and had a few little tweaks done and then released the story in a new three volume graphic novel

Pain and Fear

Irony and Despair

Death

Current Life

James spends a lot of his time now traveling America going to comic book conventions and other festivals. I don’t know whether he is writing more adaptations of the crow although I think he will probably leave the storyline now it has caused him a great deal of pain in time he has spent working on it.

Passage from the German version.                                 It Translates too.

ICH BENDÜRFNES JESUS CHRISTUS HANGELENK MEIN GEBEIN WEINEN ODLAND, KRIEGSBIET, LEBENWEISE GESCHWINDIGKEIT, HALBMESSER, ABSTEIG GNAPENSTOB

I need the wrist of Jesus Christ my dead body cries wasteland, warland, land of the living speed, measurements, going down, release of pain.