The Crow: The Definitive History by Jeff Bond is a beautiful, well-researched, 192-page coffee-table book that recaps the life of the movie franchise that was launched in 1994. Bond starts from the beginning with the story’s origin as a comic book that was born from the grief of its creator James O’Barr then follows The Crow’s flight path to the big screen, through the handful of sequels and its rebirth in 2024. From cover to cover, there’s high-quality photos with informative captions and text interlaced throughout its pages. Bond manages to keep his history concise but loaded with fascinating facts.
Buy The Crow: The Definitive HistoryThrough 15 chapters, Jeff Bond traces the complete history of The Crow, from comic book to screen. We learn of the tragic death of creator James O’Barr’s girlfriend in a car accident and how that led him to put pen to paper and create a resurrected avenging angel of sorts to express his anger and grief. Inspired by goth and punk music from bands like the Cure, Joy Division, and Iggy Pop, O’Barr’s comic book hero, Eric Draven, wasn’t muscle bound and cocksure; he was thin, pale, and pensive. This tragic dark super(natural)hero wouldn’t wear a cape but a long trench coat. Throughout his return from the grave, he would be guided by a wise crow, who would help him navigate his wrathful mission.
Bond then turns his focus to the world of film where the movie would take its ultimate form and become world renowned. He chronicles what it took to bring all the pieces together, from choosing scriptwriters and a director to narrowing down the actors to play key roles. He relates how Alex Proyas was chosen to direct due to his work making stylish successful music videos with such bands as INXS, Crowded House, and Sting. This choice would set the tone for future installments. We learn how rising action star Brandon Lee, son of martial arts legend Bruce Lee, would land the role of Draven, sealing his own tragic fate in the process. There’s a whole chapter on the impact Brandon’s death had on the production: if the movie should be finished and how that would even be accomplished in his absence.
Bond devotes further chapters to the music of the movie, the sequels spawned, and finally, the 2024 reboot starring Bill Skarsgard. Each chapter presents numerous little-known facts and fascinating tidbits. There’s a chapter on the production of the movie that dives into the use of miniatures, trained crows, and the dangerous conditions of some of the rundown sets chosen for use in the initial movie. The music chapter tells the story of how the music was chosen and that the Cure not only wanted to be included on the soundtrack but actually wrote the song “Burn” specifically for the movie. In the sequels chapter, it’s told that Rob Zombie was slated to direct one of those follow-up films but his futuristic version would never come to fruition. In the final chapter, Bond relates that from the start the 2024 reboot was envisioned to be different from the original movie but also call back to certain elements not only of O’Barr’s comic book but his own life and upbringing.
The Crow: The Definitive History from Titan Books is fascinating and packed with amazing photos and interesting facts about all aspects of The Crow phenomenon. Jeff Bond has written a must-have book that fans will love, cherish and delight in for years to come.
