Crow (comics)

The Crow is the main protagonist of The Crow series, originally created by Gothic legend James O'Barr. Over the various incarnations, films, and spin-offs, many people have taken on the Crow persona in order to avenge their own wrongful deaths.

The Crow (Bird)

The Crow itself is a supernatural bird that serves as the protagonists' link between the living world and the realm of death. The magical crow is capable of resurrecting people who have been unjustly killed, so that that person may be able to seek vengeance on the person or people responsible for their death. During the persons' "rebirth" the crow serves as a guide to the individual, helping them tap into their potential and assisting them in tracking down their wrongdoers. While to other people it may seem to be little more then a common bird, the crow is capable of speaking to the reborn, often helping to goad them to exact their revenge. While they are in possession of The Crow's powers, the majority of those reborn possess several unique abilities. Because they are already dead, the Crow is incapable of feeling pain (save for his or her own tortured memories of their untimely demise), and can instantly recover from any form of bodily harm, no matter how great the damage. Because of their otherworldly strength, the Crow is able to quickly overcome any adversary, even those who would be otherwise untouchable. The Crow's supernatural senses also make him/her exceptionally skilled at hunting down and eliminating a target. Several common properties are also prevalent throughout the different Crow incarnations; C.I.P., each of the reborn wear some manner of make-up on their face (see Crow face). Although The Crow is physically invulnerable, he/she does have one weakness; because the magical crow is the source of their connection between life and death, if it were to be harmed or killed, this would leave The Crow vulnerable to attack (many have attempted to exploit this weakness, although none of them have ever been successful).

People who have assumed the Crow persona

Eric Draven

The protagonist of the original Crow comic book. Eric became the Crow when he and his fiancée Shelley Webster were attacked, beaten, raped and eventually killed by a group of street thugs. While Shelley died at the scene, Eric actually survived the encounter, and was immediately rushed to the hospital. Despite desperate attempts by the doctors to revive Eric, the Crow told Eric that he would have to abandon his life in order to gain his revenge. Eric was reborn one year later and began his bloody killing spree, searching for and effectively slaughtering the thugs and anyone else who stood in his way. Eric was portrayed by the late Brandon Lee in The Crow movie, based upon the comic book. Which had the same basic premise, except the couple were murdered in their loft apartment due to fighting tennant eviction, instead of being murdered on the side of the road. Eric was also protrayed by Mark Dacascos in The Crow: Stairway to Heaven. This version of Eric slightly differed from the other versions, in that, his mission wasn't about revenge. It was about redemption. Eric went around helping those in needs for 22 episodes before the series was pulled. Eric was also in a short lived 10 issue series by Image Comics.

Joshua

Appears in the three issue series Dead Time which was the follow up to the original graphic novel. Joshua was a Native American farmer of the Crow Nation who had adopted the "white man's way" and became a farmer. When his home was raided by renegade Confederate troops Joshua, along with his wife and child, were killed out of racial hatred more then anything else. One century later, The Crow resurrected Joshua, and he began his hunt for the Confederate soldiers (Who had been reincarnated as a biker gang) to end the pain that had lasted for over a hundred years

Iris Shaw

Appears in the three issue series Flesh and Blood and is the first woman to assume the role. Iris was a Federal Conservation officer who was killed by terrorists along with her unborn child. The Crow resurrected her to hunt them down.

Ashe Corven

Appears in The Crow: City of Angels first sequel to The Crow film (and also featured in the comic version as well as the video game and novel of the same name). Ashe Corven (Vincent Perez) was resurrected by the magical crow so he could avenge the death of his son, who was killed along with him in a gang hit. Like his predecessor, Ashe successfully kills each of the gang members until he meets the crime boss who ordered his death. The crime boss, Judah Earl (portrayed by Richard Brooks), wishes to obtain Ashe's powers for himself, and will do his worst to gain them. In his endeavors, Ashe was assisted by Sarah (from the original film; portrayed by Mia Kirshner), who provides Ashe's facial make-up, in honor of Eric, and helps him in his hunts.

Michael Korby

Appears in the three issue series The Crow: Wild Justice. Michael and his wife are murdered during a car jacking. He is brought back by two crows, and must avenge his and his wife's death before the Gorgon blood running through his veins runs out. The Gorgon god tattoos Korby's body, which gives him the power to regenerate until the blood runs out.

Mark Leung

Appears in the four issue series The Crow: Waking Nightmares. Leung is a man who, along with his wife, are murdered for his cracking down on the Chinese Mafia. Instead of going after their killers, Mark gets wrapped up in saving his twin daugthers who have been sold into slavery.

Hannah Foster

Appears in The Crow: Stairway to Heaven tv series. Hannah Foster was brought back to life one year after the death of her and her daughter. Like Draven, Hannah has a Spirit Crow, and possesses all of the Crow's powers. However, unlike Draven, she constantly battles between the need for redemption, and her lust for vengeance. Also, her methods for dealing with her oppositions are far more severe than Draven's.

Alex Corvis

Appears in The Crow: Salvation the 3rd movie in the series (direct to video). Alex Corvis (portrayed by Eric Mabius) was a young man accused of murdering his girlfriend, Lauren (portrayed by Jodi Lyn O'Keefe), and then sentenced to be executed by the state. Alex is assisted by his dead girlfriend's little sister, Erin (portrayed by Kirsten Dunst), as they uncover the mystery surrounding the murder. Alex's Crow face is unique in that it is burnt into his skin when he is electrocuted.

Jimmy Cuervo/Dan Cody

Appears in The Crow: Wicked Prayer the 4th movie in the series (direct to video) also appears in the 5th book of the Crow series (Dan Cody was used as the name in the book). In both the film & the book the Jimmy/Dan's (potrayed in the movie by Edward Furlong) girlfriend (Lily "Ignites the Dawn" (portrayed by Emmanuelle Chriqui) -film & Leticia -book) was hunted down by 2 evil bikers who wanted to steal her power and ended up killing the character in doing so. Jimmy/Dan then went on a journey to avenge his and his girlfriend's death as well as take down the two bikers in the process.

William Blessing

Appears in The Crow: Quoth the Crow the 1st published novel in the series.

Jared Poe

Appears in The Crow: The Lazarus Heart the 2nd published novel in the series. A controversial S&M photographer is condemned to die for killing his lover in Louisiana.

Amy Carlisle

Appears in The Crow: Clash by Night the 3rd published novel in the series. A day care owner is killed, along with some of the children she watches, when a militia group tries to kill a senator. To make matters worse, Amy discovers her husband has moved on with her best friend who survived the blast. Her husband struggles with moving on, and this brings pain to both Amy & her husband.

Stephen Lelliott

Appears in The Crow: Temple of Night the 4th published novel in the series.