James O'Barr

James O'Barr
O'Barr in April 2016
Born (1960-01-01) January 1, 1960
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Nationality American
Area(s) Writer, Artist
Notable works
The Crow
Children 1

James O'Barr is an American graphic artist, best known as the creator of the comic book series The Crow.[1]

Early life

O'Barr, an orphan, was raised in the foster care system.[2]

Career

In 1978, O'Barr enlisted in the Marines. While stationed in Germany, he illustrated combat manuals for the military.

Before entering the Marines, O'Barr's fiancée, Beverly, had been killed by a drunk driver. While living in Berlin in 1981, O'Barr began work on his comic The Crow as a means of dealing with his personal tragedy.[3] O'Barr was further inspired by a Detroit newspaper account of the murder of a young couple over a $20 engagement ring.[4] In The Crow, a man and his fiancée are murdered by a gang of criminals. The man then returns from the dead, guided by a supernatural crow, to hunt their killers.

After his discharge from the Marines, O'Barr continued his painting and illustration as well as doing various odd jobs, including working for a Detroit body shop. The Crow sat on a shelf for seven years, but at last he found a publisher with Gary Reed of Caliber Press. The first mini-series was published in 1989. The Crow has since sold more than 750,000 copies worldwide.[5]

O'Barr's own hope that his project would result in a personal catharsis went unfulfilled, he told an interviewer in 1994, saying, "[A]s I drew each page, it made me more self-destructive, if anything... There is pure anger on each page".[6]

In the 1990s O'Barr was affiliated with the experimental metal band Trust Obey, which was signed briefly to Trent Reznor's Nothing label. Trust Obey released the album Fear and Bullets: Music to Accompany The Crow in 1993. The album was packaged with a special edition of The Crow graphic novel.

The Crow was adapted into a successful film of the same name in 1994, which was marred by the tragic death of its star, Brandon Lee, during filming.[7] The film went on to spawn three sequels and a television series.

After the success of The Crow film, O'Barr began planning a post-apocalyptic graphic novel series entitled Gothik. The series was based on The Wizard of Oz and featured "Jonny Z" from his short story "Frame 137" as the main character.[8]

In January 2013 Motionworks Entertainment released O'Barr's western comic, Sundown, which served as their debut motion comic.[9] for iPhone and iPad.[10] He also announced his work on a comic about the Korean War, centered on the efforts of three US Marine guncrews to hold Fox Hill during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, with a different artist drawing each gun crew.[11]

In 2013, O'Barr was named as a consultant on a possible reboot of The Crow film franchise.[12] Although previously opposed to the project, in an October 2014 interview, O'Barr spoke about his involvement in the reboot of The Crow. He discussed the approach to the adaptation and efforts being made to respect the original film.[13] Later, in November 2014, O'Barr appeared at the Wizard World Tulsa Comic Con and stated that he was co-writing the script with screenwriter Cliff Dorfman.[14]

Personal life

As of the mid-2000s, O'Barr resides in Dallas with his daughter.[15]

Bibliography

TitleCreditsPublisherDateItem type
Amazing Heroes Swimsuit Special #1Pin-up: The CrowFantagraphics Books1990-06Comic Book
Andi: Sibling #1Back CoverSabre's Edge2001Comic Book
AnodyneCover, 5 plates (The Crow)Blue Monkey Graphics2005Portfolio
Ashes #4"Angelman" 15 pp. (inspired by, w/ John Bergin), "Wasp Baby (Morphine Dream #16)" 4 pp. (w/ John Bergin)Caliber Press1990-08Comic Book
Ashes #5"Coyote" 12 pp. (w/ John Bergin)Caliber Press1990-10Comic Book
Beat to a Pulp: Round 1CoverBeat to a Pulp2010-10Book (SC)
Best of Northstar #1"Zeitgeist" preview 3 pp.Northstar/Arpad Publishing1992-08Comic Book
Black Dominion Vol. 1Pin-up: Krishna and Vox (Zeitgeist)Anubis Press1993-07Comic Book
Black Dominion Vol. 1 (Limited Edition)Pin-up: Krishna and Vox (Zeitgeist)Anubis Press1993-07Comic Book
Black Feathers by The Mag SevenCoverEnd Sounds2010-11Album
Bone Saw #1Editor (w/ John Bergin), "Slave Cylinder" 32 pp. (w/ Carolyn Bergin and Jeff Holland), "German Film, Blurred" 1 p. (w/ John Bergin), "Recoil (Morphine Dream #21)" 2 pp. (w/ John Bergin)Tundra Publishing1992Original Comic Anthology (SC)
Book of DeadyReprints "Here, Kitty Kitty" from Deady the Terrible Teddy Vol. 2Sirius Entertainment2006-03Collected Ed. (SC)
Caliber Christmas, A #1Cover, "Atmosphere (The Crow)" 6 pp.Caliber Press1989-12Comic Book
Caliber Presents # 1Back Cover, "Inertia (The Crow)" 8 pp., "Io, Part 1: Silo" 12 pp. (as Barbed Wire Halo Studios)Caliber Press1989-01Comic Book
Caliber Presents # 2Cover, "Skinner (Gideon's)" 8 pp. (ill. only, w/ Gary Reed (as Kyle Garrett))Caliber Press1989-03Comic Book
Caliber Presents # 3Cover (as Barbed Wire Halo Studios), "Io, Part 2: Fleshette" 8 pp. (as Barbed Wire Halo Studios)Caliber Press1989-05Comic Book
Caliber Presents # 5Cover, "Old World" 6 pp. (ill. only, w/ Mark C. Perry and Guy Davis)Caliber Press1989-07Comic Book
Caliber Presents #15Sketchbook 8 pp., The Crow #5 preview 9 pp.Caliber Press1990-09Comic Book
Choke Vol. 2Cover (w/ James Widmark), Reprints "Wasp Baby" from Ashes #4Anubis Press1993-08Comic Book
Choke Vol. 2 (Limited Edition)Reprints "Wasp Baby" from Ashes #4Anubis Press1993-08Comic Book
Cobalt 60 Book 3Pin-up: Cobalt 60Tundra Publishing1992-05Magazine
Comic Shop News 1990 Winter PreviewCoverComic Shop News1990Newsletter
Crow – Special Edition, TheCover, Reprints The Crow #1–4, The Crow Vol. 3, "Inertia" from Caliber Presents #1, "Atmosphere" from A Caliber Christmas, plus additional material. (Note: Revised and expanded, including 30 all-new pages and a new introduction by the author)Gallery Books2011Collected Ed. (SC)
Crow, TheCover, Back Cover, Reprints The Crow #1–4, The Crow Vol. 3, "Inertia" from Caliber Presents #1, "Atmosphere" from A Caliber Christmas, plus additional material. (Note: 1,500 S&N copies, some with Slipcase & CD)Graphitti Designs1993Collected Ed. (HC)
Crow, TheCover, Back Cover, Reprints The Crow #1–4, The Crow Vol. 3, "Inertia" from Caliber Presents #1, "Atmosphere" from A Caliber Christmas, plus additional material.Kitchen Sink Press1993Collected Ed. (SC)
Crow, TheCover, Back Cover, Reprints The Crow #1–4, The Crow Vol. 3, "Inertia" from Caliber Presents #1, "Atmosphere" from A Caliber Christmas, plus additional material. (Note: Later printing of the Kitchen Sink Press collected edition, but with the tagline "Now A Major Motion Picture" added to the cover)Kitchen Sink Press1994Collected Ed. (SC)
Crow, TheCover, Back Cover, Reprints The Crow #1–4, The Crow Vol. 3, "Inertia" from Caliber Presents #1, "Atmosphere" from A Caliber Christmas, plus additional material.Pocket Books2002Collected Ed. (SC)
Crow, The #0: A Cycle of Shattered LivesCover, "The Crow" 6 pp., "October- The Breath of God: Crow II" 2 pp., "Shadowplay" 1 p., "She Smiles in Pain and Glory" 1 p., "Spine of the Snake" 1 p., "Three Dreams from The Book of Dreams" 3 pp.Kitchen Sink Press1998-12Comic Book
Crow, The #1Cover, "Pain" 32 pp.Caliber Press1989-02Comic Book
Crow, The #2Cover, "Fear" 32 pp.Caliber Press1989-03Comic Book
Crow, The #3Cover, "Irony" 32 pp.Caliber Press1989-08Comic Book
Crow, The #4Cover, "Despair" 32 pp.Caliber Press1989Comic Book
Crow, The Vol. 1: Pain & FearCover, Back Cover, Reprints The Crow #1–2Tundra Publishing1992-01Comic Book
Crow, The Vol. 2: Irony & DespairCover, Back Cover, Reprints The Crow #3–4Tundra Publishing1992-03Comic Book
Crow, The Vol. 3: DeathCover, Back Cover, "Death" 64 pp. (Note: Would have been The Crow #5 if published by Caliber)Tundra Publishing1992-05Comic Book
Crow: Dead Time, TheBack Cover, Story, Reprints The Crow: Dead Time 1–3Kitchen Sink Press/Top Dollar Comics1997-01Collected Ed. (SC)
Crow: Dead Time, The #1Cover, StoryKitchen Sink Press/Top Dollar Comics1996-01Comic Book
Crow: Dead Time, The #2Cover, StoryKitchen Sink Press/Top Dollar Comics1996-02Comic Book
Crow: Dead Time, The #3Cover, StoryKitchen Sink Press/Top Dollar Comics1996-03Comic Book
Crow: Flesh & Blood, TheBack Cover, Reprints The Crow: Flesh & Blood 1–3Kitchen Sink Press/Top Dollar Comics1998-02Collected Ed. (SC)
Crow: Flesh & Blood, TheB&W reprints of original covers, Reprints The Crow: Flesh & Blood 1–3Dark Horse Comics2004Collected Ed. (SC)
Crow: Flesh & Blood, The #1CoverKitchen Sink Press/Top Dollar Comics1996-05Comic Book
Crow: Flesh & Blood, The #2CoverKitchen Sink Press/Top Dollar Comics1996-06Comic Book
Crow: Flesh & Blood, The #3CoverKitchen Sink Press/Top Dollar Comics1996-07Comic Book
Crow Magazine, The #1Interview 3 pp.Todd McFarlane Productions/Top Dollar Comics2000-03Magazine
Crow Portfolio, TheCover, 6 plates (Note: 2,500 S&N copies)Tundra Publishing1993Portfolio
Crow/Razor: Kill the Pain, The #1CoverLondon Night Studios/Top Dollar Comics1998-04Comic Book
Crow/Razor: Kill the Pain, The #2CoverLondon Night Studios/Top Dollar Comics1998-05Comic Book
Crow/Razor: Kill the Pain, The #3CoverLondon Night Studios/Top Dollar Comics1998-07Comic Book
Crow/Razor: Nocturnal Masque, TheB&W reprints of original coversLondon Night Studios/Top Dollar Comics1999-02Magazine
Crow: Shattered Lives and Broken Dreams, TheCover, Editor (w/ Ed Kramer), "Spooky, Codeine and the Dead Man" 8 pp., "The Real Thing" 8 pp. (ill. only, w/ Andrew Vachss), "Jesus Christ's Wrists" 1 p., "Hellbent" 20 pp. (ill. only, w/ A. A. Attanasio), "Darkness and the Shadow of Light" 2 pp.Del Rey1998-12Book (HC)
Crow: Shattered Lives and Broken Dreams, TheCover, Editor (w/ Ed Kramer), "Spooky, Codeine and the Dead Man" 8 pp., "Shuttlecock" 30 pp. (ill. only, w/ Edward Bryant), "Jesus Christ's Wrists" 1 p., "Hellbent" 20 pp. (ill. only, w/ A. A. Attanasio), "Darkness and the Shadow of Light" 2 pp.Del Rey1999-10Book (SC)
Crow: Shattered Lives and Broken Dreams, TheCover, Editor (w/ Ed Kramer), "Spooky, Codeine and the Dead Man" 8 pp., "Shuttlecock" 30 pp. (ill. only, w/ Edward Bryant), "Jesus Christ's Wrists" 1 p., "Hellbent" 20 pp. (ill. only, w/ A. A. Attanasio), "Darkness and the Shadow of Light" 2 pp. (Note: 1,500 S&N copies, 39 signatures, 55 ill., traycase)Donald M. Grant2001-02Book (HC)
Cybernetic Liberation Front #1CoverAnubis Press1993Comic Book
Dante's DisciplesIntroductionWhite Wolf Publishing1996-08Book (SC)
Dante's DisciplesIntroductionWhite Wolf Publishing1998-09Book (SC-MM)
Dark Angel #20 (Alternate Cover)CoverCPM Manga2000Comic Book
Dark Fantasies #3CoverDark Fantasy Productions1994Comic Book
Dark Fantasies #3 (Red foil)CoverDark Fantasy Productions1994Comic Book
Dark Horse Presents #61"Frame 137 (Gothik)" 4 pp.Dark Horse Comics1992-04Comic Book
Dead Boys #1CoverLondon Night Studios1993Comic Book
Dead Boys #1 (Gold)CoverLondon Night Studios1993Comic Book
Dead Boys #1 (Silver)CoverLondon Night Studios1993Comic Book
Deadworld Vol. 1, #10 (Graphic)Back Cover, "Give 'Em Enough Rope" 16 pp. (inks only (as Jonny Zero) w/ Jack Herman and Vince Locke)Caliber Press1988-11Comic Book
Deadworld Vol. 1, #10 (Tame)Cover (as Jonny Zero), Back Cover, "Give 'Em Enough Rope" 16 pp. (inks only (as Jonny Zero) w/ Jack Herman and Vince Locke)Caliber Press1988-11Comic Book
Deadworld Vol. 1, #11 (Tame)Cover (as Jonny Zero)Caliber Press1989-04Comic Book
Deadworld Vol. 1, #12 (Tame)Cover (as Jonny Zero)Caliber Press1989-06Comic Book
Deadworld Vol. 1, #13 (Tame)CoverCaliber Press1989-07Comic Book
Deadworld Vol. 1, #14 (Tame)Wraparound CoverCaliber Press1990-03Comic Book
Deadworld Vol. 1, #16 (Tame)CoverCaliber Press1990Comic Book
Deadworld Vol. 1, #17 (Tame)CoverCaliber Press1990Comic Book
Deadworld Classic Vol. 2B&W reprints of original covers, Reprints "Give 'Em Enough Rope" from Deadworld #10Desperado/IDW2011-07Collected Ed. (SC)
Deady the Terrible Teddy Vol. 2"Here, Kitty Kitty (The Crow)" 3 pp. (w/ Voltaire)Sirius Entertainment2004-12Comic Book
Death Rattle Vol. 3, #2"The Crow: Dead Time" preview 4 pp.Kitchen Sink Press1995-12Comic Book
Death Rattle Vol. 3, #3Cover, "The Crow: Lost Pages" 8 pp.Kitchen Sink Press1996-02Comic Book
Freaks Amour #2CoverDark Horse Comics1992-09Comic Book
French Crow, TheCover (Note: French language)Goutte d'Or Productions2002Original Comic Anthology (SC)
Fugitive #1"Where No Madman Has Gone Before" 13 pp. (ill. only, w/ Charles Marshall and Guy Davis)Caliber Press1989-10Comic Book
Gasm #4"Incident on Planetoid 7" 9 pp. (as Zen)Stories, Layout & Press1978-04Magazine
Godhead Vol. 2Cover (w/ James Widmark)Anubis Press1993-03Comic Book
Harbonah[16]Card artLast Unicorn Games1995Card from Heresy: Kingdom Come
Hard Looks #3Cover, "Any Time I Want" 14 pp. (ill. and letters, w/ Jerry Prosser and Andrew Vachss)Dark Horse Comics1992-07Comic Book
Hard Looks #9"Joy Ride" 7 pp. (ill. and letters, w/ Neal Barrett, Jr. and Andrew Vachss)Dark Horse Comics1993-07Comic Book
Hard Looks: Adapted Stories Vol. 1Reprints "Any Time I Want" from Hard Looks #3Dark Horse Comics1994Collected Ed. (SC)
Hard Looks: Adapted Stories (2nd Edition)Reprints "Any Time I Want" from Hard Looks #3 and "Joy Ride" from Hard Looks #9Dark Horse Comics1996-09Collected Ed. (SC)
Harpy Pin-Up Special #1CoverPeregrine Entertainment1998-04Comic Book
Heavy Metal Sept.1993Crow gallery 4 pp.Metal Mammoth1993-09Magazine
Horror: The Illustrated Book of Fears #2"Blood Rape of the Lust Ghouls" 16 pgs (w/ David J. Schow)Northstar Publishing1990-02Magazine
Independent Voices #3Wraparound Cover (w/ Joseph Michael Linsner)Peregrine Entertainment2001-08Comic Book
Io Book 0Reprints "Io, Part 1: Silo" from Caliber Presents #1 and "Io, Part 2: Fleshette" from Caliber Presents #3 (Note: Restored by John Bergin, including new color and textures, framing pages and cover)Negative Comics2011-12Comic Book
James O'Barr: Savages #1Cover, Back cover, Image gallery 12 pp., Sketch galley 15 pp., Reprints "Shadow's Smile" from Tasty Bits #1Peregrine Entertainment2001-09Comic Book
James O'Barr's Art Cards10 card setCrow Fan Club/Strictly Ink2003Trading Cards
James O'Barr's Audio Commentary of "The Crow" starring Brandon LeeCover, Audio commentaryCrow Fan Club2003Audio (2-CD Set)
James O'Barr's Audio Commentary of "The Crow" starring Brandon Lee (Pre-Order Edition)Cover, Audio commentary (Note: 20 S&N copies w/ original art)Crow Fan Club2003Audio (2-CD Set)
James O'Barr's Sketchbook #1: The CrowCover, Back Cover, Pin-up/Sketch gallery 24 pp.Blue Monkey Graphics2004Sketchbook
James O'Barr's Sketchbook #2: WomenWraparound Cover, Pin-up/Sketch gallery 24 pp.Blue Monkey Graphics2004Sketchbook
James O'Barr's Sketchbook #3Wraparound Cover, Pin-up/Sketch gallery 20 pp. (Note: 50 S&N copies)Blue Monkey Graphics2004-09Sketchbook
Kabuki ImagesPin-up: KabukiImage Comics1998-06Comic Book
Life and Death in Black, White and Blue: Poems and StoriesCoverPublishAmerica2006-04Book (SC)
Motor City Comic Con Fall '02CoverMotor City Conventions2002-10Program Guide
Monster MassacrePin-up: The Reptile House (Gothik)Atomeka Press1993Comic Book
Monster Massacre (Silver Edition)Pin-up: The Reptile House (Gothik)Atomeka Press1993Comic Book
Monster Massacre Special #1"Snake Dance (Gothik)" 14 pp. (w/ John Bergin)Blackball Comics1993Comic Book
Naiades by Monica RichardsPainting (in album booklet)Elyrian Music/BMI2012Album
Necromancer #2Back CoverAnarchy Press1993Comic Book
Necromancer #2 (Ashcan)CoverAnarchy Press1993Comic Book
Northstar 5th Anniversary Special #1Pin-Up: ZeitgeistNorthstar/Arpad Publishing1995-03Comic Book
Northstar Presents #1: James O'BarrCover, Reprints "Zeitgeist, Part One" from Slash #2 and "Blood Rape of the Lust Ghouls" from Horror: The Illustrated Book of Fears #2Northstar/Arpad Publishing1994-10Comic Book
Northstar Presents #1: James O'Barr (Gold Edition)Cover, Reprints "Zeitgeist, Part One" from Slash #2 and "Blood Rape of the Lust Ghouls" from Horror: The Illustrated Book of Fears #2Northstar/Arpad Publishing1995-04Comic Book
Original Sins #1Cover, Crow gallery 7 pp., Reprints "Io, Part 1: Silo" from Caliber Presents #1 and "Io, Part 2: Fleshette" from Caliber Presents #3ACG/Avalon Communications1999Comic Book
Pink Dust: Morphine DreamsCover, Back Cover, "Pink Dust on a Yellow Moon (Morphine Dream #39)" 14 pp., "Wages of Sin" 6 pp., Reprints B&W version of "Slave Cylinder" from Bone Saw #1Kitchen Sink Press1998-08Comic Book
Razor #2CoverLondon Night Studios1993-02Comic Book
Razor: Tour of Fear #2Back CoverLondon Night Studios1993Comic Book
Realm, The #20Jam Cover (w/ 24 other artists)Caliber Press1990-12Comic Book
Ride: Inertia's Kiss Sketchbook, TheCover, Back Cover (photos), "History of a Gearhead" 3 pp., Sketch gallery 21 pp., Reprints "Slave Cylinder" from Bone Saw #1 (3 pp. only) and "G" Forces" from Savage Tales #412 Gauge Comics2006Comic Book
San Diego Comic Con Comics #2Pin-up: GothikDark Horse Comics1993Comic Book
Savage Tales Vol. 2, #4"G" Forces" 4 pp.Marvel Comics1986-04Magazine
Slash #1Cover, "Zeitgeist" preview 2 pp., Reprints "Blood Rape of the Lust Ghouls" from Horror: The Illustrated Book of Fears #2Northstar/Arpad Publishing1992-08Comic Book
Slash #1 (2nd print, Red foil)Cover, Back Cover, Reprints "Blood Rape of the Lust Ghouls" from Horror: The Illustrated Book of Fears #2Northstar/Arpad Publishing1993-08Comic Book
Slash #2Cover, "Zeitgeist, Part One" 8 pp.Northstar/Arpad Publishing1992-11Comic Book
Slash #3CoverNorthstar/Arpad Publishing1993-02Comic Book
Sundown"Sundown" preview 2:20Motionworks Entertainment2011Digital Motion Comic
Tasty Bits #1Cover, "Shadows" 5 pp., "Upon Thy Belly Thou Shalt Go..." 2 pp. (as Zen), Pin-up gallery 14 pp., Reprints "Frame 137" from Dark Horse Presents #61ACG/Avalon Communications1999Comic Book
Terra X #1Cover, Interview 3 pp.Insta-Graphics1991Magazine
Vesper #1ACover, Back Cover (w/ Hannibal King)Acetylene Comics2001Comic Book
Vesper #2ACover, Pin-up: Vesper (B&W version of cover)Acetylene Comics2001Comic Book
Visions: From the Mind of James O'BarrCover, Sketch gallery 20 pp. (Note: included exclusively with The Crow: The Complete Interactive Collection CD-Rom)Content, Inc.1996Sketchbook
The Crow – Skinning the WolvesStoryIDW Publishing2012Comic Book
The Crow – CurareStoryIDW Publishing2013Comic Book

References

  1. Levine, Robert (1994-05-30). "From the Beginning, 'The Crow' Had a Grim Side : Movies: James O'Barr's comic book might have adapted smoothly to the big screen, but it was spurred by personal tragedy". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-12-04.
  2. "Dark Dreams: How the Crow was Born : James O'Barr". Archived from the original on September 9, 2004. Retrieved 2008-04-10.
  3. "DIKE BLAIR | Writing". Thing.net. Retrieved 2011-01-12.
  4. "KAOS2000 Magazine interview with James O'Barr / The Crow". Kaos2000.net. 2000-07-20. Retrieved 2011-01-12.
  5. Wizard magazine Archived 2007-12-10 at the Wayback Machine. Link inactive 24 April 2008
  6. "Graphic novel". TheCrow.info. Retrieved 2011-01-12.
  7. "Mercy.Tripod.com". Inner_mercy.tripod.com. Retrieved 2011-01-12.
  8. "Interview With "The Crow" Author, Artist, Musician James O'Barr: "Let The Picture Tell The Story"". Guitar International. Archived from the original on 2011-11-14. Retrieved 2011-11-09.
  9. Parrish, Robin (January 21, 2013). "Review: James O’Barr’s Sundown #1". Forever Geek.
  10. "Motionworkscomics.com". Motionworks Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2012-03-17. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
  11. "Interview with James O'Barr, creator of The Crow". Korsgaard's Commentary.
  12. James O’Barr Boards ‘The Crow’ Reboot (EXCLUSIVE)
  13. "Interview with James O'Barr, creator of The Crow". Korsgaard's Commentary.
  14. "James O'Barr Talks About Writing Crow Reboot". Renegade Cinema.
  15. "James O'Barr on The Crow's 20th Anniversary, His New Project and Dallas". Dallas Observer. 2011-07-26. Retrieved 2014-02-17.
  16. "Heresy Cards by Artist". The Sendai Bubble. Archived from the original on 2003-12-10. Retrieved 2011-08-17.
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