The original THE CROW co-screenwriter John Shirley has
teamed with Eisner Award-nominated FISHTOWN artist Kevin Colden to bring James
O'Barr's creation back to comics. At the
same time a gritty reinvention of the 1994 cult classic is in pre-production.
The film will be directed by F. Javier Gutiérrez (Before the Fall) and written
by Jesse Wigutow.
The comic book is set in Tokyo, Japan where the Crow returns
in the guise of a foreign exchange student named Jamie Osterberg. When Haruko,
the love of his life, is stolen away from him, Jamie must search for
answers–ones that turn deadly, and transform him into the spirit of vengeance,
the Crow! With a sword that seeks truth, the Crow hunts down those responsible
for this crime, discovering a web of horror that may lead him to kill his one
true love.
“I was thrilled to help bring James O’Barr’s THE CROW the
screen, and am equally thrilled to rediscover the character in this new
incarnation of THE CROW for IDW—it’s as if he’s come back from the
grave all over again,” said Shirley. “It feels like The Crowis taking me on the
journey into some very dark realms. All I can do is come along and hope to
survive the trip. It helps to have a great talent like Kevin Colden along.”
“I’m very happy to be able to bring back THE CROW
with such esteemed creators,” said Chris Ryall, IDW’s Chief Creative
Officer/Editor-in-Chief. “To be able to lead off with John Shirley and Kevin
Colden in a story that takes the concept of James O’Barr’s THE CROW
in very unexpected ways is as thrilling to me as it hopefully will be to
fans.”
The first of the five issue mini series (which will feature
covers from Kyle Hotz and Ashley Wood) hits print and digital stores in July.
Other series are planned - including one that involves THE CROW creator James
O’Barr.