The Crow - Splash Page - 'Like a Concave Scream' by James O'Barr

Firstly, I am honored that James was willing to let this art go to me.
He held this page in his portfolio, way in the back, with the price and caption reading
"$____ - THAT'S BECAUSE I REALLY DON'T WANT TO SELL THIS PAGE!"
:)


I first encountered James last year and was intrigued by his laid back attitude and generosity. He took us fans in stride, some treating him like a rockstar, girls in black offering him tight hugs and kisses. Meanwhile he offered his free time to the convention fundraiser - offering sketches for the auction, and encouraged us to support the Heroes Initiative.

I browsed through his portfolio - impressed to see drawings and paintings of "Taxi Driver", "Blade Runner", "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari", "The Day the Earth Stood Still", and Eastwood's westerns - in addition to many new Crow sketches.

But for me his published pages were the most interesting find in his portfolio. Because I couldn't afford anything at the time, I could only look in awe at them.


A few months later I encounter James again, this time inquiring on the pages in his portfolio. He explained that they were done in preparation for the 2011 The Crow: Special Edition, the definitive artist's edition. This book is a re-release of the original book, with new and expanded scenes, as he originally intended them. All the new pages were made with original techniques (no computer effects), including zip-a-tone, Letratone, and "Craftint" type duotone board.

James explained that this splash was the ONLY PAGE he redid for the new edition. All other changes were expanding story pages, or completely new stories. For his reference, he used a page from the Italian version of The Crow, but completely redrew the page - keeping all of his Detroit neighborhood landmarks from the original version. When I see him again I'll have to ask why he removed the "Dead Ends" sign and changed the appearance of Eric and Gabriel.

Eric's large, striding, appearance and the Detroit streets really drew me into this page. His eyes are drawn down, looking past his scar, as his mind carries him away from these dark streets.

I like the new tone - it provides a much more somber introduction to this chapter of the story, which has Eric holding Gabriel and crying, as he mourns Shelly on their anniversary. The original - with Eric giving his menacing stare and Gabriel echoing that look, as a perched gargoyle - do not fit the story. This is Gabriel's first appearance in the story, and he never appears menacing throughout the rest of the book.


The page is original art layered over by screentone (a technique for applying textures and shades to drawings, used as an alternative to hatching) to create the blurring and patterns across the main character and background images. Over Eric's body and coat, he erased areas on the tonal layer to create texture, and added white out to enhance some of the light areas.

And a special thanks to my fellow O'Barr fanatics, Joe and Brian!