The allure of comics

What draws you to a new comic book to pick up and read? I'm talking about those books you pick up every Wednesday. Is it the cover? The team on the book? The story of the book? I think for me it's all three. When it comes to adding a book to my pull box or picking it directly off the shelf it can come down to one of those three things.

The first thing you see before you buy a comic is the cover. Before you read the story or know what's inside, the cover sells you on the book. I think a great cover is key to having you pick up that book. Think of all the great covers out there. Incredible Hulk #181, Amazing Spider-Man #100, Batman #423, and Superman #233. All of these are classic covers that you can imagine in your head and they did there job of being eye catching to have people pick them off the shelf.

What if its the team that is writing and drawing the book? Think off all the fantastic writers and artists that have created and been apart of comics. Is it the team of Scott Synder/Greg Capullo on Batman, Stan Lee/Jack Kirby on their countless projects, Roy Thomas/Barry Windsor-Smith on Conan, or Dennis O'Neil/Neal Adams on Green Lantern/Green Arrow. Do you follow a certain writer or artist and pick up anything that they do, no matter what it is. I know people that will read anything Donny Cates or buy anything drawn by Skottie Young.

Finally, is it the story that entices you. The thought of what is going to happen to your favorite characters. Maybe you found a new story or comic to read with interesting ideas and characters unlike anything else you have ever read before.

That's the thing I love about comics. There are so many things that can get you interested in them. A character, a writer, or the art. That is why, I think, you have multiple generations who love and enjoy comics. SO what draws you to a new comic book?
 

The Curse of The Crow

The story of The Crow is an interesting one to say the least. Eric Draven and his fiancee, Shelly, are on their way back from a romantic get-away, when their vehicle breaks down on a deserted road. A car full of gang members stops, not to help, but to take advantage of the couple's misfortune. They shoot Eric in the head paralyzing him, while they rape and kill his fiancee in the car, Eric dying hours later in the hospital. A year later, resurrected by The Crow, Eric exacts vengeance on the men responsible for their deaths. The independent comic book was made popular by the 1994 movie of the same name, with a few changes to the original story, but the movie was an instant hit.

Even with all the accolades and success, The Crow was struck with tragedy in the death of Brandon Lee. After an accident with a prop gun on set, Lee was shot and later died from his wound. After the critical success, many direct to video sequels were made focusing on other "crows" as well as a TV show in 1998 called The Crow:Stairway to Heaven, in which Mark Dacascos plays Eric Draven and we focus once again on the original crow. Tragedy would strike the series as when a special effects explosion went wrong during filming on August 15, 1998 and stuntman Marc Akerstream was struck on the head and killed by flying debris. 

Timeline of The Crow Remake:

2005-2008
The Crow franchise would lay dormant after 2005 with the last direct to video sequel The Crow:Wicked Prayer until 2008 when Stephen Norrington planed on remaking the movie. Norrington later stepped out of the project and it was later announced that director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo had been chosen to direct the film. Meanwhile, Bradley Cooper was in talks to play the lead. 

2010-2012
In mid-August 2011, it was announced that Cooper had dropped out due to scheduling difficulties and Mark Wahlberg, who was originally in talks for the lead in 2010, was again up for the part, with additional rumors of Channing Tatum or Ryan Gosling possibly taking the role, as well as James McAvoy. In October 2011, it was reported that Fresnadillo had departed the project as well. It was confirmed in January 2012 that Francisco Javier Gutiérrez had signed on to direct the remake. 

2013-2015
On April 19, 2013, it was announced that Tom Hiddleston was in talks to play Eric. That same month, there were reports that Hiddleston would not be doing the film, but that Alexander Skarsgård was being eyed for the part. A week later, however, Skarsgård stated that he was not attached to the film. On May 4, 2013, Deadline reported that Luke Evans had been cast as Eric Draven. On July 3, 2013, The Crow's creator James O'Barr was named as the creative consultant of the film. In an October 2015 interview, O'Barr would discuss what had changed his mind about the reboot, and efforts to make the reboot a more faithful adaptation of the comic book, while remaining respectful to the original film. On November 21, 2013, Schmoes Know had reports that Norman Reedus was up for the role of a character named "James", and that Kristen Stewart had at one time been considered for the part of Shelly. In December 2014, the studio hired Corin Hardy to direct the film. Evans told Den of Geek in an interview that he might not do the film, and it was later revealed that Evans has dropped out of the film due to other projects. On February 9, 2015, O'Barr told Blastr in an interview that he was interested in Sam Witwer for the role. As of October 24, 2014, the film was set to start production in the spring of 2015. On February 25, 2015, it was reported that Jack Huston would be starring in the film. On March 14, 2015, O'Barr confirmed to Dread Central at the Lexington Comic and Toy Convention that Huston had been cast as Draven in the reboot, and at a Q&A during the convention he further confirmed that Jessica Brown Findlay had been cast as Shelly Webster. On May 20, 2015, Deadline reports that Andrea Riseborough is in talks to co-star as the female version of Top Dollar. On June 15, 2015, according to Variety: Forest Whitaker was in negotiations for a role and Huston has dropped out due to scheduling conflicts, but Relativity Studios are looking at Nicholas Hoult and Jack O'Connell for the role of Draven. On July 31, 2015, The Hollywood Reporter reported that production on the reboot stalled.

2016-2018
O'Barr told comicbook.com in an interview that the film will still happen. TheWrap reported that filming on the reboot was going to start in March 2016 with Corin Hardy on board as director. On June 15, 2016, Deadline reports that Hardy may return to the reboot. On August 10, 2016, Jason Momoa posted a photo of himself with Hardy on his Instagram account. On September 6, 2016, TheWrap reports that Momoa was casted and filming will begin in January 2017. On November 17, 2016, The Hollywood Reporter had the film was now titled The Crow Reborn but may lose both Momoa and Hardy. In September 2017, it was announced that Sony will distribute the film. On May 31, 2018, it was announced that both director Hardy and star Momoa had exited the project.

For about 12 years, a remake of The Crow has been attempted and actor after actor, director after director just keeps dropping out. The thing is with the injuries and the multiple attempts on redoing The Crow it not just a random new character like the direct to video sequel. It's Eric Draven and his story. No such thing happened on those obscure movies, but on the 1994 movie and TV show based on Draven, two people were killed and for 12 years a remake of said story can't be done. Many people believe that The Crow is cursed, and maybe so. I think The Crow is one of those movie that should never be remade. Maybe it's trivial, but then again....