1994's The Crow is one of the most beloved comic book movies of the '90s, with a tragic history tied to the death of star Brandon Lee during the filming of the movie. But tragedy is built into the DNA of The Crow, both in its heartbreaking story of romance, death, and revenge, and also in the real world origins of the comic book on which the movie is based.
Back in the mid-'80s, The Crow's creator James O'Barr suffered a terrible personal tragedy when his fiancée Beverly was killed by a drunk driver. To help process his grief, O'Barr turned to comics, creating The Crow and its undead, goth anti-hero Eric Draven.
