The Crow: Volume One - Pain & Fear by James O'Barr

This item is a trade paperback or collected volume of 'The Crow,' specifically titled Volume One: Pain & Fear, created by James O'Barr (credited as J. O'Barr). The cover art features a classic rendering of Eric Draven in a doorway, rendered in a distinctive dark red and black palette that emphasizes the gothic and melancholic tone of the series. The construction appears to be a standard softcover binding. This specific edition is likely from the early to mid-1990s, published by Tundra or Kitchen Sink Press, following the cult success of the original independent series. The cover shows the title in a serif font at the top, the author’s name in the center, and the volume title at the bottom. Physically, the comic is housed in a protective plastic sleeve, which obscures fine surface details, but noticeable rippling and reflections on the plastic suggest the item is being handled. There is visible whitening and shelf wear along the right-hand vertical edge and the bottom-left corner of the cover, indicating moderate use or age-related friction. The dark black background is prone to showing scuffing and fingerprints. This item is significant as a seminal work of independent gothic horror comics and represents the first major collection of O'Barr's tragic narrative which eventually spawned a major film franchise.