Before I begin this article, I have to make clear, what I WANT to see the Crow franchise become has very little to do with what I believe MUST be done to transform it into a successful brand name.  With this article, I am going to try and explore the realities of taking The Crow from its current state of relative limbo to a place where it is thriving in the marketplace.  I just want to be clear that my desires for The Crow probably don't match what The Crow NEEDS in order to become a powerhouse franchise.

 

                First things first, and this is very hard for me to say: J. O'Barr would need to step aside and let an entirely different entity come in to take the reins of The Crow comic book vehicle.  Why?  Well, I could be wrong about this, but I believe Mr. O'Barr is far too conflicted about The Crow to truly create anything original with it.  His feelings about all that has happened, the personal history of it; I think it makes it near impossible for him to freely create material that is Crow based.  I love the man's work and feel he still holds the key to that secret chamber of The Crow that nobody else has really been able to access, but at this stage, the man is holding the franchise back.

                Allow another comic company to take over The Crow, let them create a monthly series that actually makes sense and evolves another memorable/marketable avatar.  Get this mythology into the hands of people that don't feel hindered or emotionally conflicted about the material.  It is the only way we will begin to see truly inventive Crow based comics.

 

                Secondly, the music aspect of The Crow MUST be exploited more.  Get inventive with this.  I feel Pressman could release albums that have The Crow logo on them…which include a mix of great artists.  The Crow has always had a strong musical presence…so it makes sense to delve into it, leverage that connection for all its worth.  These albums could contain cool little 6 page Crow comics as an insert.  This would introduce a lot of people to The Crow concept and also keep the logo/brand name in the consciousness of the masses.  Anytime you can use your logo/brand, do it, keep it in front of people and don't let them forget.

                Music is a huge market.  Get top notch artists to create an album, remix it into a The Crow presentation, and you have yourself a great marketing tool that ALSO will turn a profit.

 

                Moving on…television.  This is where I really get shaky, because I don't feel The Crow is right for TV unless it is on HBO or some other uncensored channel.  BUT, there is no better way to generate interest in your brand name than television.  If Pressman were to put out a The Crow cartoon that was suitable for the masses and younger viewers, this would make a HUGE impact.  It would be difficult to keep the show aligned with the foundation of The Crow concept, but I think with good writing, it could indeed be done. 

                A Crow cartoon seen by millions of kids every week?  Yeah, this is going to help the cause, trust me.  It is an outlet, a way to introduce The Crow idea…and the viewers that enjoy it will look for other products.  It will feed ALL other aspects of The Crow.  It may be a bit generic…it certainly isn't something I would be thrilled to see, but a Saturday morning cartoon would work magic for this franchise.

 

                The above items will generate publicity.  Once you build your brand name, once the base of Fans has reached a certain level, there is NO stopping it.  Pressman could make movies with larger budgets and bigger actors.  It's a snowball effect.  The key is getting the brand name out to the world and KEEPING it there on a consistent level.  Why do you think Pepsi still does a million commercials and ads?  They know everyone is fully aware what Pepsi is…but their goal is keeping that product in your mind, tattooing it on your brain so when you think of soft drinks, you instantly think Pepsi.  The Crow is no different. You have to keep feeding the brand to the people.  If its not in front of them, slowly, they forget, and all you are left with are die hard Fans.  Like me.  Writing this article for free because I love The Crow.