In 1989, comic writer James O’Barr penned The Crow as a means to emotionally overcome the death of his fiancée, who was killed in a drunk driving incident. He described it as a way to put some of his anger down and “purge it” from his system.
In 1994, the comic was adapted into a feature film, starring Brandon Lee as Eric Draven. In the course of filming, a mishandling of prop equipment led to Lee being shot and killed – and so, the story of The Crow was defined by a further tragedy.
In 2024, Lionsgate will release a new adaptation of the original comic – a complete reimagining starring Bill Skarsgård and FKA Twigs. This film, which seems to focus more on cartoonish hyperviolence as seen in early trailers, is getting a Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone tie-in, as its version of The Crow will soon be available as a playable Operator.
As revealed by the official Call of Duty Twitter / X account, Eric / The Crow will be available in an Operator Bundle launching on 22 August, around the same time the Lionsgate film is set to arrive in cinemas. While the teaser for this bundle was kept vague, you can see the back of The Crow’s coat, and it does appear to be Skarsgård’s voice talking about coming back from the dead.
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Why putting The Crow in Call of Duty feels like a bad idea
The inclusion of The Crow in Call of Duty is incredibly strange, and to be frank, it feels a bit crass when you consider the origin of the tale, and its legacy. While The Crow is a fairly violent comic, it explores a middle ground between what is right and just, and when violence is acceptable. It’s a story of revenge, but it agonises about the nature of crime, violence, and guilt.
In the wake of the 1994 film, gun violence has also become irrevocably linked with the franchise. In fact, Brandon Lee’s death during filming inspired change on film sets, and calls for greater care when handling weapon props on set (although tragedies still occur).
The 2024 adaptation of The Crow is an entirely different beast, yes, but its ties to the 1994 film and the original comic book remain intact. The Crow, in name, will always be linked to the original film adaptation – for its popularisation of the franchise, and for its tragedy.
To have the franchise now directly tied with Call of Duty, a game which is defined by gun violence, feels like an oversight. It feels like a misunderstanding of the franchise and its legacy.
While Call of Duty has become abstracted, as a popular way to promote brands and films – marketing must go to where the people are – having The Crow feature in the game can only be described as a bad choice. When the character launches, there’s no doubt he’ll be a popular Operator, but for those familiar with the long history of The Crow, his appearance will more than likely feel a bit odd, and a bit inconsiderate.
