May 18th, 2026

Greetings, Crommunity!

First, the big news: We have officially received 25 submissions for CROM Anthology 2! To say I am excited would be a massive understatement, but I am also completely overwhelmed in the best way possible. The sheer volume of incredible talent coming into the forge right now is unreal. Thank you all for bringing your absolute best to the world of Crom.

Because of this massive response, I’ve had to make some big decisions regarding the future of the anthologies.

The Shift to 100 Pages: Finding the Sweet Spot

In my last official update, I mentioned wanting to keep each anthology around 200 pages. However, looking at the logistics, I am changing tactics. I am following in the footsteps of Brutal Blade of CROM Project Lead, Jamie Barrows, in splitting the submissions into 2 if not 3 anthologies and aiming for a lower (around 100-page) count per volume instead.

Here is why this makes sense for us:

Affordability: Keeping the book around 100 pages allows us to price each volume at a much more accessible $25.

Easier Production: It makes the curating, formatting, and publication process significantly easier and faster to manage.

How the Curating Process Works

With 25 submissions and a 100-page limit, curation is key. I am using two distinct criteria to select material for each volume, while always prioritizing stories that help tell Crom's story in an expansive way:

The Manga-Style "Tankobon" Approach: I am taken the cue from Japanese Manga publishing. We will run individual chapters and parts of stories as serials across multiple anthologies. Once a storyline is fully completed across the volumes, we will collect them all together into a definitive, standalone "Tankobon" graphic novel.

A Mix of Talent and Experience Levels: I want these anthologies to be a launchpad. By mixing seasoned creators with passionate newcomers, it encourages anyone to submit their work and experience the incredible feeling of seeing their art in print.

Status Report: Kurt’s Collaborations

On my personal drawing board, I have resolved to complete 7 Crom stories for the 2nd Anthology created in collaboration with other fantastic artists. Here is where we stand:

3 stories are officially 100% complete.

1 story is currently in progress—my exciting collaboration with Jamie Barrows, titled Barbarians in the Pit.

Follow the Progress Live!

I want you all on this journey with me as I piece Volume 2 together. I will be keeping the community entirely up to date on the curation and creation process via regular livestreams on YouTube.

Subscribe and watch the forge live here: youtube.com/@crom_the_barbarian

Thank you all for the incredible momentum. More updates to come soon!

By CROM,

Kurt