In this Special Episode of the CROM Updates Podcast, Kurt Brugel takes Sword & Sorcery fans through a behind-the-scenes walkthrough of the 228-page mock-up of CROM Anthology #1. This magazine-sized indie Sword & Sorcery collection is a fusion of original stories, classic reprints, illustrated prose, manga-inspired artwork, and even a photo comic. Kurt expresses gratitude to all contributors and discusses how this anthology is his personal expression of comics as an art form. He shares early production pages, his use of scratchboard and grayscale techniques, and previews projects like Crom and Druvanis (with Ken Landgraf), The God Crom (by Dexter Jones), and a new Crom manga story by John Molina. Kurt emphasizes that this is a living, evolving work meant to grow with its creative community.

The anthology also features collaborative projects with contributors like Jason Schoonover, Ric Frane, Jim Gullett, and Drawnsword, who each bring unique interpretations of Crom the Barbarian. Kurt highlights the creative process behind transforming public domain works, including Golden Age comics and Gardner Fox stories, into new adventures with modern flair. He promotes material like Arabian Nights by Lillian Chestney and Thanobrind the Jeweller adapted by Dean Kotz, preserving the Sword & Sorcery legacy. There's also a focus on community-built storytelling, such as free comic scripts donated by Stephen Sonneveld and reprints like Rogan of the North by David Lanciani.

Kurt stresses the importance of collaboration, mentorship, and accessibility, offering new creators a platform to be published alongside seasoned contributors. He celebrates the spiritual, transformative journey of the Crom character—from youthful adventurer to mythic god—as a narrative thread through the anthology. The episode closes with personal reflections on Sword & Sorcery inspirations like The Savage Sword of Conan and Gardner F. Fox’s broader legacy, which Kurt continues to preserve through the Gardner Francis Fox Library and other projects. The mock-up isn’t just a book—it’s a call for others to build, share, and continue the sword-swinging mythos of Crom.

Franc Reyes - ARIK KHAN

Ken Landgraf - Crom & Druvanis

Adam T Bennett - Crom Part One - Altar of the Serpent

John Molina & Kurt Brugel - Crom and the Serpent’s Lair

Drawnsword & Rom Parsons - Crom the Courageous - Part 1

Jason Schoonover & Kurt Brugel - Cromdahar

Stephen Sonneveld & Kurt Brugel - Crumb le Barbarian

Dean Kotz & Lord Dunsany - Distressing Tale of Thangobrind the Jeweller

Dexter Jones - The God Crom

John Adkins Richardson - Maxor

Lillian Chestney - Sinbad the Sailor

Raph Cornford - Excerpt from Thrilling Suspense Fantasy #3

David D. Lanciani - Rogan of the North #1

Vince Napoli - Siegfried and the Dragon

Ric Frane & Zoe Angeli (Ossuary Angel) - Spawn of Afgorkon

Gardner Fox & Kurt Brugel - Crom of Klarn

The Visitor - Pat Boyette

ARTISTS GALLERY

David Molina

Adam Dodds

Jamie Barrows

James Anthony

Ryan Dirk

Jim Gullett

To name a few…