CROM Update 071 | Anthology #1 | LIVE - Final Push Toward Completion + Brutal Blade #3 Release
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In Episode 71 of the CROM Updates Podcast, Kurt Brugel shares how close CROM Anthology #1 is to being finished, emphasizing the final push toward completion. He announces that Brutal Blade of Crom #3 released on September 21, 2025, and is now available at cromthebarbarian.com. He also highlights the continued growth of the Crom community, including collaborations, contributor projects, and special editions like Scoundrel’s Dread and Jeff Lafferty’s Berserkonaut. Kurt notes the limited availability of mock-up copies, calling them collectible artifacts once the final anthology is published.
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Kurt discusses three major updates: first, the development of Crom Jr., a light-hearted, cartoony story that explores Crom’s youth while providing comic relief and expanding his mythology. This project also serves as a testing ground for color work and storytelling techniques. Second, he details his progress on the full-color cover, explaining how color experimentation with paint markers and colored pencils helps him refine techniques before tackling larger, more complex illustrations. Third, he addresses artistic challenges, particularly maintaining consistency of character design across panels, and how test pages and iterative adjustments are helping him achieve a polished final look.
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Additionally, Kurt explores the importance of storytelling rhythm and panel pacing, describing how smaller-format experiments with 5x7 panels improve narrative flow and composition. He reflects on influences like Simon Bisley and shares how mixed-media techniques — gouache, spray paint, and colored pencils — help him shape a distinctive style. With only the cover and final spot illustrations left, Kurt anticipates showing a completed version within 10 days and releasing the anthology in early November 2025. He encourages fans to grab remaining mock-ups, support indie sword & sorcery projects, and contribute their own stories and art to future anthologies.
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Watch the CROM Update 071 video on YouTube:
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Educational Highlights
Color Experimentation Techniques – Insight into layering paint markers, pencils, and gouache to achieve dynamic comic pages.
Panel Flow and Storytelling – How smaller-scale compositions improve pacing, panel relationships, and reader engagement.
Character Consistency – Strategies for maintaining a cohesive character design across multiple panels and pages.
Use these links to find out more about Kurt inker Brugel.
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Paperback • 52 Pages • Greyscale • Printed by Mixam
Steel clashes, blood boils, and the black gods of the Hyborian age stir once more in The Brutal Blade of CROM #3 — the latest savage installment in the Crommunity’s flagship sword & sorcery comic series.
This volume carries forward the brutal legacy of CROM creator Gardner F. Fox under the watchful eye of Project Lead Jamie Barrows, bringing together an arsenal of new stories, deadly adventures, and visceral artwork forged in the tradition of the pulps.
Inside these pages you’ll find barbarian epics, eldritch horrors, dark prophecies, and grim vengeance — each tale cut from the raw edge of the savage age:
The Cave by Mr. Meow – A chilling descent into darkness where survival demands sacrifice.
Beware of False Gods by Stephan Recksiedler – Fanatics rise and kingdoms fall when mortals dare to crown themselves divine.
Blizzard of Vengeance – Concept by Jamie Barrows – A storm-born tale of fury and retribution.
Crom and the Bat Lord (Part 2: Escape) by Alex Turbin – Crom faces a winged terror and a fight for freedom that will test his steel and his soul.
Bone Black Bastard by Melanie Strangemoon – A tale of black magic, betrayal, and blood-soaked revenge.
The Frozen Keeper by Gwedic – A guardian of the old world awakens in ice and ruin.
Throne of Thorns (Prose) by Jamie Barrows – Power’s cruel price is paid in thorns and blood.
Crom the King by Skip – The barbarian god ascends in a tale of destiny and wrath.
Vuck, a Crom Story by Dale Nicholson – Savage cunning meets brutal justice in this original Crom adventure.
Bad Gass by Paul Kortjohn – A darkly comic tale of chaos and carnage.
Plus: a gallery of pin-up art from Kaya Carcione, Adrian Schnyder, and Jamie Barrows that celebrates the raw power and primal beauty of the Cromverse.
Featuring a front cover by Eggroll and a back cover by Jamie Barrows, this 52-page black-and-white barbarian tome is a must-have for fans of classic Sword & Sorcery, vintage comics, and the relentless fury of CROM.
⚔️ The Brutal Blade of CROM #3 is more than a comic — it’s a blood-soaked hymn to the age of steel and sorcery. Add it to your collection and answer the call of the barbarian god.
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Kurt Brugel's Virgin Cover Edition of the 2024 CROM Collected Comic is a must-have for fans and collectors alike. This special edition features an exclusive, stunning cover art by Kurt Brugel himself, showcasing his unique vision of CROM the Barbarian in all his glory.
Inside, you'll find 140 pages of intense, black and white sword and sorcery adventures that transport you to a world of epic battles, fierce warriors, and ancient magic. This magazine-size (8.5x11) comic book is meticulously crafted to deliver an immersive reading experience, staying true to the raw and untamed spirit of classic fantasy comics.
What makes this edition truly special is there is no waiting for weeks to get your hands on this collector's item. By purchasing Kurt Brugel's Virgin Cover Edition, you not only own a piece of unique comic art but also support the continuation of CROM's epic journey and the talented artists behind it.
Secure your copy today and join CROM in his legendary quest!
ISBN-13 979-8-9910745-0-6
