CROM Update: 028 Collaborating with Guest Artist Jason Schoonover
Collaborating with Jason Schoonover: Concepting & Crafting 'The Giant of Kandahar' for a New Crom the Barbarian Comics
In the 28th episode of the Crom Updates Podcast, Kurt Brugel and guest artist Jason Schoonover discuss their collaborative efforts on a new Crom comic story tentatively titled "The Giant of Kandahar." They explore the idea of integrating conspiracy theories, specifically the tale of a giant encountered by US Marines in Kandahar, into the Crom narrative. Jason shares his initial concept involving a cryptid acting as a gate between two parallel timelines, but Kurt suggests simplifying and focusing the story for better impact. They agree on blending elements of modern military encounters with ancient legends, envisioning a crossover where Crom the Barbarian might be seen as a cryptic giant in the mountains.
Kurt proposes inverting some story elements to make it more engaging, suggesting that instead of Crom and his warriors, the story features modern soldiers encountering Crom as a wild, god-like figure. This shift would create a blend of historical and mythical storytelling, where soldiers experience a hallucinatory or supernatural event that leaves them questioning reality. They outline a structure where the soldiers are drawn into a cave, facing the giant in darkness, with the encounter culminating in a surreal twist that blurs the line between myth and reality. This approach emphasizes absurdity and humor, aligning with Jason's playful artistic style.
Additionally, Kurt updates on the progress of the "Crom the Barbarian Collected Revised Edition," mentioning that artist proofs are being finalized for review. He emphasizes the importance of community feedback and structural critique to ensure a polished product. Jason also shares his recent projects, including the "Gut and Ghost" comic and a zine community initiative inspired by Cartoonist Kayfabe. The episode concludes with Kurt and Jason looking forward to further refining their collaborative story and engaging with the comic community.
Watch the CROM Update 028 video on YouTube:
Here are a few educational highlights from the podcast discussion between Kurt Brugel and Jason Schoonover:
Story Inversion Technique: Kurt introduces the idea of inverting story elements to add complexity and intrigue, a useful technique in narrative development.
Blending Genres: The discussion highlights the creative process of merging historical events with mythical and supernatural elements to create a unique storyline.
Collaborative Storytelling: The podcast emphasizes the importance of collaboration in comics, showcasing how different perspectives can enhance a story.
Absurdity and Humor in Art: Jason’s approach to incorporating absurdity and humor into his artwork is discussed, illustrating how these elements can be effectively used in comics.
Community Feedback: Kurt underscores the value of community feedback and structural critique in refining and improving creative projects.
Use of Myth and Legend: The discussion includes how myths and legends can be reinterpreted and woven into modern narratives, offering a fresh take on classic tales.
Visual Storytelling: The podcast explores how visual elements and artistic styles contribute to the storytelling process, particularly in the comic book medium.
Jason Schoonover is one of the few Artists who has been invited to create a pin-up for the Revised Edition of Crom Collected.
Use these links to find out more about Jason.
Use these links to find out more about Kurt inker Brugel.
