CROM Update 053 with John Molina and his American-Manga Style Crom Comic Story
In this episode of the CROM Updates Podcast, host Kurt Brugel is joined by John Molina, the brother of David Molina, both of whom are involved in creating CROM Anthology content. This is John’s first appearance on the podcast, and he introduces his comic, Crom and the Serpent’s Lair, which features an American-Manga art style that immediately piques Kurt’s interest. John shares his journey into comics, originally hesitant about the commitment but encouraged by his brother. He discusses his admiration for Conan the Barbarian and how his artistic approach evolved, blending sword-and-sorcery elements with post-apocalyptic themes. This fusion was inspired by his love of classic anime and animated series like Dragon Ball Z, Gargoyles, and Fistf of the North Star.
The conversation delves into the creative struggles and breakthroughs that come with developing a comic. John talks about his challenges with inking and how he initially overthought panel layouts, struggling to depict action scenes dynamically. Kurt advises him to avoid overthinking and simply keep producing pages, reinforcing the idea that growth in storytelling and visual clarity comes from experience. Kurt also introduces John to the lightbox technique, an old-school but effective tool for refining artwork, which John finds incredibly helpful. Additionally, they discuss Jake Jacobs, an experienced comic editor and penciler who works on Turbo Pitfighter, and how his editorial guidance could benefit John. Kurt emphasizes that his role isn’t to micromanage but to encourage consistency, productivity, and communication within the CROM creative community.
Toward the end of the episode, Kurt and John talk about the future of John's work and how it can fit within both CROM Anthology and Pariah Comics. Kurt lays out a simple plan: finish a full issue (about 25 pages), create two pin-up splash pages, and maintain communication. He reassures John that storytelling is a process of iteration and refinement rather than immediate perfection. The discussion concludes with an encouraging note, where Kurt expresses excitement about John's contribution and reinforces the importance of an artist’s unique vision rather than conforming to external expectations. The episode highlights the importance of creative perseverance, collaboration, and learning through action in the indie comics scene.
Watch the CROM Update 053 video on YouTube:
Three Educational Values of the Podcast
Encouraging Creativity & Productivity – Stop overthinking, just create! The more pages completed, the better an artist becomes.
Indie Publishing & Collaboration – Insights into working with editors, inkers, and writers to refine and publish comics.
Blending Genres & Styles – How combining different artistic influences (manga, fantasy, post-apocalyptic themes) can create something fresh and engaging.
John Molina is an aspiring comic book artist who is working in an American-Manga style for the Sword & Sorcery cause.
Use these links to find out more about Kurt inker Brugel.
