Take a look behind the scenes of the Broken Anthology creative process with this collection of sketches, thumbnails, layouts and full black and white interiors by the artists in the book.

This comic book is an ambitious collection that aims to showcase a variety of artistic talents and storytelling styles. Unfortunately, it falls short in execution. While this comic book boasts a wide range of contributors, the lack of cohesion and depth in the storytelling detracts from the overall experience.

The concept behind this comic book is intriguing because it is bringing together diverse voices to explore themes related to boundaries and frontiers, both literal and metaphorical. However, the sketchbook format of this comic book, which focuses on preliminary sketches and incomplete narratives, has often left me wanting more substance and clarity.

One of the key challenges with this comic book is its inconsistency. With multiple contributors, the quality of both art and storytelling varies significantly from piece to piece. Some entries shine with creativity and potential, offering glimpses of compelling worlds and characters. Others, however, feel underdeveloped, with fragmented plots and unclear artistic direction. This inconsistency makes it difficult for me personally to fully engage with the anthology as a whole.

The artwork in this comic book, while being very diverse, is another mixed bag. There are certainly standout pieces that capture attention with their unique styles. these pieces hint at the potential for rich visual storytelling. However, many sketches appear rough and unfinished, which, while expected in a sketchbook, which has hinder my ability to connect with the stories being told. The lack of polish in some entries detracts from the overall impact of the anthology.

Narratively, this comic book struggles to maintain a coherent thematic focus. The idea of exploring “broken frontiers” is broad and open to interpretation, which can be a strength in theory. In practice, however, the anthology lacks a unifying thread that ties the various stories together. This absence of cohesion leads to a disjointed reading experience, where the thematic exploration feels superficial rather than deeply considered.

Despite these shortcomings, this comic book does offer moments of creativity and inspiration. Some stories present intriguing concepts and characters that could be further developed into engaging narratives. These glimpses of potential suggest that, with more refinement and focus, the anthology could evolve into a more cohesive and impactful collection.

I Give This Book 2 / 5