I’ve been writing about it for the better part of the last month, but we are finally LIVE on Kickstarter.

For those who may be unfamiliar to Kickstarter, it is a platform that allows creators to take their work (in this case a comic book) and effectively get people to back the project by saying they want to buy the product. We do this through a number of different reward levels… some of which will just be the new issue of In Our Dreams Awake #3, others will include both issues, digital options, as well as a chance to get signed novels or signed comics from Egg Embry and my back catalogue.

I hope you will join us for the campaign!

Cover by Jose Garcia

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In Our Dreams Awake #3: A Cyberpunk/Fantasy Adventure

John McGuire – Writer/Creator

Egg Embry – Writer/Creator

Edgar Salazar – Artist

Rolands Kalninš – Artist, Colorist, Letterer

Genaro Olavarrieta – Inker

Javier Laparra – Inker

Alexander Lugo – Letterer

Jose Garcia – Fantasy Cover Artist

Rolands Kalninš – Cyberpunk Cover Artist

The Kickstarter campaign ends on Friday, November 7, 2025.

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The Pitch:

In the sword and sorcery nightmare, the mages won, Jason is a prisoner, and his love’s life hangs in the gulf between what the magi demand and what Jason can give.

In the sci-fi nightmare, fish aliens and talking cats are drowning the world. Jason Byron and his love are scheming for a way to escape the planet before they are pulled under the waves.

In Our Dreams Awake is the story of both nightmares spinning out of control. What horrible dream is Jason trying to wake up to?

The Story:

IN THE FANTASY DREAM, Jason and Laura must face the consequences of their defiance of the Magi laws. In the aftermath, Jason reaches out to his one-time friend to perform one more magical ritual for him.

IN THE CYBERPUNK FUTURE DREAM, Jason Byron finds himself in the hospital, as much a prisoner as a patient. But his final plan to escape the planet with his love is still in motion… if one of his enemies doesn’t finish him first.

Who can say what dreams may come? Jason Byron’s guiding light is making their world better for those who hold their heart. But their actions have turned the dreams to nightmares. Can these dreampunks reclaim the dream?

Cyberpunk Variant – Art by Rolands Kalninš

John’s Thoughts:

In Our Dreams Awake began with an idea of having a man dream two different lives. Egg and I then took that to the comic book pages by having two separate artists work on the two different dreams… the two different versions of one story that we were telling.

Issue 1 started things off with us learning a bit about Jason in both his Dreams. A painter who dreams of the unknown, doing his best to keep his contraband technology a secret. A Gang Boss who dreams of a way off a drowned world, doing his best to keep his forbidden love a secret.

Issue 2 furthers Jason’s war with the fish aliens and introduces a feline prescence to their Parliament. Meanwhile in the fantasy world, an unorthodox request from Peter threatens to be the undoing of both Jason and Laura.

Issue 3 escalates that to the next level. Secrets begin to unwind and the consequences will change both his worlds completely.

The Rewards:

The Kickstarter is for the third issue in what will be a four-issue series. Issue 3 is completely done and issue 4 is nearly complete.

We have the options of either the pdf ($5) or print version ($10) to send to you. We have a variant cover by Rolands Kalninš with its homage to the 6 Million Dollar Man ($15). If you missed the first or second issue, never fear, you can get all the digital comics ($8) or the print versions ($25).

On the higher end, we have an opportunity to get drawn into the Cyberpunk world as a potential member of Jason’s Gang ($250). The last person opted to instead have their cats featured in the comic which inspired Egg to add them as full antagonists (as seen in issues 2 and 3)!

Finally, we have a number of add-ons ranging from Signed Copies of The Gilded Age Graphic novel, to the Dreamr by the Apocalypse RPG Zine ($10-$20 each).

The Verdict:

In my completely and totally unbiased opinion, why are you still here reading this? Go and back this amazing project!

Back this if you like Dreams, Painters, Cats, Blowing Stuff Up, Aliens, a drowned London, magic, spaceships, and probably a dozen other cool things I’m forgetting about (oooh, Crab people!).

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I’d like to thank you for taking the time to check out our project. A lot of passion went into telling this story, and we hope you will join us on the ride!