🎙️ USDN Podcast Interview — John McGuire: In Our Dreams Awake #3 | Dreampunk Indie Comic Kickstarter

Welcome back to the United States Department of Nerds Podcast, where we’re for the people, by the people, and of the people.

In this episode, The Chairman sits down with John McGuire, writer of In Our Dreams Awake #3 — a haunting, genre-bending dreampunk comic where two worlds collide: one ruled by magic, and one consumed by cyberpunk decay.

It’s a story that explores dreams, dual realities, and identity, asking the question: What if you could never be sure which world was real?

🌙 Episode Highlights

• The origin and meaning of In Our Dreams Awake
• Building dual worlds of fantasy and cyberpunk
• Writing the emotional core of Jason Byron’s fractured reality
• Defining “dreampunk” and how it differs from cyberpunk
• John’s creative process and collaborations with Egg Embry
• Lessons from running Kickstarter comic campaigns
• How dreams influence art and storytelling
• A special Halloween bonus on weird dreams and creative inspiration

🚀 Support the Kickstarter

In Our Dreams Awake #3 is live now on Kickstarter!

👉 https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ioda/in-our-dreams-awake-3-a-dreampunk-comic

Back the project, grab exclusive rewards, and help bring this dreampunk vision to life!

🧠 About the Guest

John McGuire is the writer behind In Our Dreams Awake, The Gilded Age, Hollow Empire, and The Dark That Follows. A lifelong storyteller of speculative fiction, he blends sci-fi, fantasy, and philosophical mystery to explore the border between reality and imagination.

💀 About the Series

In Our Dreams Awake follows Jason Byron, a man trapped between two worlds — one mystical, one mechanical. As both realities begin to collapse, Jason must uncover which life is real… and which is only a dream.

Blending fantasy, cyberpunk, and surrealism, it’s a must-read for fans of Inception, Sandman, and Blade Runner.

🎧 Available Now:
📺 Watch the full video here on YouTube
🎙️ Listen on all podcast platforms — just search USDN Podcast

#InOurDreamsAwake #JohnMcGuire #USDNPodcast #IndieComics #KickstarterComics #HorrorFantasy #Dreampunk #CyberpunkComics #FantasyComics #ComicBookInterview #GraphicNovel #ComicKickstarter #IndieComicInterview #ComicBookCreators #PodcastInterview #IndieComicPodcast #SpeculativeFiction #Dreamscape #CreativeWriting #HalloweenPodcast

🎙️ USDN Podcast Interview w/ E.B. Kogan & Jessica Silvetti — Shockheaded Peter Vol. 2

Film to Fantasy: E.B. Kogan & Jessica Silvetti on Shockheaded Peter

Welcome back to the United States Department of Nerds Podcast! I’m The Chairman, and today we’re diving into the haunting, fantastical world of Shockheaded Peter, the second installment of a 3-part horror-fantasy graphic novel series.

Joining me are E.B. Kogan (Empire, Ordinary Joe, In Our Blood) and Jessica Silvetti (Juego de las llaves, In Absentia) — a powerhouse writing duo with deep roots in film and television who are now unleashing their nightmarish vision into the indie comics scene.

About Shockheaded Peter Vol. 2
A chilling cautionary tale of marvelous retribution and dreadful delight, Shockheaded Peter conjures a crossbreed of Labyrinth and A Nightmare on Elm Street — by way of Studio Ghibli. The story follows Ruby, a teenage girl with an actual broken heart, as she’s drawn into the crusade of a mysterious harbinger of punishment.

With evocative art from Giuseppe Sabè Di Stefano, this series balances gruesome fates with strange whimsy, creating a horror-fantasy like no other.

In this interview, we cover:

How their Hollywood backgrounds shaped the pacing of the comic

The collaborative process behind creating a layered, surreal world

The inspirations that fuel Shockheaded Peter’s blend of horror, folklore, and fantasy

Ruby’s journey in Book Two — and hints at what’s to come in the finale

Bringing the series to readers through Kickstarter and the importance of fan support

📚 Support Shockheaded Peter Vol. 2 on Kickstarter: [Insert Kickstarter Link]

Follow the creators:
🔗 E.B. Kogan — https://www.instagram.com/ebkfromla/
🔗 Jessica Silvetti — https://www.instagram.com/jess_silvetti/

✨ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to USDN for more indie comic spotlights, creator interviews, and nerd culture deep dives.

#ShockheadedPeter #IndieComics #USDNPodcast #KickstarterComics #HorrorFantasy

USDN Interview | Ben Lacy – Shark of War #9 (Kickstarter Live Now!)

Welcome back to The United States Department of Nerds (USDN)! 🎙️ Today we dive into one of the most outrageous, high-octane indie comics on the scene: Shark of War 🦈💥.

Joining me is Ben Lacy (writer/artist/creator) to talk about the epic finale of The Whales of War Arc in Shark of War #9, now live on Kickstarter!

In this episode, we discuss:

What makes Shark of War stand out in the indie scene
The rise of the Mega Whale of War 🐋 (the biggest villain yet)
Gnasher’s escape from the Lab of Terrors & what it means
How new readers can catch up with all 9 issues
Kickstarter rewards, campaign perks & indie comic insights
What’s next for Gnasher after this arc wraps

If you’re a fan of wild concepts, cyber-sharks, and boss-level storytelling, you don’t want to miss this one.

🔗 Back Shark of War #9 on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bitingcomics/shark-of-war-1-9-final-boss-battle?ref=discovery&term=shark%20of%20war&total_hits=12&category_id=250

🌐 Follow Ben Lacy & Shark of War:

Website: https://mailchi.mp/ed97fcc5707b/bitingcomics

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sharkofwar

👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more indie comic interviews and Kickstarter spotlights!

#SharkOfWar, #IndieComics, #KickstarterComics, #USDNPodcast, #ComicBooks, #IndieCreators, #SupportIndieComics, #MegaWhaleOfWar

Writing Imperfect Superhumans: The Story Behind Zip | USDN Interview with Mike Scrase

Hello Council Members! I’m The Chairman of The United States Department of Nerds (USDN), and today we’re diving into the world of ZIP — the British comic about flawed superhumans that doubles as a smart commentary on disability.

Joining me is Mike Scrase (Writer), the creator of Zip, published by Markosia Enterprises. With stunning art by San Espina and lettering by Ferran Delgado, Zip has already delivered three powerful issues — and now Issue #4 is heading to Kickstarter!

In this episode, we’ll explore:

The origins of Zip and Mike’s journey into comics
How disability became central to the story of imperfect superhumans
The challenges and care taken when writing about disability responsibly
What’s in store for Issue #4 (funerals, time travel, and huge twists!)
The Kickstarter campaign, rewards, and why indie publishing matters

If you’ve ever wanted to know how to write superhumans with depth, care, and realism — this is the episode for you.

🔗 Kickstarter for Zip #4 (Launching Sept 16th): https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mikescrase/zip4?ref=discovery&term=zip&total_hits=5145&category_id=250

🌐 Follow The Creator & Project:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zipcomicuk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zipcomicuk

👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more creator interviews and indie comic spotlights!

#ZipComic #IndieComics #KickstarterComics #USDNPodcast #Superheroes #DisabilityRepresentation

📺 When Good Looks Kill: The Origin of Greg | Duke Electric Interview | United States Department of Nerds (USDN)

Hello There, it's The Chairman of the United States Department of Nerds (USDN)—where we are for the people, by the people, and of the people!

In this episode, we’re joined by the multi-talented Duke Electric—creator, writer, and artist behind the outrageous new independent comic series GREG Issue #0: The Delivery Room (now live on Kickstarter)!

GREG tells the story of a man so good looking… that if you see his face, your head will literally explode. In this in-depth interview, Duke shares the wild origins of GREG, his journey from animation and live music to comics, and why he chose Kickstarter to bring this explosive debut to life.

🧠 What You’ll Hear in This Episode

Duke’s creative journey through Warner Bros., Netflix, PBS, Nickelodeon, and DreamWorks

How his experience in animation and music shaped his comic-making process

The origin story of GREG and the tone, style, and inspirations behind it

A peek at the rewards, perks, and stretch goals in the GREG Kickstarter campaign

Duke’s long-term vision for the GREG series

📢 Support Independent Comics!
Back GREG Issue #0: The Delivery Room on Kickstarter and help bring this over-the-top, hilarious, and action-packed story to life.

Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gregcomicofficial/greg-issue-0-the-delivery-room-massacre?ref=discovery&term=greg&total_hits=1252&category_id=250

🎨 Follow Duke Electric on social media for updates, art drops, and appearances during the campaign.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gregcomicofficial/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/dukeelectric.bsky.social

📲 Follow USDN for More Creator Interviews & Comic Book Content

YouTube: Subscribe to USDN

💥 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more interviews with the minds behind the most creative indie comics on the planet.

#USDN #DukeElectric #GregComic #IndieComics #KickstarterComics #ComicBookInterview #SupportIndieComics #USDNPodcast #CreatorInterview #ComicBookCommunity

Hello there, it’s The Chairman of the United States Department of Nerds (USDN)—where we are for the people, by the people, and of the people!

In this episode, I sit down with Bruno Catarino to talk about his brand-new comic book project, Crimson Bay—a dark, action-packed series inspired by 1990s fighting games and brought to life through Kickstarter.

We dive into:

🔥 The origins of Crimson Bay
🔥 The unique characters and stories within the series
🔥 Bruno’s creative process and inspirations
🔥 What backers can expect from the Kickstarter campaign
🔥 The future vision of Crimson Bay beyond crowdfunding

Whether you’re a comic book fan, an indie comics supporter, or a backer who loves discovering fresh, creator-driven stories, this interview gives you everything you need to know about Crimson Bay and why it deserves a spot on your pull list.

👉 Don’t forget to check out Bruno Catarino’s Kickstarter for Crimson Bay and support indie comics!

📌 Follow USDN for more creator interviews, comic book spotlights, and weekly recommendations.

Support the Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/redwulfcomics/crimson-bay-1-martial-arts-comic-inspired-by-90s-vgs?ref=discovery&term=bruno%20catarino&total_hits=8&category_id=250

#USDN #CrimsonBay #BrunoCatarino #ComicBookInterview #IndieComics #KickstarterComics #ComicBookCommunity #ComicBookFans #NewComics #ComicCreators

What happens when superheroes aren’t perfect? In this deep-dive interview, The Chairman of the United States Department of Nerds sits down with Mike Scrase, writer of Zip—a British indie comic published by Markosia Enterprises that redefines what it means to be superhuman.

Together, we explore:

🔹 The Creator Origin Story – Mike’s comic book beginnings and how Zip was born
🔹 The Story Behind Zip – Themes of identity, disability, and realism in a superhero world
🔹 Writing Disability, Responsibly – Avoiding tropes, doing the research, and listening to readers
🔹 Publishing & Kickstarter – Why the team is going the crowdfunding route for Issue #4
🔹 Creative Process – Collaboration with San Espina (Art) and Ferran Delgado (Lettering)
🔹 Lightning Round – British comic favorites, casting dreams, and Mike’s writing playlist
🔹 Call to Action – Where to get Zip and how to support the upcoming Kickstarter

This is more than a comic—it’s a conversation about representation, creative independence, and crafting stories that matter.

📚 Issues 1–3 of Zip are available now on Amazon and DriveThruComics
🚀 Kickstarter for Issue #4 is coming soon—links below to stay updated!

🧠 Issue 1 Creative Credits:

• Writer: Mike Scrase
• Art: San Espina
• Lettering: Ferran Delgado

🔗 Stay Connected:

📌 https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mikescrase/zip4?ref=discovery&term=zip&total_hits=5117&category_id=250
📌 https://www.instagram.com/zipcomicuk/

#ZipComic #MikeScrase #Markosia #IndieComics #BritishComics #ComicBookInterview #DisabilityInComics #RepresentationMatters #SuperheroStories #KickstarterComics #ComicBookWriters #USDNShorts #ComicsThatMatter

🎨 Inside the Mind of Vitalerium’s Artist: Francisco Hnilo Interview | Comic Book Art, Webtoons & More

In this exclusive USDN interview, we sit down with Francisco Hnilo—the talented artist behind Vitalerium—to dive deep into his creative origins, process, inspirations, and what's next for this visually stunning comic series.

From storyboards to posters and Webtoons, Francisco shares how he broke into the world of comic book illustration and why Vitalerium stood out to him as a project worth diving into. We explore everything from character design and artistic influences to his preferred tools and techniques.

Whether you're an artist, comic fan, or someone looking for behind-the-scenes insight into a futuristic, mythic, and visually rich indie title—this one's for you.

🔗 Follow Francisco Hnilo:
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/fah_draws/

📢 Subscribe for more interviews, reviews, and comic book deep dives!

#Vitalerium #FranciscoHnilo #ComicBookArtist #USDNShorts #ComicInterview #IndieComics #WebtoonArtist #VisualStorytelling #MakingComics #BehindTheScenes #ComicArtProcess #ComicBookCommunity #DigitalArt #StoryboardArtist #SciFiComics #MythicSciFi #ComicBookDesign #USDN