There are those among us who can see beyond the veil of dreams to another world…

…a realm of unimaginable beauty…

…and of unspeakable horror, where terrifying creatures’ ceaseless hunger draws them ever closer to the waking world.

AMANDA CARTER is not the first person with this ability…

…but she just might be the last.

Wide Awake is a new webcomic series launching in Summer 2009; on Free Comic Book Day, 2009, the series creators previewed a special “Chapter Zero.”

The horror/adventure series will be co-written by Eric Trautmann (Checkmate, JSA vs. Kobra: Engines of Faith, Final Crisis: Resist) and Brandon Jerwa (Battlestar Galactica, Highlander, G.I. Joe), with art by Mirco Pierfederici (Doctor Who, Star Trek Alien Spotlight). David Messina (Star Trek: Countdown, Angel) will serve as art director and coordinate covers for each chapter.

A first glimpse of “Wide Awake” — a short story called “Behind the Wall of Sleep,” — can be found in the Image Comics anthology POPGUN VOLUME TWO, which is available now. (To read the original story in its entirety, along with creator commentary from Jerwa and Trautmann, click here.)

The creators are currently planning to present the serialized story in an uninterrupted weekly format, with a new six-page chapter posted at www.wideawakeonline.com every Friday following the official series debut. The website will offer plenty of bonus material as well, including sketches, a production journal, interviews and downloadable wallpapers and banners.

To view Chapter Zero in its entirety, click below (and follow the instructions to zoom to your optimal resolution). 

Enjoy!