Oklahoma comic creators unlock 'Lucid'

“It really all came out of a dream,” Berry, 27, said in an email interview. “It sounds cheesy but this dream seemed so real to me. I woke up and jotted down a few notes. It just kept growing from there.”

In “Lucid,” five strangers are trapped, trying to determine what is reality and what is a dream.

“When I read the script for ‘Lucid' and talked with Tim about how this comic could look, he was very open to the idea of going the nontraditional route,” Alterici said in an email interview. “So many comics today are created with that distinct ‘comic book style' art, and while it takes great skill to produce, I think it may stifle new ideas and unique voices, especially for newcomers. It so important for artists to find their own voice and hone it. I'm happy Tim is letting me do this in my style, sketchy lines and all. It's how I love to draw.”

Berry and Alterici met through a Facebook group for Oklahoma comic book creators, which they credited for helping inspire their collaboration.

“I sometimes feel frustrated being an artist in Oklahoma,” Alterici said. “But at the same time when I meet other isolated artists and find we share the same frustrations and the same aspirations, I can tell it gives us both hope and reignites the creative flame.”

Feedback and critiques from the group helped in the early days of the project.