A comiXologist Recommends (the return of a classic)

Nexus: The Comic Strip #1

Writer – Mike Baron

Artist – Steve Rude

Mike Baron and Steve Rude have been around a long time, and they’ve made some wild stuff in their time in the business.  I have somewhere in fact a Space Ghost comic Rude did in the 80s that I just adore.  Mike Baron should be thanked for his relaunch of The Flash in the late-80s.  Both men are prolific creators and mainstays of the industry, and it is important to take note right now of their most memorable creation: Nexus.

Nexus is a superhero that is essentially a man possessed by a cosmic entity (kinda like the Silver Surfer), who has to feed the entity that empowers him (sorta like the Silver Surfer as the Herald of Galactus) by slaughtering mass murderers before the visions of violence consume him and his sanity (which is nothing like the Silver Surfer).

The main character is named Horatio Hellpop, and as Nexus if he doesn’t kill the target he sees in his visions, he will lose his powers and his mind!

Truly, this comic strip #1 is a great way to be introduced to this character and the creator Steve Rude.  Put out through Rude Dude Productions this is both action-packed space violence and a look into the process of creating the stories and art. There are full scripts to read over (or study for those who are inclined) and pre-ink pencil art, which is my favorite way of viewing Steve Rude’s work.  His pencils are just some of the most spectacular to see ever.

Solid character introductions, artist profiles, and work-in-progress studies make this little first issue a steal.  Any discerning fan will want this to better understand the lengths and time taken to bring them their favorite stories.

Most importantly, the first story page opens with spaceships careening through asteroids and a woman yelling, “We are cursed! We have scarred the face of God!”  Pretty wild stuff I’d say.

Nexus is pretty intense and worth this little look-see.

Matthew Burbridge is a Digital Editor at ComiXology and he really wants to sit and finish this one really big book he made the mistake of starting.  It isn’t that he doesn’t appreciate a big book.  He loves big epic adventures if they’re good, but this 600-pager he’s stuck trudging through is just so “meh,” you know?