Baron and Rude’s Nexus to return in Dark Horse Presents
Good news for “Nexus” fans — the sci-fi epic will return in the pages of the anthology series “Dark Horse Presents,” as announced in Steve Rude’s e-newsletter:
Baron and Rude are re-uniting for a new Nexus story. The story will be published under the Dark Horse banner in their Dark Horse Presents anthology book. After three 10-page installments in DHP, the story will eventually be published as its own stand-alone 30 pg. book. We’re withholding plot specifics at this point, but Baron’s story will focus on the “nature of evil”.
Baron will script, Rude will draw, ink, and letter! More details as they arise. Merry Christmas to all Nexus fans!
Dark Horse has been reprinting “Nexus” in hardcover archive editions. Steve Rude’s “Rude Dude” most recently published new issues of “Nexus,” as well as a black and white softcover compilation of the earliest issues.
Dark Horse sent out a news release announcing that the story will begin in May 2012′s “Dark Horse Presents” No. 12.
“The new stories crush anvils,” Mike Baron said in the release.
- Matt Price
Superman movie news, Uncanny X-Force #1 review, comic prices to drop
Zack Snyder to helm Superman
Variety reports that “Watchmen” director Zack Snyder has signed on to direct Warner Bros.’ revamp of the 
“Superman” property for a film to be released in 2012. David Goyer (“Batman Begins”) is writing the script, based on a story by Goyer and Christopher Nolan.
Wonder Woman coming to TV
It was recently reported that “Boston Legal” David E. Kelley was developing Wonder Woman as a TV series. The character was the focus of a 1970s TV series starring Lynda Carter.
Comic prices to drop
DC Comics will move most books to 20 pages of content in a 32-page package for $2.99, as announced at the Source blog. Marvel Comics plans some titles launching in January 2011 to launch at $2.99, but books currently at $3.99 look to be staying where they are.
Help Steve Rude
Artist Steve Rude, co-creator of “Nexus” and “The Moth” and one of the most acclaimed comic-book creators of the 1980s, is facing financial difficulties from the current recession. Check out steverude.com/auctions for all the items available, including sketchbooks, original art, graphic novels and more.
This week, the comic books reviewed by Matt Price and Kyle Roberts are Uncanny X-Force #1, Wolverine #2 and Batman: Hidden Treasures.
Catch up on original Nexus before hiatus
Comic book artist Steve Rude will put his acclaimed comic-book series “Nexus,” which he creates with writer Mike Baron, on hiatus following the conclusion of the “Space Opera” storyline.
As announced in an e-mail from Rude Dude Productions, Rude will focus on gallery paintings and continue to put out books in trade paperback format every few years. Though readers may be at the end of new “Nexus” for now, it’s easier than ever to catch up on the original series.
Rude Dude recently reprinted “Nexus: Origin,” the Eisner Award-winning origin of Nexus, a man in the year 2814, plagued by nightmares of mass-murderers. Nexus, given powers by a mysterious force, is compelled to find these killers and execute them. The original adventures of “Nexus” will be released in an affordable black-and-white format this month. “Nexus: As It Happened” Vol. 1 reprints seven issues of “Nexus”: Vol. 1, 1-3, and Vol. 2, 1-4.
Eight hardcover volumes of “Nexus” have been released by Dark Horse Comics, with the ninth scheduled for August.
The “Space Opera” storyline is set to conclude in the double issue “Nexus” 101-102, also planned for August release.
Baron, who also wrote Marvel’s “Punisher” and DC’s “Batman” and “Flash,” described “Nexus” in a 2008 interview with The Oklahoman.
“All they really need to know is that Nexus is a guy who dreams of mass-murderers, and he has to go out 
and kill them,” Baron said. “The concept is … going to draw people in immediately, and then they’re going to find the characters interesting.”
Baron said “Nexus” is a blend of his and Rude’s world views but compared the writing to two disparate influences.
“Writing-wise, I only claim a couple of antecedents,” he said. “I’ve been greatly inspired by the science-fiction work of Philip Jose Farmer. And the way a story is constructed by Carl Barks. Though you might not see that in there.”
Rude claims Jack Kirby, co-creator of “The Fantastic Four” and “Captain America,” as his inspiration. “(My comics will) have all the sock ‘em, rock ‘em action that all great fiction has – and I’m thinking of, like, Kirby books from the 1960s and 1970s – he dealt with the greatest issues that mankind has ever had to look in the face at – but they were always inspirational,” Rude said in a 2007 interview with The Oklahoman.
“And when things got bad, there always came a hero, which is the essence of comics, to try and do what’s right. And that’s what I love about comic books.”
By Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman
Steve Rude on the radio
Press release from Steve Rude, who is on the radio right this minute:
Go to WRNJ and click on LISTEN NOW at the top of the page
http://www.wrnjradio.com/
Direct link to the MP3 of the promo for Steve Rude: http://www.timetravelispossible.com/files/SRPR.mp3
Guest: Steve Rude
Air Date: Friday May 23rd 2008
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 P.M. (E.S.T.)
Synopsis: Yes, time travelers, The Dude is coming. That’s right, Steve Rude
is getting set to blast off with us in our time machine. Steve Rude, that
amazing comic-book artist and painter who has captured the secret sanctums,
skyways, and dimensions so well with his mighty pen and brush, taking us to
Space Ghost’s Ghost Planet, Thor’s Asgard, Batman’s Batcave, the circus of
the Moth, and the Ylum of Nexus! Steve Rude, a man influenced by the
worlds of Jack Kirby and Hanna-Barbera! When the big guns (Marvel and
DC) need a painter to capture their characters perfectly for a special project
or item, there are only a select few artists that are so battle-tested, so
reliable to hit it out of the park every time as our next TIME TRAVEL guest.
Your free boarding pass for The Dude awaits. (And please turn off your cell
phones during the performance of this Space Opera.) Thank you, gang!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Baron, Bieser, Smith and Zach make Denver convention appearance
If you’re in the Denver area or heading that way, you can see Mike Baron (“Nexus,” “Punisher”) and other creators at the Majesticon on Sunday, April 13. The show opens at 10 a.m. in the Ramada Plaza Convention Center, just off Interstate 25 at the 120th Street exit in Northglenn.
Baron will be answer questions about current projects and sign copies of his book “The Architect,” published by Big Head Press last year. Baron has won Eisner awards for his work on “Nexus,” which returned from Rude Dude Publications last year. Baron is the co-creator of “Badger,” and relaunched “The Flash” in 1987 with former Kid Flash, Wally West.
Also appearing are L. Neil Smith, Scott Bieser and Jen Zach. Smith, Bieser and Zach have recently completed their latest graphic novel, “Roswell, Texas,” which goes on sale at the end of May.
For more information, visit www.bigheadpress.com.
– Matt Price
“Nexus” 100 goes to printer
According to an e-mail from Rude Dude Productions, the delayed “Nexus” No. 1oo heads to press this week. The 11-page painted portion of story took artist Steve Rude more than 6 months to paint. The Rude Dude e-mail included this praise from “Kingdom Come” artist Alex Ross:
Simply put: gorgeous. Steve’s long-anticipated debut of painted interiors is well worth the wait, as it’s some of the finest American illustration one can find. Legendary illustrator Andrew Loomis’ legacy is alive and well in these pages. Steve’s creamy, rich paintings are full of a glowing warmth that transports one to a different time and place, both past and future.
Rude’s painted and non-painted art continues to impress; for a preview, check out Steve Rude’s ComicSpace.
Happy birthday, Steve Rude!
Steve Rude turns 51 on New Year’s Eve! We recently received some announcements from Steve about “Nexus” 100, and Rude Dude’s 2008 Free Comic Book Day plans:
All in Sundra Completed 
Phoenix, Arizona – December 30, 2007 - Rude Dude Productions announced today that Steve Rude’s first ever painted story, All in Sundra, is finally completed.
All in Sundra is only 11 pages in length, but took the artist nearly 8 months to complete and has caused the delay of the long awaited Nexus 100.
Rude Dude Productions expects to have copies ready for Steve’s appearance at the Phoenix Comic Con at the end of January where attendees will be receiving FREE copies of the 2007 Free Comic Book Day Nexus. Retail copies are expected to ship from Diamond at the end of January.
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FCBD Moth Announced Steve Rude announced that THE MOTH will be making a return appearance for Free Comic Book Day, May 3, 2008. Steve will be appearing at Comic Legends and Heroes in Goodyear, Arizona. The FCBD Moth will be solicited in February 2008 Previews and will be the launching point for a new 4 issue Moth mini series. Like the Nexus FCBD issue, it is designed to bring new Moth readers up to date and ready to jump into the new issues. The Moth TPB previously released by Dark Horse will be remastered and released by Rude Dude Productions for early July 2008. The new Moth series launch date will not be determined until the series is actually completed. |
