Product Description: On the distant moon of Ylum, an enigmatic man is plagued by nightmares. He is forced to dream of the past. He dreams of real-life butchers and tyrants, and what they have done. And then he finds them, and kills them. The year is 2841, and this man is Nexus, a godlike figure who acts as judge, jury, and executioner for the vile criminals who appear in his dreams. He claims to kill in self-defense, but why? Where do the visions come from, and where did he get his powers? Though a hero to many, does he have any real moral code? These are but some of the questions that reporter Sundra Peale hopes to have answered.
Rise of a Master Craftsman I've long been a fan of Steve Rude, but haven't read all that much of Nexus. So, it's pretty overdue for me to begin reading Nexus from the beginning. This book began over 20 years ago, and it's held up surprisingly well. This volume starts off with a few black and white issues and end with the last half in color. Rude's artwork blossoms in this volume, and he is truly one of our best living comic illustrators. He's got a keen eye for amazing composition, characterization and clean and clear sequential style. His artwork is a cocktail of the best of Curt Swan, Steve Ditko, Jack Kirby and Sal Buscema, and Rude holds his own in this esteemed company. Mike Baron's story is engaging and timeless, a SciFi adventure for the ages. Nice volume from Dark Horse. The color seems old fashioned by todays comic book standards of computerized color, but seems to be a good reproduction of the original. Highly Recommended.
Classic For anyone interested in amazing art and well-written storylines, go no further. Nexus is a joy to read, and very easy on the eyes. I originally read these quite a few years back, and I am hoping that I am not speaking through nostalgia, but i think that the stories hold up quite well. I am sorta amazed that these books are not hallowed amongst some of the best stuff that came out in the 80's. Perhaps that it was not a Marvel or DC title, i don't know. I would put Nexus, specifically the Steve Rude issues, in my top 20 comics of all time. Anyhow, I would be quite surprised to find a comic reader who would not enjoy these stories. Take a chance, you will most likely be very pleased.
The Best In Science Fiction and Sequential Literature. It's time, once more, for the daring character play of NEXUS. The gripping saga of a noble executioner, and the lives his activities transform, is entering its 25th anniversary this year. With the star-spanning, soul- searching creations of writer Mike Baron and illustrator Steve Rude set to enter a new phase of their lives, there's no better time for a handsome hardbound series of archives to collect the original exploits of Horatio Hellpop, Sundra Peale, Dave, Judah, Tyrone, Ursula and all the rest who comprise this stunning tale of tragedy, laughter, power, ambition, and humble affection yearning to breathe free.
Dark Horse Comics, the intrepid company which was the third to feature the award- winning Science Fiction chronicle, has just issued the first volume of the NEXUS ARCHIVES. Even if you're one of the few to own those rare Capital Comics issues, or the equally rare Graphitti collection of Capital's original Black and White debut, this Dark Horse hardcover is a special treat all its own. Collecting the Black & White debut & origin of the philosopher slayer and his myriad world, the NEXUS ARCHIVES gathers the first four color issues of the Capital run, and unveils the first master schemings of one of the most compellingly evil villians ever conceived for Fiction; one who will manipulate anyone -even her own body- to further her own vested ends.
The ARCHIVES is invaluable in providing a look at the beginnings of one of the finest teams to grace the Sequential Arts. From the start, Baron's ability to imbue ruthlessness with beguiling charm, tenderness with a tough edge, and communicate camraderie and commitment with something as simple as a cookout, or a shared touch, has made him one of the great writers of the past 25 years. Baron's handling of plot and dialogue commands the incisive candor of a playwright's grasp. No less the genius, Rude's fine lines convey a wealth of diversity in body language and emotional insistency which none surpass. Only George Pérez and Wendy Pini match his capacity for broad cinematic scope. As is the case with ELFQUEST's Pini, Rude's frequent use of painted portrait to convey the varied levels of narrative is captivating and eye- popping, presaging today's much-plaudited work from brushmaster Alex Ross.
The essays written by Baron and Rude for this collection are a treat in themselves, providing a glimpse into the very stuff of aesthetic integrity, the flimsy nature of industrial whim, and a touching exchange of staunch respect and abiding friendship which has made their business endeavors all the more rewarding.
As kicking as the multifaceted character of NEXUS himself happens to be, the rich tapestry of supporting characters marks this chronicle as a wonderfully precious, deeply involving, highly ethical storyline. Male, Female, Alien: All have a story. Here, a political spy can become a dynamic figure of courage and honesty, and a factory manager stands revealed as a healing counselor. A cynical refugee can become a caring political leader, and an ambassador can stand revealed as a fiendishly polarizing force. In a tale where a killer has the heart of an innocent and the soul of a poet, all things are possible.
If you have been with NEXUS over the past twenty-five years, consider this collection a special monument to the resilience of great Art, and the healthy interest of a sharp, searching readership. If you have never read NEXUS, and wonder what all the shouting is about, I heartily encourage you to acquire this collection, and enter the start of a particularly special voyage.
You want Comix that give a damn, and have something to say with thought and feeling? Here you are.
Great literature doesn't get any better than this.
Ylum's Favorite Son Horatio Hellpop, the man known as Nexus, comes to life in this deluxe hardcover volume collecting the first 7 issues of... well, "Nexus" by Mike Baron and Steve "The Dude" Rude.
The first issues (first published starting in 1981!) are in b&w, the way they were originally printed, but you do get the nice color covers (some are by Paul Gulacy) and then the four-color series kicks in. Along the way Baron's erudite writing style starts to flow and the Dude's art coalesces into something resembling his gorgeous mature work. These are two creators in their formative days coming together to tell the thrilling, philosophical and sometimes hilarious stories of Nexus as he wrestles with his destiny as a man doomed forever to kill mass murderers.
You'll meet Nexus himself, then watch as he pursues killer freaks like Zeiffer Meird and the decapitation-obsessed Clausius. As the story progresses, Nexus encounters the reporter Sundra Peale, who will become his lover, and then the nefarious and compelling Ursula X.X. Imada (plus he learns what the X's stand for). It's a sci-fi superhero tale that quotes William Blake and visually references everything from Dr. Seuss to "Star Trek." All those influences (Baron lists a few in his intro), and yet it's like nothing else.
"Nexus" was one of the indie greats of the 80s, and some of these stories were later retold more fluently by Baron and Rude, but it's worth it to have them in their original, somewhat rougher, form. Wonderful work that only improves along the way.
Fantastic presentation of a fantastic series Baron and Rude's Nexus remains one of the best science fiction/superhero series ever done and Dark Horse gives it the treatment it richly deserves in this classy archives format. To their credit, they've allowed the three black-and-white issues to remain in black-and-white rather than coloring them, allowing the reader to experience the artwork in as close as possible to its original presentation. The only thing lacking is the classic flexi-disc that was packaged with issue 3, featuring an audio dramatization of that issue's story and with the "unforgettable" Nexus theme song.
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Trevor
