Steve Rude, Nexus Amazing Heroes Preview Special Issue #2 (1985)

Early Nexus covers are almost impossible to find. In over 15 years of collecting Nexus original art, I have only seen a handful, and of course they are priced accordingly. I am not sure many of the early covers still exist.

So I am very pleased to add this cover to my Nexus collection. Time-wise, this cover would have been released around the time of Nexus issues 15 or 16. Amazing Heroes Preview Special was the comic book equivalent of the TV Guide Fall Preview issue, an annual publication that provided collectors with a guide to the growing number of new comic book titles being published and included many of independent publishers from the early 1980s.

Given that this magazine was a preview magazine, Rude gives shout outs to some of his favorite new publications (Omaha), gently pokes fun at some of the odd, new characters (by creating a funny new one called Yarn Man) and can't help but reference one of his favorite comics when growing up (Johnny Quest). Johnny Quest and Space Ghost provide a basis for how Rude approached designing characters and penciling out scenes.