Steve Rude, Nexus The Coming of Gourmando The Newspaper Strips Volume 1 Deluxe Edition strip 14 page 1

As I told Jaynelle Rude, the wife of Steve Rude, any day a Steve Rude Nexus page arrives is a good day. Well today is an extra sized good day as an extra sized page came - this page measures a whopping 15" by 22".

I love this page apart from the usual amazing Rude drafting, plotting and pacing - it directly references the best Nexus storyline from the first trip to the "Bowl-Shaped World" (although it could use a bit of editing as this story was in Nexus issues 6-8, not 5-8). And it features Steve drawing the Badger - his renderings of the Badger together with Nexus are the best of both characters.

This continuing 10 year plus project is extremely oversized. While it came in several editions, the largest one is this Deluxe edition, which Steve describes as:

With over 320 pages this Deluxe Hardcover Edition is more than double the size of most Artist Edition books at the same price! What's inside:

90 page Gourmando strip in FULL COLOR
90 page Gourmando strip PENCILS
90 page Gourmando strip INKS
8 page "Out There" (New Strip)
Over 20 pages of EXTRAS"

Mike Baron has said that he always wanted to tell a Galactus story. Steve describes the story as "Something long dormant beneath the surface of Ylum comes alive, triggering a visit from the planet-devouring Gourmando and his mysterious ally. With powers far beyond those of even Nexus himself, this unstoppable being banishes Nexus to an unknown realm--and the only way out is to face ones worst fears! Mike Baron and Steve Rude deliver a new Nexus adventure in this special collection"

Mike and Steve telling new Nexus stories 40 years later is both a blessing and a curse. Steve's art remains unbelievable, and Mike's storytelling retains the unique combination of mythos and comedy .. but as Thomas Wolfe said, "You can't go home again."

It is time to let other creators take this amazing Space Opera forward. Steve has begun plotting and writing his own stories in the recently finished five issue "Battle for Thuneworld." Mike has told two stories with other artists. And the results are uneven and ultimately disappointing when held against the more than 100 previous issues. But enjoy this amazing oversized page.