DAVE WRIGHTEOUS reviews NEXUS

Guest review by Dave Wrighteous . . . . .

THE ORIGINAL NEXUS by Mike Baron and Steve Rude (First Comics, 1989)Trade paperback reprinting Nexus Volume One, Issues #1 - #3.

This collection reprints the three black-and-white Capital Comics magazines heralding the start of the story of Nexus, a galactic executioner who uses his energy powers to end the lives of tyrants and killers, visions of whom appear relentlessly in his dreams, haunting and debilitating him to the point of near death.

This first arc has a strange ship approach the strictly private planet where Nexus resides along with thousands of political exiles and refugees from lands he has visited. In it, a mysterious traveler has a proposition: kill someone of his choosing and he will use a machine to end Nexus's torturous dreams for good...but can he be trusted?

Mike Baron starts this off with a real bang. The story is rich and deep, and although it's got considerably less battling (for now) than a standard action comic, it's a really engaging read. But the real star of the show is the mighty Steve "The Dude" Rude. His early work here starts a little thin, but you can tell right away this guy is GOOD! His artistic progress and growth by the end of the book in layouts, panel design, character design and backgrounds is stunning and the best was yet to come. Even though this collection is pretty old it's still quite easy to find and affordable too!

Dave's Rating: Grade: B+