Steve Rude

Steve Rude (born December 31, 1956) is an American comics artist. He is best known as the co-creator of Nexus.

Early life Steve Rude was born on December 31, 1956, in Madison, Wisconsin. He attended the Milwaukee School of Art and Design, the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and the Madison Area Technical College.

Career In 1981, Rude and writer Mike Baron created Nexus, an independent science fiction comic book with a large supporting cast. For the series, Rude designed numerous distinctive alien races, including the Thunes, the Amphibs, the Quattros, the Giz, the Demons, and others. The series ran for eighty issues although Rude did not pencil them all, and seven short, almost-yearly mini-series after the initial series ended.

Rude (left) speaking with a fan at an April 2016 comics convention. His first work for DC Comics appeared in Tales of the Teen Titans #48 (Nov. 1984). DC Comics writer and executive Paul Levitz has noted that Rude's artwork "plays on Norman Rockwell's Americana, while his sleek sequential storytelling owes a debt to the work of Alex Toth."

Rude drew two intercompany crossovers in the 1990s: the Magnus, Robot Fighter / Nexus two-issue limited series for Valiant Comics and Dark Horse Comics and The Incredible Hulk vs. Superman one-shot for Marvel Comics and DC. Thor: Godstorm, and Captain America: What Price Glory.

Rude returned to DC Comics in 2013 and drew the Before Watchmen: Dollar Bill one-shot. The following year, Rude and writer Jerry Ordway produced a Superman story for DC's Adventures of Superman digital series. Rude drew the 1930s variant cover for Action Comics #1000 (June 2018).

Steve Rude was the subject of the documentary film Rude Dude: The Steve Rude Story. Filmed over the course of three years, Rude spoke of his efforts to enter the fine art world and his struggles with bipolar disorder.

Awards Rude received the Russ Manning Most Promising Newcomer Award in 1984. He has won several "Best Artist" awards including the Kirby Award in 1986, the Best Artist in 1988, and the Harvey Award in 1991. He received an Inkpot Award in 1988. He won the Eisner Award for Best Penciller in 1993 and 1997.