He dreams of mass murderers. Then he has to kill them. Nexus turns 45 — and WHAT IT IS finally tells the whole story. Unseen art, untold history, one oversized 9×12 volume. New to Nexus? Follow now for a FREE remastered 48-page origin comic.
Where were you when you read your first Nexus issue — and which issue was it?
Every Nexus reader has one. Maybe it was a spinner rack in 1981, maybe a friend shoved a beat-up issue into your hands, maybe you found the whole run in a long box twenty years later. Steve still remembers people telling him theirs at cons — some of them can name the store.
So let's hear it: where were you, and which issue was it? First appearance, a random middle issue, a cover that grabbed you off the shelf — there's no wrong door into Nexus. We'll be reading these, and Steve will share some favorites on the Saturday stream.
You followed. That was step one — and you didn’t even know it.
We’re bringing an exclusive Nexus: What It Is! art card to Dragon Con (Sept 4–7, Atlanta). It will never be sold or offered anywhere else. Because you already follow, it’s already yours: find us at the con, show us you follow, done. And there’s a secret on the card — card-holders find out. (Table location the moment Dragon Con assigns it.)
One ask: send this to ONE person who’d love Nexus and tell them to follow before Sept 10 — it’s free, the 48-page download is instant, and it pushes us toward 1,000. We’re at 827.
Steve also still needs a model for his live charity painting demo at the con — girl-next-door look, no visible tattoos, free Friday afternoon Sept 4, comped with a full-weekend Dragon Con badge. Applications: [email protected].
See you Saturday — live at 1:30 PM Arizona: youtube.com/steverudethedude
750. Three-quarters of the way — and you got us here.
Hey everyone —
750. We're three-quarters of the way to 1,000 followers on Nexus: What It Is! — and every one of those numbers is a person who refused to let this book disappear.
Mike Baron and Steve Rude launched Nexus at Capital Comics in 1981 and have kept it alive ever since. 45 years. A major publisher set out to make this book for the 35th anniversary and never finished a draft; Steve finally wrote it himself, and we brought in a former Nexus editor to help carry it home. You're the reason it finally gets made.
And we're this close to proving 1,000 people feel the same. Here's what's on the other side of that number: the second we hit 1,000, the Crystal Ballroom Library Card unlocks — the key to a growing archive of the art, history, and pages that didn't fit in the book. Because you followed before launch, it's yours free when you back during the campaign — even at the $5 create-your-own level. We just have to climb the last quarter together.
Then ask them to send it to one more. That's the whole game — 45 years of Nexus survived because people passed it hand to hand. 250 to go. Let's close it.
And come draw with Steve live — Saturdays, 1:30 PM Arizona time, youtube.com/steverudethedude. We call the number out on stream and push for 1,000 together.
We did it. 500 of you are following Nexus: What It Is! — and we blew past it in a single day. This morning we were at 375. Look at us now.
Think about what that number is really saying. 45 years ago, two guys made Nexus on their own terms, no big publisher telling them what it had to be. Years back, a publisher tried to put the definitive book together and couldn't get it across the finish line. 500 of you following is the reason it finally gets made. That's the whole story — Nexus has always survived because of the people who refused to let it disappear.
And here's what the number unlocks: we're halfway to 1,000. The second we hit that, the Crystal Ballroom Library Card unlocks — your exclusive access to an archive of behind-the-scenes material nobody else sees. Because you followed before launch, it's yours free when you back the project during the campaign — even at the $5 create-your-own level. We just have to finish the climb together.
Then ask them to send it to one more. That's the whole game. 45 years of Nexus survived because people passed it hand to hand — let's do it one more time and get to 1,000.
And come hang out Saturday: Steve draws live at 1:30 PM Arizona time on YouTube (youtube.com/steverudethedude). This Saturday we're rallying the drive on stream and calling the number out live. Be there.
Thank you for following Nexus: What It Is! before we even opened the doors.
Quick one: we're pushing to 1,000 followers before launch, and the second we hit it, every prelaunch follower gets a free Crystal Ballroom Library Card. You're already in line — but it's all or nothing. If we don't reach 1,000, nobody gets the card.
