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

Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America · Steve Rude · CC BY-SA 2.0
- Born
- 31 December 1956
- Birthplace
- Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.
- Awards
- Russ Manning Award (1984) Kirby Award (1986) Eisner Award (1988) Harvey Award (1991)
- Nationality
- United States
- Occupation
- caricaturist · comics artist
- Education
- Madison Area Technical College · University of Wisconsin–Madison
- Honours
- Russ Manning Award · Inkpot Award · Eisner Award for Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team · Eisner Award for Best Writer/Artist · Eisner Award for Best Artist · Eisner Award for Best Art Team
- Languages
- English
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
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Documentary summary
Steve Rude (born December 31, 1956) is an American comics artist. He is best known as the co-creator of Nexus.
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Note VALÉORINE
Steve Rude (born 1956) is a caricaturist and comics artist, of American nationality. The caricaturist was born in Madison. Steve Rude was educated at Madison Area Technical College and University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Languages used include English. Honours include Eisner Award for Best Art Team, Eisner Award for Best Artist and Eisner Award for Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team, among others.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 26 September 2026
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Documentary evidence
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Authority files
wikidata · Q257354 · wikipedia · Steve Rude
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Born — 31 December 1956 • Birthplace — Madison, Wisconsin, U.S. • Write — y • Pencil — y • Ink — y • Notable Works — Nexus • Awards — Russ Manning Award (1984) Kirby Award (1986) Eisner Award (1988) Harvey Award (1991)
Early life
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
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. • Illustration — 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). Rude collaborated with writer Dave Gibbons on the World's Finest miniseries for DC in 1990. 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. Rude's work for Marvel includes X-Men: Children of the Atom, Spider-Man: Lifeline, Thor: Godstorm, and Captain America: What Price Glory. In 2004 Rude co-created and pencilled The Moth with writer/inker Gary Martin. Rude's own "Rude Dude Productions" was announced on November 15, 2006. It has published new issues of Nexus and The Moth as well as an anthology series. The new Nexus series was Rude's first work with Baron since the last issue published by Dark Horse Comics. The first Nexus issue from Rude Dude was released as issue #99 (part 1 of the "Space Opera" story), and was set immediately following the last Dark Horse issue. After a few delays, issue #100 was published, followed by the final two issues of "Space Opera" printed together as one double-sized issue. 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.
Capital Comics
Capital Comics
• Nexus #1–3 (1981–1982) • Nexus vol. 2 #1–6 (1983–1984)
Comico
Comico
• Comico Christmas Special #1 (four pages) (1988) • Jonny Quest #4 (1986) • Space Ghost #1 (1987)
Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics
• Dark Horse Presents #138 (The Moth) (1998) • Dark Horse Presents vol. 2 #12–15, 18, 23–26, 29–34 (2012–2014) • The Moth #1–4, Special #1 (2004) • Nexus #89–98 (1996–1997) • Nexus: Alien Justice #1–3 (1992–1993) • Nexus Meets Madman #1 (1996) • Nexus: The Origin #1 (1992) • Nexus: The Wages of Sin #1–4 (1995) • San Diego Comic-Con Comics #1 (1992)
DC Comics
DC Comics
• Adventures of Superman vol. 2 #17 (2014) • Batman #400 (one page) (1986) • Batman Black and White Vol. 2 HC (2002) • Before Watchmen: Dollar Bill #1 (2013) • Fanboy #6 (1999) • History of the DC Universe HC (one page) (1988) • The Incredible Hulk vs. Superman #1 (1999) • Legends of the DC Universe #14 (Jimmy Olsen) (1999) • Mister Miracle Special #1 (1987) • New Gods Secret Files #1 (one page) (1998) • Tales of the Teen Titans #48 (1984) • Who's Who in the DC Universe #16 (two pages) (1992) • Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #3, 10, 18, 25 (1985–1987) • Wonder Woman vol. 2 #200 (one page) (2004) • World's Finest #1–3 (1990)
First Comics
First Comics
• E-Man vol. 2 #7 (one page) (1983) • Grimjack #6 (1985) • Munden's Bar Annual #1 (1988) • Nexus vol. 2 #7–22, 24–28, 33–36, 39–42, 45–50, 52–55, 58–60, 78 (1985–1991) • The Next Nexus #1–4 (1989)
Image Comics
Image Comics
• Phantom Force #2 (1994)
Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
• Captain America: What Price Glory #1–4 (2003) • Fantastic Four vol. 3 #50 (2002) • Fantastic Four: The World's Greatest Comics Magazine #12 (2002) • Heroes for Hope Starring the X-Men #1 (two pages) (1985) • Marvel #1 (2020) • Marvel Fanfare #45 (one page) (1989) • Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #14 (1984) • Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe vol. 2 #17 (1987) • Spider-Man: Lifeline #1–3 (2001) • Thor: Godstorm #1–3 (2001–2002) • X-Men:Children of the Atom #1–6 (1999–2000)
Rude Dude Productions
Rude Dude Productions
• The Moth Special Edition #1 (2008) • Nexus, FCBD 2007 #1 (2007) • Nexus: Space Opera #1–4 (2007–2009)
Valiant Comics
Valiant Comics
• Magnus, Robot Fighter / Nexus #1–2 (1993–1994)
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Steve Rude”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q257354: Steve Rude
General reference · Wikidata
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.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Miller, John Jackson. Comics Industry Birthdays. Comics Buyer's Guide. June 10, 2005.
- 2.Knowles, Chris. Steve Rude Interview: Rude's Awakening. Comic Book Artist. TwoMorrows Publishing. 8. 16, 27. May 2000.
- 3.Markstein, Don. Nexus. Don Markstein's Toonopedia. 2010.
- 4.credit. Steve+Rude. Steve Rude.
- 5.Dabbene, Peter. At Nexus of Independence: Marking 35 Years With a Classic Comic Character. Foreword Reviews. July 25, 2016.
- 6.Manning, Matthew K. DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. Dorling Kindersley. 246. 2010. 978-0-7566-6742-9.
- 7.Levitz, Paul. 75 Years of DC Comics The Art of Modern Mythmaking. Taschen. 692. 2010. 9783836519816.
- 8.Cowsill, Alan. Spider-Man Chronicle Celebrating 50 Years of Web-Slinging. Dorling Kindersley. 262. 2012. 978-0756692360.
- 9.Price, Matthew. Word Balloons: Nexus on hold until January. The Oklahoman. September 28, 2007.
- 10.Gerding, Stephen. Wein and Rude Craft Before Watchmen: Dollar Bill One-Shot. Comic Book Resources. November 2, 2012.
- 11.Khouri, Andy. Jerry Ordway & Steve Rude's Adventures of Superman Is Like 'A Lost Fleischer Cartoon'. ComicsAlliance. April 11, 2014.
- 12.Diamond Comic Distributors. DC Unveils Final Variant For Action Comics #1000. Previews. March 7, 2018.
- 13.Check Out New Documentary On Legendary Artist Steve Rude. Tripwire Magazine. February 4, 2018.
- 14.Lambiek Comiclopedia. Steve Rude. 2014.
- 15.San Diego Comic-Con International. Russ Manning Award. 2014.
- 16.Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac. 1986 Jack Kirby Awards. n.d.
- 17.Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac. 1988 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees. n.d.
- 18.Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac. 1991 Harvey Award Nominees and Winners. n.d.
- 19.Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac. Inkpot Award Winners.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessauthority record
General reference
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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