Nexus Archives, Vol. 2

Nexus Archives #2

by Mike Baron, Steve Rude

In this second volume of the acclaimed and multiple Eisner Award-winning series, reluctant vigilante Nexus - AKA Horatio Hellpop - sets out with the gregarious warrior Judah Maccabee for a drinking man's tour of the galaxy. They are soon waylaid when Judah, well past the legal blood-alcohol limit for operating a spacecraft, gets the pair sucked into a black hole! But instead of meeting their untimely end, they meet... the Badger?! Meanwhile, back on the moon Ylum, the plot thickens with mysterious ruins, a coerced presidential election, and Ursula X. X. Imada's relentless espionage. The last thing this refugee population needs while Nexus is out of commission is the reappearance of mass murderer Claudius the Slaver, and guess who's coming for dinner!

Genres: Comics, Science Fiction, Graphic Novels, Comic Book, Superheroes, Fiction

216 pages, Hardcover

First published April 12, 2006

Reviews

[Pat the Book Goblin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just as good as the first volume!

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great stuff. The Badger, the Bowl-shaped World - philosophy, fighting, and the beginning of Nexus' descent into Elvis-impersonator madness!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
2022 reread, still amazing comics. Nexus is masterful.

[Rex Hurst · Rating 4 out of 5]

The collected works of the 80s science fiction classic. Hortaio Hellpop is the Nexus. He is imbued with great power, but is plagued by vivid nightmares of butchers and tyrants. He is then compelled to kill these men by the power or suffer great agony. This intrigue and deaths pile up in this one as various factions attempt to use Hellpop to their own advantage. Includes a crossover with the other 80 inde character Badger.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Nexus then, I love Nexus now.

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bar-Hopping (5). Judah at his drinking, carousing worst is never one of my favorite characters, and so when he drags Nexus in to that, I roll my eyes a bit [6/10].

The Bowl-Shaped World (6-8). This is an intriguing story that really pins down the comic's science-fiction credentials. It's perhaps not as deep and morality-focused as a more typical Nexus story, but it's a fun boys' road trip with a great guest star in Badger [7/10].

From Teen Angel to Clausius (9-11). The last three issues are a bit stronger because of the better integration with the supporting cast on Ylum. The best parts display how that supporting cast and the universe are both changing -- especially with Tyrone becoming President and the Heads creating Headworld. I was glad to see the Clausius plot get an ending, but it was slightly anticlimatic with Judah taking the lead-role rather than Nexus.

Overall, this is still a good & enjoyable comic, but it's not quite up to the shocking spectacle of the first volume.

[Brian Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

OK, the bowl shaped world story that makes up the center of the book is deeply strange, but its of a piece of the rest of the unique and strange universe that Baron constructed for this series. Strange, but self consistent and ever evolving. The strong thematic element on the morality of killing continues, both in Nexus' actions and the requirements of the politics and survival of Ylum, the moon full of political refugees. Comics could do with a lot more series like this in scope and execution.

[Fraser Sherman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second collection builds on the first. Nexus starts looking for a way to end the nightmares that send him to kill, we get hints about who/what has chosen him as executioner and Ylum starts the awkward transformation into a real government. This is an interesting, thoughtful series; while the "bowl shaped world" arc isn't great, Baron and Rude obviously put some thought into it. As someone who got into the original series much later, this is a pleasure to read.

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just terrific. One of the top 4 or 5 comic book runs of all time. Story, art--including inks and colors--are just tops. I'm happy to have taken the time to read it again for the 4th or 5th time, but after 20 years since the last reading, it's fresh, vibrant, and if published new today would be reviewed as cutting edge.

[Fresno Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nexus is one of the more interesting comics ever