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Nexus Omnibus #1
Nexus Omnibus Volume 1
First the headaches, then the nightmares of mass murderers who must die - by his hand, the hand that wields the energy of a living sun, the hand of Nexus! Possessing limitless power, Nexus is the greatest avenger in history, but his power and purpose come from an alien race with their own agenda. Is Nexus a hero or pawn? Deliverer or destroyer? God or devil? Created by Mike Baron and Steve Rude, Nexus is a science-fiction superhero masterpiece, and Nexus Omnibus Volume 1 features over 400 story pages of the award-winning series.
418 pages, Paperback
First published December 4, 2012
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157 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
March 24, 2021
Put off reading this for a while despite it being named one of the best sci fi comics series. I guess I was put off by the very X Man style design of Nexus and just wrote it off as a rip off. Nexus isn't anything like Cyclops though, he's essentially a hunter of war criminals and mass murderers because if he doesn't kill them he gets horrible migraines. It's a mad premise and set in quite an expansive and weird space opera universe. There's nothing hugely deep about it and the characterisation is pretty cartoonish but I get the impression that's what it's going for, and it's pretty cool for an 80s comic. One gripe might be that I preferred the early black and white art to the colour art. Somehow it just pops a bit more.
May 15, 2017
Este cómic sigue las aventuras de Horatio Hellpop, el alter ego de Nexus, un héroe espacial con grandes poderes que utiliza para eliminar asesinos de masa de distintos planetas... Horatio sufre extraños ataques durante los cuales le son revelados sus objetivos en forma de pesadillas, tras esto parte sin demora para castigar a los asesinos, como guiado por una fuerza desconocida.
El universo de Nexus es complicado y bizarro. El fuerte tono de ciencia ficción pulp típico de los años 50 y 60 le da una personalidad muy marcada. Este no es el típico cómic de superhéroes que se limita a contar las aventuras del protagonista, sino que tienen muchos elementos de interés... Por ejemplo, Nexus utiliza como base una de las lunas de un planeta llamado Ylum, allí va llevando a los refugiados que rescata de sus distintas misiones, con lo cual pronto se convierte en un complicado tapiz de razas y culturas que evolución iremos viendo a lo largo de los sucesivos números... cómo se organizan, cómo se relacionan entre sí, como crean un gobierno y comienzan a plantearle más problemas a Hellpop de los que se esperaba...
En cuanto a personajes, aunque en principio los secundarios resultan un poco genéricos, poco a poco van ganando en profundidad según avanza la serie, el interés romántico y el alivio cómico habitual están presentes como de costumbre, y aunque en algunos momentos quizás el tratamiento sea un poco convencional, siempre hay espacio para las sorpresas.
El dibujo de Steve Rude va mejorando a muy buen ritmo según avanza la serie, alcanzando un nivel muy bueno, además de un estilo muy personal, que sirve para representar personajes, amenazas y paisajes alienígenas de una forma cada vez más espectacular y sorprendente.
Un muy buen cómic, originario de los años 80 pero que mantiene su vigencia y su interés hoy en día.
El universo de Nexus es complicado y bizarro. El fuerte tono de ciencia ficción pulp típico de los años 50 y 60 le da una personalidad muy marcada. Este no es el típico cómic de superhéroes que se limita a contar las aventuras del protagonista, sino que tienen muchos elementos de interés... Por ejemplo, Nexus utiliza como base una de las lunas de un planeta llamado Ylum, allí va llevando a los refugiados que rescata de sus distintas misiones, con lo cual pronto se convierte en un complicado tapiz de razas y culturas que evolución iremos viendo a lo largo de los sucesivos números... cómo se organizan, cómo se relacionan entre sí, como crean un gobierno y comienzan a plantearle más problemas a Hellpop de los que se esperaba...
En cuanto a personajes, aunque en principio los secundarios resultan un poco genéricos, poco a poco van ganando en profundidad según avanza la serie, el interés romántico y el alivio cómico habitual están presentes como de costumbre, y aunque en algunos momentos quizás el tratamiento sea un poco convencional, siempre hay espacio para las sorpresas.
El dibujo de Steve Rude va mejorando a muy buen ritmo según avanza la serie, alcanzando un nivel muy bueno, además de un estilo muy personal, que sirve para representar personajes, amenazas y paisajes alienígenas de una forma cada vez más espectacular y sorprendente.
Un muy buen cómic, originario de los años 80 pero que mantiene su vigencia y su interés hoy en día.
April 30, 2018
One of the best superhero comics out there.
I think that the reason for this is that there is only a single creative team for the entire series. So they are able to unify their vision. Kind of like what if Vertigo created a superhero series. It has that dark literary vibe that can be enjoyed by the mainstream.
Horatio Hellpop is our hero that is burdened with the power of the Merk. Rather than being a superhero he is more of a reluctant executioner.
The costume is not his life but a job. I think this gives the series its depth. We get to see Horatio deal with struggles, doubts and fears that he face. The continouos story enable us to see his growth. He is also graced with memorable supporting characters that add to the story.
Another plus for me is that it is a space opera. Mostly when there is an intergalactic story the earth is the main setting and the aliens just go there. Here there is a network of civilizations connected through space. The possibilities for exploring themes and cultures could be endless.
Lastly, there's the beautiful art which is equal parts classic and contemporary that can be easily appreciated by a wide range of people.
I think that the reason for this is that there is only a single creative team for the entire series. So they are able to unify their vision. Kind of like what if Vertigo created a superhero series. It has that dark literary vibe that can be enjoyed by the mainstream.
Horatio Hellpop is our hero that is burdened with the power of the Merk. Rather than being a superhero he is more of a reluctant executioner.
The costume is not his life but a job. I think this gives the series its depth. We get to see Horatio deal with struggles, doubts and fears that he face. The continouos story enable us to see his growth. He is also graced with memorable supporting characters that add to the story.
Another plus for me is that it is a space opera. Mostly when there is an intergalactic story the earth is the main setting and the aliens just go there. Here there is a network of civilizations connected through space. The possibilities for exploring themes and cultures could be endless.
Lastly, there's the beautiful art which is equal parts classic and contemporary that can be easily appreciated by a wide range of people.
February 12, 2013
It's amazing how good Steve Rude got in a very short period of time. The first few issues are rather rough, but his art quickly improves to the high level The Dude is known for. Beautiful, clear lines.
The story is as engaging as I remember from reading these issues in back in the 80s. Science fiction with some super-hero trappings. I am thrilled that this series is getting a comprehensive, affordable series of collections and cannot wait for the next volume.
The story is as engaging as I remember from reading these issues in back in the 80s. Science fiction with some super-hero trappings. I am thrilled that this series is getting a comprehensive, affordable series of collections and cannot wait for the next volume.
July 25, 2021
Found a second hand hard copy decides ago. Loved it them and it holds up today.
My slim hard copy gave me a taste of this classic adventure. Glad I got a chance to dive deeper. Ready for more :)
My slim hard copy gave me a taste of this classic adventure. Glad I got a chance to dive deeper. Ready for more :)
June 12, 2022
I never read this the first time around. Several folks whose opinions on comics I greatly respect have said that it's their favorite series of all time. I wish I'd read it in context with what else was on the stands at that time, because I think it would have impressed me even more than it did. But I can honestly say that, even 40 years later, it can still hang with the best of the stuff being published currently. It's amazing to see how quickly it finds its feet.
December 10, 2023
Nexus looks like fairly basic superhero comic book material, but it doesn't take more than a glance at Steve Rude's stunning layouts to realize that this is a cut above the ordinary, and it doesn't take more than a few pages of issue one either to realize that there's great imagination in Mike Baron's literate and philosophical musings on ethics and the nature of (superhuman) power. Living on Ylum, a planet that lies outside the jurisdiction of the Web, Horatio Hellpop is compelled by terrible nightmares to take on the role of Nexus, a vigilante superhero who dispenses death sentences to some of the worst mass murders in the universe.
There's also a considerable amount of humour in the situations and an imaginative science-fiction futuristic universe that offers so much potential. All of it is superbly visualized in an incredibly dynamic fascination by artist Steve Rude. Rude is not a stylist like Bill Sienkiewicz or Frank Miller who were also operating at their peak around this time in the eighties, nor was Rude's work anything like the latest in-vogue style of Image creators Jim Lee, Rob Liefield or Todd McFarlane. Rude's drawings are much more in the classic golden age style, anatomically realistic (often using photographs of himself as a life-model) superbly detailed without ever being cluttered, and free in his use of panel layouts that perfectly and dynamically meet the requirements of every scene. Eric Shanower inks the latter issues in this collection and gently complements Rude's pencils, but they're not quite as solid as The Dude alone.
On the surface Mike Baron's scripts don't appear to offer more than the familiar anguished superhero of the late eighties, as the conflicted Nexus debates whether stopping the crimes of mass murderers is justification enough to dispense summary justice without any trial. After several decades however, Nexus still stands up exceptionally well - much more so, I believe, than Alan Moore's Watchmen. There is much more to explore in the Nexus universe and a wide variety of genuinely fun and interesting secondary characters, a strong female/love interest (Sundra Peale) and exotic alien characters, all with distinct personalities - Judah Macabee, Tyrone, Mezz, Clonezone, and the Heads. There's also the question of who exactly is the entity that sends Nexus his assignments though his terrible nightmares. This is something that is explored further down the line.
It's wonderful to see the work repackaged and kept in circulation. I resisted the hardcover collections, but the 400-page phonebook-sized Omnibus editions are a great way to enjoy the Nexus material just for the sheer quality of its storytelling. The Omnibus editions are paperbacks, slightly smaller than the original comic book size, but it's a neat package and the quality of the glossy paper is an improvement over the original First publications.
Steve Rude's art and the coloration just gleam off the page (although the cover art reproductions - minus the titles - don't seem to have the same lustre as the originals). Volume 1 starts right back at the original black-and-white origin of Nexus, before getting into the the first 11 issues of the full-colour adventures. This is a lovely package of great material that is well worth reading and re-reading.
There's also a considerable amount of humour in the situations and an imaginative science-fiction futuristic universe that offers so much potential. All of it is superbly visualized in an incredibly dynamic fascination by artist Steve Rude. Rude is not a stylist like Bill Sienkiewicz or Frank Miller who were also operating at their peak around this time in the eighties, nor was Rude's work anything like the latest in-vogue style of Image creators Jim Lee, Rob Liefield or Todd McFarlane. Rude's drawings are much more in the classic golden age style, anatomically realistic (often using photographs of himself as a life-model) superbly detailed without ever being cluttered, and free in his use of panel layouts that perfectly and dynamically meet the requirements of every scene. Eric Shanower inks the latter issues in this collection and gently complements Rude's pencils, but they're not quite as solid as The Dude alone.
On the surface Mike Baron's scripts don't appear to offer more than the familiar anguished superhero of the late eighties, as the conflicted Nexus debates whether stopping the crimes of mass murderers is justification enough to dispense summary justice without any trial. After several decades however, Nexus still stands up exceptionally well - much more so, I believe, than Alan Moore's Watchmen. There is much more to explore in the Nexus universe and a wide variety of genuinely fun and interesting secondary characters, a strong female/love interest (Sundra Peale) and exotic alien characters, all with distinct personalities - Judah Macabee, Tyrone, Mezz, Clonezone, and the Heads. There's also the question of who exactly is the entity that sends Nexus his assignments though his terrible nightmares. This is something that is explored further down the line.
It's wonderful to see the work repackaged and kept in circulation. I resisted the hardcover collections, but the 400-page phonebook-sized Omnibus editions are a great way to enjoy the Nexus material just for the sheer quality of its storytelling. The Omnibus editions are paperbacks, slightly smaller than the original comic book size, but it's a neat package and the quality of the glossy paper is an improvement over the original First publications.
Steve Rude's art and the coloration just gleam off the page (although the cover art reproductions - minus the titles - don't seem to have the same lustre as the originals). Volume 1 starts right back at the original black-and-white origin of Nexus, before getting into the the first 11 issues of the full-colour adventures. This is a lovely package of great material that is well worth reading and re-reading.
May 20, 2017
Loved it. Definitely going to read more of this weird SF/Superhero comic. Sometimes hilarious. Excellent art that is in keeping with "superhero" comics but also seems to make fun of the style...get meta with me, I will be impressed. Great looking, grin-inducing aliens and spaceships. EXCELLENT coloring in this volume. A fun read.
July 27, 2018
When I read Nexus in the Eighties, I knew it was something special. But going back to it now, I also notice how ahead of its time it seems. While some small jokes and pop culture references seem dated, particularly the Sov empire, the characters and attitudes have aged extremely well. It makes me so happy to visit these people and this world again!
July 12, 2024
superb!!!
The Steve Rude/Mike Baron run on Nexus ranks among my four or five favorite creative runs in comics over the last sixty years. Rude’s artwork is so smooth, so passionate, so brilliantly alive…and Baron has mastered the cool, the laid back and the brash all at once!!! These two masters have brought characters to life in rich tales as few have.
The Steve Rude/Mike Baron run on Nexus ranks among my four or five favorite creative runs in comics over the last sixty years. Rude’s artwork is so smooth, so passionate, so brilliantly alive…and Baron has mastered the cool, the laid back and the brash all at once!!! These two masters have brought characters to life in rich tales as few have.
January 10, 2020
Recall some of the Nexus comics from the 80s, so thought to catch up on the original. It doesn't hold up as well as I recall, I'm thinking the later issues were more nuanced. That comes with the experience Mike built over the run, I'm sure.
December 31, 2022
It was ok. Had to return it before I finished. I won't bother renewing. Cringe love scene dialog that sounds like it was written by a fourth grade boy in the 80s who was asked what super heroes would say in a kissy scene
April 11, 2018
Reads like childhood.
One of my all time favorite comics! My high school years were spent working on a comic book store. Reading this is like catching up with an old friend.
One of my all time favorite comics! My high school years were spent working on a comic book store. Reading this is like catching up with an old friend.
September 21, 2022
Who knew that in 1981 there could be a top-tier homage to space opera pulp stories, balancing a lot of different tones? GOAT creator-owned comics.
September 23, 2025
Great start, got a little boring 2/3 of the way through
December 6, 2025
Love this series
Still holds up. I could read this series over and over again. Mike Baron and Steve Rudne are amongst my favorite creators
Still holds up. I could read this series over and over again. Mike Baron and Steve Rudne are amongst my favorite creators
July 17, 2024
This is an interesting take on the superhero genre.
Nexus is more of an anti-hero. Child of a mass murderer who committed genocide. He has become doomed to be an avenger of the Innocent.
Some of the early art is reminiscent of space ghost. The cast of characters are quite unique, you have talking gorillas and talking crocodiles and floating heads.
Everything takes place about five or six hundred years in the future. It's essentially science fiction.
Nexus is more of an anti-hero. Child of a mass murderer who committed genocide. He has become doomed to be an avenger of the Innocent.
Some of the early art is reminiscent of space ghost. The cast of characters are quite unique, you have talking gorillas and talking crocodiles and floating heads.
Everything takes place about five or six hundred years in the future. It's essentially science fiction.
October 25, 2013
So glad Dark Horse began releasing this series in omnibus volumes -- one of the more enjoyable science fictional comics series around, although there's an amazing amount of brutality and horror implied in Nexus' universe. The interest is in seeing writer Mike Baron and artist Steve Rude dig under the surface.
February 26, 2016
I can understand they want to try to offer important moral quandaries in America or on Earth and push them to space, but I still felt bored by this. Also, his powers? What are they? Just blasts? Is he supposed to be a braniac? not enough explanation. I didn't care about any of the underdeveloped, in my opinion, characters. Pass. But apparently others love this, so who knows?
April 12, 2021
One of the most beloved series of the 1980s, this sci-fi take on the superhero genre still entertains. There are some weak points (many of the female characters are lacking in depth, and the introduction of the Nexus imitator the Hammer, while amusing, pushes the strip in a more standard superheroic direction), but most of the characterisation and the political intrigue hold up well.
September 16, 2014
The early Nexus is an exciting introduction to one of the best scifi comics ever. Baron's scripting and Rude's art takes leaps and bounds with each successive issue.
You can't love this series and rate it any less than stellar.
You can't love this series and rate it any less than stellar.
March 5, 2024
Includes Nexus (Volume 1; black & white series) #1-3 & Nexus (volume 2) #1-11.
January 3, 2013
5 star art, 2 star story
February 1, 2013
Old school Sci-fi fun. Can't wait for the next volume!
June 21, 2025
This book stands the test of time for me. Just as fun and enjoyable as I remember it being when I read them as individual comics when they were first published.
July 28, 2015
Read my review at http://noflyingnotights.com/2013/08/1...
September 23, 2018
Still ahead of its time.
October 15, 2020
Second try reading this, finished it, not sure if I want to go on to volume two though
May 22, 2013
A whole lot of fun.
August 28, 2017
I did not read these when they were originally published.
I do not think I will be reading any more. Lead character is not a nice guy, not likeable. Stories are meandering clap trap.
I do not think I will be reading any more. Lead character is not a nice guy, not likeable. Stories are meandering clap trap.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews