Peoria Artist Steve Rude Attempts a Return to Comic Books

To say 'Steve Rude is an interesting dude' would be putting it lightly.The Peoria-based, Eisner award-winning artist made his bones in the comic book industry during the '80s and '90s. Rude became a prolific artist through his work on the science-fiction epic Nexus with co-creator, Mike Baron, and employs a drawing...

By Joseph Schmidt

June 6, 2011

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To say 'Steve Rude is an interesting dude' would be putting it lightly.

The Peoria-based, Eisner award-winning artist made his bones in the comic book industry during the '80s and '90s. Rude became a prolific artist through his work on the science-fiction epic Nexus with co-creator, Mike Baron, and employs a drawing style strongly influenced by the fantastical and imaginative work of Jack Kirby.

Through the '90s and early 2000s, Rude continued to work on Nexus as well as completing work-for-hire jobs for the "Big Two," Marvel and DC Comics, on characters such as Batman, the X-Men, Spider-Man, and the Fantastic Four.

And then, he says, things got weird.

The art became darker, the coloring was murkier. Stories dealt with "mature" themes (death, drug abuse, and adultery), and beloved characters were being murdered on the pages. So begun the "Modern Age" of comics.

When Rude realized that big money and adult themes weren't "temporary trends," he stuck to his golden rule, "have fun," and turned to fine art.

"I was talking to some animation producer, this lady up in San Francisco one time ... and she spelled everything out," Rude says. This woman put into words, very simply, a mantra that Rude has come to live by. "She said, 'It's all about doing cool stuff.'"

At the time, Rude found he enjoyed painting models and the work that came from those commissions, and so he began accepting payments for fine artwork.

Now, Rude says, the comic bug's back, and his passion for drawing spandex-clad heroes has returned, despite the lack of change in the industry.

"I think I can do some good. I mean, it's like, do you want to sit on the sidelines and watch it do what it's gonna do? Or do you want to make an active contribution to upset the trend?"

With 'fear itself' in the midst of gripping the Marvel Universe in crossover terror, and the DC line-up on the verge of a dramatic overhaul, there seems to be a need for comics to return to the fun, ridiculous and visually stimulating styles made great by artists like Jack Kirby, John Romita and Sal Buscema.

Rude sent a letter to DC Comics (that was later rejected), and says he has no intention of working with Marvel or continuing with Nexus, the comic property that launched his career.

But that doesn't mean his work with comics is done. He still gets commissions to draw fan-favorite characters, and he still posts sketches of classics like Captain America and Galactus to his Facebook page.

Comic books are his first love, if only for the reason that they "make you dream beyond reality," he says. And though he might take a break, he's not about to give them up.

See more of Rude's work on his website.

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