According to the DudeNews email newsletter, which features updates on comic artist Steve Rude's activities, Rude plans to focus more on painting in the future and less on comics, as he's lost money on Nexus since moving to self-publishing. His wife Jaynelle writes:
The numbers for the last two books are in and they don't look good. We have been told that Nexus: As it Happened V1 will reach Diamond by the 9th which should be in time for the 13th in stores date. Around June 16th we will receive our Diamond order for 101/102.
Steve has only the cover to 101/102 to complete then the artwork is complete for all of the books as he inadvertently did the trade paperback cover before the 101/102 cover.
Steve is then turning his focus to gallery paintings. Steve is a brilliant artist and we've been living hand to mouth for the past 3 years. Losing over $5,000 in the last 2 printings we have been unable to pay our mortgage have have no desire to lose our house.
Steve does plan to continue in comics putting out a book direct to trade every few years and using gallery painting as a means to finance his comic endeavors.
Thank you to everyone who has supported us by ordering commissions or purchasing artwork.
Nexus, co-created by Rude with writer Mike Baron, first appeared in 1981 and has been published over the years by Capital, First Comics and Dark Horse. Rude started self-publishing Nexus in 2006, with issues 99 and 100 of the series.
It bums me out to think of a dedicated comic pro losing money and not being able to pay his mortgage due to pursuing his dream of putting out comics. Luckily, Rude is able to support himself through other means, but it's a bummer to think that an incredible talent and industry legend like Rude isn't able to make a living via comics. I don't know if self-publishing was part of the problem, if that made it less likely for fans and retailers to see or order his work if it wasn't up at the front of the Previews catalog under one of the major comic publishers?
Jakala suggests heading over to Rude's website and purchasing some Nexus comics, which sounds like a fine idea to me.
