Nexus 75
“Blowout!”
Publisher: First Publishing
Published: Aug. 1990
Story: Mike Baron
Pencils: Hugh Haynes
Inks: Arne Starr
Letters: Clem Robins
Colors: Les Dorscheid
Cover: Steve Rude

Synopsis

Horatio Hellhop, the original Nexus, confronts an erratic successor, Stan, who is powered by the Bad Brains. Sparks fly as they face off in the orbit of Mars.

What’s going on here?

In the 1980s, few comics were as cool as Nexus. At its peak, written by Mike Baron with art by the legendary Steve Rude, it was a science fiction epic, with a sleek vigilante hero who slaughtered his enemies with cool flair. He was an art deco Punisher. By issue 75, however, Nexus was past its prime and on the downside. Rude had left long ago—although he contributed a gorgeous cover—and the book was just five issues away from cancelation. It’s still a solid comic, and the high points remind you of why Nexus was such a fun read, but it feels a bit like a classic band with some new members. It’s not quite the same.

This issue is the fifth of a five-part arc featuring the rise and fall of Staislaus Korivitsky, a replacement Nexus. I have no recollection of any of this, and I may have just read this comic for the first time (by 1990, I was in college and reflexively buying comics without reading them). Despite that, the story isn’t hard to follow, and features some pretty impressive art from Haynes, who had a short career, mostly at Marvel in the early 90s.

What I liked

As mentioned, the art reaches some impressive peaks. The big, double page splashes feel like an early iteration of the wide-screen style later embraced by artists like Bryan Hitch, but the big stakes in the story justify it. And it’s fun to see Nexus and Judah Maccabee, his occasional sidekick, back in action. Oh and that cover [chef’s kiss].

What I didn’t like

Not much. It feels unfair to subtract points for what it isn’t, but unfortunately Nexus hit such great highs a few years prior that even a solid effort like this feels like a let down.

Overall

Not bad, but only really of value to Nexus completionists.