Nexus Archives: Volume Two

In the second volume of Dark Horse's reprint series, we see Nexus, the intergalactic executioner of mass murderers, ending up in a black hole with his hard-drinking friend Judah and dealing with teenage killers. Baron's scripting balances humor, philosophy and emotion by creating a supporting cast that's just as fascinating as the eponymous hero. The final story doesn't even feature Nexus that much. It's just Judah and a bunch of disembodied heads up against a space pirate, a story as exciting and funny as the tales preceding it. Baron's imagination and wit go along perfectly with Rude's superior draftsmanship. Rude is one of genre comics' finest artists, and every page features his mastery of figure drawing, panel structure and line work. He creates a sleek and elegant look for both explosive action sequences and small character moments. Perfectly melding the elements of humor, high adventure and stunning artwork, Nexus feels like the continuation of the great newspaper adventure strips of the mid-20thcentury, with a larger than life feeling to match. (May)