June 2026 marks a major milestone for comic fans as Nexus turns 45 years old. The series first appeared in 1981 when Mike Baron and Steve Rude launched it through Capital Comics as a black and white oversized magazine. The debut ran as a three-issue limited series, with the third issue featuring a 33 RPM flexi disc that included music and dialogue tied to the story. Critics responded quickly, and the book built a loyal audience from the start.
The concept itself came together shortly before publication. Baron had originally pitched a different idea to Capital Comics, but the publisher pushed for a superhero title. Baron then outlined Nexus to Rude over drinks, shaping the foundation of the series. Baron later named the character and designed key elements, including the lightning bolt emblem that became central to the hero’s look.
After its initial run, Capital Comics relaunched Nexus in full color for a second volume, but this time in a standard comic size. But just six issues later, the publisher folded, and First Comics took over. The series continued its numbering and went on to an astonishing 80-issue run at First, along with reprints, graphic novel collections, and additional miniseries like The Next Nexus. After the main run ended in 1991, Dark Horse Comics picked up the property and published several more miniseries and one-shots, continuing the story into the 1990s and beyond.
Dark Horse founder Mike Richardson later made a rare decision by returning the rights of Nexus to Baron and Rude. The move stood out in an industry where publishers often hold on to successful comic creations. This move gave the creators full control over future stories and publishing plans.
At the center of the story is Horatio Hellpop, a reluctant executioner granted power by an alien entity known as the Merk. In exchange for his abilities, he is forced to hunt down mass murderers or else face intense physical and psychological torment. The character’s moral tension and science fiction setting, blended with an almost Doctor Who type of humor, is what helped Nexus stand apart from other superhero titles of its time.
The series won a total of six Eisner Awards as Baron and Rude continued to revisit Nexus through miniseries, and an anthology series in 2012 within the pages of Dark Horse Presents, showing ongoing demand for the character. However, in 2023, with changing leadership on the horizon, Dark Horse Comics published its last Nexus story with Nexus: Nefarious, a one shot, hardcover graphic novel written by Mike Baron with art by frequent collaborator Richard Bonk.
Despite Dark Horse Comics no longer publishing the title, the franchise overall is suddenly seeing renewed momentum in a surprise revival. Earlier this year, the first 29 issues were collected in a deluxe hardcover omnibus, the first of four planned volumes, under the direction of writer Mike Baron. The character has also recently expanded into merchandise, including apparel, an action figure and a Minecraft skin, giving long-time fans new ways to connect with their favorite cosmic vigilante.
Artist Steve Rude is currently working on a massive compendium, while Baron is hard at work on the second deluxe omnibus installment, which is expected later this year. As part of that effort, publisher BIG Comics remastered the original Nexus flexi disc from issue three, updating the rare audio feature for modern audiences. It’s now available to watch for free at Mike Baron’s website here. It’s a great companion piece to the Hanna Barbera style animation sample Steve Rude commission a few years ago.
NEXUS | Animated Teaser (Remastered)
Baron, who turns 77 next month, remains very active. He’s scheduled to attend multiple comic conventions this summer, including this weekend’s Phoenix Fan Fusion, and next weekend’s Heroescon in Charlotte, NC. Meanwhile, he’s been preparing a new graphic novel titled Nexus: Triplets. The graphic novel project follows Nexus: Scourge, released last year with artist Kelsey Shannon. Production is now complete, and the team is launching a Kickstarter in July to get the book published and distributed, with even more comic adventures already deep into development with artists like Rags Morales, Sergio Carriello, and another project with Shannon.
While Baron and Rude have no plans to collaborate on new Nexus material, they remain in frequent contact and maintain a strong bond shaped by their decades as a creative team in comics. Their partnership is what helped turn Nexus into a standout superhero in independent publishing. Now, with restored content, new adventures, and more tales in active development, Nexus is not fading out. If anything, the character looks built to last well beyond the era that created him.
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