I think (see opening paragraph of review) the Dude is simply the best penciller ever. One of the best things about Nexus(as a creator owned title) is that in over 20+ years of intermittent publication, the book has never succumbed to trendy art styles. It always looks like Steve Rude on Nexus, and nothing else, which, for me, has led to a really consistent fictional world. During the First series a few guest artists did stints on the books (because Rude isn’t an especially fast penciller) but for the most part is has been Baron and Rude’s baby.

Giffen’s action sequences are very reminiscent of Kirby, and an overt Kirby influence can be seen in his early work on Defenders… So, yes, I agree with you. :)

“Tom Grice is WRONG, Sir! WRONG!” - Statement of mockery towards Tom Grice (see Appendix) indicating disagreement with his point of view or general intent to bust balls. Designed to mimic the tone and phrasing of Gene Wilder’s performance as Willy Wonka during the climactic scene of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory. Sometimes followed with “You STOLE Fizzy Lifting Drinks! You bumped into the ceiling, with now has to be WASHED and STERILIZED, so you get NOTHING! YOU LOSE! GOOD DAY, SIR!” Occasional additional retort of “I SAID GOOD DAY!” optional.

Appendix: Tom Grice - Born 1972, Midwestern comic store manager, known for being outspoken in his opinions and acerbic in his humor. Known as “The Earth-1 Matthew” and occasionally “Ultra Tommy,” has a comic pull list that can be seen from space. Though often very thoughtful in his opinions, he is nonetheless WRONG, Sir! WRONG!

The actual critical reasons why:

1. Nexus left me with a dual feeling of dread (at Tyrone’s actions) and elation (at the birth of Horato and Sundra’s child.) Outsiders left me vaguely disgusted that YET AGAIN a villain does something reprehensible and gets away, leaving two of the major players badly injured, with a slightly mitigating factor that Papa Batman is here to fire half the team and make it all better. That emotional gut-response is usually what defines the star rating.

2. Nexus didn’t have a full-page ad that undermined the NEXT FIVE ISSUES of the story, irritating me at DC for either trying to swerve me or once again giving secrets away ahead of time for no reason. Without that stupid ad, Outsiders would probably have scored HIGHER than Nexus.

3. You may not like Steve Rude’s art, and that’s your right, but his action sequences are brilliantly designed, (like the missile attack on Sundra) reminding me of Kirby (in the first Elvonite/Alvinist confrontation ending in Nexus breaking it up telekinetically) and Toth (the confrontation between Tyrone and the Alvonites) as well as exhibiting striking design work (in the first shot where Horatio is in street clothes.)

It wasn’t my intent to pull your chain (Well, okay, maybe a LITTLE) with this review, but the gist is this: Nexus is a strange sci-fi political story with tortured emotional psychobabble barely wrapped up in a superhero facade. It may not be your thing, you may not ever want it to be your thing. And that is absolutely your right…

But there’s fine line between “I don’t like it” and “It’s not good.” I don’t like Ed Brubaker’s Daredevil, but that’s really no reflection on the book. It’s just my take on it. You and I have had a lot of comic discussions, and I don’t think I’m wrong in saying that this is a case where you don’t like either the creator or the concept, and the next issue could be practically Shakespearian and come with six weeks of free Jenna Jameson oral action, and it wouldn’t trip your trigger. Maybe a man in a blue suit with a lighning bolt on it beat you as a child, I dunno. Regardless, by my own argument, your opinion is valid.

But I reserve the right to disagree, and I think this is a quality book.