324 pages, 12x17 inches. Full-color finished art paired side by side with the original pencils and inks from Eisner Award winner Steve Rude. Most oversized editions show only black-and-white scans. This one also shows the final color art.
Jack Kirby, the legend who co-created Captain America and the Fantastic Four, called Steve Rude "the future of comics." Four Eisner Awards later, he's still proving Kirby right.
This is Nexus: The Battle for Thuneworld, a 324-page oversized hardcover art book at 12 × 17 inches (30 × 43 cm), nearly as large as a newspaper page.
It pairs the finished full-color story pages with the original pencils, inks, and the stages in between. You can read the story and see exactly how Steve built every page.
Many oversized artist editions focus on scans of the original black-and-white boards. This book also includes the finished full-color pages, so you can follow every stage of how Steve builds a page, from first sketch to final art.
At $149, you're getting 324 pages of finished color, pencils, inks, and process. Most books in this format give you a fraction of that and none of them include the color.
Never read Nexus before? Start here. Battle for Thuneworld is written to stand completely on its own, while still giving longtime readers plenty to dig into.
It also marks something special in Nexus history: Steve Rude's first fully solo Nexus story, written and drawn by Steve from start to finish.
Whether you've followed Nexus since issue one or you're discovering Steve's work right now, welcome to Rude Dude Studios. Pull up a chair and enjoy the ride.
One book. One massive oversized hardcover. 324 pages of Steve's complete solo run on Battle for Thuneworld, shown as close to the drawing board as we can make it. The only choice is how deep you want to go.
The Gallery Edition or Patreon Gallery Edition: Signed @ $149 with a small add-on is a great deal with the option of 4 monthly 0% interest payments of under $40 a month making it relatively painless even on a budget.
Gallery Edition (Unsigned) $149
At $149, you're getting 324 pages of finished color, pencils, inks, and process. Most oversized editions in this format run around 124 pages of black and white at the same price or higher.
Signed Gallery Edition $199
Studio Edition $499 (Crowdfunding Exclusive, Limit 500)
The full 324-page book in a premium slipcase, shrink wrapped and shelf ready.
Steve's actual signature, signed directly into your book by hand. No bookplate. No printed insert. Steve's hand touched your book.
Exclusive signed and numbered 11 x 14 inch (28 x 36 cm) art print. Never before published Steve Rude art made only for this campaign. Signed by Steve and numbered from the edition of 500. Ships bagged and boarded. When the campaign ends, this print is gone forever. It will never be sold, reprinted, or offered anywhere else.
Your name thanked inside the book itself.
Exclusive behind-the-scenes video from Steve. Delivered through BackerKit after the campaign closes. Never posted publicly. Only $499 and above backers ever see it.
This edition will not be sold through distributors or comic shops. Retailers can only get the Studio Edition by backing this campaign alongside you. Limited to 500 total. When it is gone, it is gone.
11x14 exclusive print free with all Studio Edition orders
Remarque Edition $749 (Limit 40)
Deluxe Remarque Edition $1,199 (Limit 10)
Shipping is collected after the campaign, not today. Just pick your edition and you're in.
Back the campaign in the first 48 hours and get a free digital download. Any pledge counts, even $5.
Behind the Pencils Video: Page 93
Page 93 is a battle scene that hits hard. Steve made one bold choice: he turned the entire page red. Even the colorist had to ask, "Wait... you mean literally red?" Steve stepped in and colored it himself, with Jaynelle's help, to get exactly the effect he wanted.
This is a guided behind-the-scenes video covering every stage of Page 93, from first sketch to final color, including real-time footage of Steve coloring the page
You get:
A behind-the-scenes video taking you through every stage of Page 93, from first sketch to final color
process images, and in-between stages including bluelines and digital insert panels
Steve’s narration explaining what changed, why it changed, and how the page came together
real-time footage of Steve coloring the page on the computer
After 48 hours, this download will no longer be free.
Here's how this works. No points. No leaderboards. No competition. When we hit these milestones together, everyone wins.
When we hit $75,000, we’ll send a full studio care package of books to Comic Books for Troops, helping put comics and art books into the hands of service members around the world.
From Steve's studio to wherever it finds them.
When we hit $125,000, every book order gets a free 11 x 17 bonus print included with it. We'll reveal the artwork when the goal unlocks.
You can't buy this. You can only unlock it. Together.
When we hit $200,000, Steve will do a livestream sketch demo. One backer will be chosen at random to receive the original sketch, and everyone else gets a printed copy included with their order.
Back the campaign before we hit the goal and you’re automatically entered. No extra steps.
Mystery Bag - $25 Studio surprise bundle. At least 5 items, $50+ value, and always includes at least one signed item by Steve.
Original Art Mystery - $150 Original art only. No prints. No subject guarantees.
THUNEWORLD BACK CATALOG
Thuneworld 5-Issue Mini Series (2024) - $30 A full set, mix of signed and unsigned. Bagged together as one set (issues are not individually bagged). Only 10 sets available.
Thuneworld Trade Paperback (9x12 in / 22.9x30.5 cm), signed by Steve Rude - $40 Choose your cover at campaign checkout while supplies last. (Note: If you are pay over time you may email us your option and we will reserve it for you).
Thuneworld Preview Editions (2021 to 2024), Set of 5 - $99 Early looks at script, pencils, and inks. Earlier versions of the artwork, not the finished pages in the Gallery and Studio Editions. Each book is 32 to 56 pages, saddle-stitched, about A4 size (8.5x11 in / 21.6x27.9 cm). Mix of signed and unsigned. Packaged together as a set (not individually bagged). 50 sets available.
GOURMANDO BACK CATALOG
Gourmando Trade Paperback (9x12 in / 22.9x30.5 cm), signed by Steve Rude (2023) - $40 About 350 available.
Gourmando Oversized Deluxe Edition Hardcover (12x17 in / 30.5x43.2 cm), signed by Steve Rude (2021) - $149 About 10 lb (4.5 kg). Only 3 copies left, all signed by Steve. When these are gone, that's it.
Gourmando Limited Edition Oversized Hardcover (12x17 in / 30.5x43.2 cm) (2021) - $249 Edition of 250 with slipcase, hand-numbered. Signature plate permanently bound into the book, double-signed by Steve Rude and Mike Baron. Shrink wrapped. 70 copies remaining from the original print run. This is not a campaign reprint. These are the real ones.
OFFICIAL CAMPAIGN POSTER (20x30 in / 50.8x76.2 cm) - $199
Professionally printed on archival matte paper. Ships separately in a tube. Additional poster shipping: $15.
Pledges of $150 or more (before shipping and tax) can be split into 4 interest-free monthly installments. Automated, with no additional charges. Installments begin as soon as the campaign ends.
Once installments begin, your pledge is locked. Changes, add-ons, and pledge edits are not allowed during the installment period. You can pay off the remaining balance early from your pledge page if you want to.
For more details on how Pay Over Time works, check the FAQ.
The Gallery Edition or Patreon Gallery Edition: Signed @ $149 with a small add-on is a great deal with the option of 4 monthly 0% interest payments of under $40 a month making it relatively painless even on a budget.
You’re the shops hand-selling Steve’s work to readers who didn’t know they needed it yet. We don’t forget the stores that put these books into customers’ hands.
$499 — Retailer Studio Tier
A campaign-exclusive retailer starter bundle built to help you stock the launch and open the door to ongoing wholesale access.
1 × Studio Edition for your collection The only hard-signed copy in the campaign. Includes the exclusive signed and numbered art print, and your shop’s name in the book. Retailers can only get one here.
1 × Gallery Edition — $90 (40% off)
2 × Thuneworld 9 × 12 TPBs — $24 each (40% off)
2 × Gourmando 9 × 12 TPBs — $24 each (40% off)
1 × Trading Card Set — free
1 × 20 × 30 Campaign Poster — free*
Post-campaign wholesale access to back catalog and future releases
*Ships separately in a tube.
TPB quantities are starter amounts. Additional copies may be available at wholesale pricing while supplies last.
After you back, email us your store name and website. We verify shops manually, one by one, and usually respond within a few business days. Once verified, wholesale access unlocks for your store.
Estimated domestic retailer shipping is about $55 ($40 for the books + $15 flat for the campaign poster).
International retailers: we’ll work with you directly to find the lowest possible shipping rate.
Shipping is calculated after the campaign ends and collected through BackerKit. You will get a survey link by email once the campaign closes. That is when you enter your address and pay for shipping. You do not pay shipping today.
USA
Domestic shipping is $20. All pledge levels ship as a single book and weigh roughly 10 to 12 pounds, so there are no surprise weight jumps between tiers.
International
We ship DDP (Delivered Duty Paid). That means duties and customs fees are paid before your package leaves us, so there are no surprise charges at the door. Our estimates cover the vast majority of orders. On the rare occasion actual duties come in higher than estimated, we’ll contact you before anything ships so you know exactly what you’re paying.
Because shipping rates change regularly, we confirm the best carrier at the time we pack and weigh your order.
Single-book estimates:
Canada: ~$65
UK: ~$55
Australia / New Zealand: ~$60
Germany: ~$75
France: ~$75
Japan: ~$100
Other EU: ~$95
Rest of World: ~$120
These are estimates. Final rates are confirmed in your BackerKit survey.
Tracking
You’ll receive tracking once your order ships. We compare carriers to get your package to you as quickly as possible within your prepaid cost. If your tracking number comes from EasyShip, that is our carrier and will usually have the most detailed updates.
Damaged in transit?
We can’t send Nexus flying after your package, but we will make it right. Take a few photos and email us. We’ll sort it out fast.
We are unable to ship to the following countries:
Afghanistan, Algeria, Armenia, Bahrain, Belarus, Bhutan, Cuba, Djibouti, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Madagascar, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, Seychelles, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, Venezuela, Yemen
We will move heaven and earth to get your book to you.
When exit surveys go out, a real person on our team is watching. If yours sits incomplete, we will email you. Then we'll email you again. If we have a phone number from a previous campaign, we may call. We use every contact method we have because we packed your book by hand and we want it in your hands, not sitting in our studio.
After 90 days with no response
Campaign funds go directly into producing the book, so they are non-refundable. But here is what we actually do:
Gallery, Signed Gallery, and Studio Edition orders are donated in full to Comic Books for Troops. If you contact us after that and we still have copies in stock, we will try to get you one at a significantly reduced rate plus shipping.
Remarque and Deluxe Remarque orders are different. Steve drew in your book by hand. We do not donate those. We set your complete order aside with your name on it and keep trying to reach you for a full year. After that, if we have genuinely exhausted every option, it may go into our online store. That is the last resort, not the plan.
Just email us. We’re real people, and we actually answer.
After 45 years of Nexus, we’re still here because of you. This book exists because this community exists. Every copy you order keeps the studio running, keeps Steve creating, and keeps this whole thing moving.
So pick your edition, grab your spot, and let’s bring Thuneworld to life together.
Want to stay connected year-round? For $5/month on Patreon, you get access to Steve’s archives, hi-res scans of rare and unpublished art, monthly wallpapers, Saturday livestream references, and a seat in the Rude Dude Discord. It’s the studio, minus the commute. patreon.com/steverude
Join us Saturdays, where Steve previews pages and probably draws something backwards. 1:30 PM Arizona time youtube.com/steverudethedude
Steve and Jaynelle Rude, and everyone behind the scenes who helps make this happen
Questions? We’re real people, and we actually answer email. [email protected]
