Comics2Film: Words From Here: Steve Rude

Back in the 80's, there were a few pioneers in the industry who saw that there was a growing hole in the comic industry. For new art, new story lines, new characters... new heroes. Superman, Batman... they just weren't cutting it.

In came guys like Howard Chaykin, Tim Vigil, Joe Linsner... and Steve Rude. Nexus was one of the most successful independent books produced in the 80's, with smart writing (By Mike Baron), and Rude's abilities to take existing ideas in panel sequence and character definition, and change them to suit a new idea in comics. Independence.

From Nexus (among other titles in the 80's and 90's), Rude went on to draw some of the most influential work in mainstream comics. His work on Spider-Man: Lifeline, X-Men: Children of the Atom, Thor: Godstorm... each have garnered Rude back into the spotlight (though he never truly left) with comic collectors and fans of his original work.

There is also much talk and speculation about a Nexus animated television show, which is featured on both Steve's site and also here on Comics2Film. It looks like it would be an exciting show, one that would be welcome with the new Tick series coming out this Fall.

His work, based greatly on Kirby's work, is forever changing. One of the things I've always appreciated about his technical ability is to re-invent himself. His ability to adapt to situations, and bring back classic characterizations, while still able to keep the work original... it's the sign of a brilliant artist.

Steve has a fantastic site which you can find here. Everything from updates on his personal life, to sketch books, original pieces and updates on his work are here. Also, you can find out info about getting commissions done through Distinctive Original Art.

I was able to ask Steve Rude some questions about his work and his personal life... here goes:

John Painz (J.P.): Could you tell me who or what influenced you the most, to decide to get into comics?

Steve Rude (S.R.): When I was very young I had an aptitude for drawing, and it was fun. Starting in kindergarten with Dr. Seuss, I moved through various animated cartoons as a young boy and eventually saw my first comic books around the age of 6 or 7. Animation and comics are very tied in, both being things that combine stories and pictures, and they were very exciting, as most young boys would agree, and the most exciting of all was Jack Kirby. Later on, in the early 70's, I was reading Paul Gulacy's work on Master of Kung Fu, which moved me out of the Kirby realm and into the story telling direction that modern comics are capable of. At the same time, I was equally excited about my illustrator influences that started with Andrew Loomis. His books were my early lessons into how to draw, and influenced all of my illustration work that you've seen to date.

J.P.: How would you describe the direction of the industry (comic industry), as of today, and where it might be heading in the future?

S.R.: No matter what shape the industry is in today, it isn't anything new to industries in general. People decide the direction of their industries. Misguided people destroy it, intelligent people inject with vigor and optimism. I subscribe to the latter.

S.R.: I actually haven't visited a comic book shop in years, so I'm not particularly up on the current status of the industry. I'm sure it hasn't changed much since the last 10 years, and I don't feel particularly prompted to find out on my own, although I know there are very good artists and writers out there at the moment. My tastes are generally confined to my early artistic influences.

S.R.: Personal heroes...as many times as I've been asked this, you may notice a pattern to the people I greatly admire. They are all people with great personal integrity, fiction or non-fiction, the line being indistinctive to me, and great personal courage. The top three I can list are Captain Kirk, Bruce Lee, and Jack Kirby.

S.R.: Villains are as easy to identify in real life as they are in fiction. Yet sometimes they aren't. Basically, villains are people who cause damage to people's lives unnecessarily and unfairly. The world should get it's act together and start focusing far more on the good people than the bad. The news media, specifically, should think seriously of all the destruction they've caused by focusing on all the world's ills and the people who've caused them in the name of ratings and entertainment.

J.P.: What would you say to a young'un if they were interested in entering this industry?

S.R.: Believe in yourself, you're not as good as your abilities, but how much you practice with those abilities, and again, persevere.

S.R.: Phish, Farmhouse, Bruce Springstein, Human Touch, as well as all my old Stephen Wolf and Alice Cooper records

S.R.: Murder at 1600, Magnolia, American Beauty, For Richer or Poorer, Road to El Dorado I endorse all of these. (sorry for the datedness of this interview, my fault entirely, J.P.)

J.P.: I wonder, was it easy for you to find help in artists? Were their egos not so blown up?

S.R.: When I was trying to get into the industry in the late 1970's I found most people very helpful and encouraging. But I knew the only person who could make it happen was me. It was a long journey, but as I've mentioned numerous times. Practice and perseverance are critical. As long as the world is populated by human beings, the qualities of people breaking in to any business will not change.

S.R.: My 3-issue Spider-Man series. It's very reminiscent of the Romita era in Spider-Man, my personal favorite. It returns comics to the sense of fun people like to remember from the '60. Currently on my drawing board is Thor, another 3-issue mini-series with Kurt Busiek. Hopefully it will out before the end of the year.

This interview was published September, 2001.

Click here to learn more about John Painz and to find more Words From Here creator profiles.

Send John e-mail at stilesjp@wordsfromhere.com.

Published by Comics2Film with permission.