Steve Rude, the iconic comicbook artist, who — along with co-creator Mike Baron helped launch the modern-day Indy Age of comics with their groundbreaking Nexus comicbook series from Capital City in 1981 — is now celebrating his 10th sketchbook, by issuing it through Kickstarter. According to Rude, this book is if chock-a-block full of sketches, paintings, and pages from Steve’s personal sketchbook; so much so that All Rude fans will want to get their hands on a copy.

The innovative and always entertaining Nexus was an unprecedented space saga that catapulted both Rude and Baron into the field of comics, where they both became highly sought after by major publishers. During Rude’s first few years in the industry, his illustrating efforts led to numerous awards for him, including the 1984 Russ Manning Newcomer Award, the Kirby Award for best artist in 1986, and numerous Eisner’s for artistic achievement. For over two decade Rude has drawn hundreds of comic’s greatest iconic heroes, and has galvanized the art world as a comic magazine artist and illustrator.

According to Rude, this new book will include private commissions, paintings, and pages from his private sketchbook. As a special bonus he is offering three exclusive presale prints, a special bookmark, postcard, and a Saturday Morning Memories book which is collection of characters from his favorite Saturday Morning cartoon shows

He is taking to Kickstarter to crowd-source the production costs of printing the sketchbook, prints, and the other incentives involved with the program, hoping to reach his goal of $10,000 plus the additional $2,000 that has been estimated to cover the shipping, packing, and insurance costs. Rude has indicated that the book will go forward without full funding, but indicated that he will be forced to cut the page count to make this project possible if he doesn’t meet his projected goal.

Some of the rewards for this sketch book include a Superman Cover, Marilyn Alternate, and 2014 Prints. Additional perks include:

  • Exclusive bookmark & postcard
  • Random Steve Rude comic book & trading card
  • Saturday Morning Memories; a 20 page photo book
  • 2014 exclusive prints
  • Past year sketchbooks, PDFs, and prints
  • Custom Marker Sketch inside your book
  • SKYPE Chatting/Private Lesson with the Dude
  • Weekend private lesson (where one lucky fan gets flown out to the Dude’s private studio)

Achieving the goal of $10,000 guarantees 112 that the book will have 112 pages; in fact the specs on the sketchbook are as follows, The sketchbook and cover will be 100# gloss cover, full color inside (the first of the Dude’s sketchbooks to be in full color) on 80# matte text, full color size: 8.5×11 perfect bound (has a spine) with limited printing based on presales. As can be expected Rude has included a number of stretch goals, which include:

CONTRIBUTIONS OF $25 OR MORE (EXCLUDES DIGITAL ONLY):

  • $15,000: Exclusive notepad mailed with all orders + 4th print
  • $20,000: Exclusive custom pen + 5th print
  • $30,000: Exclusive Custom USB Flash Drive
  • $40,000: Nexus Black T-Shirt any size

As stated, to help celebrate his 10th sketchbook, he’s created a 20-page, spiral bound photo book entitled, Saturday Morning Memories Book celebrating his favorite Saturday morning TV cartoons from when he way a youth. This book is also professionally printed, and will be spiral bound at the side.

This project will only be funded if at least $5,000 is pledged by Fri, Mar 7 2014.

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Robert J. Sodaro has been reviewing comicbooks for some 30 years. During that time, his reviews and articles have appeared in numerous print publications, as well as on the web. Subscribe to receive regular comicbook articles and reviews.