project-image

The Art of Steve Rude 2026 — Inside the Nexus Studio

Created by Steve Rude the Dude

45 years of Nexus. A brand new sketchbook. Steve's painted "The Escape" cover, a year of sketches and handwritten notes — and a new way to be part of what comes next.

Latest Updates from Our Project:

WE DID IT! Thank You + What Happens Next
4 months ago – Sun, Feb 01, 2026 at 11:21:49 AM



Hey friends!

The campaign is officially in the books and wow... YOU did it. Again.
Every time I think this community can't surprise me, you prove me wrong. From the bottom of our hearts here at the studio - thank you. You're not just backing a sketchbook, you're keeping this dream alive. (And yes, literally paying our mortgage. We don't forget that.)

WHAT’S NEXT (THE NEXT TWO WEEKS)

  • We’ll be heads-down getting the 2026 Sketchbook finalized and ready for the printer.
  • We’ll also be building the final backer survey (sometimes called the “exit survey”), where you’ll confirm any choices/options and pay for shipping.

CHARGES: CAMPAIGN PLEDGE VS SHIPPING

There are two separate charges:

YOUR CAMPAIGN PLEDGE (NO SHIPPING)
  • Kickstarter / Backerkit will charge the pledge amount you selected in the campaign.
  • This does not include shipping.

SHIPPING + ADD-ONS IN THE EXIT SURVEY
  • When you complete your exit survey, you’ll pay shipping (and any optional add-ons you choose at that time).
  • If you use PayPal in the exit survey, it will be charged immediately when you submit.
  • If you use a credit card in the exit survey, you’ll receive a 2-day warning before that card is charged.

OUR TARGET TIMELINE

Our current plan is to run shipping charges around March 1.  This is when the files go to the printer and when we start ordering shipping supplies.  You will receive a 48 hour warning before cards are charged so you can make edits if you need to.

WHAT’S AFTER THAT (THE NEXT CAMPAIGN)

Get ready, because the long-awaited Battle for Thuneworld is coming in TWO oversized hardcovers - a full color edition AND an Artist Edition. Both books will hit comic shops, BUT the slipcase, remarques, and signatures? Campaign exclusive only.

TAKE THE BELOW POLL AND HELP US SHAPE THE NEXT CAMPAIGN!

AND we're adding a Nexus Thuneworld exclusive keychain to the reservation list!

Bookmark this now: www.steverude.com/thuneworldae

STAY CONNECTED

Join us every Saturday at 1:30 PM Arizona time for our livestream - community fun, free art, cookies and shenanigans: youtube.com/steverudethedude

Want to be part of our inner circle? Our Patreon family gets first looks, exclusive pricing, and helps keep the studio running between campaigns: patreon.com/steverude

Thank you for being part of this. Seriously.

Onward to Thuneworld!

Steve & Jaynelle Rude (& the Rude Dude Studio Crew)

🎉 350! You unlocked a secret achievement!
4 months ago – Wed, Jan 28, 2026 at 04:42:59 PM



Well, THAT happened fast.  350 BACKERS!


You pushed us past 300 (books heading to the troops - YOU did that!) and just kept going. So we're doing something we didn't announce...

🎁 SURPRISE UNLOCK: The 45th Studio Process Pack

Consider this a thank-you drop straight from Steve's drawing table:

⚡ Wallpapers - Phone, desktop, AND tablet sizes featuring Nexus 45th anniversary artwork
⚡ Printable Mini-Poster Sheet - Four studio-quality mini posters ready to print, cut, and stick wherever you need a little Nexus energy

No upsell. No catch. Just a gift from us to you for showing up and being part of this crew.

Every backer gets this. Digital delivery after the campaign.


So... what's next?

We're 50 away from 400 backers and the Nexus 45th Commemorative Sticker - an exclusive that goes in every physical order. You can't buy it. You can only unlock it together.

Share the campaign. Tag your comic-loving people. Let's keep this train rolling!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ICYMI - Here's what we've unlocked so far:

✅ 300 - In the Field: Box of books to the troops through Comics for Troops
✅ 350 - Studio Process Pack: Wallpapers + printable mini-posters (SURPRISE!)
🔓 400 - Commemorative Sticker: Exclusive 45th sticker in every physical order
🔒 450 - 45 for 45: Anniversary sketch added to every book
🔒 500 - The Crew Roll Call: Your name in the book. Forever.
🔒 550 - Nexus Family Circle: 100 commemorative prints to the troops
🔒 600 - The Remarque Party: Steve sketches live on stream!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks for being part of this with us — we're so close to the finish line!

Talk soon,

Jaynelle & the Rude Dude Studio crew

P.S. Got questions? Just hit reply — I'm here to help!

Steve's resting. The competition isn't.
5 months ago – Sat, Jan 24, 2026 at 11:06:39 AM



Pull up a chair. The leaderboard's getting good. 

Hey BackerKit crew,

No livestream today. Steve's not up to being on camera, so we're giving him a breather. Thanks for understanding.

We're at 314 of 400 backers across both platforms, which means just 86 more unlocks the Nexus 45th Sticker Drop for all mailed orders. Five days left. We can do this.

And the leaderboard? It's getting spicy. Trevin's holding the lead at 2,755 (on track for the sketch AND cookies), but BuckKickStarter is within striking distance at 2,090. Ray's in second but already won a sketch last campaign, so he's just here for the cookies and chaos. Meanwhile Jaleesa is only 50 points outside the cookie cutoff at #5.
If you were planning to hang out with us today, come say hi on the community page instead:

→ Join the conversation


Tell us what you're reading, drawing, or collecting this week. (And rack up some points while you're at it.)
Campaign ends Thursday, January 29th: https://www.steverude.com/2026skb

See you in the comments,

Jaynelle

PS REMINDER  If you did the reservation, but didn't back the campaign on Backerkit you will NOT get the reservation bookplate.  You have to back the campaign ($5 comes off your pledge)

300 Backers = TROOPS UNLOCKED! Now let's get those stickers...
5 months ago – Thu, Jan 22, 2026 at 09:15:17 AM


Holy smokes,people, 300 backers. We did it!

That means a box of 2026 Sketchbooks is heading to service members through our friends at Comics for Troops. YOU made that happen. Not us - YOU. Every single pledge pushed us closer, and now someone in uniform is getting some Steve Rude Art in their life.

But we're not done yet.

Achievement #2 is live: The Nexus 45th Sticker Drop

Get us to 400 backers and we're tucking an exclusive 45th anniversary sticker into every physical order. Softcover? Sticker. Hardcover? Sticker. Remarque? You better believe there's a sticker.
This isn't something you can buy later. It's only unlocked if we hit 400 together.

Where we're at: 300 down, 100 to go

Share the campaign. Tag your comic book friends. Drag someone to the party. Let's get those stickers!

"Project We Love" + 5 backers from sending books to the troops!
5 months ago – Wed, Jan 21, 2026 at 04:21:16 PM


Hey friend!

Big news dropped: Kickstarter selected The Art of Steve Rude 2026 - Inside the Studio as a "Project We Love"!

And we're SO close to our next community goal—just 5 more backers and we'll be sending a whole BOX of sketchbooks to ComicBooks for Troops. If you know anyone who'd love this book, now's the perfect time to share!

Meanwhile, the community leaderboard competition is getting spicy. Trevin Hickmon is holding the top spot at 1,895 points, with Ray Riethmeier and Brian T. Rivers battling for second. The winners get a free sketch from Steve and homemade cookies from me—but honestly, even if you're not competing, the community chat is worth joining just for the fun.

Thanks for backing and being part of this with us!

Jaynelle Rude & the Rude Dude Crew