Comics Books Reviews: Did DC give The Dude a rude awakening?

You’d think with DC revitalizing its entire line of titles this fall that they’d take all the top talent they could get. But for one reason or another, that doesn’t seem to be the case.

That’s the word according to legendary artist Steve “The Dude” Rude, who related in his regular e-newsletter that he was rebuffed when looking for work at DC. Rude left the Big Two a few years back to work on creator-owned work such as Nexus and The Moth, but after neither project failed to provide for him financially as he hoped he was looking to rekindle a relationship with his preffered publisher of the Big Two, DC. Here’s how Rude says it went:

One month ago, I began my contact with DC through an editor that I knew. Having no success, I tried a second editor. Then finally, one of the higher-up “exec” types. So far, one editor has responded–with a polite turn down. The two others I never heard back from. Interesting world, isn’t it?

In this missive to his fans he explained that of all the characters at DC, the ones he was most drawn to currently was Supergirl, Superman, Big Barda and OMAC. But what do you think? Is there a place for Steve Rude at DC or Marvel in the year 2011? And if so, what would you like to see him work on?

June 15, 2011 @ 01:30 PM by Chris ArrantTagged: dc comics, Steve Rude

24 CommentsRon SalasJune 15, 2011 at 1:38 pm

YES and Superman. No question. Superman.

Elayne RiggsJune 15, 2011 at 1:43 pm

Steve could illustrate a phone book and I’d buy it.

Steve is far from the only one DC hasn’t called to help on their reboots. Rich Johnston published a pretty long list, and still left out folks like my husband.

=shane white=June 15, 2011 at 1:45 pm

World’s Finest by Steve was one of the best prestige hero books I’d read since Dark Knight. I’d wish Steve could get back to doing comics. We could use a few good visual storytellers again.

=s=

Aaron PoehlerJune 15, 2011 at 1:49 pm

Rude is one of the best artists around but regular and monthly? It’s been a long time since he did that. If my job were dependent on hiring artists who were going to keep up the momentum necessary for the relaunch books, I too would think twice about Rude.

Face FartsJune 15, 2011 at 1:53 pm

i had been wondering about Steve’s staus in all this.
It might be interesting to hear both company’s take on this. To DCs credit, they are in a middle of a seismic shift and may not have been able to accomadate steve if he wasn’t going to do the monthly grind.
To DCs discredit they have a long history of kicking people when they’re down.

To Steve’s and a whole lot of other american creators discredit at some point in a down economy and down industry you have to reevaluate the product that you’re trying to sell people. Nexus is a great character but has been around for decades now and hasnt set the world on fire. And if you’re expecting to cash any checks from a project like the Moth then you’ll definitely be looking for work sooner than later.

Johnny BJune 15, 2011 at 2:00 pm

This makes no sense to me either. Must be a clash of egos, or perhaps a misguided desire to avoid one.

KentLJune 15, 2011 at 2:04 pm

Steve Rude doing Fourth World books would be an amazing fit.

Mark KardwellJune 15, 2011 at 2:04 pm

In the 52 new DC relaunched #1s that exist only in my head, I’ll always cherish Steve Rude’s NEW GODS.

Matt MaxwellJune 15, 2011 at 2:05 pm

Fashion makes people make some silly decisions sometimes.

HondobrodeJune 15, 2011 at 2:09 pm

Unfortunately for The Dude, there is a large talent pool todraw from. I love his stuff but I’m not sure if he can sustain a monthly. The other thing is that the Big Two are pretty unforgiving sometimes about creators who try to go their own way. I’m not saying it’s right; I’m just saying I’ve seen I before.

Any work from The Dude I would buy. Superman, Supergirl, Big Barda, OMAC ? Awww yeah.

GregJune 15, 2011 at 2:11 pm

Thank God they didn’t get rid of the real storytellers, like Rob Liefeld.

PaulJune 15, 2011 at 2:12 pm

ABSOLUTELY OMAC!!!

Earth-2 ChadJune 15, 2011 at 2:17 pm

Comics just make no sense sometimes.

RichJune 15, 2011 at 2:28 pm

I’d buy anything he drew. Among the creators on DC’s relaunch, I can only say that about J.H. Williams III.

seth hurleyJune 15, 2011 at 2:41 pm

Rude’s Mister Miracle Special & Legends of the DC Universe #14 (featuring Superman, Jimmy Olsen & the Manhattan Guardian) would make a pretty nice DC Comics Presents reprint. HINT HINT.

jeffJune 15, 2011 at 3:20 pm

Seems to me Mr. Rude has an unjustified sense of entitlement. Who among us could send three emails (or make three phone calls or whatever) and expect to land a job immediately, especially in this down economy? Between being busy with the relaunch (for which DC has apparently been planning and enlisting talent as far back as February), and Mr. Rude’s timeliness and page rate, it’s no wonder that DC didn’t have anything for him at the moment, and politely declined.

Other ChrisJune 15, 2011 at 3:46 pm

Jeez, I’d much rather have Rude on OMAC than Dan Didio.

RichardJune 15, 2011 at 3:52 pm

In addition to DC’s Superman and New Gods related stuff, I could easily see Rude hop on over to Marvel and do a Thing series, or even take over Fantastic Four. Not just for the visuals that he’d bring to those titles, but also for stories he’d tell.

DaveJune 15, 2011 at 4:45 pm

That Liefeld has a job and Rude doesn’t says everything one needs to know about DC.

JG MorganJune 15, 2011 at 6:39 pm

Y’know what I say? F**k the Big Two. Seriously. Go talk to Darkhorse. Ask if there is a spot on the Mignola-verse. That seems to be where the best artists who don’t fit into the going house styles go. Yeah I’m looking at you Guy Davis, Corben, and Fregredo you magnificent bastards.

RichardJune 15, 2011 at 7:13 pm

Chris, I don’t know if you’re being overly diplomatic or tactful, or if Rude has changed the way he’s describing this, but here’s the version of it I read earlier:

http://www.facebook.com/notes/steve-rude-the-dude/the-dudes-return-to-comics/10150255812861294

I’m afraid the words “massive sense of entitlement” come to mind. And some of his Facebook fans seem to have a more realistic grasp of the current market than he does.

Rob D.June 15, 2011 at 8:12 pm

The big two are on their knees right now anyway. Three years from now there won’t be any new monthly books coming out from either of them. Hiring Liefeld , and rebuffing Rude? They’re not even trying to save themselves.

Rich YanizeskiJune 15, 2011 at 8:38 pm

No. DC should keep doing books were the art teams leaves every 3 issues and 75% of their pencilers are crap.

Richard J. MarcejJune 15, 2011 at 8:39 pm

They give work to Rob Liefeld but not Steve Rude (or Ron Frenz or Pat Olliffe or any excellent comic artist over the age of 35 for that matter)

Really DC???

Rob the super no-talent hack Liefeld????????