Wisconsin-born Steve Rude—who assumed the nickname "The Dude" long before Jeff Bridges in The Big Lebowski—is an artist and painter famed for his "classical" style in superhero comics, co-creating the cult-y avenger Nexus in 1981 before eventually moving on from independent comics to the majors at Marvel, DC, and Dark Horse. But the Arizona-based Rude also suffers from bipolar disorder, has had run-ins with police and airport security (the latter leading him to sue the state of Tennessee), and has harbored fantasies about suicide. Unable to make deadlines, Rude here decides to avoid comics publishers and becomes a strictly fine-arts and commission painter, a decision which plunges his long-suffering wife and family into a financial Phantom Zone (a Superman reference). In an accompanying audio commentary, filmmaker Ian Fischer says he didn't want to make a slick comics-fan documentary that looked like an infomercial for the medium (he also adds that Rude isn't currently speaking to him). Indeed, the rough-edged portrait here of a big, physical, talented, mercurial artist who is also his own worst super-foe is as much a study in mental illness as it is a gossipy tour of the comics-industry backwaters, where creators pay tribute to The Herculoids' artist Alex Toth, and the cheapie imprints and third-string heroes of their youths. Interviewees include Alex Ross, Dave Gibbons, and Neal Adams (but you won't see Stan Lee). In addition to Fischer's commentary track (with composer Ross Williams), the disc also features a second commentary with Mike Baron, co-creator of Nexus. A disturbing portrait of a troubled artist, this is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (C. Cassady)
Rude Dude
(2014) 86 min. DVD: $24.99. Garden Thieves Pictures (avail. from www.amazon.com). Volume 30, Issue 1
Rude Dude
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