Horatio Hellpop

Horatio Hellpop is the civilian identity of Nexus, a fusion-powered vigilante who appeared in Dark Horse's sci-fi series beginning in 1982. Plagued by compulsive dreams, he is driven to execute mass murderers across the universe or suffer unbearable psychic torment.

Born in the Bronze Age pages of Nexus #2 (1982), Horatio Hellpop is a creation of the celebrated team of Mike Baron and Steve Rude — and a character whose presence has quietly persisted across an remarkable 44-year span of comics history. Published under Rude Dude Productions, he's the kind of figure who turns up in genuinely eclectic, quality-minded corners of the medium, sharing pages with the likes of Nexus, Madman, Reuben Flagg, and Concrete — a roster that reads like a love letter to independent comics at their most imaginative. With appearances stretching from 1982 all the way to 2026 and a collector-significant key issue to his name, Hellpop rewards the curious reader willing to dig into the rich, creator-driven tradition that flourished outside the Big Two.