Nova (comics)

For the Herald of Galactus, see Nova (Frankie Raye).

Nova
Promotional cover art to Nova #1 (2007). Art by Adi Granov.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Nova #1 (September 1976)
Created by	Marv Wolfman John Buscema
In-story information
Alter ego	Richard Rider
Species	Human
Place of origin	Earth
Team affiliations	United Front New Warriors Defenders Champions of Xandar Secret Avengers Nova Corps
Notable aliases	Quasar, Kid Nova, Nova #11249-44396, Nova Prime, The Human Rocket,
Abilities	Flight, superhuman strength, durability, and speed. Currently in possession, via download, of the Xandarian Worldmind which allows him near infinite control over the Nova Force granting: Energy projection and absorption Ability to execute powerful gravimetric pulses and opening intergalactic stargates

Nova (Richard Rider) is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the Marvel Comics universe. Upon becoming a member of the galaxy's Nova Corps (an intergalactic police force), the youth gained enhanced strength, flight, injury resistance, and a specialized uniform with life support.

In May 2011, Nova placed 98th on IGN's Top 100 Comic Book Heroes of All Time.

Publication history

The character, in a slightly different form as Black Nova, was created by Marv Wolfman and Len Wein in the fanzine Super Adventures in 1966. Seven years later John Romita, Sr. tweaked the design of the character's uniform.^[1] Nova debuted in Nova #1 in 1976, written by Wolfman and drawn by John Buscema. Wolfman intended the teenage character to be an homage to Stan Lee and Steve Ditko's Spider-Man, down to his humble working-class roots and alliterative alter-ego.^[2] The original Nova series, The Man Called Nova (the tag-line for issue #1 reads "In the Marvelous tradition of Spider-Man!"),^[3] lasted 25 issues, running from September 1976 to May 1979. Dangling plotlines were resolved in issues 206-214 of Fantastic Four (also by Wolfman) and issue 24 of Rom the Spaceknight. The character then disappeared into obscurity for some time before returning as a member of the original New Warriors team, appearing in New Warriors (vol. 1) #1-75, Annual #1-4 (July 1990—September 1996).

Following two subsequent Nova titles, Nova vol. 2 #1-18 (Jan 94 - June 95) and Nova, The Human Rocket vol. 3 #1-7 (May - Nov 1999), Nova would return in New Warriors (vol. 2) #0-10 (October 1999—July 2000) and New Warriors (vol. 3) #1-6 (July 2005 - December, 2005). After a four issue miniseries titled Annihilation: Nova and a leading role in Annihilation 1-6, a fourth volume of Nova ran for 36 issues (April 2007 - April 2010).^[4][5] This series tied into Annihilation: Conquest, Secret Invasion, and War of Kings. Dangling plot threads were addressed in The Thanos Imperative 1-6 and it's two one-shots (May 2010 - Jan 2011).

Nova appeared as a member of the Secret Avengers during its first four issues (May - Aug 2010).^[6]

A Nova appeared in Marvel Point One, but it is unclear if it was Richard Rider. This story was a preview for a new series, Nova: Harbringer, written by Jeph Loeb.

Fictional character biography

Origins

Cover to Nova #1.
Art by Rich Buckler & Joe Sinnott.

Richard Rider, a student at the fictional Harry S. Truman High School in Hempstead, New York, is chosen at random by the alien Rhomann Dey, last surviving Nova Centurion of the planet Xandar's elite Nova Corps, to inherit his power and succeed him in the rank of Nova Prime following the destruction of his world by the intergalactic pirate Zorr. Having been mortally wounded in the battle that tore Xandar apart, Dey succeeds in tracking Zorr to Earth, but is unable to exact vengeance due to the extent of his injuries. At death's door, Dey has little choice but to transfer his power to an unsuspecting human on the planet below, praying that whomever he finds will take up his cause.^[7]

Rider gains the uniform and powers of a centurian, but little instruction on how to use these new powers. Overjoyed, Rider eagerly takes up the life of a superhero, fighting costumed supervillains in New York and gradually learning how to control his new abilities. Calling himself Nova, he makes arch-enemies out of street level thugs and cosmic level threats alike, fighting villains such as Condor and Powerhouse,^[8] Diamondhead,^[9] the Corruptor,^[10] and the Sphinx.^[11] Nova also teams with Spider-Man to capture Photon, who had killed Richard Rider's uncle, Ralph Rider,^[12] before ultimately choosing to reveal his secret identity to his family.^[13]

Discovering Dey's Nova Prime Space Ship, which has been invisibly orbiting Earth for several years, Doctor Sun and the Sphinx lead Rider across the stars and to the newly reconstructed planet Xandar, the same world where his great powers originated. Traveling with them as well are Powerhouse, Comet, and Crimebuster.^[14] Engaged in bitter war against the Skrulls, the Xandarians form the Champions of Xandar, pressing Rider into over a year of service protecting their territories from attack.^[15] Nova and the Champions of Xandar fight alongside Rom the Space Knight to eventually defeat the Skrulls, though Xandar itself is left nearly defenseless in the aftermath. Tiring of life so far from home and hoping to rejoin his high school friends, Rider requests to be released from his duties on Xandar and return to Earth. When he is told he must relinquish his powers in order to do so, Rider reluctantly agrees.^[16]

For a time, Rider lives a relatively quiet life, flipping burgers as a cook at a fast food restaurant and barely making ends meet due to his disrupted education. He spends his time trying to pick up the pieces of the life he had left behind, all the while wishing he could find a way to regain the powers he has lost. To that end, he makes some unproductive inquiries such as consulting Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four to see if that is possible. Unknown to him, during this period, the planet Xandar is utterly destroyed in an attack by the space pirate Nebula.^[17]

New Warriors

Main article: New Warriors

In a bid to secure new super powered allies, the superhero Night Thrasher breaks into S.H.I.E.L.D. computers and steals the data of Richards' examination of Rider among other super-powered individuals. Deducing that Rider's powers were not taken completely from him but instead lay dormant inside the young man's body, Night Thrasher convinces himself that a high-stress situation will be enough to reactivate Rider's powers and open him up to recruitment. To that end, Night Thrasher kidnaps Rider and drops him off the top of a multi-story building. The fall causes Rider's powers to reignite from within him, saving his life.^[18]

Although highly annoyed at Night Thrasher's cavalier attitude, Rider joins his superhero group, the New Warriors,^[18] who first appear as a team aiding Thor in his fight with Juggernaut.^[19] Though their first battle pits them against Terrax the Tamer,^[20] their adventures together typically include dealing with street level supervillains as well as Nova's old foe the Sphinx. During this time, Rider begins dating fellow teammate Namorita and becomes close friends with Speedball.

With the New Warriors, he first battled Psionex,^[21] the Force of Nature,^[22] and the Hellions.^[23] When the second Sphinx invaded the Earth, Nova forced her to undo her transformation of Earth.^[24] With the New Warriors, he then fought the Fantastic Four,^[25] and Terrax again^[26] but was captured by Gideon.^[27] It was in this period that Rider's parents learned that he had again become Nova.^[28] Richard briefly dated Laura Dunham a Yale student after she got into a fender bender with his delivery van during one of Rider's many odd jobs.^[29][30]

Cover to New Warriors (vol. 1) #75.
Pencils by Patrick Zircher.

Functioning for several years as an earth-bound superhero with no connection to the now defunct Nova Corps, Rider eventually encounters Garthan Saal, a former Nova Corps Centurion who has been driven insane by his quest to absorb the entirety of the Nova Force, the source of the powers of all Nova Centurions. Having failed in his effort to enact revenge against Nebula for the destruction of his home planet, Saal instead turns his attention to restoring Xandar to its former glory. Stripping Rider of his powers for a second time, Saal transports Rider to Xandar again and forces him to assist in jump-starting the process that restores the dead planet to life. Rider also witnesses the reformation of the Nova Corps, which appoints him to the rank of Centurion Prime.^[31]

Assigned to Earth, Rider is confronted with the challenge of balancing dual lives as a member of both the Nova Corps as well as the New Warriors. Rider soon encounters another Nova Corps member from an alternate timeline named Nova 0:0,^[32] who attempts to prepare him to do battle with a mysterious force that had destroyed his own Earth: "the Deathstorm." Defying the direct order of Xandar's Queen Adora to return to Xandar to quell an emergency, Rider succeeds in stopping the Deathstorm and saving Earth.^[33] His success is short-lived, however, as Rider finds himself stripped of his powers once again and replaced as Centurion Prime by Garthan Saal.^[34] After several months, Saal is killed by Volx, Queen of the Dire Wraiths, returning the Nova force to Rider with his final breath.^[35]

Annihilation

Main article: Annihilation (comics)

Nova briefly travels the US with the reformed New Warriors as part of a reality television show.^[36] After the first season of the show, however, Rider leaves the group for Xandar to report for duty alongside the entire Nova Corps, which has been fully mobilized to respond to an unknown threat. Xandar and the Nova Corps are swiftly decimated by a surprise attack by an army revealed to be the Annihilation Wave, newly arrived in this universe from the Negative Zone.^[37]

As the only surviving centurian, Rider makes contact with the Xandarian Worldmind, a living supercomputer that is the regulator of the Nova Force and caretaker of the entire collective database of Xandarian civilization. Worldmind explains that there is no choice but to upload itself and the entire Nova Force into his body and mind. This act greatly enhances his already superhuman strength and durability as well as granting him control of the nearly limitless energies of the Nova Force.^[38]

During the Annihilation War, Rider takes command of the United Front, a loose collaboration of soldiers hailing from the worlds already under siege by Annihilus. Leading Drax the Destroyer, Star-Lord, Phyla-Vell, Ronan the Accuser, Kl'rt the Super-Skrull, and Gamora (with whom he has become romantically involved) as well as the former Heralds of Galactus, Firelord, Red Shift, and Stardust in a nearly year-long campaign, Rider almost succeeds in pushing back the Wave's advance across the galaxy. When Annihilus utilizes the stolen power of his captive Galactus to destroy an entire planet, Rider switches tactics. Disbanding the United Front, he leads a small team deep into the Wave's conquered territory, intent on assassinating Annihilus himself. Forging alliances with the likes of Blastaar and the Galadorian Spaceknights along the way, Rider eventually engages Annihilus himself in personal combat, tearing the tyrant inside out and halting his wave of destruction.^[39]

Civil War on Earth

See also: Civil War (comics)

After the Annihilation war, Rider began to proactively police the universe. When Worldmind insists Rider rest, he returns home to Earth. Angry that his pleas for help in the Annihilation War were ignored for the Civil War and feeling out of place with the new status quo, Rider returns to space.^[40]

Annihilation: Conquest

Main article: Annihilation: Conquest

Attempting to aid the Kree against an assault from the Phalanx, Rider is badly wounded and crash lands on a sparsely populated Kree outpost.^[41] While Rider's unconscious body recovered, Worldmind deputized a local commander, Ko Rel, to guard him. When she disobeys Worldmind's direction, Rider is infected by the transmode virus and leaves with Gamora, who is now a part of the Phalanx.^[42] Now tasked killing Rider before the Worldmind falls into enemy hands, Ko-Rel attacks him, only to be killed by Gamora in retaliation. Upon her death, her fraction of the Nova force returns to Rider and enables him to overcome the transmode virus. He flees Kree space, pursued by Gamora and a Phanlanx-controlled Drax.^[43]

Seeking a cure for the transmode virus, Rider eventually arrives on Kvch, home planet of the Technarchy. Rider enlists the help of the mutant Warlock and his son Tyro, who cure Rider, Drax, and Gamora of the transmode virus. The five return to Hala to engage the Phalanx.^[44][45]

Secret Invasion

See also: Secret Invasion

When ambushed by some Skrulls, Rider is aided by Kl'rt. He learns about the Secret Invasion, and heads for Earth.^[46] Rider learns that Project Pegasus, the base where his brother now works, is under Skrull attack. Working with Darkhawk, Rider successfully stops the Skrulls' advance.

The scientists of the facility extract the Worldmind from his brain and use the supercomputer to jump start a project they had in storage known as the quantum flask, which restores Quasar to life.^[47] A Skrull warship is about to destroy Project Pegasus, but is destroyed by a band of alien Nova Centurions who then declare their allegiance to Rider.^[48]

War of Kings

See also: War of Kings

Rider learns that Worldmind had been recruiting for the Corps without telling him. When he learns that Ego the Living Planet is among the new recruits,^[49] he becomes enraged and tries to battle Worldmind. As a result, he is stripped of his rank and ejected from the Nova Corps.^[13] Because his body has become dependant on the Nova Force, Rider will die if he is without it for too long.^[50] As a temporary measure, he borrows the quantum bands from Wendall Vaughn and becomes Quasar.^[51] Using his new abilities, Rider goes rescue the Corps from the War of Kings. Ego is removed as a Centurian and Rider regains his Nova Prime status, but not before most of the new recruits were slaughtered by the Shi'ar Imperial Guard.^[52] Nova agrees to train the remaining new centurians, including his younger brother.

Realm of Kings

See also: Realm of Kings

While patrolling the Fault, a tear in spacetime created at the end of the War of Kings, a Nova Corps ship appeared from inside of it. Inside he met Zan Philo, a centurian who had gone missing long ago. Philo was assigned to train the probationers.^[53] Later, Rider and Darkhawk found themselves inside the Fault, where they were called to do battle for the Sphinx against his younger self. Because of the unstable timestream inside the Fault, Nova was able to return with Namorita, his old girlfriend who had died a few years earlier.^[54] Richard returned to Project P.E.G.A.S.U.S., where he confronts an alternate Quasar who came from the universe at the end of the Fault.^[55]

Heroic Age

See also: Heroic Age (comics)

Nova joins the Secret Avengers^[56] and is sent on recon to Mars to investigate Roxxon activity. He becomes possessed by the Thorn Crown, an artifact similar to the Serpent Crown.^[57] Nova left the team to lend a hand in The Thanos Imperative.

Thanos Imperative

See also: The Thanos Imperative

Catching up to the alternate Quasar, Rider arrives back at the Fault just in time to see the Universal Church of Truth rip it wide open.^[58] As Nova struggles to defend the Kree/Shi'ar warships against creatures inside the Fault, he receives assistance from Quasar and the Silver Surfer. They leave the battle front to chase down Lord Mar-Vell, the evil, alternate version of Captain Marvel. After failing to stop Mar-Vell, Rider learns that the Guardians of the Galaxy need his help inside the Fault. Once there, Nova and the Guardians watch Thanos destroy Mar-Vell. Now facing an enraged Thanos, Rider pulls the nova force from the rest of the corps for extra strength. He and Star-Lord are able to hold Thanos back for the few minutes it takes for the Fault to close, trapping all three of them in an alternate universe. Nova and Star-Lord receive a statue in their honor on Hala.^[59]

Return

A Nova arrives on the home planet of Terrax, saying he must warn everyone. Terrax engages him in battle, but it is interupted when the planet is consumed by the Phoenix. Terrax is seemingly destroyed, but the unknown Nova centurian survives.^[60]

Powers and abilities

Nova derives his powers from an energy source called the Nova Force, which all Nova Corps Centurions wield. This energy was transferred by Xandarian technology to Rider by the Nova-Centurion Rhomann Dey. Nova's small measure of the Nova Force gives him superhuman powers including flight, superhuman strength, speed, and durability, as well as the power to absorb energy directed against him and release it as gravimetric pulses and beams, either from specific parts of his body or from his entire body.

Nova wears a standard Xandarian StarCorps uniform, designed to accommodate his powers without being damaged by them. The uniform is highly resistant to damage, including outer space conditions, and is airtight. The helmet contains a plexiglass-like plate that can be lowered to cover the lower face by cybernetic command, thereby making the helmet airtight; the helmet is connected to an oxygen supply concealed within the uniform. In addition, the uniform has a built-in life support function that can sustain Rider under the most extreme environmental conditions, including acting as a life-support suit by locking off the mouth and eyes of the helmet. The helmet contains radio circuitry enabling Nova to pick up radio transmissions, monitor transmissions, telescopic sights, night vision sensors, and heat imaging sensors, as well as overlay a visual heads-up display for tracking energy signatures. Nova's helmet has a rigid construction and shape when worn, but becomes as malleable as cloth when it is not, allowing Rider to hide it in his civilian clothes when desired.

Rider can also alter the appearance and nature of his uniform to suit his needs. However, as Rider learns the hard way, the StarCorps keeps a strict dress code. When he makes major cosmetic changes to his uniform after rejoining the New Warriors, Nova is summarily ordered to conform to standard.

Nova's uniform is not only extremely malleable; it is also designed with specific weapons and functions to aid Rider in his role as a Nova Corps Centurion. Among these features are an electromagnetic discharge that can nullify gravity and access to StarGates that allow him to enter hyperspace, where he can move at velocities exceeding the speed of light.

Nova is a good hand-to-hand combatant, and has been coached by Chord.

During Annihilation, Rider's uniform is altered and enhanced to house the Xandarian Worldmind and aid him in containing the Nova Force. As host to the entire Nova Force, which was previously used to empower all members of the Nova Corps throughout the universe, Rider is now possessed of tremendously augmented strength and durability as well as nearly limitless quantities of energy. However, he's now bonded to the Nova Force itself, and unable to survive for long if separated from it.

In addition to the Nova Force, Rider's body currently houses the Worldmind, the entire culture and history of Xandar as well as the individual minds of thousands of years of dead Xandarians. The consensus voice of the Worldmind can speak directly to Rider, and has demonstrated the following capabilities:

• It helps Rider contain the whole Nova Force while keeping his mind and sanity intact.
• It downloads profiles of opponents directly into Rider's mind.^[61]
• It detects nearby energy surges, including those used in teleportation.^[61]
• It can assume control of Rider's body as he sleeps.^[62]
• It can access other computer systems, including heavily-protected terrestrial computer networks such as S.H.I.E.L.D. records.^[62]
• It analyzes attackers, including detecting adrenaline surges in their bodies.^[63]
• It detects approaching super-humans with energy-based powers (like Penance).^[63]
• It enables Rider to hack into satellite TV broadcasts, and transmit his voice and image to individual TV sets.^[63]
• It can protect Rider from psionic manipulation using psi-shields.^[64]

Reception and legacy

IGN ranked Nova as the 98th greatest comic book character stating that Nova is a blend of Spider-Man and Green Lantern. They also stated that Nova fans noticed him mature when joining the "Fan Warriors" and when Annihilation Wave struck, Nova embraced his destiny as premier defender of a battered galaxy.^[65]

Other versions

Earth X

In the alternate future of Earth X, Nova resides in the afterlife. He and two other deceased heroes, Ms. Marvel and Star-Lord, lead an initial charge against Mephisto, whose plans involve the death of all living beings. They are swiftly defeated, though the remaining heroes later make another attempt.

Marvel Zombies

Nova is featured in the Marvel Zombies one shot Dead Days. Unable to overcome his fear and horror of the slaughter occurring around him, he fails to act in his own defense when Spider-Man attacks him. Fortunately for Nova, Daredevil intervenes, but is bitten when Nova is too shocked to assist. He and The Mighty Thor are rescued by the Fantastic Four and united with the other surviving heroes on the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier. Nova panics further when Nick Fury formulates a desperate last stand defense, citing that this was nothing like previous global threats; and that the world was as good as dead. Regardless, Nova helps in the battle until he is bitten by Ms. Marvel. As a zombie, he participates in a failed attack on Doctor Doom's castle, in an effort to get at the humans inside. A zombie version of Nova can be seen in the Marvel Zombies limited series, being shredded by a hail of metal fragments hurled by Magneto.

He is still mobile when a swarm of zombies attack and attempt to consume the Silver Surfer. During the incident, Zombie Hulk crushes Zombie Hercules when the latter attempts to steal the Silver Surfer's head. Nova backs away, saying "On second thought, you keep that, big guy". He is later killed by the cosmic zombies.

MC2

MC2 Nova's first appearance: Spider-Girl #7

Richard Rider appears frequently in the Spider-Girl series, which is set in an alternate future. The MC2 Nova (co-created by Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenz) first appeared in Spider-Girl #7 and wrongly believed Spider-Girl was a supervillain since she was fighting Darkdevil at the time. After a brief battle, Nova would later realize his mistake.

Over time, the MC2 Nova has attempted to tutor and lecture Spider-Girl on the importance of being a superhero. However, his arrogance and lack of patience with younger heroes causes his lessons to be largely ignored. However, the fact that Nova was a founding member of the New Warriors gave Spider-Girl the inspiration to form a new MC2 version of the Warriors.

By the time of the series, Nova has served as a temporary Avenger. He also appears in the Last Hero Standing and within the Avengers Next limited series. Nova also assisted in the battle against Galactus in Last Planet Standing. The Nova in the MC2/Spider-Girl future is eventually confirmed to be Richard Rider in Avengers Next #2. His attitude toward Spider-Girl is often arrogant and dismissive, bordering on the contemptuous; but later he becomes impressed by her, after her surviving a battle against the Avengers' enemy Seth.

The MC2 Nova uniform closely resembles the original Centurion Nova Prime uniform worn by Rhomann Dey (the Xandarian who gave Rich Rider his powers) and worn by Rider during Nova's first and third series. The only difference is the original three starburst configuration has been changed into a single large starburst. The single starburst is similar to the starburst on the back of the original Nova uniform.

The MC2 Nova has his headquarters located onboard the Nova Prime Starship. The starship resembles the ship used by Rhomann Dey to pursue Xandar's destroyer, Zorr, to Earth and later used by Nova to fight the Skrulls during the Skrull/Xandar War. Whether this is the same starship as Dey's or a new one based on the original design is unknown. The MC2 Rich Rider uses the Nova Prime Starship to monitor Earthbound threats from space.

Forever Yesterday

Nova appears as a member of a team of Avengers from a parallel reality where the Middle East is the dominant superpower. He serves the ruler of this dimension, the tyrannical female Sphinx. He is shown the truth of how the female Sphinx used the energy of the Ka Stone to reshape reality by the original Sphinx's former advisor Sayge (the embodiment of truth). Nova betrays the Sphinx to join with Marvel Man (Vance Astrovik) and Firestar of that world's Mutant Liberation Front as well as Night Thrasher whose parents were murdered in this reality on the orders of the Sphinx. When Nova threatens to murder the Sphinx's cat (a gift from the original Sphinx) she restores reality.^[66]

Nova 0:0

The second Nova series Nova deals with Nova 0:0 who is much more adept at using his powers than Richard Rider. He often fights Nova in order to test him and to push Nova into using his powers in ways he hadn't thought of. It is revealed that this Nova is in fact the alternate reality version of Richard's younger brother Robert Rider. In that reality Robert gained the Nova Force powers instead of Richard and stayed behind to lead the Nova Corps and help Xandar rebuild after the war with the Skrulls. Robert's earth had been destroyed by the Deathstorm while he was off in space. Nova 0:0 would later sacrifice his life preventing the Deathstorm from destroying the 616-version of Earth. He died and was buried on Mars. In the fourth Nova series the Robert Rider of the 616-version of Earth also becomes a member of the Nova Corps (alongside various other humans and non-humans) and again proves capable of using his powers in ways his brother Richard hasn't (such as an energy fence used to encase an enemy).^{[volume & issue needed][67]}

Ultimate Nova

In Ultimate Origins #5, the Ultimate Watchers announce to the Fantastic Four that they "will now pick a herald to help you with your new world order." They choose Rick Jones, who then develops superpowers. After a fight alongside Iceman, Human Torch, and Spider-Man, he selects the name Nova as his superhero alias.^[68] He does not appear to have any relation to the mainstream Nova other than name.

What If

An issue of What If? looks at what would have taken place if four different people had acquired the power of Nova;^[69]

• A young woman who had recently witnessed her husband being murdered by a random thief. Using the Nova powers, she unleashed a wave of vengeance on criminals as she searched for her husband's killer even throwing the Kingpin out of a window when he failed to provide her with the information she sought. Her enraged mind unable to discriminate between good and evil as she attacked anyone who she perceived as hindering her quest, Nova's career culminated in a fight against the Fantastic Four. Recognizing that she couldn't be allowed to take justice into her own hands even if she had mainly killed criminals, the team banished her to the Negative Zone. After her departure, police discovered the body of her husband's killer in a car that had fallen into a river months ago, but nobody ever drew a connection between the two.
• A homeless man discovered the Nova costume after being thrown out of a hotel, and wore it for warmth, When he became caught up in a Skrull attack on Earth that coincidentally started at the orphanage where he was staying for the night on Christmas, the man donned the Nova costume and fought the Skrulls, culminating in him sacrificing himself to destroy the Skrull fleet.
• Peter Parker, paralysed in this reality due to the spider-bite that gave him his powers in the true Marvel Universe, bitter at the world due to his useless legs and his Aunt May's death from shock after she first learned about his paralysis, even when he continued his studies at university. When he acquired the Nova powers, Peter flew home to reveal his good fortune to his Uncle Ben, only to surprise the burglar when he was attempting to rob the house, resulting in the burglar's bullet ricocheting off the Nova armor and killing him. Stricken with grief at his role in a man's death, Peter, although now able to walk, and cleared by the police of any wrongdoing as Ben's testimony confirmed that the death was accidental, threw the costume away, vowing never to use it again.
• An unidentified man used the Nova powers to lead Earth's criminals in the conquest of Earth and destruction of the heroes,only to be killed when Doctor Doom and the Red Skull turned on him out of jealousy, allowing the Sphinx to take control of the Nova-Prime computer and use it to search the minds of the world for the meaning of his existence.

Collected editions

Trade paperbacks include:

• Essential Nova (collects Nova (vol. 1) #1-25, Marvel Two-In-One Annual #3, The Amazing Spider-Man #171, Essential Marvel, March 2006, ISBN 0-7851-2093-9)
• The New Warriors
  • The New Warriors: Beginnings (collects Thor #411-412 and The New Warriors #1-4, September 1992, ISBN 0-87135-916-2)
  • New Warriors Classic: Volume 1 (collects The New Warriors (vol. 1) #1-6 and Thor #411-412, 208 pages, August 2009, ISBN 0-7851-3742-4)
  • New Warriors Classic: Volume 2 (collects The New Warriors (vol. 1) #7-10, Annual #1; New Mutants (Vol.1) Annual #7, Uncanny X-Men Annual #15 and X-Factor (Vol.1) Annual #6, 256 pages, May 2009, ISBN 0-78514-263-0)
  • New Warriors: Reality Check (collects The New Warriors (vol. 3) #1-6, 144 pages, March 2006, ISBN 0-7851-1661-3)
• Nova vol. 4 (by co-authors Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, 2007-ongoing):
  • Volume 1 (hardcover, 328 pages, January 2009, ISBN 0-7851-3654-1):
    • Annihilation - Conquest (with pencils by Sean Chen and inks by Scott Hanna, collects Nova #1-7, 168 pages, December 2007, ISBN 0-7851-2631-7)
    • Knowhere (with pencils by Wellington Alves and inks by Wellington Diaz and Nelson Pereira, collects Nova #8-12 and Annual #1, 144 pages, August 2008, ISBN 0-7851-2632-5)
  • Secret Invasion (collects Nova #13-18, March 2009, ISBN 0-7851-2662-7)
  • Nova Corps (collects Nova #19-22, and "Nova: Origin of Richard Rider", 144 pages, May 2009, ISBN 0-7851-3188-4)
  • War of Kings (collects Nova #23-28, 144 pages, December 2009, ISBN 0-7851-4066-2)
  • Realm of Kings (collects Nova #29-36, 168 pages, softcover, June 2010, ISBN 0-7851-4067-0)

In other media

Television

• Nova appears as a background cameo in the Silver Surfer episode "Learning Curve Part 1".
• Nova appears in The Super Hero Squad Show episode "So Pretty When They Explode", voiced by Jason Marsden. Thanos defeats the Nova Corps and captures him alongside the Power Infinity Gem. Iron Man had to work with Thor, Hulk, Hercules, and She-Hulk in order to rescue Nova and defeat Thanos.

Video games

• Nova's voice was featured in a audio log for The New Warriors in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2, voiced by Robert Tinkler.
• Nova appears as a playable character in the Marvel Super Hero Squad: The Infinity Gauntlet video game voiced by Jason Marsden.
• Nova appears a playable character in the crossover fighting game Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3,^[70] voiced by Troy Baker.
• Nova is a playable character in Marvel Super Hero Squad Online.

Toys

• Nova received a 6 inch figure in his original costume in the Holocaust series of Marvel Legends in 2009. It was a Walmart exclusive.
• Nova was represented in his Nova Prime costume by Eaglemoss in the Classic Marvel Figurine Collection magazine. The 94 cm lead figure was released as number 54 in the series.
• In 2012, Nova will be included in the Marvel Universe 3 3/4" figure line in his Nova Prime costume.^[71]

References

1. ^ Smith, pp.51–53
2. ^ "Nova Newsline!" (letter column), Nova #6 (Marvel Comics, Feb. 1977): Reader Michael Biegel writes "Marv Wolfman approached the character of Richard Rider specially by introducing similarities between him and Peter Parker. . . " and the editor responds "We wanted to recapture the essence of Spider-Man with a totally different character."
3. ^ Cover of Nova #1 (Marvel Comics, Sept. 1976)
4. ^ Abnett & Lanning: On the Eve of Nova's Return to Monthly Fun, Comics Bulletin, April 9, 2007
5. ^ Galactus, and Surfer and Skrulls - Oh My! Abnett & Lanning on Nova, Newsarama, April 10, 2008
6. ^ JK Parkin (April 14, 2010). "And your Secret Avengers line-up is ...". Comic Book Resources. http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2010/04/and-your-secret-avengers-line-up-is/. Retrieved April 16, 2010. 
7. ^ Nova #1
8. ^ Nova #2
9. ^ Nova #3
10. ^ Nova #4
11. ^ Nova #6-7, 10-11
12. ^ Nova #12; Amazing Spider-Man #171
13. ^ ^{a b} Nova #21
14. ^ Nova #24-25
15. ^ Fantastic Four #206, 208-209
16. ^ Rom #24
17. ^ Avengers #260
18. ^ ^{a b} as revealed in New Warriors #1
19. ^ Thor #411-412
20. ^ New Warriors #1
21. ^ New Warriors #4
22. ^ New Warriors #7-9
23. ^ New Warriors #10
24. ^ New Warriors #11-13
25. ^ Fantastic Four #356
26. ^ New Warriors #16-17
27. ^ New Warriors #19
28. ^ New Warriors #15
29. ^ New Warriors Annual #2
30. ^ New Warriors #31
31. ^ New Warriors #40-42
32. ^ Nova vol. 2, #4
33. ^ Nova vol. 2, #16
34. ^ Nova vol. 2, #17-18
35. ^ New Warriors #75, September 1996
36. ^ New Warriors vol. 3, #1-6
37. ^ Annihilation: Prologue #1
38. ^ Annihilation: Nova #1
39. ^ Annihilation #1-6
40. ^ Nova vol. 4, #3, August 2007
41. ^ Nova vol. 4, #4
42. ^ Nova vol. 4, #5
43. ^ Nova vol. 4, #6,7
44. ^ Nova vol. 4, #11,12
45. ^ Annihilation: Conquest #6
46. ^ Nova vol. 4, #16
47. ^ Nova vol. 4, #17
48. ^ Nova #18
49. ^ Nova #19-20
50. ^ Nova #22
51. ^ Nova #24
52. ^ Nova #23-25
53. ^ Nova vol.4 #30
54. ^ Nova vol.4 #32-35
55. ^ Nova #36
56. ^ "And your Secret Avengers line-up is". Robot6.comicbookresources.com. http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2010/04/and-your-secret-avengers-line-up-is/. Retrieved 2010-12-26. 
57. ^ Secret Avengers #1-2
58. ^ The Thanos Imperative: Ignition #1
59. ^ The Thanos Imperative #1-6
60. ^ Marvel Point One one-shot (Nov 2011)
61. ^ ^{a b} Annihilation #2, November 2006
62. ^ ^{a b} Nova (vol. 4) #2, July 2007
63. ^ ^{a b c} Nova (vol. 4) #3, August 2007
64. ^ Nova (vol.4) #13, May 2008
65. ^ "Nova is number 98". http://www.ign.com/top/comic-book-heroes/98. Retrieved May 5, 2011. 
66. ^ New Warriors #11-13
67. ^ Nova 0:0 at the Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe
68. ^ Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man #8
69. ^ What If? (vol. 1) #15
70. ^ Brendan Sinclair. "GameSpot - Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 roster leaked". Comic-con.gamespot.com. http://comic-con.gamespot.com/story/6324583/ultimate-marvel-vs-capcom-3-roster-leaked. Retrieved 2011-07-22. 
71. ^ DJ (2011-05-27). "SDCC 2011 – Hasbro Marvel Universe and Legends line refreshes". MU Review. http://www.mureview.net/?p=142. Retrieved 2011-09-07. 

Sources

• Smith, Doug (2009). Back Issue #33. Raleigh: Twomorrows. ISSN 1932-6904. 

External links

• Nova (Richard Rider) at Marvel.com
• Richard Rider at the Marvel Database Project
• Nova Prime Page (Rich Rider)
• Nova (Richard Rider) at the Comic Book DB