Nova (Richard Rider)

Last updated
Nova
Nova1adigranov.jpg
Textless cover of Nova (vol. 4) #1 (April 2007),
art by Adi Granov
Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
First appearance The Man Called Nova #1 (September 1976)
Created by Marv Wolfman
John Romita Sr.
In-story information
Alter egoRichard Rider
Species Human
Place of originEarth
Team affiliations United Front
New Warriors
Defenders
Champions of Xandar
Secret Avengers
Nova Corps
Guardians of the Galaxy
Notable aliasesNova Prime
Kid Nova
Nova #11249-44396
the Human Rocket
Quasar
Abilities
  • Expert hand to hand combatant
  • Access to the Nova Force:
    • Currently in possession via download of the Xandarian Worldmind which allows him near-infinite control over the Nova Force granting energy projection and absorption
    • Superhuman strength, speed, durability, agility, and reflexes
    • Ability to exert influence over gravitational forces and open wormholes
    • Regenerative healing factor
    • Flight

Nova (Richard Rider) is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character appeared historically as the star of his own series, and at other times, as a supporting character in team books such as The New Warriors . He is a member of the intergalactic police force known as the Nova Corps. He has access to the Nova Force and superhuman abilities including enhanced strength, flight and resistance to injury.

Contents

Publication history

The character was created in 1966 by writer Marv Wolfman in issue #3 of his fanzine Super Adventures. Then known as the Star, he was an alien doctor named Denteen who found a spaceship containing pills which gave him a different superhuman power every five minutes. In issue #6, Wolfman and writer Len Wein reimagined the character, now a prisoner named Kraken Roo who turns out to become the superhero Black Nova. Years later, Wolfman (working for Marvel Comics) and artist John Romita Sr. tweaked the design of the character's uniform and created a new origin story. [1]

Nova debuted in The Man Called Nova #1 (Sept. 1976), written by Wolfman and drawn by John Buscema. [2] 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. [3] The original series lasted 25 issues from September 1976 to May 1979. Dangling plot lines were resolved in issues #206-214 of Fantastic Four (also by Wolfman) and issue #24 of Rom: Spaceknight . The character then disappeared into obscurity until returning as a member of the original New Warriors team debuting in The Mighty Thor #411 (December 1989), and continuing through The New Warriors #1-75 and Annuals #1-4 (July 1990—September 1996).

Following two subsequent Nova titles, Nova (vol. 2) #1-18 (Jan. 1994-June 1995) and Nova the Human Rocket (vol. 3) #1-7 (May.-Nov. 1999), Nova would return in The New Warriors (vol. 2) #0-10 (Oct. 1999—July 2000) and New Warriors (vol. 3) #1-6 (July 2005-Dec. 2005). After a four-issue miniseries titled Annihilation: Nova and a leading role in Annihilation #1-6, Nova (vol. 4) ran for 36 issues (April 2007-April 2010). [4] [5] This series tied into Annihilation: Conquest , Secret Invasion , and War of Kings . After the cancellation of Nova (vol. 4), some remaining plot threads were addressed in The Thanos Imperative , a six-issue miniseries with two bookend one-shots (May 2010-Feb. 2011).

Nova appeared as a member of the Secret Avengers during the first four issues of that team's eponymous series (May - Aug. 2010). [6]

Nova appears in a Guardians of the Galaxy storyline running from August to October 2014, an Original Sin tie-in featuring a flashback to events immediately following The Thanos Imperative. [7]

Fictional character biography

Original series

Cover to The Man Called Nova #1, art by Rich Buckler and Joe Sinnott Nova 1 (1976).jpg
Cover to The Man Called Nova #1, art by Rich Buckler and Joe Sinnott

When the last surviving member of the planet Xandar's elite Nova Corps, Rhomann Dey, is dying, he selects New York high school student Richard Rider to replace him. [8] Rider is given the uniform and powers of a Nova Centurion, but little instruction on how to use them. Calling himself Nova, Rider becomes a superhero, fighting costumed supervillains such as the Condor, Powerhouse, [9] Diamondhead, [10] the Corruptor, [11] and the Sphinx, [12] and teaming with heroes such as Spider-Man [13] and Thor. He initially hides his identity, but later reveals it to his family. [14]

Rider discovers Dey's spaceship orbiting Earth and uses it to journey to Xandar with Doctor Sun, Powerhouse, Comet, the Crimebuster and the Sphinx, [15] where they join the Xandarians' war against the Skrulls. [16] With the help of Rom the Space Knight, the Skrulls are defeated. Wanting to return to Earth, Rider is released from his duties on Xandar and relinquishes his powers. [17]

The New Warriors

Upon his return to Earth, Rider struggles to readjust due to his failure to complete high school. Unknown to him, the planet Xandar is utterly destroyed in an attack by the space pirate Nebula. [18] With the help of Night Thrasher, Rider regains his powers and joins the New Warriors superhero team, [19] where he becomes close friends with Speedball. Richard briefly dates Yale student Laura Dunham and teammate Namorita. [20] [21]

Cover to The New Warriors #75, pencils by Patrick Zircher NW75.jpg
Cover to The New Warriors #75, pencils by Patrick Zircher

Rider encounters Garthan Saal, a former Nova Corps Centurion who had been driven insane by absorbing too much of the Nova Force, the source of power for Nova Centurions. Saal seeks more power so he can restore Xandar to its former glory. He strips Rider of his powers and transports him to Xandar. Saal is defeated. Rider witnesses the reformation of the Nova Corps and receives the rank of Centurion Prime. [22]

Assigned to Earth, Rider is confronted with the challenge of balancing dual lives as a member of both the Nova Corps and the New Warriors. Rider encounters a Nova Corps member from an alternate timeline named Nova 0:0, [23] who prepares him to stop the Deathstorm, which is coming to destroy Earth. Because Rider defies Xandar's Queen Adora to stop the Deathstorm, [24] he is temporarily stripped of his powers and rank, [25] but is given back his powers when his replacement sacrifices himself. [26]

Annihilation

Nova briefly travels the U.S. with the reformed New Warriors as part of a reality television show. [27] Rider leaves the group when he is summoned to Xandar alongside the entire Nova Corps, which has been fully mobilized to respond to the Annihilation Wave, a force from the Negative Zone led by Annihilus. The wave decimates Xandar and the corps in a surprise attack. [28] As the only surviving centurion, Rider makes contact with the Xandarian Worldmind, a living supercomputer that regulates the Nova Force and is caretaker of the entire database of Xandarian civilization. The Worldmind uploads itself and the entire Nova Force into Rider, greatly enhancing his abilities. [29] During the Annihilation War, Rider takes command of the United Front, a loose collaboration of soldiers. In a nearly year-long campaign, Rider resists the Wave's advance across the galaxy until the United Front suffers a swift defeat. He leads a small team into the Wave's conquered territory and eventually engages Annihilus in personal combat, killing him. [30]

After the Annihilation War, Rider returns to Earth to rest. However, finding out that his pleas for help in the Annihilation War were ignored by Earth's superheroes because of a Civil War, and meeting Penance - his old friend Speedball, who was mentally scarred by the events leading up to said war - Rider returns to space, feeling out of place on Earth and disturbed by what Penance had become. [31]

Post-Annihilation

Attempting to aid the Kree against an assault from the Phalanx, Rider is wounded and crash-lands on a sparsely populated Kree outpost. [32] While Rider's unconscious body recovers, Worldmind deputizes a local Kree commander, Ko-Rel, to guard him. Rider is infected by the transmode virus and joins the Phalanx. [33] Now tasked with 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 Phalanx-controlled Drax. [34] 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. [35] [36]

When ambushed by Skrulls during the Secret Invasion storyline, Rider is aided by Kl'rt the Super-Skrull. He learns about the Secret Invasion and heads for Earth. [37] 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 known as the quantum flask, which restores Quasar to life. [38] A Skrull warship is about to attack Project Pegasus but is destroyed by a band of alien Nova Centurions who then declare their allegiance to Rider. [39]

Rider learns that the Worldmind has been recruiting members for the Corps without telling him. When he learns that Ego the Living Planet is among the new recruits, [40] he becomes enraged and tries to battle Worldmind. As a result, he is stripped of his rank and ejected from the Nova Corps. [14] Because his body has become dependent on the Nova Force, Rider will die if he is without it for too long. [41] As a temporary measure, he borrows the quantum bands from Wendell Vaughn and becomes Quasar. [42] Using his new abilities, Rider rescues the Corps from the War of Kings. Ego is removed as a Centurion and Rider regains his Nova Prime status, but not before most of the new recruits are slaughtered by the Shi'ar Imperial Guard. Nova agrees to train the remaining new Centurions, including his younger brother Robert. [43]

Nova is recruited for the Secret Avengers by Steve Rogers and sent to Mars to investigate Roxxon's operations on that planet. While there, Rider discovers a second Serpent Crown secreted there, only to fall under its influence until rescued by Rogers and his team of Avengers. [44] Shortly after this mission, Nova is called away to deal with the events of The Thanos Imperative and Steve Rogers confirms he has left the team. [45]

Realm of Kings and The Thanos Imperative

A lost Nova Corps ship appears from a tear in space-time known as the Fault. Onboard is Zan Philo, a long-missing Nova Centurion who is assigned to train the new recruits. [46] Later, Rider and Darkhawk find themselves inside the Fault, where they are called to do battle for the Sphinx against his younger self. Because of the unstable timestream inside the Fault, Nova is able to return with Namorita, his old girlfriend who had died a few years earlier. [47] Rider returns to Project Pegasus, where he confronts an alternate Quasar who originates from the Cancerverse, a universe within the Fault. [48]

Catching up to the alternate Quasar, Rider returns to the Fault to see the Universal Church of Truth rip it wide open. [49] Assisted by others, he confronts Lord Mar-Vell, the evil alternate version of Captain Marvel, but cannot stop him. Entering the Fault to assist the Guardians of the Galaxy, Rider 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 the Cancerverse. [50] The two heroes continue to fight Thanos for a Cosmic Cube which has the power to send them home. Rider charges the Cube with the Nova Force to create a doorway for Star-Lord, intending to remain behind and keep Thanos from escaping too. Star-Lord escapes, but Rider is unable to prevent Thanos from escaping as well. [51] Because no one is immediately aware Star-Lord survived, Nova and Star-Lord receive a statue in their honor on Hala. [50]

Return

The latest Nova, Sam Alexander, locates the Xandarian Worldmind. [52] Rider's consciousness awakens within the Worldmind during the encounter. It is later revealed that Rider and the Worldmind survived the closure of the Fault and remain trapped in the Cancerverse. Using the Nova Force, Rider manages to escape the Cancerverse, returns to Earth to visit his mother, [53] and learns that his father has died. [54] He encounters Alexander and they begin working together. However, in his escape, Rider has become a portal to the Cancerverse, which repeatedly attempts to invade Earth through him. Rider returns to the Cancerverse in hopes of closing the portal and thus saving his own universe. [55] Despite his resistance, he is co-opted by the Cancerverse, but is freed by Alexander, who has followed him. The two escape the Cancerverse once more, using the Cosmic Cube carried by Thanos' Cancerverse doppelganger. Rider and Alexander resume their lives and relationships on Earth while continuing as Nova Corpsmen. [56]

In the aftermath of "Empyre," Nova represents the Nova Corps during a Galactic Council meeting held by Kl'rt the Super-Skrull. When Emperor Stote of the Zn'rx was found dead in the restroom and Noh-Varr becomes a suspect after attacking the Skrull subaltern Val-Korr, Nova calls in the Guardians of the Galaxy to investigate Emperor Stote's murder. [57]

During the "Judgment Day" storyline, Nova appears at Port Prometheus to protect the evacuees from the attackers at the time when Uranos the Undying was attacking. [58]

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 to Rider by the Nova Centurion Rhomann Dey. The Nova Force affords Rider 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. [59] [60] Nova is a good hand-to-hand combatant, and has been coached by Chord. [61]

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. 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 a radio, telescopic sights, night vision sensors, and heat imaging sensors, as well as 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. Nova's uniform is not only extremely malleable, but contains specific functions to aid Rider in his role as a Nova Corps Centurion. Among these features are an electromagnetic discharge that can nullify gravity and an interface to stargates that allow him to enter hyperspace, where he can move at velocities exceeding the speed of light. Rider can also alter the appearance and nature of his uniform to suit his needs. [62] However, as Rider learns the hard way, the Nova Corps 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. [63]

During Annihilation, Rider's uniform is altered and enhanced to house the Xandarian Worldmind as well as the entire Nova Force, which was previously used by all members of the Nova Corps. With the Worldmind and the Nova Force, Rider possesses tremendously augmented strength and durability as well as nearly limitless quantities of energy. [64] The Worldmind consists of 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, helping him to control the Nova Force, fight enemies, sense energy, interface with electronics, and protect against psionic abilities. The Worldmind can also assume direct control of Rider's body when he is asleep. [65] [66] [67] [68]

Marv Wolfman lawsuit

In 1997, on the eve of the impending release of the Blade motion picture, Marv Wolfman sued Marvel Characters Inc. over ownership of all characters he had created for Marvel Comics, including Nova and Blade. [69] A ruling in Marvel's favor was handed down on November 6, 2000. [69] Wolfman's stance was that he had not signed work-for-hire contracts when he created characters including Blade and Nova. In a nonjury trial, the judge ruled that Marvel's later use of the characters was sufficiently different to protect it from Wolfman's claim of copyright ownership. [70]

Reception

Accolades

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 but are swiftly defeated.[ volume & issue needed ]

Marvel Zombies

Nova is featured in Marvel Zombies: Dead Days . Unable to overcome his fear and horror of the slaughter occurring around him, Nova fails to act in his own defense when Spider-Man attacks him. Daredevil intervenes, but is bitten when Nova is too shocked to assist. He and 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.[ volume & issue needed ] As a zombie, he participates in a failed attack on Doctor Doom's castle, in an effort to get at the humans inside.[ volume & issue needed ] A zombie version of Nova can be seen in the Marvel Zombies miniseries, being shredded by a hail of metal fragments hurled by Magneto.[ volume & issue needed ]

He is still mobile, as a zombie, 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. [79]

MC2

The MC2 Nova's first appearance in Spider-Girl #7 Spidergirl7.jpg
The MC2 Nova's first appearance in 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 later realizes his mistake. [80]

Over time, the MC2 Nova attempts to tutor Spider-Girl on the importance of being a superhero. 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. [81]

By the time of the series, Nova has served as a temporary Avenger. He also appears in the Last Hero Standing and Avengers Next miniseries. Nova also assisted in the battle against Galactus in Last Planet Standing.[ volume & issue needed ] 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. [82]

Forever Yesterday

Nova appears as the sole Caucasian member of a team of Avengers from a parallel reality where the Middle East is the dominant superpower. He serves the ruler of this alternate Earth, 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. Nova betrays the Sphinx to join 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, she restores reality. [83]

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 to test him and to push Nova into using his powers in new ways. It is revealed that this Nova is, in fact, the alternate reality version of Richard's younger brother Robert. 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 volume of Nova, 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 had not. [84] [85]

What If

Issue #15 of What If? contained four stories in which a young widow, a homeless man, Peter Parker, and a criminal became Nova instead of Richard. [86]

In What If? Annihilation, the Annihilation Wave reaches Earth in the climactic battle of the super hero Civil War. Nova, Captain America, and Iron Man work together and sacrifice themselves while using a weapon to destroy the Wave and save Earth.

In other media

Marvel Cinematic Universe

In March 2022, Marvel Studios was revealed to be developing a project featuring Richard Rider / Nova, with Sabir Pirzada writing. [87] It will be a Special Presentation released on Disney+. [88]

Video games

Collected editions

TitleMaterial collectedDateISBN
Essential NovaNova #1-25, Marvel Two-in-One Annual #3, The Amazing Spider-Man #171April 2006 ISBN   978-0785120933
Nova Classic: Volume 1Nova #1-12, The Amazing Spider-Man #171January 2013 ISBN   978-0785160281
Nova Classic: Volume 2Nova #13-19, The Defenders #62-64, Fantastic Four Annual #12, Marvel Two-in-One Annual #3December 2013 ISBN   978-0785185444
Nova Classic: Volume 3Nova #20-25, Fantastic Four #204-206, 208-214June 2014 ISBN   978-0785185529
Nova Volume 1: Annihilation: ConquestNova (vol. 4) #1-7December 2007 ISBN   0-7851-2631-7
Nova Volume 2: KnowhereNova (vol. 4) #8-12 and Annual #1August 2008 ISBN   0-7851-2632-5
Nova Volume 3: Secret InvasionNova (vol. 4) #13-18March 2009 ISBN   0-7851-2662-7
Nova Volume 4: Nova CorpsNova (vol. 4) #19-22 and Nova: Origin of Richard RiderMay 2009 ISBN   0-7851-3188-4
Nova Volume 5: War of KingsNova (vol. 4) #23-28December 2009 ISBN   0-7851-4066-2
Nova Volume 6: Realm of KingsNova (vol. 4) #29-36June 2010 ISBN   0-7851-4067-0
Nova by Abnett & Lanning: The Complete Collection Volume 1Annihilation: Nova #1-4, Nova (vol. 4) #1-15, Annual #1, material from Nova: Origin of Richard RiderJuly 31, 2018 ISBN   978-1302911348
Nova by Abnett & Lanning: The Complete Collection Volume 2Nova (vol. 4) #16-36, material from I Am An AvengerDecember 31, 2018 ISBN   978-1302915551
Nova Volume 1: OriginNova (vol. 5) #1-5March 11, 2014 ISBN   978-0785166054
Nova Volume 2: Rookie SeasonNova (vol. 5) #6-9, 10 (A story)March 25, 2014 ISBN   978-0785168393
Nova Volume 3: Nova CorpseNova (vol. 5) #10 (B story), 11-16June 10, 2014 ISBN   978-0785189572
Nova Volume 4: Original SinNova (vol. 5) #17-22January 6, 2015 ISBN   978-0785189589
Nova Volume 5: AXISNova (vol. 5) #23-27May 5, 2015 ISBN   978-0785192411
Nova Volume 6: HomecomingNova (vol. 5) #28-31, Nova Annual (vol.2) # 1November 10, 2015 ISBN   978-0785193753
Nova: The Human Rocket Volume 1: Burn OutNova (vol. 6) #1-6June 14, 2016 ISBN   978-0785196501
Nova: The Human Rocket Volume 2: AfterburnNova (vol. 6) #7-11January 10, 2017 ISBN   978-0785196518
Nova: ResurrectionNova (vol. 7) #1-7July 26, 2017 ISBN   978-1302905293
Annihiliation: ScourgeAnnihilation Scourge: Alpha, Nova, Silver Surfer, Beta Ray Bill, Fantastic Four and OmegaMarch 24, 2020 978-1302921699

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Galactus</span> Marvel Comics fictional character

Galactus is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Formerly a mortal man, he is a cosmic entity who consumes planets to sustain his life force, and serves a functional role in the upkeep of the primary Marvel continuity. He was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby and first appeared in Fantastic Four #48.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Firelord (character)</span> Comics character

Firelord is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skrull</span> Fictional extraterrestrial race

The Skrulls are a race of extraterrestrial shapeshifters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. They first appeared in Fantastic Four #2 and were created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. They originated from the planet Skrullos and their empire is located in the Andromeda Galaxy. Their infiltration of Earth was a major event in the Marvel Comics universe as shown in the crossover event Secret Invasion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drax the Destroyer</span> Marvel Comics fictional character

Drax the Destroyer is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Jim Starlin, the character first appeared in The Invincible Iron Man #55.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Death (Marvel Comics)</span> Fictional character in Marvel Comics comic books

Death is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Mike Friedrich and Jim Starlin, the character first appeared in Captain Marvel #26. Death is a cosmic entity based on the personification of death. The character has also been known as Lady Death and Mistress Death at various points in her history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darkhawk</span> Fictional character

Darkhawk is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Darkhawk #1, and was created by writer Tom DeFalco and artist Mike Manley. The character appeared in a series of self-titled comics from 1991-1995, then recurred in several limited-run series and multi-title events in the years since. The character's origin is based on a link between a human character and an android from another dimension known as Null Space. The character has also appeared in non-speaking roles on television and video games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Annihilus</span> Marvel Comics fictional character

Annihilus is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, primarily as an adversary to the Fantastic Four. The character debuted in Fantastic Four Annual #6, which was published in November 1968. Annihilus was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and was notably featured in the "Annihilation" event.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terrax</span> Fictional comic book character

Terrax the Tamer is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by artist John Byrne and writer Marv Wolfman, the character first appeared in October 1979, and is a herald of cosmic entity Galactus and enemy of the Fantastic Four.

The Sphinx is the name of two fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gladiator (Kallark)</span> Comics character

Gladiator (Kallark) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He first appeared in The X-Men #107 and was created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Dave Cockrum. The character is a Strontian, and like others of his race has the capacity for great strength and various superpowers, but can only use them when he is completely devoted to a purpose; his abilities vary in accordance with his level of confidence. He was born on Strontia, which is part of the Shi'ar Empire and he is the leader of their Imperial Guard. He was also a member of the Annihilators, Dark Guardians, and Guardians of the Galaxy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ronan the Accuser</span> Marvel Comics fictional character

Ronan the Accuser is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, he first appeared in Fantastic Four #65. In his comic book appearances, Ronan is depicted as the Supreme Accuser of the Kree Empire, the militaristic government of the alien Kree, and commonly serves as an adversary of superhero teams such as the Fantastic Four, the Avengers, and the Guardians of the Galaxy. Initially portrayed as a supervillain, the character would later be presented as a more noble and honorable figure. Ronan has even been married to the Inhuman Crystal, a princess of the Inhuman Royal Family.

<i>Annihilation</i> (comics) 2006 Marvel Comics storyline

"Annihilation" is a 2006 crossover storyline published by Marvel Comics, highlighting several outer space-related characters in the Marvel Universe. The central miniseries was written by Keith Giffen, with editor Andy Schmidt.

The Corruptor is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He has fought Thor and Nova. His sweat glands release a chemical that overrides the social inhibition center of the brain. He first appeared in Nova #4 in Dec. 1976 and was created by Marv Wolfman and Sal Buscema.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nova Corps</span> Fictional intergalactic military and police force appearing in Marvel Comics

The Nova Corps is a fictional intergalactic military and police force appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Marv Wolfman, the Corps first appeared in Fantastic Four #205. They have since appeared in numerous other Marvel stories set in outer space and media adaptations, such as the animated TV series The Super Hero Squad Show and the 2014 film Guardians of the Galaxy, the latter of which is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Xandar is a fictional planet appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The planet is depicted as being in the Tranta system in the Andromeda Galaxy. It is best known as the home world of the Nova Corps, an intergalactic police task force. Xandar is also the home planet of Firelord and Air-Walker, former Heralds of Galactus, as well as the super-villain and anti-hero Supernova.

Diamondhead is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guardians of the Galaxy (2008 team)</span> Fictional superhero team appearing in Marvel Comics

The Guardians of the Galaxy are a fictional superhero team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning formed the team from existing and previously unrelated characters created by a variety of writers and artists, with an initial roster of Star-Lord, Rocket Raccoon, Groot, Phyla-Vell, Gamora, Drax the Destroyer, and Adam Warlock.

<i>The Thanos Imperative</i> 2010 comic book limited series

The Thanos Imperative is a six-issue comic book limited series published in 2010 by Marvel Comics. It was written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, and was bookended by two one-shot comics, Ignition and Devastation. The story focuses on the cosmic heroes of the Marvel Universe, who band together to combat the imminent threat of the Fault and the Cancerverse that lies beyond it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nova (Sam Alexander)</span> Fictional Marvel Comics superhero

Nova is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character, a space-faring member of the intergalactic police force known as the Nova Corps, was created in 2011 by writer Jeph Loeb and artist Ed McGuinness, based on the original Nova Richard Rider.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cosmo the Spacedog</span> Marvel Comics character

Cosmo the Space-dog is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Cosmo, a telepathic Soviet space dog, is the security chief of the space station Knowhere and a member of the Guardians of the Galaxy. The character was created by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning as a reference to Laika and first appeared in Nova vol. 4 #8.

References

  1. "Genesis Of Nova!". Nova Prime Page. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
  2. DeFalco, Tom; Sanderson, Peter; Brevoort, Tom; Teitelbaum, Michael; Wallace, Daniel; Darling, Andrew; Forbeck, Matt; Cowsill, Alan; Bray, Adam (2019). The Marvel Encyclopedia. DK Publishing. p. 260. ISBN   978-1-4654-7890-0.
  3. "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."
  4. Abnett & Lanning: On the Eve of Nova's Return to Monthly Fun Archived 2009-04-10 at the Wayback Machine , Comics Bulletin, April 9, 2007
  5. Galactus, and Surfer and Skrulls - Oh My! Abnett & Lanning on Nova Archived 2010-12-22 at archive.today , Newsarama, April 10, 2008
  6. JK Parkin (April 14, 2010). "And your Secret Avengers line-up is ..." Comic Book Resources . Retrieved April 16, 2010.
  7. At Long Last, Learn How Star-Lord Survived the Cancerverse, Marvel.com
  8. Nova #1
  9. Nova #2
  10. Nova #3
  11. Nova #4
  12. Nova #6-7, 10-11
  13. Nova #12 and The Amazing Spider-Man #171
  14. 1 2 Nova #21
  15. Nova #24-25
  16. Fantastic Four #206, 208-209
  17. Rom #24
  18. The Avengers #260
  19. New Warriors #1 (w)Fabian Nicieza (a)Mark Bageley (1990)
  20. The New Warriors Annual #2
  21. The New Warriors #31
  22. The New Warriors #40-42
  23. Nova (vol. 2) #4
  24. Nova (vol. 2) #16
  25. Nova (vol. 2) #17-18
  26. The New Warriors #75 (September 1996)
  27. New Warriors (vol. 3) #1-6
  28. Annihilation: Prologue #1
  29. Annihilation: Nova #1
  30. Annihilation #1-6. Marvel Comics.
  31. Nova (vol. 4) #3 (August 2007). Marvel Comics.
  32. Nova (vol. 4) #4
  33. Nova (vol. 4) #5. Marvel Comics.
  34. Nova (vol. 4) #6-7. Marvel Comics.
  35. Nova (vol. 4) #11-12. Marvel Comics.
  36. Annihilation: Conquest #6. Marvel Comics.
  37. Nova (vol. 4) #16. Marvel Comics.
  38. Nova (vol. 4) #17. Marvel Comics.
  39. Nova (vol. 4) #18. Marvel Comics.
  40. Nova (vol. 4) #19-20
  41. Nova (vol. 4) #22. Marvel Comics.
  42. Nova (vol. 4) #24. Marvel Comics.
  43. Nova (vol. 4) #23-25. Marvel Comics.
  44. Secret Avengers#1-6 (July-Dec. 2010). Marvel Comics.
  45. Secret Avengers#7 (Jan. 2011). Marvel Comics.
  46. Nova (vol. 4) #30. Marvel Comics.
  47. Nova (vol. 4) #32-35
  48. Nova (vol. 4) #36. Marvel Comics.
  49. The Thanos Imperative: Ignition #1. Marvel Comics.
  50. 1 2 The Thanos Imperative #1-6. Marvel Comics.
  51. Guardians of the Galaxy (vol. 3) #18-20 (Aug 2014), (w) Brian Bendis (a) Ed McGuinness
  52. Nova (vol. 6) #10. Marvel Comics.
  53. Nova (vol. 6) #11. Marvel Comics.
  54. Nova (vol. 7) #1. Marvel Comics.
  55. Nova (vol. 7) #6. Marvel Comics.
  56. Nova (vol. 7) #7. Marvel Comics.
  57. Guardians of the Galaxy (vol. 5) #6. Marvel Comics.
  58. X-Men: Red (vol. 2) #5. Marvel Comics.
  59. Wyatt, Liz (2020-07-17). "10 Things You Didn't Know Marvel's Nova Could Do". CBR. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
  60. George, Joe (2022-03-25). "How Marvel's Nova Could Reshape the MCU". Den of Geek. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
  61. The New Warriors #2
  62. 1 2 Aitchison, Sean (2018-04-29). "The 30 Strongest Marvel Superheroes, Officially Ranked". CBR. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
  63. The New Warriors (vol. 2) #9
  64. Lord-Moncrief, Devon (2022-04-11). "Who Is Marvel's Nova? Richard Rider's Powers & Weaknesses, Explained". CBR. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
  65. Annihilation #2, November 2006. Marvel Comics.
  66. Nova (vol. 4) #2 July 2007. Marvel Comics.
  67. Nova (vol. 4) #3 August 2007
  68. Nova (vol. 4) #13 May 2008. Marvel Comics.
  69. 1 2 Dean, Michael (November 2001). "Post Mortem: Marv Wolfman Talks About His Day in Court". The Comics Journal . No. 239. Fantagraphics Books. Archived from the original on May 10, 2008.
  70. Dean, Michael (November 16, 2000). "Wolfman loses Blade lawsuit against Marvel". The Comics Journal. No. 229. Fantagraphics Books. Archived from the original on February 24, 2012. Retrieved January 7, 2011.
  71. "Nova is number 98" . Retrieved May 5, 2011.
  72. "The Top 50 Avengers". IGN. April 30, 2012. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
  73. Buxton, Marc (2017-05-19). "Guardians of the Galaxy 3: 50 Marvel Characters We Want to See". Den of Geek. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  74. Walker, Gary (2018-08-10). "The 16 Strongest Nova Corps Members". CBR. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
  75. Baggett, Christopher (2018-03-01). "Superstars: Marvel's Strongest Cosmic Heroes, Ranked". CBR. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
  76. Wyse, Alex (2018-06-01). "The 25 Most Powerful Avengers Ever, Officially Ranked". CBR. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
  77. C. B. R. Staff (2018-05-27). "The 25 Fastest Characters In The Marvel Universe, Officially Ranked". CBR. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
  78. Harth, David (2022-09-23). "10 Best Cosmic Heroes in Marvel Comics, Ranked". CBR. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
  79. Marvel Zombies #5 (December 2006)
  80. Spider-Girl #7. Marvel Comics.
  81. Spider-Girl #42. Marvel Comics.
  82. Avengers Next #2. Marvel Comics.
  83. The New Warriors #11-13. Marvel Comics.
  84. Nova (vol. 4) #27 (2009)
  85. Nova 0:0 at The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe
  86. What If? #15. Marvel Comics.
  87. Kroll, Justin (March 24, 2022). "Marvel Developing 'Nova' Project With 'Moon Knight' Scribe Sabir Pirzada". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on March 24, 2022. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  88. Perez, Alex (October 13, 2022). "Exclusive: Marvel's Nova to Be a Special Presentation on Disney+". TheCosmicCircus.com. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  89. 1 2 "Voice Of Nova / Richard Rider - Guardians of the Galaxy franchise | Behind The Voice Actors". behindthevoiceactors.com. Retrieved August 15, 2019. Check marks indicates role has been confirmed using screenshots of closing credits and other reliable sources.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  90. Brendan Sinclair. "GameSpot - Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 roster leaked". Comic-con.gamespot.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2011-07-22.
  91. Sullivan, Lucas (May 15, 2017). "Every confirmed fighter in the Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite roster". GamesRadar . Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  92. Capcom. Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite . Capcom. Scene: Credits, "Cast".
  93. "Tier List for Marvel Future Fight".

Sources