Nova

The Human Rocket.

Real Name:Richard Rider

Aliases:Nova, Nova Prime, The Human Rocket, Kid Nova, Bucket-Head

First Appearance:Nova #1 (The Man Called Nova) (1976)

Creators:Marv Wolfman, John Buscema

Publisher:Marvel Comics

Teams:Nova Corps, New Warriors, Avengers, Secret Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, Champions

Abilities

•Nova Force — an immense energy source channeled through his Nova helmet that grants superhuman power
•Can fly at faster-than-light speeds — crosses galaxies in moments
•Superhuman strength, durability, and energy projection powered by the Nova Force
•Can project devastating gravimetric energy blasts
•Nova helmet provides access to the Xandarian Worldmind — an AI containing all the knowledge of Xandar
•As Nova Prime, he carries the entire Nova Force — the combined power of the destroyed Nova Corps
•Can survive in the vacuum of space indefinitely
•A teenager from Long Island who became the last Nova Centurion — then rebuilt the entire Corps
•One of the most powerful cosmic heroes in the Marvel Universe — has fought Annihilus, Thanos, and the Phalanx

Powers & Abilities

Strength90

Speed95

Durability90

Energy Projection90

Flight100

Willpower95

Biography

Richard Rider was an ordinary teenager from Hempstead, Long Island — a mediocre student with no special talents and no particular direction in life. Then a dying alien named Rhomann Dey chose him to receive the Nova Force, the power source of the Nova Corps, an intergalactic peacekeeping force based on the planet Xandar. Rich became Nova, the Human Rocket — a kid with the power to fly faster than light, project devastating energy blasts, and survive in the vacuum of space.

Created by Marv Wolfman and John Buscema in Nova #1 (1976), Rich was Marvel's answer to DC's Green Lantern — an ordinary person chosen by a dying alien to join an intergalactic police force. The original series ran 25 issues before cancellation. Rich co-founded the New Warriors in 1990, becoming a team leader and a fan favorite of the 90s. But his greatest era was yet to come.

Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning's Annihilation (2006) destroyed the entire Nova Corps, leaving Rich as the sole survivor carrying the full Nova Force — the combined power of every dead Centurion. Their Nova ongoing (2007-2010) is the definitive run: Rich Rider as a one-man army policing the galaxy, guided by the Xandarian Worldmind, fighting Annihilus, the Phalanx, and Thanos. He sacrificed himself to trap Thanos in the Cancerverse, dying to save the universe.

Sam Alexander, a Latino teenager from Arizona, became the next Nova in 2013 — created by Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness. Sam co-founded the Champions and carried the Nova legacy for a new generation. Rich eventually returned from the Cancerverse, and the two Novas now share the mantle. Richard Rider is the proof that the greatest heroes are not the ones born with power — they are the ordinary people who receive it and choose to use it for everyone else.

First Appearances

Nova #1

1976

First appearance of Nova — Richard Rider, a teenager from Hempstead, Long Island, is chosen by the dying Centurion Rhomann Dey to receive the Nova Force. Marv Wolfman and John Buscema create the Human Rocket. A major Bronze Age key.

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Nova #2

1976

Second issue — Rich learns to control his powers. The Nova helmet grants him flight, strength, and energy blasts. Wolfman writes a teenager overwhelmed by cosmic power.

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Nova #12

1977

Spider-Man crossover — Nova meets Spider-Man. Two young New York heroes. Wolfman writes the connection between the Human Rocket and the Wall-Crawler.

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Nova #25

1979

Final issue of the original series — the book is cancelled but Rich Rider's story is far from over. Wolfman's creation will return bigger than ever.

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New Warriors

New Warriors #1

1990

New Warriors launch — Nova co-founds the New Warriors alongside Night Thrasher, Firestar, Marvel Boy, Namorita, and Speedball. Fabian Nicieza and Mark Bagley create the definitive 90s teen team. Nova is the powerhouse. A significant 90s key.

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New Warriors #25

1992

Milestone issue — Nicieza writes the team at their peak. Nova's leadership grows. The New Warriors are one of the most popular teams of the early 90s.

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New Warriors #75

1996

Final issue — the original New Warriors run ends. Nova has grown from a confused kid into a confident hero. The team that defined 90s Marvel.

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Nova vol. 2 #1

1994

Nova's 90s solo — Erik Larsen writes Rich Rider in a new ongoing series. Nova returns to solo adventures between New Warriors runs.

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Annihilation — Nova Reborn

Annihilation: Nova #1

2006

Annihilation: Nova — Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning reinvent Nova for the cosmic era. Annihilus destroys the entire Nova Corps. Rich Rider is the sole survivor. He absorbs the full Nova Force — the combined power of every dead Centurion. He becomes the most powerful Nova who ever lived.

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Annihilation #1

2006

Annihilation — the event that resurrected Marvel's cosmic line. Nova leads the resistance against Annihilus's Annihilation Wave. Keith Giffen writes. Andrea Di Vito draws. Nova becomes a cosmic A-lister.

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Annihilation #6

2007

Annihilation concludes — Nova helps defeat Annihilus. The Annihilation Wave is broken. Rich Rider is no longer a teenager with a helmet — he is the last guardian of the galaxy.

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Nova vol. 4 — Abnett & Lanning

Nova vol. 4 #1

2007

Abnett and Lanning's Nova — the most acclaimed Nova series ever. Rich Rider carries the entire Nova Force and the Xandarian Worldmind in his helmet. He is a one-man army policing the galaxy. Sean Chen draws. The definitive Nova run.

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Nova vol. 4 #4

2007

Nova vs. the Thunderbolts — Rich returns to Earth and clashes with Iron Man's post-Civil War regime. He refuses to register. DnA write the clash between cosmic duty and Earth politics.

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Nova vol. 4 #8

2008

Nova and the Phalanx — Conquest tie-in. Rich fights the techno-organic invasion. His power level is staggering. DnA write cosmic action at its finest.

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Nova vol. 4 #13-15

2008

Nova rebuilds the Corps — Rich begins recruiting new Centurions. The Nova Corps is reborn. DnA write the most important Nova mythology expansion.

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Nova vol. 4 #36

2010

The Thanos Imperative tie-in — Rich and Star-Lord trap Thanos in the Cancerverse. Nova sacrifices himself to seal the rift. DnA write the most heroic Nova moment. The Human Rocket dies saving the universe.

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Sam Alexander — The New Nova

Marvel Point One #1

2012

First Sam Alexander — a new Nova is teased. Sam Alexander, a teenager whose father was a secret Nova Centurion, discovers his dad's helmet. Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness create the next generation.

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Nova vol. 5 #1

2013

Sam Alexander's Nova — Loeb and McGuinness launch Sam's ongoing series. A Latino teenager from a small Arizona town becomes the new Nova. He is not Richard Rider — he is his own hero.

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Champions #1

2016

Sam co-founds the Champions — alongside Ms. Marvel, Miles Morales, and others. Mark Waid writes. Sam is a key member of the next generation of Marvel heroes.

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Nova vol. 7 #1

2017

Nova relaunches — Jeff Loveness writes Sam and a resurrected Rich Rider together. Two Novas. Two generations. Ramon Perez draws.

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Richard Rider Returns

Nova vol. 7 #1

2017

Rich returns from the Cancerverse — he escaped the death that DnA wrote. Loveness brings the original Nova back. Rich and Sam must learn to share the Nova legacy.

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Annihilation: Scourge - Nova #1

2019

Annihilation: Scourge — Rich faces the Cancerverse again. Matthew Rosenberg writes. The Annihilation legacy continues through Nova.

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Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 6 #1

2020

Nova on the Guardians — Al Ewing writes Rich Rider as a member of the Guardians of the Galaxy. The last Nova Centurion joins the cosmic team.

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Cosmic Events

Annihilation #1

2006

Annihilation — Nova leads the cosmic resistance. The event that made him an A-lister. Giffen writes the war that reshapes Marvel's cosmos.

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Annihilation: Conquest #1

2007

Conquest — the Phalanx invade Kree space. Nova fights the techno-organic threat. DnA write the sequel that keeps the cosmic momentum.

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War of Kings #1

2009

War of Kings — the Inhumans vs. the Shi'ar. Nova and the Guardians are caught in the middle. DnA write cosmic war at its grandest scale.

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The Thanos Imperative #1

2010

The Thanos Imperative — DnA's cosmic saga climax. Nova and Star-Lord face the Cancerverse. Rich sacrifices himself to trap Thanos. The most heroic death in cosmic Marvel.

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