Comic Info
Comic Name: Nova (Volume 4)
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Dan Abnett/Andy Lanning
Artist: Wellinton Alves
# of Issues: 6
Release Date: 2009
Nova (4) #14
Reprints Nova (4) #13-18 (July 2008-December 2008). Nova tries to rescue the population of a planet doomed by Galactus and faces off against a creature named Harrow. After coming in conflict with the Silver Surfer, Nova loses contact with the Worldmind and returns to Earth with the Super-Skrull to discover the Skrulls are invading. Now Nova faces off against the Skrull hordes and fights with Darkhawk to defend Project: P.E.G.A.S.U.S.
Written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, Nova Volume 3: Secret Invasion features art by Wellinton Alves. Following Nova Volume 2: Knowhere, the series ties in to the Marvel big event series Secret Invasion. The issues were also collected in War of Kings Prelude: Road to War of Kings Omnibus.
Nova is one of Marvel’s stronger comics. I generally don’t like “big event” tie-ins because they often disrupt the flow of a creator’s series. Abnett and Lanning however manage to tell a concise story that does tie-in to give it an epic feel.
The first part of the story involves the destruction of the planet Orbucen by Galactus. This puts the super-powered Nova in battle with the galactic powered Silver Surfer. As mentioned, the Wellinton Alves’ art is fantastic, and Galactus has always been one of my favorite characters. The Harrow character introduced in this storyline is kind of weak, and I would have enjoyed the focus to be more on the rescue. Harrow does serve to show Galactus’ power and a nice warning for Nova not to get involved.
Nova (4) #15
The ability to separate their titles from big multi-series crossovers is Abnett and Lannings best ability. Most series nowadays are bogged down by the big crossovers and the comics become unintelligible. You have to read the crossover to understand the comic, but Abnett and Lanning skirt that issue by telling a story that is almost incidental to the Secret Invasion. They reunite Rich with his brother Robbie and his former New Warrior teammate Darkhawk. This is a nice homecoming for a comic that has mostly been set in space thus far and served as a good backdrop for Quasar’s return (granted he didn’t die long before this storyline).
Nova continues to be a strong series and this collection of sets up the next story arc nicely with Nova’s conflict with Worldmind. I always worry about series like Nova because they feature a fringe character and fringe characters in the competitive comic market often don’t survive long without buzz and backing. Lanning and Abnett’s space titles continue to impress and even if you aren’t a fan of the “space opera” comic book stories, Nova manges to feel a bit different. Nova 3: Secret Invasion is followed by Nova 4: Nova Corps.
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