Comic Info
Comic Name: Nova (Volume 4)
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Dan Abnett/Andy Lanning
Artist: Wellinton Alves
# of Issues: 5
Release Date: 2009
Nova (4) #19
Reprints Nova (4) #19-22 and Nova: The Origin of Richard Rider (January 2009-April 2009). Worldmind has formed the new Nova Corps, and Richard Ryder isn’t necessarily happy about it. Now, Richard’s brother Robbie is a Nova Centurion along with hundreds of others and Nova learns he’s going to have to give up his power to restore the Nova Corps to full force. Plus Richard Rider’s origin is reviewed along with his encounter with the mighty Thor.
Written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, Nova Volume 4: Nova Corps continues from Nova Volume 3: Secret Invasion. The collection contains the stand-alone issue Nova: The Origin of Richard Rider (March 2009), and the collection features art by Wellinton Alves. The issues were also featured in War of Kings Prelude: Road to War of Kings Omnibus.
I feel that despite the big events occurring in this collection, that this is where Nova began to lose some steam. The collection itself has nice art and a concise story, but it is also incredibly short with “re-imagined” versions of Nova (1) #1 and #4.
Nova (4) #20
The best issue of this collection has to be Rich’s reunion with his New Warrior allies Vance (Justice or Marvel Boy) and Angelica (Firestar). It is simple and a long time coming after the destruction of the New Warriors franchise that kicked off the Civil War. I only wish it was longer (by maybe an issue). The bulk of what is left in this collection involves Rich dealing with the Nova Corps. This isn’t bad and the series has been building to it, but it could have had a few more issues.
The real waste of this issue is the Origin of Richard Rider one-shot. Nova fans probably have already read his original issues (they were collected in Essential Nova) and people that are jumping on the series probably should have had this one-shot long before 20 issues into the series. The first issue reprint makes sense but the Controller/Thor issue seems really random. The issue doesn’t help and doesn’t really add anything to the collection (other than round out a short story arc).
Nova 4: The Nova Corps is a bit of a disappointment in an otherwise very enjoyable series. The core story is strong and the New Warriors are good, but not up to par with the series. It isn’t awful, but when compared to other collections of this comics, it just isn’t on par. It does leave the readers with quite a cliffhanger which will bring them back for the next story arc but it felt like a bit of a mess getting there. Nova 4: Nova Corps is followed by Nova 5: War of Kings.
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