Nova (June 15, 1976) This Day In Comics
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. Rider is given the uniform and powers of a Nova Centurion but little instruction on how to use them. He derives his powers from an energy source called the Nova Force. 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. Nova is a good hand-to-hand combatant, and has been coached by Chord. Calling himself Nova, Rider becomes a superhero, fighting costumed supervillains such as Condor, Powerhouse, Diamondhead, the Corruptor, and the Sphinx, and teaming with heroes such as Spider-Man and Thor. He initially hides his identity, but later reveals it to his family.
Nova debuted in Nova #1 (June 15, 1976).
In thie issue, Richard Rider, a 17-year-old Queens, N.Y. student, misses a key basketball shot, then goes to the ice cream shop where he’s hassled by a local bully. It doesn’t look to good for Rich, who is suddenly hit by an energy beam, which puts him in a coma. The beam was sent by Rhomann Dey, who is Nova Prime, a leader of the Nova Corps, a defense corps for the planet of Xandar. He had been gravely injured fighting an alien named Zorr. When Richard comes to, he finds the Nova powers have been transferred to him – he now has the power of flight, super-strength and near-invulnerability. He uses these powers to fight Zorr, who has followed him to Earth. When he can’t get the upper hand on Zorr, Dey tranfers Zorr back up to his ship, where both Dey and Zorr perish in battle. Meanwhile, Rich remains on Earth as the current bearer of the Nova powers.
Writer(s)
Marv Wolfman
Penciler(s)
John Buscema
Inker(s)
Joe Sinnott
Colorist(s)
Michele Wolfman
Letterer(s)
Joe Rosen
Gaspar Saladino
Editor(s)
Marv Wolfman
