History ComicBook / Nova

* RagtagBunchOfMisfits: At the end of his first series, Richard headed into space to help the Xandarians fend off a Skrull invasion, alongside Powerhouse (a Xandarian who'd lost his memory and had been battling against Nova), The Comet (a 1950s hero who was also amnesiac, then found his memory thanks to one of Richard's classmates finding him), Comet's son Crimebuster, and three random villains: The Sphinx (an enemy of the Fantastic Four who was searching for a way to end his immortality), Diamondhead (who'd stowed away on Crimebuster's vehicle in hopes of getting even with both Richard and the Sphinx), and finally Doctor Sun (a Chinese scientist turned BrainInAJar with a robotic body; he'd previously fought Dracula, but had survived and turned his attention to Nova, specifically for his link to Xandarian tech). They were dubbed the "New Champions", but it quickly fell apart -- the Sphinx absorbed the information of Xandar's computers and [[AGodAmI went on a power-trip]], Doctor Sun uploaded himself into the computers and eventually into the Fantastic Four's new robot HERBIE (where he eventually was killed), and Diamondhead turned traitor and joined the Skrulls, just to get back at Richard.

* {{Badbutt}}: Richard's last series was for teens and he could get quite violent, but he doesn't swear, drink or smoke.

* [[BroodingBoyGentleGirl Brooding Girl, Gentle Boy]]: Richard is this to Gamora.

* ClothesMakeTheSuperman: On top of the bestowed powers for members, the Nova Corps uniform has useful functions of its own like a life-support system and a radio scanning function.
** In Sam's case, it's all in his helmet, which is why it becomes a prime target for certain individuals.

* CollapsibleHelmet: The helmet's material can be as malleable as cloth when a Corpsmember wants to fold it up and carry it in a pocket, but takes on a rigid construction when it is worn.

* CoolHelmet: The Nova Corpsmen's Helmet. Not only is Richard's variety ultra convenient, going from rigid helmet to collapsable mask at will, but Sam's Black Nova Helmet is the source of all of Sam's powers, both offensive and utility. In fact, going after the Corpsmen's helmets becomes a bit recurring plot point, especially during Sam's runs.

In 2006 Richard was brought from ComicBookLimbo for ''ComicBook/{{Annihilation}}'', a Marvel big cosmic event that featured him as the central character and gave him a serious revamp – new costume, a [[TheMentor Mentor persona in Worldmind]] and [[TookALevelInBadass several additional levels in badass]]. Afterwards, he got a new ongoing series and was participating in various other cosmic events. He played a part in ''ComicBook/AnnihilationConquest'', ''ComicBook/SecretInvasion'' and ''ComicBook/WarOfKings'' and joined the ComicBook/SecretAvengers.

* ArcWelding: With [[ComicBook/DeathsHead Death's Head II]] during a crossover with ComicBook/SecretInvasion. A younger version of Doctor Necker shows up working on an early version of her Minion Project, along with the Death's Head units from ComicBook/PlanetHulk.

--->'''Richard Rider:''' I pulled him inside out and saved the universe. What have '''you''' done [[ComicBook/CivilWar lately]], Tony?

* ClingyCostume: [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] at one point, when Richard's suit is acting as quarantine for several nasty alien viruses. Becomes problematic very quickly, since he's on Earth just after ComicBook/CivilWar. Just going for a walk quickly results in a visit from the {{ComicBook/Thunderbolts}}.

** Rich, between ''Annihilation'' and ''Secret Invasion''.

** In the ''ComicBook/SecretInvasion'' tie-in, Richard goes to Project P.E.G.A.S.U.S. to rescue his brother Robbie from the Skrulls. Upon arrival he is attacked by Darkhawk, who assumes that Richard is a disguised Skrull and won't listen when Richard tries to convince him otherwise. The fighting only stops when Robbie steps in and confirms that Richard is who he says he is, and he then lampshades the trope while Darkhawk is trying to apologise for his actions:

* NeverAcceptedInHisHometown: Richard Rider had this for ''all of Earth.'' To Earth, he's a C-list superhero who was on the New Warriors for a while before the Stanford Disaster permanently tarnished their name. Among the galactic powers, Nova Prime is He Who Stood When All Else Fell, a galactic war hero. This begins to change after ''ComicBook/SecretInvasion'', and as Earth becomes more dimly aware of what's going on out in the stars, but the reputation disparity is still massive, with Sam only vaguely knowing who he is.

* PunyEarthlings: Richard doesn't disdain his fellow humans, far from it, but he finds Earth politics utterly exasperating, and his response to the Registration fight is a mixture of bemusement and contempt at how incredibly ''petty'' the whole thing is - something given additional force by the fact that he hears about the events of ''Civil War'' while fighting the Annihilation war.

** In the CivilWarII tie-in of Sam's series, [[spoiler:[[ComicBook/{{Nextwave}} the Captain]]]] makes a surprise return.

Nova is a Creator/MarvelComics character. He first appeared in ''Nova'' vol. 1 #1 (September, 1976), created by Marv Wolfman and John Buscema, as a {{Homage}} to Creator/StanLee and Creator/SteveDitko's run on ''Franchise/SpiderMan'', and to classic teenage superheroes in general. Nova's original series lasted for 25 issues (September, 1976-May, 1979), until he had to give up his powers to help Nova Corps rebuild their home planet, Xandar. Richard returned to Earth as a normal human, to lead a simple life again.

* AlternateCompanyEquivalent: Marvel's answer to ComicBook/GreenLantern, combined with a ComicBook/SpiderMan like protagonist and with a Franchise/{{Superman}}-esque power set.

* CloudCuckooLander: In issue 12 of his first series, Richard's uncle declares that he thinks [[Franchise/SpiderMan Peter Parker]] is a superhero because his name anagrams out to "Kree Trapper."

* RagtagBunchOfMisfits: At the end of his first series, Richard headed into space to help the Xandarians fend off a Skrull invasion, alongside Powerhouse (a Xandarian who'd lost his memory and had been battling against Nova), The Comet (a 1950s hero who was also amnesiac, then found his memory thanks to one of Richard's classmates finding him), Comet's son Crimebuster, and three random villains: The Sphinx (an enemy of the Fantastic Four who was searching for a way to end his immortality), Diamondhead (who'd stowed away on Crimebuster's vehicle in hopes of getting even with both Richard and the Sphinx), and finally Doctor Sun (a Chinese scientist turned BrainInAJar with a robotic body; he'd previously fought Dracula, but had survived and turned his attention to Nova, specifially for his link to Xandarian tech). They were dubbed the "New Champions", but it quickly fell apart -- the Sphinx absorbed the information of Xandar's computers and [[AGodAmI went on a power-trip]], Doctor Sun uploaded himself into the computers and eventually into the Fantastic Four's new robot HERBIE (where he eventually was killed), and Diamondhead turned traitor and joined the Skrulls, just to get back at Richard.

** Richard's “Blue Blazes!”[[note]]Namora Lampshaded this once when they hadn't seen each other for a while - "Are you still saying that?"[[/note]]
*** "Monkey suit, be gone" in the 90s

Richard Rider was a normal teenager, until one day he was chosen by a dying alien to carry his power, making him a member of [[SpacePolice Nova Corps]] – an intergalactic police force. Since then Richard has been known as Nova, [[TheChosenMany The Human Rocket]]!

* ''WesternAnimation/SilverSurfer'' (background cameo)

** Richard refuses to escape a dying planet and sacrifice the populace to save himself, Worldmind, or that planet's elite. His backup plan is to confront the ComicBook/SilverSurfer and his boss, ComicBook/{{Galactus}}.

* StrangerInAFamiliarLand: After {{ComicBook/Annihilation}} and everything he went through there, Richard can't last even a day on Earth before deciding to leave again.

* FlyingBrick: They call themselves the "Human Rocket" for a reason.

* NeverAcceptedInHisHometown: Richard Rider has this for ''all of Earth.'' To Earth, he's a C-list superhero who was on the New Warriors for a while before the Stanford Disaster permanently tarnished their name. Among the galactic powers, Nova Prime is He Who Stood When All Else Fell, a galactic war hero.

* SuperStrength: Both Sam and Richard gain these as part and parcel to their FlyingBrick Nova powers.

** And how! From a guy who was the staple “reckless rookie who gets in the way” among the Marvel superheroes of is time, Richard turned into a badass space hero who ''ripped Annihilus guts through his throat''! Spidey even complimented Nova for reaching big league status by being an Avenger.

* ''Nova'' (Vol. 4) (2007 - 2010)

* HotScientist: Dr. Evelyn Necker is a beautiful redheaded scientist working for Project P.E.G.A.S.U.S.. Richard and Robbie both find her attractive, and Richard strikes up a relationship with her [[spoiler:until he learns that she's a spy for A.I.M.]].

* IsThatWhatTheyreCallingItNow: Yeah, Gamora certainly has "Operational Knowledge" of Richard Richard.

* BalefulPolymorph: The Condor is turned into a condor, courtesy of the Sphinx. Later when it is reversed he is a half man, half bird hybrid

* AlternateCompanyEquivalent: Marvel's answer to ComicBook/GreenLantern, combined with a ComicBook/SpiderMan like protagonist and with a {{Superman}}-esque power set.

* DeusExMachina: In vol 4 issues 14 and 15, Rich gets into a fight with the Silver Surfer trying to stop Galactus eating a planet. At the end of issue 15, he and the Surfer stop fighting and Rich pleads with the Surfer to let the people of that planet escape. The Surfer nods his head slightly and says they will.

* StellarBody: In volume 4, the shadowed parts of Galactus's body are full of stars and planetoids.

* DeuxExMachina: In vol 4 issues 14 and 15, Rich gets into a fight with the Silver Surfer trying to stop Galactus eating a planet. At the end of issue 15, he and the Surfer stop fighting and Rich pleads with the Surfer to let the people of that planet escape. The Surfer nods his head slightly and says they will.

Or so he thought. Some time later Richard was approached by Night Thrasher, who proved that his powers weren't lost, only dormant... by dropping him from a building. Nova joined the ''ComicBook/NewWarriors'' and developed a romantic relationship with his teammate, Namorita. After the New Warriors ongoing was closed, he fell into obscurity, reappearing only occasionally in solo adventures or new volumes of ''New Warriors''.

* CatchPhrase: Worldmind's "Attention, Richard Rider. It is critical that you pay attention at this time."

* DiscardAndDraw: In ''ComicBook/WarOfKings'', Richard has been depowered, briefly took the mantle of Quasar and then regained his old powers.
** Happens to Sam after his helmet gets confiscated, albeit temporarily, under false pretenses, and only while in Weridworld, where he gains the ability to manipulate the energies of Weirdworld's crystals, empowering himself into a being who became known as the Nova Knight.

* InterspeciesRomance: With Gamora (alien) and Namorita (Atlantean).

* JumpedAtTheCall: Richard and Robert Rider were both thrilled to become superheroes. Counts as AscendedFanboy as well.

* LastOfHisKind: For good while in current times, Sam, or rather his father's Black Nova Helmet, is the only Nova alive in the galaxy after the Annihilation event.

* MoodWhiplash: Richard's saved Worldmind from Ego, but its' personality has been compromised and has to be replaced. Richard and the Worldmind tearfully exchange [[ItHasBeenAnHonour goodbyes]]... and then Worldmind, now with Ko-Rel's personality, instantly starts laying on the sarcasm.

* NotSoDifferentRemark: Ravenous insists that as a servant of Annihilus, he and the Surfer are the same. Norrin gets so upset by this he ''blows up a planet'' in outrage. Of course, Ravenous is wrong.

* SanitySlippage: Part of the reason Richard didn't want to carry the whole of the Nova Force, since it previously happened to Garthan Saal, and one of the reasons why he's got the Worldmind in his head, so that it can prevent this.
** As it turns out, Richard didn't need to worry about this. [[spoiler:But the Worldmind did.]]

* ShoutOut: In a group shot of the Nova Corps during the Annihilation: Conquest crossover, we can see a blue Pikachu.

* SophisticatedAsHell: The Worldmind has its moments, which contrasts with it's usually SpockSpeech. Not so much after [[spoiler:it takes on Ko-Rel's appearance.]]

* SuperheroesInSpace: The Nova Corps functions this way, and after Annihilation, Richard took to the spaceways.

* HotScientist: Doctor Evelyn Necker, despite being a member of [[spoiler:[[MadScientist A.I.M.]]]].