History ComicBook / Nova

* LetsYouAndHimFight: Subverted but lampshaded:
-->'''Speedball, to Nova and Darkhawk:''' Oh, come on, you two! I thought it was basic etiquette for super heroes to smack one another around on first meeting before realizing they're on the same side. Have we learned nothing from team-ups?

* ParadoxPerson: In the penultimate issue of volume 4, the future version of the Sphinx kills his past self while the two of them are in a PlaceBeyondTime. This protects the future Sphinx from being erased from existence, and he tries to rewrite the laws of reality to accept his new, paradoxical being. Richards kicks him out before he can finish, however, and the Sphinx promptly ceases to exist as he becomes subject to the normal laws of time.

* {{Homage}}: His first series was an homage to the Lee & Ditko era of Spider-Man. It even has “In the Marvelous tradition of Spider-Man!” written on the cover.

* ParadoxPerson: In the penultimate issue of volume 4, the future version of the Sphinx kills his past self. This ''should'' erase him from existence, but the fact that he did this in an artificial world outside the normal laws of time means that he isn't affected. He then tries to use his phenomenal cosmic powers to rewrite reality to accept his paradoxical existence, only for Richard to kick him back out into the normal universe before he can finish. The Sphinx promptly ceases to exist.

* TransformationOfThePossessed: Anyone possessed by Harrow gains GlowingEyesOfDoom and starts weeping TearsOfBlood. He can also alter his host's body to suit his needs, such as morphing a child's fingernails into claws sharp enough to tear through Richard's costume and draw blood.

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 ''Annihilation: Conquest'', ''ComicBook/SecretInvasion'' and ''ComicBook/WarOfKings'' and joined the ComicBook/SecretAvengers.

A new Nova named Sam Alexander appeared for the first time in an special book called Marvel Point One, the story was a prelude to ''ComicBook/AvengersVsXMen'', Marvel's big crossover event for 2012. A promotional comic explaining the sides of the event listed Sam as a wild card in the battle, along with the ComicBook/IncredibleHulk, ComicBook/{{Deadpool}}, ComicBook/{{Cable}} and ComicBook/ScarletWitch. Eventually he sided with the Avengers but only appeared briefly in one scene attacking Cyclops. Later, a fifth volume, written by Jeph Loeb starring Sam was launched in February 2013, Loeb left after a few issues and was replaced by Zeb Wells who also left after a few issues, following which was Gerry Duggan, who during his tenure kept the title afloat and increased Sam's fanbase (particularly with some of Richard Rider fans).

* ReedRichardsIsUseless: Justification for why Novaforce wasn't widespread among both Earth and other universe; 1. According to [[ComicBook/IncredibleHulk Doc Green]], Xandarian computers along with its Novaforce require metals from their homeworld/clusters. 2. Xandar was constantly under siege from various alien invasions and later destroyed in {{ComicBook/Annihilation}}, thus unable to be reproduced.

A new Nova named Sam Alexander appeared for the first time in an special book called Marvel Point One, the story was a prelude to ''Comicbook/AvengersVsXMen'', Marvel's big crossover event for 2012. A promotional comic explaining the sides of the event listed Sam as a wild card in the battle, along with the ComicBook/IncredibleHulk, ComicBook/{{Deadpool}}, ComicBook/{{Cable}} and ComicBook/ScarletWitch. Eventually he sided with the Avengers but only appeared briefly in one scene attacking Cyclops. Later, a fifth volume, written by Jeph Loeb starring Sam was launched in February 2013, Loeb left after a few issues and was replaced by Zeb Wells who also left after a few issues, following which was Gerry Duggan, who during his tenure kept the title afloat and increased Sam's fanbase (particularly with some of Richard Rider fans).

In 2015, a new, alternate reality version of Nova named Anwen Bakian debuted in the ''Comicbook/SecretWars2015'' crossover. She proved a small hit, but hasn't been seen or referred to since.

The Nova Corps appear in the 2014 film ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'', though they are depicted somewhat differently than in the comics; still an intergalactic police force, but with no superpowers.

* ''WesternAnimation/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'' (Season 2, Nova trilogy)

* AdaptationalNiceGuy: Sam Alexander starts out much less of a {{Jerkass}} in the comics than he does in pre-CharacterDevelopment in the early episodes of ''WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan''.

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

* CanonImmigrant: The second Nova, Sam Alexander, was created for the ''[[WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan2012 Ultimate Spider-Man]]'' animated series. He appeared in the comics first thanks to the lengthy production cycle, making him similar to the Kaldur'ahm [[WesternAnimation/YoungJustice Aqualad]] and the Barbara Gordon Comicbook/{{Batgirl}}.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: In the original 70s run, {{Jerk Jock}} character Mike Burley disappeared after turning himself over to the police, after being forced to work with the villain Yellow Claw. His name was mentioned in the 90s run but he was never seen again.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Ultimate Spider-Man}}''

* CanonImmigrant: The second Nova, Sam Alexander, was created for the ''WesternAnimation/{{Ultimate Spider-Man}}'' animated series. He appeared in the comics first thanks to the lengthy production cycle, making him similar to the Kaldur'ahm [[WesternAnimation/YoungJustice Aqualad]] and the Barbara Gordon Comicbook/{{Batgirl}}.

* RealityEnsues:
** Sam bring home a huge chunk of gold in order to solve his family's money woes. The next morning his mom finds it, and points out that something that's been floating around in space is going to be covered in radiation, as illustrated by the fact that it's killing the grass around it.
** Sam also got [[spoiler:expelled, though got back in with make-up effort in Summer School,]] due to the amount of time he spent as a Nova in space and New York.
** Jesse Alexander's [[TheAlcoholic messed up life]] after retiring from being a Nova served as an example of how a [[RetiredBadass former Nova]] would adjust to life on Earth after spending many years in space, with only minimal skills in the civilian sector.
*** In addition, according to Sam, he also failed to graduate from High School due to his task as a Nova.
** In issue 29 of Sam's first series, Sam's sandwich bag exploded in his duffle due to sudden pressure changes after leaving the atmosphere.

** UnfortunateNames: Dick Rider.

* UnfortunateNames: Richard Rider, given what "Richard" is usually shortened to. Mentioned in Volume 3 of New Warriors, much to his annoyance.

** For Sam: 1) When his helmet broke and he had to find a way to fix it; and 2), when his helmet is outright confiscated at the end of the ''[[ComicBook/Champions2016 Champion]]'s tie-in story for "''Infinity Countdown''". That second time hasn't been resolved yet.

--->'''[[IronMan Tony Stark]]:''' You say Annihilus was the driving force? What happened to him?

* RoguesGallery: Not a huge one: Megaman (no, not [[Franchise/MegaMan that one]]), Powerhouse, the Condor, Diamondhead, the Corruptor, Garthan Saal (Supernova), and the Sphinx

* RoguesGalleryTransplant: Rich has regularly faced some Spider-Man and Fantastic Four enemies. However, it became even more prevalent as of Annihilation when Rich's power boost caused him to completely outclass his old rogues gallery, besides the Sphynx.