Marvel’s Nova To Star Richard Rider

Today at the Spider-Man: Clone Conspiracy panel at New York Comic Con, Marvel Comics revealed that Richard Rider is returning to star in a new Nova series from writers Jeff Loveness and Ramon Perez, illustrated by Perez.

The new Nova series will launch in December as part of the Marvel NOW! line shift at Marvel Comics. The new Nova series will still feature Sam Alexander as he attempts to help Richard Rider find his place in the modern world as both a Nova Corpsmen and as a human being after being removed for so long.

As reported by Comicbook.com’s Kofi Outlaw:

“Ramon Perez talked about Richard Rider’s return from the dead as Nova. He talked about the new story arc, which will see older Nova trying to school younger Nova (Sam Alexander) on how to be a hero. Thompson talked about bringing together the creative team for the book, whom they wanted in order to make “Rich Rider’s” return feel worthwhile … Perez later teased death and ressurection being a major theme they explore in the new Nova book.“

Rider made a surprise appearance in September’s Nova #11, the final issue of most recent Nova series by writer Sean Ryan and artist Cory Smith that focuses on another, younger Nova, Sam Alexander. The issue sees Sam in conversation with the Xandarian Worldwide, the final resting place for fallen members of the Nova Corps that also serves as the Nova Crops knowledge bank.

Over the course of the conversation, it is revealed that the Worldmind is actually the consciousness of Richard Rider, the Nova best known to classic Marvel Comics readers. While his state of being is seemingly more spiritual than physical, given that he appears as the embodiment of Nova knowledge and their afterlife, an epilogue to the issue sees Rider returned to corporeal form as he greets his family from beyond the grave.

Prior to his disappearance, Rider was a major player in Marvel’s Annihilation series of cosmic events comics. Rider was believed lost after both he and Star-Lord of the Guardians of the Galaxy sacrificed themselves to trap Thanos in the Cancerverse.

Star-Lord and Thanos both eventually returned to the main Marvel Universe. Why Richard Rider was still missing remained a mystery until the events of Original Sin. That story revealed that Rider had again sacrificed himself in an attempt to bring himself and Star-Lord home. The plan went awry, and Thanos also managed to escape, but Rider was left behind in the Cancerverse.

Look for Nova #1 on comic book store shelves in December 2016, and check out the first two issue covers from the series, plus samples of Perez’s character designs, in the gallery below.