Nova

• Title: Nova #12
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Gerry Duggan
• Artist: Paco Medina

Used mainly to set-up a series of events leading up to a classic misunderstanding (i.e. an overused comic book staple) and fight between two heroes in next month’s issue, Nova #12 continues Sam‘s adventures in the stars while his family deals with their own troubles on Earth.

After being dismissed by Galactic Kraven (seriously, how else do you describe the guy who hunts super-hero types for sport?), Nova answers a distress call of a Nova spaceship under attack. Despite being creeped-out that the ship is powered by a dead Nova, our hero gives the spaceship a power boost not realizing he’s just helped pirates and slavers avoid capture and continue to sell off their prisoners including the young girl who tricks Sam into helping.

Of course the whole point of this issue is to set-up the supremely ridiculously titled Nova #13NOW (really Marvel?) which will pit Sam against a very angry Beta Ray Bill and teach the young hero that things aren’t always what they seem. For fans.

[Marvel, $3.99]

• Title: Nova #11
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Gerry Duggan
• Artist: Paco Medina

Despite the final issue of the last panel suggesting Sam Alexander was blind, that’s actually far from the case (as he has his sight for he entire issue). What Sam is actually seeing (even when not wearing the helmet) is a series of dots that make up a map to the remains of other members of the Nova Squadron all of whom are dead (at least so far that we know).

After making the revelation, and serving out his sentence in Chess Club rather than detention for his latest fight with a bully whose behavior the principal so far has shown zero interest in altering, Nova eventually shoots back into the stars to investigate one of the small blips on the map where he not only finds the body of a Nova but the space-spider creatures who killed him.

Despite immediately abandoning the set-up of a blind Sam, the issue has fun moments on both Earth (involving Sam babysitting his little sister) and in space (where they hero discovers the fate of another Nova). Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

• Title: Nova #10
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Zeb Wells
• Artist: Paco Medina

Nova #10, which also marks the 100th issue of various Nova single titles over the years, features on the troubles of being a modern day teen super-hero. The main story deals with Sam Alexander coming to terms and joining the New Warriors, while also taking time to insult his new friends and head up to the moon to complain to the Watcher.

The issue’s back-up story features a conversation between Sam’s mother and his principal over the increasing number of unexplained absences. The conversation is set against Nova’s latest space adventure far from home. At $5 the comic feels a bit overpriced (and while the gallery of every previous Nova covers is nice, it’s also filler to boost the issue’s page count making it appear you’re getting five more pages of story than you actually are).

Even with these complaints, the issue works as both an introduction to the character for new readers as well as continuing Sam’s various struggles with being a hero and finding his place in the larger Marvel Universe. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $4.99]

• Title: Nova #9
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Zeb Wells
• Artist: Paco Medina

Returning home from his encounter with Speedball and Vance Astrovik, Sam Alexander discovers Kalendra has captured his mother and little sister and is holding them hostage unless Sam agrees to fight her without use an weapons (including the Nova helmet).

Initially agreeing the fair fight (which is less than fair since Sam has received no actually hand-to-hand combat training), the newest Nova throws in the towel early, donning his helmet and kicking some serious butt all the way back to Kalendra’s home where her failure gets her caged in isolated confinement.

The heavy bondage themes not withstanding, Nova #9 provides a good example at the type of hero the newest Nova is. Honorable, maybe not, but certainly willing to do whatever is needing to save the ones he loves. And despite his repeated refusals, it seems Nova may have found himself a pair of new teammates (which I would be more on-board with if they clad Astrovik in Vance Astro‘s costume). Worth a look.

[Nova, $3.99]