PROFILE

• Real Name: Richard “Rich” Rider
• AKA: Anti-Nova, Bucket-Hat, Bucket-Head, “Bullethead”, Centurion Nova Prime, Comrade Nova, Dark Nova, Dink, Evil Nova, Firestrike, First Centurion Prime, Human Rocket, Kid Nova, Nova Corps Centurion 11249-44396, Nova Corps Operative: 11249-44396, Nova Prime, Quasar, Richard-Human, Richard Ryder, Richie Rider, Select Nova, Xandarian Worldmind
• Family: Charles Rider (father, deceased);
  Gloria Rider (mother); Dr. Ralph Rider (uncle, deceased); Ellen (aunt); Robbie Rider (brother)
• Base of Operation: Mobile; Formerly Xandar; New Warriors headquarters
• Identity: Public Identity
• Citizenship: American
• Martial Status: Single
• Occupation: Former Prime Commandant of the Nova Corps
• Education: Incomplete college studies (former Empire State University film major), Nova Corps training
• Gender: Male
• Height: 6′ 1″ (1.85 m)
• Weight: 190 lbs (86.18 kg)
• Eyes: Brown
• Hair: Bown
• Unusual Feature: Scar on right side of face, original right arm missing
• Origin: Human; A dying member of the Xandar Space Corps directed his energy to Rich Rider to make him a member of the Nova Corps
• Universe: Marvel Prime Universe (Earth-616)

He may have an origin and setting strikingly similar to a certain DC green ring wielder but he has become something very different. Introduced in Nova #1 (1976) by Marv Wolfman and John Buscema, a teenage Richard Rider happened upon a wounded Rhomann Dey, an officer of the Nova Corp. The dying alien choose Rider to be his successor in the Corp giving Rider all of his powers and turning him into Nova. Dey also left behind a Nova Corp uniform which Rider used to battle the space pirate Zorr. Rider then used his powers to become a superhero, battling  the like of Condor, the Corruptor, Diamondhead and more. He eventually was summoned to Xandar to serve in the Corps but after a few months, wanted to return home. He was force to give up his powers to do so.

Rider returned home and began working in part-time jobs instead of returning to school. He was later kidnapped and thrown off a building by Night Thrasher, which help him reactivate his powers. After trying to beat Thrasher and losing, Thrasher explained that he believed that the fear of the fall would force Rider to reactivate his powers. He invited Rider to join his new team called the New Warriors. Because he had a new costume, the media began calling him Kid Nova. After a while, he gained a new costume and dropped the name, returning to just Nova. He eventually met Garthaan Saal, the Supernova and helped him restore Xandar after it had been destroyed by Nebula. He re-joined the Corps but he found it hard to be in both the New Warriors and the Corps. When a threat to Earth caused him to ignore his duty in the Corps, he was stripped of his power, which was given to Saal. However, when the Dire Wraith planned to attack Earth, Saal was fatally wound and gave Rider his powers back. While he would be part of the reality TV version of the team, he left the team before the Stamford explosion.

This may have been because he was summoned to Xandar to help defend it against the Annihilation Wave. However, the planet and corps were wiped out with only Rider surviving. He gained the support of the Worldmind and the full power of the Nova Force. He began leading the resistance and recruited many heroes and villains, even starting a romance with Gamora. He would be the one to killed Annihilus, ending the war. He returned to Earth but after being forced to make a decision of whether register or not, Nova left to return to space. He would help battle Ultron and the Phalanx. He woudl return home and learnt that the Worldmind had been using his body to recruit a new generation of Nova Corp, including his brother. He lost his powers but was given the Quantum Bands by Quasar to become the new Quasar. He attacked Ego, the Nova Corps based, and regained his Nova Powers again. He went in search of his brother and became involved in the War of Kings.

He would join Cap’s Secret Avengers, before becoming involved with the Thanos Imperiative saga. He would team up with Starlord and Drax and traveling to the Cancerverse. They battle the corrupted heroes and Thanos. In order to prevent the Cancerverse from invading the Prime Earth, Nova sarcrificed his life in order for Starlord and Drax to escape. He was believed killed. but would eventually return. He would later return and met Sam Alexander, the newest Nova, who he gave his blessing to. He would later join the Guardians of the Galaxy, a team he help set up but didn’t joined until now.

To be honest, Nova was never high on people list until he was relaunched in the Annihilation. (Same could be said of most Cosmic characters.) It was mostly thanks to this that he has received a few figures over the years, all from Hasbro. His first figure was part of a Walmart exclusive Nemesis BAF wave. (Avoid that figure) He would later receive a new figure as part of the first GOTG movie wave in his Annihilation costume. His classic costume would receive a much needed update as part of Hasbro’s 2021 Walgreen’s cosmic program.

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Classic

Recommend Figure: Hasbro Walgreens’ Exclusive Marvel Legends – Nova (with Qubit pack-in)

• Background:
  • This is the costume that Rider inherited from Rey at the start of his career. It is actually a standard Nova Corps uniform. Most of Nova’s powers come from his helmet, with the costume being an extension of the helmet. This is what many of his later costumes are based on.
• Why you need it for your collection?:
  • This is the version of the character I recommend getting if you want his more classic costume. It is needed for a New Warrior collection as well as a Cosmic characters.
• Does it need a remake?:
  • No.

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Annihilation

Recommend Figure: Hasbro Marvel Legends Guardians of the Galaxy MCU Groot wave – Nova

• Background:
  • After the destruction of the Nova Corps by the Annihilation wave, Rider was the sole survivor of the attack. He was summoned by the Worldmind and given the full power of the Nova Force, which upgraded is costume turning him into the Nova Prime. He has since worn this for most of his appearances since.
• Why you need it for your collection?:
  • This is the version that most people are associated with because of the event. It is need if you want a more modern version of the character and for your cosmic collections. As for teams, it is needed to lead the Resistance, being part of the Secret Avengers and now the GOTG.
• Does it need a remake?:
  • No.

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Needs

Below you will find a gallery of suits that still need to be made. I have included what I think are the possibilities of them being made. Note that these are my personal opinions and not fact. Please let me know if I have missed anything.