Review: Nova Vol. 1- Origin

Quick Summary

Pros: Sam Alexander is a great, new character who already shows tons of promise. The story is fun and filled with excitement. There is plenty of mystery that gives readers a reason to come back for more.

Cons: Some of the “youthful” dialogue feels forced. The Watcher looks somewhat odd.

Overall: Starting a brand new series with a brand new character is a difficult feat, yet this volume makes it look easy. The concept behind this series is solid and it is further enhanced by a charming lead character. The youthful optimism of this lead also contributes to the book’s fun and exciting nature. There is also a mystery here that will leave readers dying for more. Anyone looking to read about a young, new cosmic hero should pick this book up.

Story

Nova Vol. 1: Origin, by Jeph Loeb, starts out with two goals, to present an interesting premise and to do so through a compelling main character. Luckily, it accomplishes these goals and starts this brand new series off on the right foot. Sam Alexander is a charming and instantly likable hero whose cavalier take on heroism is refreshing. His past and present are also both areas ripe for exploration and further development. Meanwhile, the mystery behind his father’s past is constantly in the background, providing further intrigue and reason to stick around. Overall, all current signs point in a positive direction for this new series.

(spoilers start here)

Origin starts out by introducing readers to Sam Alexander and his father, Jesse. Jesse is a down-on-his-luck janitor whose alcoholism causes him to neglect his present. He constantly regales his son and daughter with tales of his glory days, which consist of his exploits with the Nova Corps. Sam has come to resent these stories, which he believes to be fairy tales, and also begins to resent his father as well. This all changes when his father disappears and he learns that the Nova Corps is real.

This change in perspective immediately opens up Sam as a character and allows his foray into heroism to be filled with excitement. Everything is new to him, whether it be flying to the moon or training with a talking racoon. His excitement in these new adventures would be fun to watch on its own but is further enhanced by his past. Every action he takes as Nova is amplified by the fact that his father did the same thing before him. Watching Sam discover new powers and a new level of respect for his dad are what make this story so fun.

Origin isn’t simply about fun bouts of heroism though, it also has plenty of intrigue and mystery. This starts with the simple fact that Sam’s father is missing. No one, in this story, knows where Jesse Alexander is or how he got there. This mystery gives readers another small reason to come back to the series for more.

However, the mystery that truly hooks in readers’ interest and builds promise for the future of this series is the truth behind Jesse’s past. All of his stories indicate that he was a brave hero who helped his companions, yet one of his old companions disagrees. He tells Sam that his father deserted his own crew and left them to be captured. It is another shift in perspective that draws the volume’s entire first half into question. This secondary mystery is even more compelling than the first and discovering the truth behind Jesse’s past becomes one of the biggest reasons to return to this comic.

(spoilers end here)

Art

The artwork throughout Origin does a wonderful job in matching the tone present through the story. Ed McGuinness depicts a bright and striking book designed to emphasize the youthful nature of Sam Alexander’s journey. The collection is filled with bold character designs and aesthetically pleasing surroundings. My only complaint is that the Watcher looks rather odd here but this is very minor in the grand scheme of things. Overall, this is a good looking book with a style perfectly suiting the story.

Continuity

Nova Vol. 1: Origin starts a brand new Nova series with a brand new Nova. Though this Nova appeared in Avengers vs. X-Men prior to appearing here, the events of this volume actually take place first. A cursory knowledge of the Nova Corps may be helpful in reading this volume but is not necessary.

The story here continues in Nova Vol. 2: Rookie Season (Review). In addition, Nova makes an appearance in Avengers vs. X-Men between these volumes.