Originally published June 8, 2015. Updated April 15, 2018.
Nova
“We did what we had to do, what we always do. The right thing”.
Even if you just push aside the fact that Nova is one of the more awesome looking superheroes around, resembling something like an intergalactic cosmic Spartan, even ignoring how cool this dude looks, there is still an undeniable case to be made for Nova’s inevitable inclusion into the MCU. Nova, or Richard Rider, has a somewhat similar origin to Star-Lord, leader of new super group the Guardians of The Galaxy, he was also a young boy on earth who was thrust into a world of cosmological wonder. Richard was essentially visited by what would become his predecessor, the original Nova Prime, a member of the Nova Corps, that peace keeping force from 2014’s smash hit Guardians. This visitor came to Earth dying and bestowed on Richard his own powers, entrusting him with the safe keeping of the universe, a pretty heavy weight to put on a young kid’s shoulders.
So Richard would become Nova, a galaxy spanning protector of the peace and member of the Nova corps. It was actually a little surprising we didn’t see him in the aforementioned Guardians of the Galaxy movie last summer, it would have made a lot of sense for him to pop up during that storyline, this doesn’t mean he shouldn’t and won’t turn up in the future, it’s more of an if than a when. It wouldn’t be shocking at all if he makes his début appearance in the second Guardians movie, due in 2017.
The reason for Nova being a character that many believe to be so essentially necessary to the future of the MCU basically comes down to the awesome storyline’s he is apart of and that he joins those A-holes; the Guardians of The Galaxy on many an adventure. If we are going to see more of Groot, Drax, Gamora and the rest then additions to their group are going to be mighty important to keep those movies and their stories feeling fresh and adding a man of such power and bad-assery as Nova to their line up would do that and then-some. If that happens we might also get to see the ‘Annihilation’ storyline which is so ridiculously epic that it has to eventually make its way to the screen in some way shape or form. ‘Annihilation’ is basically about an inter-dimensional force that is out to destroy are very own universe and basic gets a whose who of Marvel characters, good and bad, involved. Thanos himself is a player in these events so perhaps a modified and slightly shortened version of these events could work as a Guardians sequel, although it would probably be better served as an Avengers style, mega movie team up, delivered in two parts or something.
Whatever the case, Nova is awesome, he looks awesome, his powers are awesome, his accompanying stories are awesome. He is linked intrinsically with the Guardians, providing another excuse to see Rocket and Star-Lord piss the galaxy off while also adding a new member to the already vibrant dynamic they have going up there. With storyline’s such as ‘Annihilation’ and ‘Annihilation Conquest’ becoming ever more possible, Nova would be a wonderful addition to the MCU and if Chris Pratt aka Star-Lord felt like taking a break five or so years from now then we have an instant successor to lead his team of rag tag misfits in the form of Nova: the Protector of The Universe.
