Richard Rider is Nova, the original 1970s Human Rocket! Struck by energy sent by a dying alien, Rich has inherited the mantle of an intergalactic Nova Centurion! Now, the newly-minted hero must somehow balance schoolwork, a social life and a constant string of villains including Condor, Powerhouse, Diamondhead, Blackout…and the dreaded Sphinx, who seeks a secret that Nova doesn’t even know he’s carrying! Plus, Nova and Spider-Man unravel a murder mystery, Rich’s father is ensnared in an underworld scheme, and Nova joins…the dynamic Defenders? And when the Nova Corps’ homeworld Xandar comes under attack, Rich and his new allies leave Earth behind to join the cosmic fray — while the Fantastic Four tackle the Sphinx!

COLLECTING: Nova (1976) 1-25; Amazing Spider-Man (1963) 171; Fantastic Four Annual (1963) 12; Defenders (1972) 62-64; Marvel Two-in-One Annual (1976) 3; Fantastic Four (1961) 204-206, 208-214; Marvel Two-in-One (1974) 91; Thing (1983) 34; material from What If? (1977) 36