Imperial is set in the stages of a new era of Marvel’s space adventures, and with Imperial War: Nova Centurion #1, it’s time for Richard Rider to get his time. Nova Centurion #1, built from Imperial #3, sees Rider eventually reconnecting to Nova World Mind, where he is forced to confront the ghosts of the past and learns who sparked the Imperial War.
From the start of Nova Centurion #1, it’s not easy for riders. Reconnecting to Nova Worldmind has been shown to be extremely painful, not only physically but also mentally. First, he faces a horrifying vision of cancer where he and Star Lord are trapped, then reminding him of an astounding line of graveyards representing the Nova Legion, and that he is the last of his kind. But rather than using these settings for trauma porn, Jed Mackay and Jonathan Hickman are able to work over his problems.
This comes in the form of a conversation with WorldMind, who has been a fellow rider for many years. The world is shown to be rather logical, serving as a response to rider’s panic and helping guide the path to learning about the masterminds of the Imperial War. It costs money. The more power riders use it, the more they need to fuel the world. This not only sets up for Mackay’s run in the upcoming Nova: Centurion series, but makes it much more interesting than if Nova had full power. The story is only as good as the challenge you give your hero, and that seems to me that Mackay has many challenges for the Nova in the store.
Amazing
Artistic Duty in the Imperial War: Nova Centurion #1 falls into Matteo dela Fonte, who has managed to capture the cosmic scale of Nova’s new adventures in full. The depiction of Della Fonte in the Cemetery of Nova Corps is completely gloomy, depicting a row of graves wrapped in thick layers of pure white snow. But it is also somewhat peaceful as it gives Nova time to think. Compare this to the moment Nova thinks he is in cancer. The entire page is dedicated to the tentacles of Lovecraft, rendered by Yen Nitro in Jet Black Horror. The difference is literally day and night.
However, the best redesign of Della Fonte goes to Nova. The human rocket currently wears his standard gold and blue suit, plus a bomber jacket and thick whiskers, adding a bit of edge to the normally clean space hero. I have always felt that if you give a hero or villain a new outfit, it must be visually clear, living in their power and names. This succeeds in both counts, similar to the outfits worn by Starlord and Shuri. The latter has the imposing power of Wakanda, while the former appears to be the true guardian of the galaxy.
Imperial War: Nova Centurion #1 is a melting pot in the universe where Richard Ryder faces the ghosts of his past and the uncertain future. It is also one of the more interesting one-shots from the Imperial storyline, as it gives one of Marvel’s most powerful space heroes a new purpose.
“Imperial War: Nova Centurion” #1 gives Richard Rider a squeeze of space
Imperial War: Nova Centurion #1
Imperial War: Nova Centurion #1 is a melting pot in the universe where Richard Ryder faces the ghosts of his past and the uncertain future. It is also one of the more interesting one-shots from the Imperial storyline, as it gives one of Marvel’s most powerful space heroes a new purpose.
Mackay and Hickman passed Richard Rider through the gauntlet, exploring his past and setting his future.
Della Fonte vibrates between the calm and the scary one, both giving equal weight.
The new redesign of Nova looks appropriately bad.
Unlike the Nova book that comes before that, it’s a new status quo – that’s great!
Star Lord and Shuri look good, but there’s not much to do.
