Nova by Abnett & Lanning: The Complete Collection Vol. 1

I was around when Nova was first created. It was during the comics "boom", when the major companies were adding titles like mad, each trying to capitalize on the mania that first created fandom, comic cons and eventually the direct market.Nova was a tired attempt to recreate the Spiderman "model" - troubled teen gains great power and still ends up being a sad sack in real life. It was not a particularly noteworthy effort despite noteworthy creators (Marv Wolfman and John Buscema). Ultimately, the character went on to a mostly undistinguished "career".That all changed with the Annihilation maxi-series, a cosmic compendium of the most powerful cosmic goodies and baddies of the Marvel Universe...and it also had Nova.Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning took that old concept and turned it on its ear. Borrowing a little from all sorts of cosmic ideas that came before, they created something new and fresh. This Nova became a super-powered carrier of the wisdom and knowledge of an entire race in his head...along with power equivalent to an entire force of powered cops - think Green Lantern holding all the power of the GL Corps (without the stupid murdering premise).Nova's powers were shifted subtly to be gravity-based, allowing warping of space for travel and other nifty tricks. It also made him substantively different than most other "power blast" heroes out there.Now, mix in the sharp wit and plotting of Abnett & Lanning (check out their work on Resurrection Man for DC, available here on Amazon) and you have a cosmic plus fun and totally different superhero comic to read.By now, you know of this pair's other major iconic reimagining, The Guardians of the Galaxy. They're fun in a different way. Nova offers more classic cosmic mythology much in the vein of the great Starlin creations back when he transformed Warlock into the cosmic brooder who made Silver Surfer look happy.While this collection is missing the Annihilation: Conquest mini-series, because the issues were all plotted and written by Dan & Andy, you can read these tales seamlessly and not feel like you've missed anything.What follows in the second volume is an unfolding of a huge cosmic saga with Lovecraftian elements. More mind-blowing fun...but that's a subject for a different review.If you like your superheroes cosmic and you like a story that you have to both read AND think about, this is the beginning of an amazing run by an amazing writing team (abetted by some superior artists - sorry to be so late with that comment, artists!) then this is a must read!

Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning may not have started the Marvel Cosmic Renaissance that began with Annihilation, but they came to define it. Their work on Guardians of the Galaxy is one of their most important works, but it was not the only series they wrote. Starting at the beginning with a miniseries tying-in to Annihilation, then later with a full series, they took the character of Nova to new heights. Guardians of the Galaxy is more remembered now, and with good reason, yet this series is equally fantastic. It weaves its story through both Annihilation and Annihilation: Conquest, and explores new corners of the Marvel Cosmic Universe while redefining its hero. It should be noted that you should have at least basic knowledge about both events. The book does its best to explain them, but reading them would be better, especially since they are great events. A number of artists work on this series, and instead of going into detail about each I'll say that I can't think of anything lacking with the books look. With Nova returning to prominence once again with events like Infinity Countdown, this volume one of the newly recollected complete series is worth getting.5/5

Nova is one of my favorite marvel character. This Paperback Comic is a great way to get into the character (along reading the original nova comics).

Wonderful collection of Nova! Can't wait for him to be part of Mcu

Best run of a childhood favorite.

Great read!

Good reading, fun

material fenomenal, a arte é de saltar os olhos no entanto o titulo sofre um grave Problema na minha opinião, os eventos que permeiam l titulo principal, não deixando espaço para um desenvolvimento mais profundo do richard, pois devido a aniquilação, aniquilação conquista, guerra dos reis, reinos dos reis, o personagem é obrigado a pular de evento em evento apagando o fogo das mazelas inflingidas ao universo Marvel constantemente.

I brought this complete collection after reading Annihilation Vol. 1 so I didn't actually read the first 4 issues in this book but I read through the rest of it and this made me love Nova even more and I'm looking forward to reading Vol.2 very soon.

I'm looking forward to reading this GN! The book arrived quickly, and as described. Great!! Thanks.