This year, 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of NOVA the Human Rocket!

Created by Marv Wolfman whose other long time comic book credits include Tomb of Dracula, Blade and editing/writing many Marvel comic books including Spider-Man, and later for the Distinguished Competition including Titans and Nightwing, Marv’s prototype Nova came in the form of the The Star in fanzine Super Adventures around 1966. Later when he was at Marvel, Marv used aspects of that character to create Richard Rider, an ordinary Long Island teen who struck by the awesome Nova Force from dying Nova Centurion, Rhomann Dey becomes his successor, THE MAN CALLED NOVA. 

Now Nova may have unfair comparisons to a certain well-known DC hero (Yeah the one with the ring) but Nova has over the last fifty years in several volumes has grown and evolved as a character beloved by a very supporting fanbase. His quirky rise to being a hero throughout his classic era with stories brought to life from Marv’s remarkable script by comic art legends Sal Buscema, John Buscema and others were a joy, as we Nova fans watched and saw how a fledgling hero grew fighting against some truly off-beat bad guys. Later, after Vol.1 sadly ended, Nova adventures transferred to the Fantastic Four where we got to know more about his powers true origins from the Nova Corps and Xandar. 

In the 1990’s after a long period of comic book limbo Nova came back in the highly praised New Warriors series created by Marvel Editor Tom DeFalco first appearing in the Mighty Thor before the new team spun off in their own series by Fabian Nicieza and Mark Bagley with Nova earning a second solo series whose long haired version currently appears in the game, Marvel Cosmic Invasion. Nova later went on to appear in a third series by Savage Dragon writer/creator Eric Larsen. 

However, it is the hallmark 2007 mini series, Annihilation, that finally took Nova to new heights of prominence when he became the main character alongside other stalwart Marvel Cosmic heroes against the Annihilation Wave, brilliantly scripted by the late Keith Giffen and later expanded upon by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning in their 36 issue run Vol.4 that those still unfamiliar with Rich soon loved how great he could be and more so hold his own. 

The original Nova was rested after the Thanos Imperative and replaced by a new Nova, Sam Alexander who later went on to become integral to new teen supergroup, the Champions adding new fans to the world of the Human Rockets. But the original would not lie in limbo forever returning alongside Sam in Vol.6 and later becoming a pivitol character in Guardians of the Galaxy. Today, Rich Rider is still soaring across the stars supported by the Worldmind in Jed Mackay (Moon Knight) Nova:Centurion! 

Despite being in and out of print over the last fifty years and despite numerous cameo appearances in many Marvel Comics, and yes he even met Green Lantern last year...Nova has remained a key character in the Marvel Cosmic landscape with great support from all his faithful Centurions across the globe who support not only his comics but sites like novaprimepage, fan art and more. 

We want MARVEL to give us assurances that this, his grand 50th anniversary year since a shy teen who got more than a chocolate milk shake in a ice cream parlour in Hempstead gets the same treatment and care to mark his birthday this year with a bang, that the Human Rocket will still soar despite the ever changing comic book market and that we the fans who have supported him for the last fifty long years get a special to mark this occasion! Sign please to make sure Marvel listens! NUFF SAID!