Real name: Richard Rider Other known aliases: Kid Nova, Human Rocket. Occupation: Hero and fast food server, former delivery boy. Current group affiliation: New Warriors and Nova Corps. Past group affiliations: Champions of Xandar. Major enemies: Psionex, Force of Nature, Sphinx. First appearance: Nova #1 Origin: Nova #1 Description: Richard is an athletic man standing 5'9'' tall and weighing 145 lbs. He has brown eyes and hair.
Characteristics
48 STR 38
18 DEX 24
21 CON 22
11 BODY 2
10 INT 0
11 EGO 2
18 PRE 8
12 COM 1
11 PD 1
6 ED 2
4 SPD 12
14 REC 0
42 END 0
46 STUN 0
Characteristics Cost: 112
Powers and Skills
5 2/2 Armor,Only In Hero ID(-1/4)
7 0/8 Armor,12- Activation(-3/4)
2 2/2 Damage Resistance
24 EC (30),"Gravity control.",Concentrate(-1/4)
9a) 12D6 EB (Gravity),"Gravimetric pulse.",x4 Increased End
Cost(-1 1/2),Must use at full power.(-1/4),14- Activation
(-1/2) 24
32b) 20" Flight (Gravity),x125 Non-Combat 4
3 4 Extra Limbs,"Costume tentacles.",Only In Hero ID(-1/4),
Concentrate(-1/2),constant concentration
4 IR Vision,Only In Hero ID(-1/4)
8 Instant Change,any clothes,Concentrate(-1/4)
15 Life Support,doesn't breathe,safe in vacuum/pressure,safe in
radiation,safe in heat/cold,Only In Hero ID(-1/4)
4 Radio XMIT/REC,Only In Hero ID(-1/4)
7 +6 Telescopic Sense,Sight Group,Only In Hero ID(-1/4)
4 UV Vision,Only In Hero ID(-1/4)
1 PS: Cook 8-
3 Streetwise 13-
10 14- Universal Translator,Only In Hero ID(-1/4),Only to
understand languages, not to speak them.(-1/2),Only common
earth and space faring languages.(-1/4),Only vs. spoken
language.(-1/2)
Powers Cost: 138
Disadvantages
Base Points: 100
5 Distinctive,"Nova Corps uniform.",easily concealable,minor
20 Hunted,"Various enemies.",as powerful,non-combat influence,
harsh,appear 11-
10 Psych Lim,"Wishes he was in the "big leagues".",common,
moderate
15 Psych Lim,"In love with Nita or Mickey.",common,strong
15 Psych Lim,"Code vs. killing.",common,strong
15 Psych Lim,"Overconfident",common,strong
5 Rep,"Minor hero.",occur 8-
15 Secret ID,"Richard Rider"
10 Unluck,2D6
10 Watched,"Nova Corps.",more powerful,non-combat influence,
harsh,appear 8-
10 Watched,"by the press.",as powerful,non-combat influence,
harsh,appear 11-
Disadvantages Total: 130
Experience Spent: 20
Total Points: 250
Explanation of the conversion:
History: Nova-Prime Centurion Rhomann Dey was dying and sent his
powers to a randomly chosen human, hoping that person would go to Xandar to
carry on the war, Richard Rider was that person. Struck by what seemed to
be a lightning bolt, Rich Rider's life was just
about to get interesting. It was, of course, no ordinary lightning bolt.
He fell into a coma. During this, Rich dreamed of an alien in a strange
uniform. The alien explained that he was a Centurion in the Xandarian Star
Corps. He also explained that he was bestowing his rank, title and powers
to Rich. The Centurion requested only one thing, that Rich carry on the
fight against the alien that had destroyed the Centurion's home world, and
had caused the wounds to the Centurion himself. When Rich awoke, he
thought it was just a strange dream brought on by shock, but the next day,
while standing in his bedroom, he was suddenly dressed in the alien uniform.
The dream wasn't just a dream (Nova #1).
Rich went on to combat crime as the man called Nova. He met up with,
and was almost killed by, the alien the Centurion had warned him about.
With his last act, the Centurion saved the new Nova by transporting the
alien Zorr aboard his craft, killed Zorr, then died himself. Shaken, but
determined to make a difference, Rich went on. While teaming up with the
Fantastic Four in trying to stop the Sphinx, he
ended up on the world of Xandar, birthplace of his incredible powers.
With the help of the other members of
the Nova Corps and the Spaceknights, defeated the invading Skrulls. The war
over, Rich was forced to leave his powers behind on Xandar in order to
return to Earth, or so he thought (Rom #24).
Rich returned to Earth, only to find that the world had moved on without
him. His friends had all graduated from high school, and he felt too old to
go back. Without a diploma, Rich soon found himself flipping burgers and
hating life.
Night Thrasher discovered that Richard
probably had the potential to have his powers return and threw him off a
building. The powers kicked back in to save his life. That done, Night Thrasher asked
Rich to be the first of his recruits on a new team, a team that would
become known as the New Warriors. They then formed a team alongside Firestar and Marvel Boy
II. Their first battle with Terrax attracted Speedball and Namorita
who also became members and they called
themselves the New Warriors (New Warriors #1).
Together the New Warriors
aided Thor in battle against the Juggernaut
during the Acts of Vengeance (Mighty Thor #411-412).
He aided the New
Warriors in their battle with the Cardinal (New Warriors #28).
Everything
was going pretty well in Richards life until Supernova showed up claiming
that Richard had stolen the Xandarian Matrix which gave him his Nova powers.
During the fight Nova released his first gravimetric pulse. Supernova
eventually overcame Richard and drained all the energy from his body,
killing him in the process (New Warriors #40).
Air Walker and Firelord had
sensed Supernova and made their way to Earth where Air Walker used his power
cosmic to revive Richard, but without his Nova powers. The New Warriors
went along with Air Walker and Firelord in their ship and pursued Supernova
into Shiar space where he was on a rampage. Air Walker convinced Supernova
that he and Richard were meant to use their powers to revive the planet
Xandar. Supernova grabbed Richard and teleported them to Xandar (New
Warriors #41).
Richard and Supernova then merged into one being of pure energy. This being used it's power to restore the planet of Xandar and then died.
After Xandar was restored the central computer of Xandar was able to revive Richard and restore his Nova powers. He was inducted into the Nova Corps again and given the assignment of protecting the planet Earth (New Warriors #42).
Nova and the other New Warriors teamed up with the Thunderbolts, Heroes For Hire, Spider-Man, Darkhawk, the Swordsman and Magdalene in protecting the city from the Elements of Doom II (Thunderbolts #8).
He aided Turbo and Night Thrasher in combating the worldwide disasters caused by the weather control machines of the Masters of Evil VI (Thunderbolts #25).
Nova fought the Rhino, Doctor Octopus, the Grinder and was attacked by Nebula. He started attending college and working at Marvel Burger (Nova III #1).
Nita fought Orca in New York's East River with the aid of Nova. Although he tried to make up with her, she rejected him (New Warriors II #0).
He eventually ended up rejoining the New Warriors when they were called in by Genetech to help save them from the villain Blastaar. During the fight the Warriors were joined by Aegis and Bolt II (New Warriors II #1).
After Namorita broke up with him he started dating Turbo.
When Graviton attempted to take over the world, causing massive worldwide earthquakes, Nova save a little girl and her dog's life in Manhattan (Thunderbolts #56).
He was among the heroes incapacitated by Graviton when he attempted to take over the Earth (Thunderbolts #57).
Note: In the alternate time line depicted in New Warriors #11 to #13
Nova was a member of the Avengers. In the alternate future depicted in
Spider-Girl #7 Nova is a protector of New York, although his costume
has changed to his original one.
Note: Nova is in no way related to Nova II, who was a herald of Galactus named Frankie Ray.
Trivia: The American Heritage Dictionary defines a nova as
''A star that suddenly becomes much brighter and then returns to it's
original brightness over a period of weeks to years.''
Powers: Richard can manipulate energy and gravity in order to fly at
speeds of at least mach 3 or release a destructive gravimetric bolt. The
gravimetric bolt is difficult to control and drains him of much of his
energy. He can also absorb energy into his body to power this bolt. He can
lift about 20 tons, is highly resistant to injury and can summon his Nova
Corps uniform with a mental command. This costume provides armor, life
support, communications and sensory gear. This includes radio, infrared and
telescopic sight, and a translator that allows him to understand most
spoken languages. At times he has also worn conventional costumes that resemble
his Xandarian made one with various lesser abilities.
Links to other Nova pages:
Character created by Marvel Comics.
Champions rules conversion by Mathew R. Ignash - mathewignash@comcast.net.
Last Updated - December, 2002
History: Nova-Prime Centurion Rhomann Dey was dying and sent his
powers to a randomly chosen human, hoping that person would go to Xandar to
carry on the war, Richard Rider was that person. Struck by what seemed to
be a lightning bolt, Rich Rider's life was just
about to get interesting. It was, of course, no ordinary lightning bolt.
He fell into a coma. During this, Rich dreamed of an alien in a strange
uniform. The alien explained that he was a Centurion in the Xandarian Star
Corps. He also explained that he was bestowing his rank, title and powers
to Rich. The Centurion requested only one thing, that Rich carry on the
fight against the alien that had destroyed the Centurion's home world, and
had caused the wounds to the Centurion himself. When Rich awoke, he
thought it was just a strange dream brought on by shock, but the next day,
while standing in his bedroom, he was suddenly dressed in the alien uniform.
The dream wasn't just a dream (Nova #1).
Night Thrasher discovered that Richard
probably had the potential to have his powers return and threw him off a
building. The powers kicked back in to save his life. That done, Night Thrasher asked
Rich to be the first of his recruits on a new team, a team that would
become known as the New Warriors. They then formed a team alongside Firestar and Marvel Boy
II. Their first battle with Terrax attracted Speedball and Namorita
who also became members and they called
themselves the New Warriors (New Warriors #1).
He aided the New
Warriors in their battle with the Cardinal (New Warriors #28).
Nita fought Orca in New York's East River with the aid of Nova. Although he tried to make up with her, she rejected him (New Warriors II #0).
