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Before this issue, Richard Rider had already stepped into a heavy role. He became Nova Prime, the last living Nova in the universe, and now carries the Worldmind right in his ear. That means constant knowledge, constant pressure, and a power set that feels both limitless and oddly fragile. After the events of Imperial, this debut issue drops him into a galaxy that has moved on from the Nova Corps, leaving him to figure out what being the final Centurion even means.

Nova: Centurion #1 is an excellent series premiere that wastes no time putting Richard Rider through the cosmic wringer. The issue opens with a mission that seems simple enough: a ship is caught in a black hole’s gravity well, and Nova is the only one close enough to help. The catch is that he is not close at all. The creative team uses this opening stretch to show exactly how far Richard is willing to push his powers. He zaps himself across space at a cost, burning precious energy just to reach the danger zone.

There is no slow orientation or meandering setup. You watch Nova struggle, assess the risk, and throw himself into the void anyway. That rescue mission becomes the spark for the rest of the issue, shifting his life from lone space cop to something closer to a hired gun. A familiar Marvel Cosmic figure steps in as his handler, and suddenly Richard is navigating a darker corner of the galaxy that has more gangsters than honor codes. It is fast, it is clear, and it sets the stakes without giving away the bigger turns ahead.

What struck me most while reading this debut was how efficient it felt without being cold. Jed MacKay packs in exposition, but it never feels like homework. As Nova is flying, arguing with the Worldmind, or tearing through a rescue operation, you pick up exactly what you need about his power levels, his limits, and what drives him. I liked that the issue respects both new readers and longtime fans. If you do not have deep Nova lore tucked away in your head, the story still lands. If you do, those deeper cuts feel like quiet rewards. The shift in Richard’s job description stood out, too. Seeing him move from orderly Corps work to something murkier gives the issue a grounded edge. He is powerful, but he is also trying to figure out who he is in a galaxy that does not work the way it used to.

The art team deserves praise as well. Alvaro Lopez keeps the action clean, and the panel transitions feel almost invisible in the best way. When Nova moves, your eye moves with him. When things slow down for character beats, the close-ups add weight without leaning into melodrama. Mattia Iacono’s colors lock in that bright Marvel Cosmic look. Even in quieter moments, the Nova helmet lights pop just enough to remind you you’re in a place where physics is optional and spectacle is the standard. 

While reading, I kept thinking that this is what a modern cosmic relaunch should feel like: focused, bold, and very aware of the emotional core underneath the flashy stuff. If I had to point out one drawback, it’s that some references may slide past newcomers. They are not confusing, but they will ping louder for readers who have been watching Richard Rider’s journey for years.

All in all, Nova: Centurion #1 hits the ground running. The pacing is tight, the mission setup is clear, and the new direction gives Richard room to grow. The good is easy to list: sharp writing, confident plotting, kinetic art, and a sense that this is the start of something with real momentum. The only mild bump is that a few deep-cut nods might land differently depending on your history with Nova. Still, the issue balances everything with care, and the shift from solo lawman to guided operative gives the series a hook worth following. It is a bright start with enough grit to hint at trouble ahead.

This first issue sets up Richard Rider’s next chapter with clarity and confidence. The rescue mission, the new handler, and the shift in his role all point to a story that respects the character and knows where it wants to take him. It is smart, energetic, and surprisingly grounded for a cosmic book.

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Before this issue, Richard Rider had already stepped into a heavy role. He became Nova Prime, the last living Nova in the universe, and now carries the Worldmind right in his ear. That means constant knowledge, constant pressure, and a power set that feels both limitless and oddly fragile. After the events of Imperial, this debut issue drops him into a galaxy that has moved on from the Nova Corps, leaving him to figure out what being the final Centurion even means.

Nova: Centurion #1 is an excellent series premiere that wastes no time putting Richard Rider through the cosmic wringer. The issue opens with a mission that seems simple enough: a ship is caught in a black hole’s gravity well, and Nova is the only one close enough to help. The catch is that he is not close at all. The creative team uses this opening stretch to show exactly how far Richard is willing to push his powers. He zaps himself across space at a cost, burning precious energy just to reach the danger zone.

There is no slow orientation or meandering setup. You watch Nova struggle, assess the risk, and throw himself into the void anyway. That rescue mission becomes the spark for the rest of the issue, shifting his life from lone space cop to something closer to a hired gun. A familiar Marvel Cosmic figure steps in as his handler, and suddenly Richard is navigating a darker corner of the galaxy that has more gangsters than honor codes. It is fast, it is clear, and it sets the stakes without giving away the bigger turns ahead.

What struck me most while reading this debut was how efficient it felt without being cold. Jed MacKay packs in exposition, but it never feels like homework. As Nova is flying, arguing with the Worldmind, or tearing through a rescue operation, you pick up exactly what you need about his power levels, his limits, and what drives him. I liked that the issue respects both new readers and longtime fans. If you do not have deep Nova lore tucked away in your head, the story still lands. If you do, those deeper cuts feel like quiet rewards. The shift in Richard’s job description stood out, too. Seeing him move from orderly Corps work to something murkier gives the issue a grounded edge. He is powerful, but he is also trying to figure out who he is in a galaxy that does not work the way it used to.

The art team deserves praise as well. Alvaro Lopez keeps the action clean, and the panel transitions feel almost invisible in the best way. When Nova moves, your eye moves with him. When things slow down for character beats, the close-ups add weight without leaning into melodrama. Mattia Iacono’s colors lock in that bright Marvel Cosmic look. Even in quieter moments, the Nova helmet lights pop just enough to remind you you’re in a place where physics is optional and spectacle is the standard. 

While reading, I kept thinking that this is what a modern cosmic relaunch should feel like: focused, bold, and very aware of the emotional core underneath the flashy stuff. If I had to point out one drawback, it’s that some references may slide past newcomers. They are not confusing, but they will ping louder for readers who have been watching Richard Rider’s journey for years.

All in all, Nova: Centurion #1 hits the ground running. The pacing is tight, the mission setup is clear, and the new direction gives Richard room to grow. The good is easy to list: sharp writing, confident plotting, kinetic art, and a sense that this is the start of something with real momentum. The only mild bump is that a few deep-cut nods might land differently depending on your history with Nova. Still, the issue balances everything with care, and the shift from solo lawman to guided operative gives the series a hook worth following. It is a bright start with enough grit to hint at trouble ahead.

This first issue sets up Richard Rider’s next chapter with clarity and confidence. The rescue mission, the new handler, and the shift in his role all point to a story that respects the character and knows where it wants to take him. It is smart, energetic, and surprisingly grounded for a cosmic book.