Is the World Ready for the Shocking Secret of Nova

THE MAN CALLED NOVA — Issue No. 21, June 1978

Book: The Man Called Nova

Issue No.: 21

Published: June 20, 1978

Title: “Is the World Ready for the Shocking Secret of Nova”

Cover Price: 35¢

Format: Digital reprint

I’ve commented before how Nova (AKA Richard Rider) seems like he was created to be the late-1970s heir apparent to Spider-Man (AKA Peter Parker). Since Peter had graduated high school (and completed most of college) at this point in Marvel history, there was some space available in Marvel’s lineup for a new high school hero. Heck, even the character’s names have the same rhythm and alliteration (Peter Parker/Richard Rider).

Of course, one of Spider-Man’s long-time concerns was keeping his identity secret, in part to protect his only living relative, his aunt May. Richard Rider hasn’t told anyone he is Nova up till this issue, but he’s lucky enough to have a larger family than Spidey, and he decides it will be easier on his mother, father, and brother if he lets them in on the secret.

But that doesn’t happen till the end of the book. Nova spends the rest of the time dealing with the Inner Circle, a criminal organization his dad is mixed up with. Turns out the Circle is led by the Corruptor (who looks kind of like X-Man Nightcrawler but with red eyes and a shock of white hair on his head). The Corruptor’s deal is he has a “chemical touch” that turns people evil. So the good news is Richard’s dad was under the influence of said touch when he got mixed up with the Circle and not being evil of his own accord.

The Corruptor has some plan that involves turning a bunch of people into a mindless, evil mob (using some kind of airborne version of his chemical?), but it seems kind of half-hearted. The mindless mob is pretty small, and Nova snags them all in a big net and leaves them with the cops until the Corruptor’s chemical has time to wear off.

But while Nova is out saving the mob from themselves, the Corruptor gets away, promising to create a bigger (nationwide!) mindless, evil mob next time. I’m wondering, if that’s an option, why the Corruptor didn’t go ahead and do that this time? Maybe he’s still working out distribution pipelines for his chemicals? Seems like showing his hand early with a mini-mob is just gonna put Nova (and presumably other superheroes) on high alert for similar shenanigans in the future, but I guess we’ll see.

Next time — Western action with the Rawhide Kid!