What is a “Hot Pants” pick? Quite simply, it’s a book that all four reviewers on this site believe is worthy of your time. It may or may not be one of our favorite books, but it’s that rare breed of comic that struck all four of us, with our different tastes, as a good read. Nova is our latest “Hot Pants” pick.
There are few books in this world that are able to deliver sheer amounts of intelligent action, knuckle-biting suspense, and pure, unadulterated, entertainment on anything resembling a regular basis. Nova delivers all of these things and more time and time again, which is why it’s not only a favorite of ours but also quite possibly the finest thing Marvel is publishing. For those not in the know, this particular series, helmed by the masters of the sci-fi/superhero genre, Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, rocketed to life out of the pages of the original Annihilation event and has since then never looked back in its depiction of the harrowing adventures of Richard Rider, the last remaining member of the Nova Corps. There are many creative ideas used in Nova that make it unique, a list that includes the likes of aliens of varying shapes and sizes, communist space dogs, universe size threats, and a snooty sidekick in the form of the Xandarian Worldmind. The one thing that grounds the series the most though, is the depiction of the main character, who is a hero who fights evil and sticks up for the little man. And even though that notion isn’t exactly new, DnA make it seem fresh and sell it well. If that wasn’t enough, throw in some beautifully rendered artwork by artists Sean Chen and Wellington Alves, and the end result is a book that rivals all others.
Loading ...
Good call. This is a great book.
29 Mar 2008 at 2:24 pm
Quoteoff hand i’d say Marvel’s best right now Order and Thunderbolts are good but the talk vs action formula is out of whack their all talk
29 Mar 2008 at 4:11 pm
Quotecool you guys do this, but it was kind of a short piece. It would have been even better if you guys did a rundown of available trades, where to start in the series and/or how it connects to everything else in the Marvel universe and Marvel tie-ins. I demand more next time Goddamnit!!!!
I SAID GOOD DAY!!!!
*puffs on his corn cob pipe*
30 Mar 2008 at 12:30 am
QuoteI agree with M.C. Escher. I want to read Nova, but I’m not sure if it’s strictly necessary reading Annihilation or not. Explain me this doubt, please. Thanks a lot.
30 Mar 2008 at 7:59 am
QuoteI’m enjoying this book, but think it probably does require a little “homework” … if not the entire, original “Annihilation” mini-series, then at least the initial “Annihilation: Nova” mini.
I also wish the art was a little more consistent. I’m not a big fan of either Chen or Alves, and was excited when it appeared Paul Pelletier was coming aboard. At least he’ll be drawing “Guardians of the Galaxy,” though.
Oh, and I think the upcoming Silver Surfer-Galactus story line in “Nova” is supposed to be a new jumping-on point. So maybe newcomers could check those issues out.
30 Mar 2008 at 11:44 am
QuoteYeah, I’ve been intrigued by Annihilation but I’ve been confused about where to start (in trade form) and what order to read it in for maximum enjoyment.
This tends to follow the Marvel and DC trend where they want people to read their books but don’t want to give out a road map where you could actually figure out how to best navigate their books.
30 Mar 2008 at 11:47 am
QuoteOkay…Let’s see if I can answer both of your questions. As to the brevity of the post…That’s sort of what a Hot Pants Pick is, a short reason of why we think a book is good and worth your time and hard earned money.
As for how many trades are out, that would just be the one, and it collects the first seven issues of the series. Does it deal with Annihilation Conquest stuff? Sure it does, but the first three issues are stand alone stuff, Nova dealing with other situations, and then you get into the Annihilation Conquest material. Do you absolutely have to read the Conquest mini in order to enjoy and make sense of those issues? Absolutely not. Will it enhance your enjoyment? Probably. Still, Abnett and Lanning do a great job of making Nova’s story and everything else going on in it (where the character stands, his current situation and the foes that he fights) accessible to new readers.
Hopefully, some of that helped answer your questions. Nova (and both of the Annihilation events) have been some of the best, most enjoyable books lately. They are all certainly worth reading.
30 Mar 2008 at 11:55 am
QuoteThanks a lot for your answers. I will read Annihilation first of all.
30 Mar 2008 at 12:33 pm
QuoteSpeaking of Nova… I see that an Essential trade is out. Is that worth picking up, or is my money much better spent on the recent trade? Anyone know? (I’ve become a bit of a penny pincher and love the Essential format, but Nova is a bit of an unknown quantity for me.)
30 Mar 2008 at 4:50 pm
QuoteI bought the first Annihilation trade online. Are you supposed to read it straight through, or read the first issue of every mini series first, then each second issue, or what?
30 Mar 2008 at 10:46 pm
QuoteI picked up the first Nova trade because of the positive reviews on this site and the fact Wizard made the series its ’series to watch’ or whatever. The last time that happened was with Sleeper and Randy’s recommendation way back on the Fourth Rail.
Seriously, after the 90s I didn’t think I’d be picking up a Marvel cosmic book again. Now, I might just follow DnA where they go next.
Also (and off topic) I finally got my hands on the first 4 issues of Transformers: Infiltration. Read #0 so far and I’m liking it. The way the artist draws… Verity? reminds me of Terry Moore’s art, her face I guess. Nice surprise, thanks.
31 Mar 2008 at 12:42 am
QuoteSilver Surfer? Jeez, maybe the most craptacular comic book character ever. How did it make it into the recent movie?
31 Mar 2008 at 12:54 am
QuoteToo bad Ellis is leaving Thunderbolts.
31 Mar 2008 at 4:42 am
QuoteWhile not required reading, I suppose, I would seriously advocate for reading the Nova Mini and at least the main Annihilation books before reading the Nova series proper. Annihilation really sets up Richard Rider and lots of his supporting cast. Maybe someone more familiar with space opera supporting characters might be fine but I didn’t know any of them from Drax to Starlord. As the Panteon said, it isn’t necessary but I would say it is darn close. And it is great reading, too. It isn’t dreary homework to get you caught up. It is what put DnA on the map with Nova. They started as merely series contributors in the first Annihilation to getting a new full time comic and another big maxi-series.
Anyways, good choice for Hot Pants.
31 Mar 2008 at 6:20 am
QuoteDefinitely get Annihilation volume 1 and 3. Volume 1 contains the Nova Annihilation Mini and Volume 3 has the Main Annihilation Series. If you want the full Annihilation series then Volume 2 has the Ronin, Super Skrull, and Silver Surfer Minis. The Surfer was okay, the super skrull sucked and I never read the the Ronin one, but none are required reading to enjoy Annihilation or Nova’s story.
You can skip out on Annihilation Conquest and not have a problem understand what’s going on in the Nova tie-ins. It’s written in such a way that Nova’s story ties in nicely and meaningfully without making it required reading for Conquest, or Conquest required reading for Nova. I wish all tie-ins were as skillfully done.
To summarize:
Annihilation vol. 1 (TPB or oversized HC)
Annihilation vol. 2 (TPB or oversized HC)
Nova vol. 1 (TPB)
P.S. I’m a huge fan of the New Warriors vol. 1 incarnation of the character and DnA’s take feels like the same guy, definitely more grown up, but the same guy none the less. It’s a nice touch as no other takes on those original NW characters have felt right until now.
31 Mar 2008 at 7:35 am
QuoteYa see, I actually liked the Super Skrull miniseries. I’m an old school Skrull fan and like his portrayal and depth added to him. Want nothing to do with Secret Invasion though.
I picked up the three trades cheap recently and loved the first two. I just started the 3rd trade and, based on the strength of the first two, have everything else (Nova, Conquest, Quasar/Star-Lord/Wraith) coming in. I’m not a fan of Space stuff, but really dig the characterization of everyone (Thanos, Nova, etc.)
31 Mar 2008 at 10:22 am
QuoteCount me in as liking the Super Skrull Mini as well. Great anti-hero stuff. He is like a Cold Warrior dealing with the fact the Cold War is over and his kind are not needed any more. Cool as anything. I think Ronin was the weakest series to me. Surfer was actually a good “reset” button for the character. I always thought he was an interesting character with a great concept and conflict. Surfer has the opportunity to either not accept the job and let some monster be the Herald and eat every planet in his path or he can take the horrible job and minimize the damage to sentient life while feeding the endless hunger of Galactus. Too cool. I like the ex-wives club that included all the old cast-off Heralds, too. It is cool to know he is showing up in Nova soon. If there isn’t more Russian talking astronaut space dog in the future, though, I will be sad. Will he be in the Guardians?
31 Mar 2008 at 11:15 am
QuoteI’m actually glad to see there are readers out there in the same boat as me (interested but confused as to where to start)…and quite alot of us. I originally passed on Annihilation as I’ve not historically been a fan of either DC or Marvel’s sci-fi heros. That all changed when I read GL: Sinestro Corps. Since then I’ve added both GL monthlies to my pull list, and have been itching for more. That’s when I first heard great things about Nova. I’m going to pick up the first Annihilation oversized HC and check it out. I’m still not 100% clear on how Annihilation works (sounds like it was a collection of 4 mini-series…but not sure if they read better as a weekly interconnected event books…sort of like 7 Soldiers…or whether they stand alone as separate minis…Based on how they’re collected it would appear to be the latter).
Anyway…based on the recco in this column I’ll for sure do some more digging and give Annihilation/Nova a try.
31 Mar 2008 at 2:59 pm
Quoteagreed I think the idea of a massive Skrull invasion worked best in 3-d man. It was 1958 LA 3-D man was the only superhero.
In modren Marvel a massive cossover based on skrulls has a few REALLY BIG PROBLEMS
1. if anyone can be a skrull it’s hard to care who is.
2 in my mind they already ran into but sooner or later they are going to make somone a skrull who just does not
3 if they think somehow being a skrul makes up for bad writting no dice. i’m no happier if one more day was skrulls.
31 Mar 2008 at 3:10 pm
QuoteJust read them straight through. They tell their own stories that each lead into the actual Annihilation miniseries.
31 Mar 2008 at 4:35 pm
QuoteI enjoyed the Essential, but I liked the latest series more. That’s a matter of taste, of course.
31 Mar 2008 at 4:36 pm
Quotepro and con E-nova
PRO Rob likes it
PRO it lasted a short time THIS is the series
Con the series is such a love letter to Marv Wolfman’s fave comics it’s somtimes pretty obovius what he’s homaging. Heck the whole series is “What if a less tragic but not as smart Peter Parker became Green Lantren)
pro it marries the early FF and early Spider-man sensblites very well
con when you get the last two issuse they wrap it up WAAAAAAAAY TOO quick
Pro the Yellow CLAW comes back
31 Mar 2008 at 6:06 pm
QuoteWell, based on these recommendations- it appears I’ll pick up the Essential. Thanks!
I wasn’t aware Wolfman wrote them- that alone is usually a good sell for me, especially if it’s earlier Wolfman.
31 Mar 2008 at 8:10 pm
QuoteOh yeah if memory serves hamster press has a book of FANZINE stories with NOva before he even worked at Marvel
31 Mar 2008 at 8:47 pm
QuoteI know this isn’t a Skrull thread but will the Big Skrull threat cross over into Nova and the space books (like Guardians of the Galaxy) or is this earth-only? Just curious. I think a Skrull thing would work in a smaller scope. I loved Stan Lee’s version of it when the Skrulls impersonated the Fantastic Four and they had to explain how each would approximate the abilities of them (ah, Silver Age sensibilities). It was fun. As a X-over to the entire Marvel Line, not so sure. If some consistently good writers did it then maybe but Bendis leading the charge? I expect more silliness. If this is the case, I hope DnA’s Nova and by extension all space-related comics avoid it.
31 Mar 2008 at 8:51 pm
QuoteAs Nick said, the Hot Pants tends to be a short feature… that’s just a stylistic choice, a quick hit kind of “Here’s why we all like it” kinda thing.
But… there does seem to be some confusion on Annihilation/Nova, so here’s my attempt at explaining, for everybody in the thread:
1. Yes, you can read Nova without reading any Annihilation. However, the series spins out of events in the original Annihilation, and then ties back into events in Annihilation: Conquest. It’s still a great read, and if you want to dip your toe in without diving all the way into Marvel’s space stuff, you can pick up Nova and, if you like what you see, pick up Annihilation to get a deeper sense of the character and what’s been going on that got him to this place.
2. Annihilation: Conquest, the new series, is still running (#6 concludes it, and comes out in a couple weeks). Once it’s done, there will almost certainly be a hardcover collection. It might be kind of tricky to find the first few issues. But you can find the Annihilation: Conquest hardcover, which collects a couple of the prelude miniseries, which start telling the larger story. And they are quite awesome. In addition, while the characters in Annihilation: Conquest in some cases come from the original Annihilation, it’s enough of a standalone story that you could skip the original Annihilation and just read Conquest and really not be missing *too* much, plot-wise.
3. Annihilation, the original story, is a great sweeping cosmic epic that is well worth picking up. It is told in three biggie-sized trades, which collect the four miniseries (Ronan, Super-Skrull, Nova and Silver Surfer) as well as the six-issue Annihilation miniseries. The miniseries each establish important characters and status quo stuff to put the Annihilation stories in motion, and the best way to read them is as they are collected (along with the Drax miniseries) in Annihilation Books 1-3. It’s true that some of those minis are weaker than others (Super-Skrull and Ronan both have their weak points, as does Drax), but they’re all at least solid, and Nova and Silver Surfer are notably better than that.
If you’ve got the cash, I recommend starting with Annihilation Books 1-3, *then* reading Annihilation: Conquest Vol 1 HC, *then* reading the Nova trade. At which point you can pick up the Nova single issues (#8-up, currently the book is on #12) and, in a few months, the Annihilation Conquest Vol 2 HC, as well as the Guardians of the Galaxy series.
*Or*, if you’re low on cash or just want to try one of these out, you could jump in on the Nova trade, the Annihilation: Conquest Vol 1 HC *or* Annihilation Book 1. In my opinion, any one of these is a decent jumping-on point to Marvel’s space stuff.
And totally worth the time and money. Abnett & Lanning have carved out a cool as hell part of Marvel space in which to tell some kickass stories.
*sputter* *choke*
Silver Surfer… a bad character? Good God, man, what’s wrong with you?!
The Surfer is an *awesome* character. He’s been done badly, to be sure, but when he’s done right, he’s all kinds of cool.
I think the Secret Invasion stuff is going to cross over with at least an issue of Nova and/or Guardians of the Galaxy. I *hope* that I’m wrong. But I trust that Abnett/Lanning can write good stories even if Secret Invasion is (as expected) a total crap sandwich.
01 Apr 2008 at 1:21 am
QuoteI can only recommend picking up the three Annihilation trades. Before reading those, I had no clue who the heck Nova, Quasar, Super Skrull or Ronan are. By now, I am a Cosmic Marvel devotee, in particular Nova, and cannot get enough of the new series. Month in, month out Nova is in my Top5.
Good pick, guys. Looking at the latest sales charts, Nova needs all the support it can get.
01 Apr 2008 at 1:55 am
QuoteAs this is a Nova thread that borders on Marvel Space Heroes, are there any other sources for Nova and his cohorts in trades and Essentials (beyond the obvious Nova Essential, of course). Is New Warriors collected? Worth reading? Anything between the original Nova comic and New Warriors?
01 Apr 2008 at 6:12 am
QuoteAs I recall, Quasar, Moondragon, and few others are in Avengers: Operation Galactic Storm.
Of course, there’s also the Infinity Gauntlet and that entire area- both are a bit older, of course. “Older” being 80’s and 90’s.
01 Apr 2008 at 8:53 am
QuoteIt should also be noted that there’s an awesome Nova Toon Tumbler that the Panteon prevented *anyone else* from purchasing from the shop.
Greedy jerks.
01 Apr 2008 at 10:01 am
Quotethe only problem I have with the new Nova is it seem to ALWAYS have a crossover in the backround but no more than thunderbolts
01 Apr 2008 at 11:05 am
QuoteIS it really too bad to be losing Ellis? I love the status quo he’s set up but if you’re going to DO this team right you may need someone who plays nicer with otheres than Warren. I mean yes it’s fun to see them fight say Razorback but I WANT to see them fight Spider-man. Sue me somtimes hype works
01 Apr 2008 at 11:19 am
QuoteYou should have shown up before we bought them all.
Which happened before we opened the store.
Sucker.
01 Apr 2008 at 2:00 pm
Quote