Warning: SPOILERS for Annnihilation - Scourge: Nova
Richard Rider hasn't caught many breaks during his time as Nova. He's seen the Nova Corps get completely obliterated multiple times, been trapped and infected by the Cancerverse, and had to take on some high-powered opponents with little help. Unfortunately, things don't get much better for Nova in his latest adventure.
A reluctant hero, Rider joined the Nova Corps as a high school student after the last surviving member chose him as his replacement. Given the power of Nova Prime, it was his duty to protect Xandar and fight alongside the corps. Sadly, Nova's time as a member of the Nova Corps had been ripe with tragedy. Rider was the sole survivor from both the corps and Xandar after Annihilus' Annihilation Wave ripped a hole through the galaxy.In Annihilation Scourge: Nova #1, Nova's struggles are brought to the forefront.
Rider later gets sucked into a tear in reality called The Fault. Within the tear, he discovers a demented reality called the Cancerverse - a replica of his universe where there is endless suffering but no death. Rider gets trapped in the Cancerverse and eventually escapes thanks to the help of the new Nova, Sam Alexander. When he returns to his reality, the Corps gets wiped out again - this time by the Universal Church of Truth. Rider survived as he was on a mission at the time, and is one of the few Novas to remain.
Rider has experienced serious hardships since assuming the role of Nova. He's been stuck in a Hell-like reality, watched his comrades get exterminated at the hands of a cosmic supervillain, learned his dad passed away while he was in the Cancerverse, and saw the Nova Corps rebuild only to be destroyed once again. That's some serious trauma.
In Annihilation - Scourge: Nova, you think Rider might be due for some good things. However, once he boards a ship that almost crashed into his new home base, he finds a weakened Annihilus begging for his help. Yes, the alien who once destroyed the entire Nova Corps wants Rider's help in taking down the Revengers, a Cancerverse version of the Avengers - led by The Sentry. You can't make this stuff up.
After the Annihilation Scourge event ends, Rider needs to be given a nice break away from death and destruction. His time as Nova has been chalked full of just awful, personal tragedy. Rider deserves a win. Hopefully, he can get one soon. Otherwise, he'll continue to hold the mantle of the unluckiest hero in the Marvel Universe.
Annihilation - Scourge: Alpha is available now from your local comic shop.