The cosmic corner of the Marvel Universe is in the early stages of a return to prominence. While Bendis is writing a promising operatic space epic and Jason Aaron is telling the origin of the current hottest villain in the Marvel Universe, Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness are crafting an uncomplicated “Nova” story with plenty of charming aspects to enjoy.
Written by Jeph Loeb
Illustrated by Ed McGuinness• The mysteries surrounding the disappearance of Sam’s dad deepen and the helmet leads Nova into intergalactic conflict that will affect the entire Marvel Universe!
Ed McGuinness’ name has been the major draw to the book, but it’s Jeph Loeb’s Sam Alexander that ultimately makes the comic work. Sam darts around space like the Road Runner from the Looney Tunes universe. This constant propulsion works in service of the story, as well, moving things along at a very fast pace. It’s a simple story and it’s over before you know it, but it’s an enjoyable one despite that. As Sam is confronted by things that he once thought were mere fantasy stories, he assesses each situation verbally, as a child might. Sam is a boy with the complex feelings and emotions that come with adolescent development. Plus, you know, the complex emotions that come from being chased through space by a bunch of aliens. As a result, Sam’s feet are sometimes too far ahead of his brain as he makes snap decisions with downsides that he can’t initially see. All in all, he acts like a kid is expected to act. One only has to put up hokey bits of dialogue based on what a 50-something writer thinks is in the modern teenage lexicon to see that there’s a real heart at the center of the story.
Being an adolescent kid is hard enough without having an armada chasing after you and your dad’s powerful magic helmet, but that’s exactly where “Nova” #4 starts. Sam just wants answers. He wants answers about his father, his own place in this big, lonely universe, and what he’s going to do now that he’s been entrusted with the duty of the Nova Corps. He barely gets time to think about much of that, what with danger right behind him. So he uses whatever wits he has (and some skills he learned from playing lots of Galaga, I guess) to evade his pursuers. Most of the fun in this issue is a result of Sam’s sheer inexperience leading him to make crucial mistakes and lapses in judgement. There’s a lot of that in comics today, but Sam is just a kid and we can expect that he’s not always 2 steps ahead of every problem. What’s a little worrisome is how careless the villains of the arc are throughout. Loeb keeps the story moving at a very brisk pace, so there isn’t much time to dwell on how easily Sam gains the upper-hand in each situation.
While the engaging protagonist is the thing that’s holding the whole series together, Ed McGuinness is such a perfect fit for this book that Sam Alexander owes as much to his artist as he does to Loeb. Sam is among the youngest heroes in the Marvel Universe, yet McGuinness spends a lot of his time drawing Sam in large close-ups. The focus is put on his gleaming facial expressions has he soars at the reader with glee, or the terror on his face when placed in a situation with the odds stacked against him. Sam runs the gamut of emotions and McGuinness tackles each one with striking cartooning and never skimping on the detail. Though certainly not unheard of, it’s still impressive work for a detail-oriented artist like McGuinness to put out 4 issues in a row. McGuinness gets a chance to craft some large-scale battle sequences, as well as some perilous close-quarters confrontations. Each sequence is handled with the proper amount of tension. Thanks to this smart marriage of writer and artist, we get a book that has taut pacing all the way through. Some photoshopped space backgrounds did find their way into the book, which is disappointing considering how much they stand out. Once again, reality looks strange when a bunch of illustrated characters are thrown against it. Choosing to complete everything in the same style is almost always results in a book that feels more visually cohesive.
Nonetheless, “Nova” is a fine coming-of-age story. A kid around Sam Alexander’s age couldn’t help but identify with him. Loeb and McGuinness have relaunched a property that could have kids pretending to don the Nova helmet to dart around their backyards. The approach that this creative team is perhaps the most simple of the ‘Marvel Now!” titles, but it’s also one of the most elegant. “Nova” is about a boy, his dad, and a thirst for adventure. For pure escapism, you could do a lot worse than Loeb and McGuinness’ “Nova.”
Final Verdict: 7.5 – Buy – if you’re interested in an uncomplicated cosmic adventure.
