Warning: SPOILERS for Annihilation Scourge: Nova #1
The last villain Nova would ever choose to team up with would probably be the one who’s caused him some of the most damage, Annihilus. The two have a violent history featuring plenty of death. So, when Richard Rider ends up on an enemy ship with a weakened Annihilus, the last person he’d expect to ask for help… does.
In Annihilation Scourge: Nova #1, one of a series of one-shot titles in the Annihilation Scourge event, Nova boards a ship that crashed into his home base. Upon searching the vessel, he finds a decrepit, defeated Annihilus who begs for his help. The Cancerverse is trying to bring an end to his universe.
Nova’s reaction to the plea is to laugh directly into Annihilus’ face. It’s a fair response given the two’s history, as Annihilus was responsible for wiping out the entire Nova Corps (except for Richard) in the 2006 crossover event Annihilation. Annihilus is directly to blame for Richard losing numerous Nova Corps members and destroying Xandar. There’s little incentive for him to help. Yet, he still listens. Annihilus warns Nova the Negative Zone will fall if he doesn’t help him - which is music to Richard’s ears. Nova is a bit more concerned after his enemy reveals the Cancerverse will come for his dimension once they’ve dispatched of the Negative Zone. Richard reluctantly agrees to help.
After a hilarious encounter with the Fantastic Four’s Val and Frankie Richards, where Annihilus wears a trenchcoat disguise before blowing his cover with demands the children obey him, Nova and Annihilus use a portal to go back into the Negative Zone in order to rescue refugees from his dimension and find the Fantastic Four.
They find the children and protect them from the Cancerverse monsters - who are shown to be killable in the Negative Zone. Richard eventually encounters The Sentry, who’s leading the Cancerverse. He escapes their grasp, seemingly leaving Annihlus and the children on their own.
Nova put his past biases and anger behind him in order to enter the Negative Zone with one of his sworn enemies in order to help him. It shows just what kind of hero Richard is. Despite having the chance to kill Annihilus and let the Negative Zone be engulfed by the Cancerverse, he chooses the make the morally right decision and help refugees stave off elimination. He doesn’t want the refugees to go the way of the Nova Corps.
While it might seem like Nova is abandoning Annihilus and the refugees at the worst time imaginable, it would be shocking if he doesn’t come back immediately and help them take down The Sentry and the Revengers. Richard might be reluctant to help Annihilus - but he will. He won’t let the refugees die. Nova made it this far. He’s got little choice but to continue aiding Annihilus and save the Negative Zone. Otherwise, Earth is next.
- Annihilation Scourge: Nova #1 Written by: Matthew Rosenberg Art by Ibraim Roberson Cover by: Josemaria Casanovas The universe hangs in peril! With no room for old grudges, Nova is forced to team up with one of his most nefarious adversaries - ANNIHILUS! But can Richard Rider trust the ruler of the Negative Zone to fight alongside him - or will this turn into a war with two fronts? In shops: Dec 04, 2019
