Nova #23 Review

Zachary Montoya’s cover tells you everything you need to know about Nova #23, its epic tableau recreating the battle of David and Goliath for a comic book audience. This is not the sort of lighthearted adventure that readers have come to expect from Nova, as Sam finds himself facing his greatest threat yet in the form of the Hulk (saying Kluh never gets any easier). Going bi-monthly as it’s pulled into ‘Axis’, Nova’s status as a tie-in might appear arbitrary at first, but this new arc functions well as a rite of passage for young Sam as he takes the next step in his evolution as a superhero.

Steve Rogers’ narration brings an immediate sense of gravitas to the wider conflict at play in the Marvel universe. The exposition rapidly brings readers up to date, yet it can’t help but feel a little clunky in execution – not so much as a passing reference has been had to ‘Axis’ in Nova up until this point, and the events of #23 don’t even line-up with the latest issue of Axis.

David Baldeon’s depiction of the other heroes and villains affected by the inversion wave is similarly haphazard, characterised by peculiar body proportions and facial expressions – at one point Thor’s face kind of looks like Apocalypse’s lined mug. His art shines through strongest whenever Nova is on the page, applying a fairly unique aesthetic style to the boy’s diminutive frame and angled, bug-eyed helmet. This dynamic character design carries over to the antagonistic Hulk as well, depicted here as a genuinely frightening, lumbering menace. Baldeon’s deceptively simple art style works best with clean, well-defined line work and inking, overloaded in these early pages by the sheer amount of content.

This final showdown between the Hulk and Nova functions as the emotional heart of the issue, somewhat making up for the lackluster first half.  The Hulk’s threat is proven palpably real when he bites down on and breaks Sam’s arm in one particularly hard-hitting panel, with Gerry Duggan quick to remind us that Nova is, for all intents and purposes, still but a boy. Nonetheless, Sam rises to the occasion as best as he can, acquitting himself admirably without ever compromising that sense of youthful optimism that makes Nova such a refreshing read. Ending on a complete change in both setting and circumstance, Nova promises not to let off anytime soon.

Get full review from Infinite Comix here