nova (earth-7)

Richard Rider is the last living Centurion of the Nova Corps, a human chosen to inherit the totality of the Nova Force and the Worldmind after the complete destruction of Xandar. Carrying the combined power, memories, and legacy of an extinct order, he becomes the central figure in the rebirth of one of the universe’s greatest peacekeeping forces. 

BIOGRAPHY

Early Life

Almost 20 cycles ago, during the First Galactic War—marked by Thanos’ first large-scale assault on the cosmos—the planet Xandar was invaded and ultimately destroyed by Gamora and her elite female guerrilla unit known as the Graces. Acting under the will of the Mad Titan’s campaign, Gamora’s forces were responsible for the deaths of dozens of Nova Corps members and the complete extinction of the Centurions, the Corps’ most powerful division.

Even after Gamora chose to retreat and abandon Xandar at the end of the war, her sisters—Nebula, Deathbird, Skreet, and the remaining Graces—kept the planet under their control as a base of operations. Meanwhile, what remained of the Nova Corps struggled to survive, reorganizing themselves as a resistance force in the shadows of their fallen empire.

The Centurions had once been the Worldmind’s ultimate line of defense. They shared a unified consciousness, operating as a single collective entity powered by the Nova Force, drawn directly from the Nova Reactor. This connection allowed them to act in perfect synchronization, embodying both immense power and absolute coordination. Thanos believed he had eradicated this entire order—but one Centurion survived.

Rhomann Day, the last of the Centurions, escaped the massacre by inheriting the combined strength and power of all his fallen comrades. With nowhere left to go, he fled to a remote planet in the Minimum Series where he would not be found: Earth. Severely weakened by the war, Rhomann remained hidden within his ship for nearly ten cycles, unable to recover and with no hope of survival.

His fate changed when he was discovered by a young human named Richard Rider, who offered him shelter. Recognizing in Richard the potential to continue the legacy of the Nova Corps, Rhomann made a final decision. Knowing he would not survive much longer, he removed his Nova suit and transferred it to Richard. Along with the suit came the full power of the Nova Force and the collective consciousness of the Worldmind, effectively transforming Richard into the last Centurion.

Now bearing the strength, memories, and will of an entire fallen civilization, Richard understood that he was the only one capable of restoring what had been lost. Accepting this responsibility, he set out toward Xandar, initiating what would become known as the Second Galactic War, with the goal of reclaiming the planet and rebuilding the Nova Corps.