Origin

Frankie Raye was just 14 when her father, Professor Horton, brought her with him to steal the original Human Torch android (Jim Hammond). While transporting the chemicals that allowed the Torch to become on fire, Frankie tripped and was doused in them. The chemicals caused her body to change and burst into flame, endowing her with the power to do so at will.

The Fantastic Four offered to train her in the use of her powers. After finding out from Norrin Radd, a friend of the FF, how he had become the Silver Surfer in order to save his planet, the next time Galactus arrived at Earth, Frankie volunteered to become his next herald to explore space and have adventures. Galactus accepted, endowing Frankie with the Power Cosmic, after which she took the name Nova.

Later, Frankie and the Silver Surfer became lovers, causing her to leave Galactus to travel with the Surfer. The two parted ways when the Titan Starfox forced Frankie to have feelings for another former herald, Firelord.

All the former heralds regrouped when Galactus' new herald, Morg, revealed his murderous ways. Eventually, Morg was defeated, but not before he had managed to kill Frankie. The Surfer dropped Frankie's body in a nearby sun.

Powers

Like all heralds of Galactus, Frankie was endowed with the Power Cosmic, which allowed her to fly through space and use this power to do almost anything she wished. She possessed super strength enabling her to lift up to 40 tons.

Originally, Frankie was able to ignite herself at will, and use that fire to fly, or send out blasts of fire.

Alternate Realities

Earth-8436

Reality 100 million years from now. Galactus battles Ecce the Watcher for thousands of years until the universe dies, after which only Galactus and Nova (Frankie Raye) remains. Galactus releases his energies, creating a new Big Bang and Nova becomes the Galactus of the newly formed universe.