Race you to Sleepytown
I don't really understand why people were hating so much on this new series even before reading the first issue. Yes, Nova is not Rider anymore, but why is it instantly assumed that that is a bad thing? Well, this issue is not bad at all. It's all about set-up. Loeb quickly introduces us to Alexander and that's what's so interesting about it. He reminded me a bit of Peter Parker, since he's a teenager and gets bullied often. Alex's dad is the school's janitor, so that already sets up an interesting and intriguing back story on the character, especially because Jesse (the father) rarely actually does his job.
After reading this issue, I have to admit that I'm a little glad that Alexander is going to be the new Nova. His teenager attitude is sarcastic and sets a very fun tone to the book. This is probably Loeb's best work since he left DC. The issue keeps jumping around, meaning that it does not only focus on the boy, but it also features the bed time stories, told by Jesse. In them we see various adventures of the Nova Corps and the Guardians of the Galaxy, although I prefered the other parts which showed the protagonist of the title. Still, there is a good mix of dialogue and action.
McGuinness' art is basically eye candy. There is really no other way to describe it.
If you haven't yet bought this issue, you definitely should, even if you are a hardcore fan of Richard Rider. This issue is all about set-up, so it is, of course, new reader friendly. The comic keeps jumping on to the past and back, but that is not a bad thing at all. We see Alexander's life, and his interaction with his family and bullies at school, while Loeb also presents adventures from the Nova Corps. My main complaint is that the ending may have been a little too forced:(Warning: do not reveal the spoiler if you haven't yet read the issue)
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