Nova: Centurion (2025) #3 Review – Marvel Comics

by

Writer: MacKay

Artist: Lopez & Fonte

Colorist: Iacono

Cover Artist: Cappucio & Rosenberg

Please note that the views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not represent the official stance of CosmicBookNews. The author, Timelord, previously provided direct feedback on the “Nova” series (2007) and the “Guardians of the Galaxy” series (2008) to the editors and creators involved. Marvel has even used quotes from his reviews in promotional materials like cover blurbs and press releases.

Warning: Contains some spoilers.

As a big fan, I have to say that issue #3 of Nova Centurion wraps up the first story arc really well. It feels complete, but also perfectly sets things up for what’s coming next with Richard Rider. Honestly, I’m really hoping Marvel gives this series the support it deserves. It has the potential to be something special, and I’d love to see it stick around for a long time – well beyond the initial six issues, of course!

MacKay really gets the Rider character, arguably as well as the original writers, Abnett and Lanning. The way Rich interacts with the Worldmind lets us see his internal conflicts and how he overcomes them – a quality that defines a true hero. I disagree with MacKay on a minor point about measuring Nova Force energy, but I appreciated the exploration of the drawbacks of energy weapons. It highlighted the practicality of traditional weapons, like the projectile gun in issue #2 and the club in this issue, when energy weapons aren’t viable. This idea isn’t new; Marv Wolfman touched on it in the 1970s series, showing the original Nova Corps carrying sidearms and their ship equipped with conventional weapons. If the story needs to bend the rules a bit, I’d much rather see Rich with a classic weapon on his belt than wearing that unnecessary bomber jacket.

MacKay deserves credit for understanding how strong a diverse cast can be and how much depth it adds to the story. Aalbort and Cammi continue to be excellent, giving Rich the support he needs to succeed. And I especially love the character Yr-Kett – she’s a fantastic ‘bad girl’ and I hope we see more of her throughout the series.

The cover art by Cappucio and Rosenburg is the strongest in the series so far. I especially appreciated their updated uniform design – they made the chest plate smaller and connected it to the shoulder pads, creating a more practical and visually appealing Roman-inspired look. In contrast, the interior art by Lopez and Fonte felt awkward and bulky. The uniform they drew resembled modern body armor too much for a cosmic character, and it would likely hinder movement. I wasn’t thrilled with Lopez and Fonte’s work throughout this issue. While they did give Rich a more muscular build, it still didn’t quite work – he sometimes looked overly smooth and even a little feminine, particularly in a full-page panel before his final fight. This unfortunately lessened the impact of what should have been a powerful, climactic scene. I’d like to see Rich regain his beard, adopt a physique similar to Captain America, and have the uniform redesigned with the Romanesque style seen on Cappucio and Rosenburg’s cover.

This first story arc was promising, and I’m excited to see where the series goes next. I’m hoping the writer, MacKay, moves beyond the simple “gun for hire” storyline for Rich and really explores the potential of the Nova Force. It would be great to see Rich become a true leader and rebuild the Nova Corps – that would be a fitting way to celebrate his 50th anniversary this year.

Here’s to 50 years of Rich Rider Nova! Long live Rich Rider Nova!

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2026-01-12 11:01