Nova #22 Review

NOVA #22
Written by Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning
Art by Andrea Di Vito

Worldmind continues to mass recruit for the Nova Corps, literally recruiting thousands of humans for the job of Nova Centurion. From the get go we're shown that this isn't all fun and games as the people abducted are never asked to join, simply taken. They are further pumped full of endorphins and indoctrinated into the corps without any hassles.

On one hand, I was hoping Worldmind's corruption would be downplayed to let us try and figure out who's lying, the Worldmind or Richard, and, on the other hand, I'm glad we've cleared it up so we can, hopefully, get Richard back in the chrome bucket helmet again.

Knowing right off the bat that it's actually Worldmind that's gone bad allows Abnett and Lanning to quickly catch Richard up to speed with the reader by having him head to Project Pegasus to get some tests done. They put him through the paces with numerous tests and conclude he has a clean bill of health, for the most part (more on that in a bit), and collectively decide to lure Richard's brother to Pegasus in order to put him in an isolation chamber, as they suspect the Worldmind is influencing the new recruits.

This, again, turns out to be true and Richard's brother quickly realizes he's been under the Worldmind's influence the entire time. However, Worldmind knows what Richard is up to and sends several centurions to put a stop to his meddling, going so far as to physically take control of those centurions, even speaking directly through them.

I'm still confused about the Worldmind's sudden turn and the whole Ego deal has me wondering if Ego is involved in his personality change or if he's just fed up with Richard's refusal to rebuild the corps.

However, the conclusion to this issue drops the bomb that one of the tests Richard took revealed that his body is actually breaking down without the Nova Force. It seems while his mind was safe from its effects, the stress of holding it caused his body to adapt to holding it and without it, he's now going to die within 48 hours. A tad over dramatic, but I like the idea behind it.

Verdict - Must Read. Another great showing from the book and it's quickly becoming like Captain America and Ultimate Spider-Man - a title that's so consistently good, I've begun taking it for granted.

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