Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Imperial #1Marvelglossed over a huge cosmic event from the comics, but it certainly took place at some point in the Infinity Saga.The MCU’s Infinity Saga adapted several iconic comic book storylinesand runs from Marvel Comics, from the Avengers' first battle against Loki in Phase 1’sThe AvengerstoCivil Warin Phase 2’sCaptain America: Civil WarandThe Infinity Gauntletin Phase 3’sAvengers: Infinity WarandAvengers: Endgame. Movies likeAvengers: Age of UltronandThor: Ragnarokonly covered the basics of their respective comic book inspirations,Age of UltronandPlanet Hulk.
The MCU has also overlooked several key events that have shaped many characters' MCU stories. For instance,Spider-Man’s origin story, Bruce Banner’s transformation into Smart Hulk, Captain America’s mission to return the Infinity Stones, and the whole Blip took place completely off-screen. Marvel Studios doesn’t seem in any rush to cover these parts of MCU lore, as the studio’s focus is directed at the franchise’s overarching storylines and the introduction of new major players. However, one of the MCU’s overlooked events could be the main foundation for one powerful hero’s MCU debut.
Imperial #1 Reminds Marvel Fans That Xandar Was Destroyed
Imperial #1; Written by Jonathan Hickman; Art By Iban Coello & Federico Vicentini; Colors By Federico Blee; Cover by Marco Chechetto & Marte Gracia
Jonathan Hickman’sImperial#1sees Peter Quill a.k.a. Star-Lord get drawn into a cosmic conflict when his father J’son and other political figures are assassinated. Star-Lord finds his only trustworthy ally in Richard Rider, who reminds Star-Lord that he lost his purpose after Xandar’s destruction, which left him as one of"the two remaining Novasin the universe".Rich Rider refers to Xandar’s destruction at the hands of the Annihilation Wave, which managed to obliterate the entire Nova Corps during Marvel’s highly acclaimed 2006Annihilationstoryline.The other surviving Nova is the young hero Sam Alexander, of “Champions” fame.
Xandar has been attacked or destroyed at least five times in Marvel Comics lore
In Marvel Comics' 2006 cosmic eventAnnihilation,Xandar is completely destroyed during the opening assault of the Annihilation Wave, a massive invasion force led by Annihilus from the Negative Zone. The attack catches the Nova Corps off guard, resulting in the deaths of nearly all its members. Richard Rider, the last surviving member of the Nova Corps, escapes the massacre and becomes the sole inheritor of the entire Nova Force.Annihilationmarks a turning point in Richard Rider’s arc and the history of the Nova mantle, and it transformed him into a more cynical hero.
The MCU Glossed Over Thanos' Destruction Of Xandar
Thanos Destroyed Xandar Off-Screen Before Avengers: Infinity War
Josh Brolin’s Thanos started his quest to collect the Infinity Stones long before the Avengers first assembled in 2012, and he only completed the Infinity Gauntlet in 2018’sAvengers: Infinity War, after a few fierce battles with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and the Guardians of the Galaxy. In between movies, Thanos advanced his plans while the heroes waged their own battles, but Marvel never truly revealed how the Mad Titan originally got his hands on the Mind Stone and the Power Stone.Avengers: Infinity Warkicked off with Thanos killing an Asgardian fleet, already wielding the Power Stone after obliterating Xandar.
BeforeAvengers: Infinity War, Xandar seemed like a powerful and organized planet, capable of fending off massive cosmic threats like the Kree thanks to the Nova Corps. The Nova Corps also apprehended the Guardians of the Galaxy and helped them defeat Thanos' pawn Ronan the Accuser. But only a few years later,Thanos simply decimated the Nova Corps and Xandar, and the MCU has barely acknowledged the aftermath. What’s worse, given that Thanos only used the Power Stone, Hulk’s snap wasn’t able to bring any of the Xandarian victims five years later inAvengers: Endgame.
Xandar’s Destruction May Already Have Set Up Nova’s MCU Introduction
Richard Rider May Have Been An Active Hero Since At Least 2018
James Gunn’sThe Guardians of the Galaxyintroduced the Nova Corps and offered a clear look at their comic-accurate gear. The Guardians' debut movie also introduced the MCU’s first Nova Prime, Glenn Close’s seasoned commander Irani Rael, who was never shown actively participating in battle. Since Thanos decimated Xandar and the Nova Corps some time beforeAvengers: Infinity War, it’s safe to say that Irani Rael was among the Mad Titans' victims, and whatever was left of the Nova Corps is probably in dire need of a new leader.
Otherwise,Irani Rael might have been the last surviving member of the Nova Corps, and just like the Nova Prime Rhomann Day in the comics, Rael might have used her last breath to choose a human being to inherit the power and the responsibility of the entire Nova Corps.The MCU’s Richard Rider may have started to get acquainted with his Nova abilitiesand his gear throughout the five years of the Blip, and he may even have contacted Carol Danvers and Rocket Raccoon to receive training from them and help them defend the galaxy while half of the universe was gone.
Xandar’s Destruction And Nova’s Origin Story May Finally Be Explored In Phase 7
Nova May Become The MCU’s Next Cosmic Protagonist After The Multiverse Saga
While covering Richard Rider’s Nova origin story in the MCU’s present day is possible,retconning Nova’s origin into Thanos' destruction of Xandar and the events ofAvengers: Infinity WarandAvengers: Endgamewould make Rider’s MCU origin much more compelling. Marvel Studios achieved a similar feat with Carol Danvers' origin, which hadn’t been referenced by anyone for most of the Infinity Saga, until Phase 3’sCaptain Marvelrevealed that she had been an active hero on Earth long before the original Avengers revealed themselves to the world.
The Multiverse Saga has been too crowded to add new cosmic protagonists into the franchise.Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3presented Adam Warlock and Phyla-Vell, but they only served as supporting characters. Nova is too big a character to be introduced as a secondary hero, especially during a saga that’s focused on a concept as complex as the multiverse. Once Phase 7 starts a new saga, Marvel Studios could focus on establishing mutants and expanding the MCU’s cosmic stories through new heroes like Richard Rider.
The MCU Can Still Adapt Marvel Comics' Annihilation Storyline
Annihilus Could Be The Next MCU Saga’s Thanos
Marvel Studios has frequently reimagined major comic book arcs to fit the MCU’s continuity, including theInfinity Gauntletstoryline itself, which features Silver Surfer and Adam Warlock prominently. Similarly,the MCU could reinterpretAnnihilationby revealing that Thanos' assault on Xandar removed the Nova Corps from Annihilus' radar, allowing the Annihilation Wave to start their conquest. This approach would preserve the impact of Xandar’s fall while justifying Annihilus' absence, and it would allow the MCU’s Richard Rider to establish himself as theMCU’s next best cosmic superhero.
