Issue(s): Nova #5
Cover Date: May 94
Title: "Birds of prey"
Credits:
Fabian Nicieza - Writer
Chris Marrinan - Penciler
Mark Stegbauer - Inker
Paula Foye - Assistant Editor
Rob Tokar - Editor

Review/plot:
With the exceptions of the Corruptor and (possibly) Sphinx, Nova's original rogues gallery was pretty goofy. You can forgive it because they fit with the retro tone of the series, and you can just sort of imagine them as sketches in Marv Wolfman's high school math notebook and understand the enthusiasm about wanting to finally get them into print when he had the opportunity. The worst of the characters was Condor, who is, what? Marvel's eighth most popular bird man? So i understand the impulse to want to return to Nova's original villains for this new series, and i could totally see a return of, say, Diamondhead (which is coming, actually). But there was no need to do an angsty 90s version of Condor.

The only thing that would make it better is if Condor's return somehow involved Marvel's ninth most popular bird man.

(The above scene is actually a recap from last issue, which i don't have. I'm missing an appearance of Birdbrain!!!!)

Backing up a bit, we start with Nova trying to nip Amazon's drone delivery service in the bud.

On his way back, he buzzes the Corruptor's office building.

Like a true Spider-Man successor, Nova is thinking about his various troubles. Among them are the fact that he has one girlfriend for the New Warriors series and another for this book. He notes that 'Nita is "blue... which is kinda weird... but kinda kinky, too". But he finds Laura in his apartment with Bernie.

They get to talking about their relationship and decide that they like each other but they want to take it slow. Then Condor dives in and kidnaps Laura. Nova tries to appeal to Condor's humanity, but it doesn't work.

Nova rescues Laura and then fights Condor for a bit. Considering Nova's current power levels, Condor seems outmatched. You can't even scratch the dude's costume.

Laura gets injured during the fight after all, and this shocks Condor to his sense and he helps Nova revive her with CPR.

All of this has been observed by the Sphinx. It really is just like old times.

Despite having a fondness for Nova's original series, this was the only issue of this series that i bought in realtime and hoooboy did i not decide to pick up any more after this. (At time of writing, it remains one of the few issues of the series that i own.) I'm actually now appreciating now how Chris Marrinan's art has a more-Erik-Larsen-than-thou aspect...

...which lends a kind of cartoony quality that fits with the use of a character like Condor. I also like where Fabian Nicieza lovingly mocks the older stories ("still the guy who invented an oxygen spray-can so you can breathe in outer space"!). But Condor's "a Birdbrain For The 90s" design is still bad, and his sob story is terribly cliched.

Quality Rating: C-

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: Note that Birdbrain restored Condor to (mostly) human form "recently", which suggests some time passing since last issue. Next issue is part of the Time And Time Again New Warriors crossover which begins in New Warriors #47. Since a footnote here references New Warriors #43 through #46, this takes place between New Warriors #46 and #47.

References:

• Namorita turned blue in New Warriors #43.
  
• Nova thinks about "that Younghunt crud with the X-Force feebs", which ended in New Warriors #46.
  
• Nova also mentions his problems with the Corruptor (Nova #3), "that Zero Zero dude" (last issue), and "my problems with Laura" (ongoing).
  
• Condor was turned into a bird by the Sphinx in Nova #10.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A