Nova #5

Followed back to Earth by Titus, the disgraced former member of the Nova Corps now working for the Chitauri, Sam Alexander must protect his home, his mother (who we will learn knew far more about her husband's galactic adventures than she ever let on), and even the bullies from school who give him a hard time, from the one-eyed space tiger's wrath.

Flying Titus back into space, the new Nova uses the Ultimate Nullifier to present a stalemate that the villain refuses to accept. Forcing its activation, Titus and the entire Chitauri fleet are sucked into a black hole. Only after the young man single-handedly saves Earth do we get cameos from Rocket Racoon, Gamora, and the Watcher (as well as one more important character in the issue's epilogue).

Writer Jeph Loeb and artist Ed McGuinness deliver a fun wrap-up the series' first story arc that cements Sam as the new Nova, a hero with some powerful friends but one who is also willing and able to stand-up to world-threatening threats on his own. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]