Nova Vol 1 #1

The story starts with a spaceship 96 million miles from Earth. A log data recording has been made, showing that whoever is in the ship is pursuing someone called Zorr, although a previous encounter left the pursuer crippled. The scene then switches to a basketball game in Harry S. Truman High School, where Rich Rider has failed to block a basket, and thus losing the game for his team. Rich is threatened by an angry classmate named Mike Burley. Rich's friend Ginger helps him from the ground, and tries to lift his spirits by taking him to a café called "Uncle Fudge's". The scene switches back to the spaceship, now only 800,000 miles from Earth. The pursuer of Zorr reveals himself to be a Centurion, and vows not to die until he has defeated the evil Zorr. He realizes he has not the strength to continue and decides to send his strength to someone on Earth to continue the battle for him. The scene switches back to Earth and Uncle Fudge's, where Ginger is cheering up Rich. Mike makes another appearance and hits Rich, just as the Centurion's power strikes the latter. Mike runs off thinking he was responsible for Rich collapsing. Later in Hempstead Hospital, Rich is in a coma, surrounded by Ginger, his father Charles, mother Gloria, brother Robert and a doctor. In his coma, Rich sees the alien craft, and the Centurion tells him that he has received his Nova-Prime powers and he must destroy Zorr, as he is dying. Gloria notices Rich rising from his coma, he bursts into spasms then fires streaks of power from his eyes. The family are all happy he is awake, and the doctor is unsure what happened.