Lara 1 Alondra Lara English IV Ms.

Bell 29 August 2013 The Man Called Sam Alexander Everyone knows Spiderman, Batman, and Iron Man, but its time for a new superhero to emerge, Nova. Now this isnt a completely new superhero, but theres a new kid on the block after the death of Rich Rider and his name is Sam Alexander. This fifteen year old is going to make his name in the world, as our new hero. Comic books had a rough path to endeavor in order to get to the point that allowed Jeph Loeb to create Sam Alexander in Nova, which overall deserves best new comic book hero. History of Comic Books Comic books emerged during the late 1800s. Richard Felton Outcaults The Yellow Kid, launched in 1895, would be considered the earliest form of comic strips. The New York World used The Yellow Kid primarily to raise sales of their newspaper. It was also in this comic strip where the balloon dialogue bubbles spawned. The majority of comics from the early years were intended to be funny. The comic book would originate when they copied these comic strips into collections in one book. By 1933, the design structure was established, with Harry Wildenberg and Max C. Gairess Funnies on Parade as the foundation. The 1930s to the 1950s has come to be known as the Golden Age of comic books. In 1938, Jerome Siegal and Joseph Shuster made Superman. Superman is the foundation of the superhero genre. Crime and detective comics flourished after the creation of Batman in the DC comics. After this many of the popular superheroes we know today generated. It is during this time that many film

Lara 2 techniques and storytelling grammar would influence the comic book writers and artists of The Spirit and eventually the comics books we make to this day. Comic books benefited from World War II; Captain America being the most ideal example. However, the comic book popularity died out after Congress began to look into banning comic books altogether for the violence and sexuality they were displaying to much of Americas youth, and the television brought new competition. During 1956 to 1971, comics began to gain their popularity back. Although the heroes spawning throughout this new Silver Age reflected the peoples judgement of America during the Vietnam War. Our heroes had weaknesses or defects and were misunderstood outsiders (A History of the Comic Book), for example Spiderman and the Hulk. The Bronze Age, from 1971 to 1980, can be primarily characterized by prominence on form and stylistic details and less of a reflection upon the nation. Comic book illustrators were being told that their art was not great art, and wanted to prove them wrong. While they did gain more respect, comic books were not selling well due to the fact that conventional comic book vendors were being replaced with chain stores. The Academy of Comic-Books Arts and the Comic Guild were established as a marketing scheme to continue the thrive comic books once had. The Iron Age of 1980-1987 focused on making the hero the subject of the book stories rather than the means to tell a story (A History of the Comic Book). Superheroes also began to face death and many did die. Comic books were grossing higher due to the fact that they increased the prices on comics and began to sell comics at special retail outlets. 1987 begins the Modern Age we exist in today. Predominately significant to this era is that the business is marketing new issues of comics books, including Spiderman and X-Men, as future collector items. The comic books fans in the 1990s was relatively small but more dedicated in the fact that they were willing to spend and purchase more. Marvel also was made the first comic book publisher to be listed on the New

Lara 3 York Stock Exchange in 1991 (A History of the Comic Book). Today Marvel has developed into a multimedia entertainment company. Biography of Writer The new edition of Nova featuring the character of Sam Alexander was created and written by Jeph Loeb. He originated from Stamford, Connecticut. Loeb started reading comic books during the summer of 1970, for his father had purchased him the complete collection of Marvel Comics from Tom Chicarella. It was soon that a letter of his was produced in Marvels Amazing Adventure #9. In high school, his step-dad gave him the opportunity to meet Elliot Maggin, of Superman, because his step-dad was a vice-president at Brandies University. Maggin would become once of Loebs biggest inspirations in comic book writing. Jeph Loeb graduated from Columbia University with a BA and a Masters in Film. It was during the eighties that he made a few movies, such as Teen Wolf, Commando, and Burglar (Higgins). His first comic book was Challengers of the Unknown vol. 2 #1- #8, which debuted in March of 1991 to October of the same year. Loeb is also known for his work on the TV show, Smallville, the adaptation of Superman. He was signed a three-year contract with the producers, however he left the show to take care of his son who was battling cancer at the time. Sadly, his son, Sam, died on June 17, 2005, at the age of 17. Before Sam died, his son was working on Superman/Batman #26. Although his son was not able to finish it, his father and 25 other writers and artists, all friends to Sam, completed the comic book (Jeph Loeb). You could even imply that Sam Alexander from Nova was named after his son, maybe even influence the character of Sam. Jeph Loeb has also worked on several shows, such as Lost and Heroes. Loeb was also the executive producer of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer the animated series. He also helped form Awesome Entertainment with Liefeld, where he was the publisher. Hes credited for working on comics such as Batman,

Lara 4 Spiderman, X-Men, Wolverine, the Avengers, the Hulk, Captain America and Iron Man (Higgins). History of Character Sam Alexander is not to be confused with Rich Rider from The Man Called Nova. Rich Rider died in The Thanos Imperative (Johnston) and Nova is the rise of a new Nova, Sam Alexander. Sam is the son of Eva and Jesse Alexander, a former member of the Nova Corps. Sam has a younger sister names Kaelynn. Sam is currently fifteen years old and lives in Carefree, Arizona with his parents and sister. Alexander attends Carefree High School, the same place where his dad works as a janitor. At school, he is bullied by Karl Moffet, the typical big, scary guy who looks like he graduated high school five years ago but still happens to go to high school. Sam has a crush on Carrie, the stereotypical emo, misunderstanded girl with piercings and pink streaks in their hair. His father constantly tells Sam and Kaelynn stories about his past adventures as a Nova. However, Sam always believed these stories to be fictitious. Sam views his dad as a loser, since, in his eyes, all he sees is a high school custodian who cant hold up a job and believes he was once an intergalatic policeman (Sam Alexander (Earth-616)). After being contacted by Gamora and Rocket Raccoon, due to his fathers disappearance, they confirm his fathers participation in the Nova Corps. Gamora and Rocket Raccoon then trained Sam in his fathers old helmet. With the Nova suit, he has the powers of the Nova Corps, which include energy absorption, blast power, flight, invulnerability, light projects, super hearing, and super speed (Sam Alexander). Throughout his journey, Sam has encountered villans such as Titus, Thanos, Terrax and Phoenix Force. A fun fact is that Sams favorite story from his father is the one about how they painted another ring around Saturn (Loeb 24). At first glance, Sam Alexander is the typical teenage boy who hates his life, but look closer and hes so much more.

Lara 5 He loves his family, as much as he doesnt want to show it, and he is capable of saving the world. Summary of Comic Nova #1 begins with Jesse Alexander telling his son, Sam, a story from seventeen years ago... above the planet Moord (Loeb 4). He, a former Nova, Titus and Mister ZZZ were sent to rescue Gamora and Rocket Raccoon. Once they escaped, they were attacked by the Badoons. Jesse destroyed their spacecraft but, got hurt in the process. Titus then attempts to fix Jesse. The scene forwards to The Planet Earth... to Carefree, Arizona... six months ago (Loeb 10). Sam Alexander, the protagonist, is then introduced. He is helping his dad at Carefree High School, where Jesse works as the janitor, after school hours. It then skips forward to the next day, during school hours. There is a kid who bullies him because of his fathers reputation. His principal doesnt like him either due to his fathers lack of responsibility. He feels the need to cover for his dad at his job so he doesnt get fired for yet another job. Later that day, he runs into a girl he finds attractive at school, Carrie. Carrie seems to have the same feelings toward Sam and offers to help him out with his dads job, but Sam declines the request. It then flashbacks to fifteen years ago at the Rigellian Empire in the Milky Way Galaxy (Loeb 16), as Jesse recalls another story to tell his daughter, Kaelynn, of when he was chased by rebellions right before he left to be with his wife during Sams birth. Later, Sam sees that his sister has not fallen asleep. His sister was scared that one day their father might have to leave to the Nova Corps again. Sam wanted to just tell his sister that the stories werent true, but in order to keep her seeing Jesse as a hero, he tells her to ask for the story about Saturn next time. The next day at school, Sam gets suspended because his father left the bathroom contaminated, but when he returns home to scold his father, he finds the room destroyed and empty. Sam furiously sets out

Lara 6 to find him but trips on his skateboard and falls unconscious. He wakes up three days later in a hospital bed, but when he fully awakens, Gamora and Rocket Raccoon are next to him with news about his dad. Personal Review You have to remember that this particular issue is the introduction to the Nova series. With that in mind, you cant expect the issue to be filled with excitement. No antagonist was introduced, thus far. This issue focuses on giving background information of the characters. You find out that Sams father was once a Nova. However, in the current time, his father is a depressed and irresponsible father. However, you still want to love Jesse because while Sam made him look like a loser, you can still see a fatherly figure who wants to comfort his children, as shown with his bedtime stories. You have the same feeling with Sam. He is shown to be an angst-y fifteen year old teenager dealing with father problems, bullies, hatred toward his goodfor-nothing small town, a principal who is out to get him, and girls. Nothing really out of the ordinary. The only difference between this and almost every pop punk song is that Sams father was once a superhero. However, this makes Sam a much more relatable character than, lets say, an indestructible alien. Readers can relate to the feelings of hopelessness and wanting more than what is given to them. Sam and Jesse are very alike in the fact that they have two personalities. On one hand, they are tough, stubborn guys, but on the other hand they have a soft spot for their family. They both reflect sentiment around Kaelynn. Sam wants his sister to remain childishly naive and happy. Jesse wants her to feel safe and happy. It makes the characters seem much more lovable knowing that they are capable of feeling affection for others. While their affection is not shown directly, it is implied. Besides character development, the most important factor that keeps you intrigued is the curiosity of why Jesse is gone and left the Nova Corps in the first

Lara 7 place. They dont resolve any questions as to why Jesse is the way he is. You can tell Jesses character has impacted Sams life. Sams fathers story seems more interesting than his own, since Sam is still too young to have a backstory. Nonetheless, Sam seems to have an exciting journey up ahead.

Lara 8 Works Cited Loeb, Jeph. Nova #1. Marvel Now!, 2013. Print A History of the Comic Book. Random History, 18 March 2008. Web. 26 August 2013. Jeph Loeb. Wikipedia, 29 June 2013. Web. 26 August 2013. Higgins, Steven. Jeph Loeb Bio. Vacuumboy9, n.d. Web. 26 August 2013. Sam Alexander (Earth-616). Marvel Wikia, n.d. Web. 27 August 2013. Sam Alexander. Comic Vine, 23 August 2013. Web. 27 August 2013. Johnston, Rich. Synergy, Thy Name Is Sam Alexander. Bleeding Cool, 5 March 2012. Web. 27 August 2013.