NOVA II

 

NOVA II

Real Name: Frankie Raye

First Appearance: Fantastic Four (Vol. 1) #164, November 1975 (As Frankie Raye);
Fantastic Four (Vol. 1) #244, July 1982 (As Nova II)

Powers: Frankie Raye was accidentally exposed to some of the chemicals her stepfather (Phineas T. Horton) used to create the original Human Torch, and developed flame-based powers of her own. Frankie could ignite herself in a low-density aura of plasma, generate and project flames and fiery energy blasts from her hands, shape flames into any form she can visualize, and produce thermal updrafts allowing her to fly. Naturally, she was also immune to the intense heat and burning generated by fire. She wore a special golden costume designed by Dr. Horton which fitted her like a one-piece bathing suit and would absorb itself into her skin when she was wearing any other clothes, appearing when she was naked. This allowed her better control of her flame powers and was fire resistant. For a time, Frankie's memories of her powers were blocked by a hypnotic suggestion.

After being chosen to be a Herald of Galactus, Frankie became Nova and was endowed with vast amounts of cosmic energy which enhanced and broadened her powers. Her head was now constantly ablaze with stellar fire, and the rest of her body was sheathed in a pseudo-metallic substance very similar to the Silver Surfer's "skin". She possesses Class 50 strength, superhuman speed and reflexes, is virtually tireless and cannot be harmed by any conventional means. Her flight power now extends to outer space and hyperspace, both environments in which she can survive and her flame can still burn. Her stellar fire is now like a miniature star, producing varying levels of heat, light, plasma, radio waves, and charged particles. Thus she can now communicate over vast distances by producing her own electromagnetic transmissions, control her density, shift her vision to other spectrums, and cause massive destruction with her volatile plasma and the concussive/explosive elements of her energy. She can also generate sufficient gravitational pull to yank starships away from a black hole. Away from direct sunlight, her radiance dimmed as she absorbed starlight for sustenance.