Source: comicvine.gamespot.com

4. Alone

Writers: Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning
Artists: Sean Chen and Brian Denham

We’re now heading into Annihilation: Conquest. It’s the sequel to the event that launched Nova's series, so it requires a bit of context. Thankfully, if you're reading these Nova issues in the Annihilation: Conquest omnibus, it's all included. I originally read this series as issues came out, and boy, was I lost.

But here we go, with context included for you. On the Kree homeworld of Hala, a failed pact with the Spaceknights results in the Phalanx – alien machine-people who are determined to conquer the galaxy – successfully compromising the Kree Sentries and weapons. When Nova shows up in this issue, he's too late to stop this event, and can only do battle with some Sentries. While he's fighting, we learn that the Phalanx has taken over Gamora – the galaxy’s deadliest woman and future Guardian – and she’s now working for them. Oh, no!

The Phalanx begin hacking the Worldmind, and Nova is sucked through a space bridge and deposited on a Kree world. But the process has apparently burned him alive and left him a lifeless husk. The Kree Captain Ko finds his corpse and is enveloped in energy, which transforms her into"¦The New Nova!!! Overall, a good intro to the crossover, and a very solid ending. Is Richard Rider dead? Let's find out.