Nova #2: A Medical Review

June 6th, 2007

Filed under: Comics, Medicine

Nova #2 “Alienation”
Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, writers
Sean Chen, penciler

scene from Nova #2

First, kudos to Abnett and Lanning for at least considering an Andromeda Strain scenario. With all the space travel in comic books, you think you’d see alien/human infections more often (the last one I remember is the alien STD in Empowered, and I can’t recall one before that for at least a few years). Of course, “Nova must stay in his bodysuit because he’s quarantined” is just a ploy to keep him in uniform so he can be recognized by Diamondhead and then targeted by the Thunderbolts, but at least they put some thought into it.

A few thoughts on this scene:

  • “Skrull-Flu” strikes me as a strange name. “Flu” is a colloquial term for a certain type of respiratory disease (as in swine flu or bird flu)1. Are there really that many humans familiar with Skrull diseases to start giving them slang names? Doctors and scientists tend to give diseases geographic names (Ebola, West Nile Virus), acronym names (see next point), or long descriptive names, not slang names.2 Of course, it could be that the Worldmind is just dumbing things down for Richard3.
  • Other than being the call letters of a Christian rock station in Oregon, I have no idea what K.I.D.H. stands for (though I have some ideas4)
  • So for six weeks, he has to wear the bodysuit all the time? My God, he must stink.
  • Finally, Nova is potentially contagious with three nasty diseases — at least one of which is respiratory — and he spends most of the issue walking around without his helmet on. Pretty much defeats the whole purpose of quarantine5.
Notes:
1Flu can also be used to refer (incorrectly) to gastrointestinal conditions (“stomach flu”). Then there are the various “flus” that aren’t precisely medical such as blue flu and boogie woogie flu.
2Bird Flu is a good example. It’s technically “avian influenza” but — thanks largely to the media — it has become more commonly known as bird flu. How many English speaking reporters are in outer space?
3Or most likely, I’m just way overanalyzing the name.
4As far as I can tell, KIDH must stand for one of the following:
Khundian Inflammatory Disease of the Heart
Kittens In Derby Hats
Kissing Invalidates Dental Hygeine
5Or to be more topical: “That’s about as effective as a CDC quarantine for TB.”

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11 Responses to “ Nova #2: A Medical Review ”

  1. Paul
    June 7th, 2007 at 12:01 am

    Khunds are from D, not Marvel, so it must be the one about Kittens ( maybe skrulls as kittens, who knows )

  2. M.A. Masterson
    June 7th, 2007 at 12:22 am

    Kree Immune Deficiency Horror

  3. M
    June 7th, 2007 at 5:29 am

    It could be a degrogatory name, like ‘Spanish pox’. Skrull flu from them dang filthy Skrulls.

  4. Scott Harris
    June 7th, 2007 at 12:27 pm

    Given how advanced the Nova technology/powers seem to be, one assumes the Worldmind is maintaining some kind of permeable force field around Richard’s face that filters out pathogens in both directions.

    Or so I would write in if Marvel gave No-Prizes any longer…

  5. Dr Archeville
    June 7th, 2007 at 2:18 pm

    Other Marvel alien races beginning with “K” (per Wikipedia):

    Kallusians — A humanoid race first seen in Avengers #14 (Mar 1965).

    Kamado — A humanoid race with an exaggeratedly muscular phyisque, first seen in Defenders #125 (Nov 1983).

    Kawa — A reptilian semi-humanoid race with orange skin that averages 10′ in height, first seen in Hercules #3 (Nov 1982).

    Klklk — An insectiod race covered with chtinous carapaces that averages 8′ in length from head to end of tail, first seen in The Incredible Hulk #273 (Jul 1982). “Insectoid Disease”?

    Kodabaks — A humanoid porcine race with two digits on each appendage, averaging 6′2″ in height, first seen in Marvel Two-In-One Annual #2 (1977).

    Korbinites — A humanoid race with light orange skin, averaging 6′2″ in height, and originating in the so-called “Burning Galaxy.” Beta Ray Bill is a Korbinite. First seen in Thor #337 (Nov 1983). “Inflammatory Disease” could apply here.

    Kosmosians — A semi-reptilian race with similarities to multi-cellular amoeboids, with bodies that can “flow” as they move, thereby changing their length, which is 50′ on average. They have limited telepathic abilities which cause victims to be hypnotized into ceasing to live. Dr. Vernon van Dyne, father of Janet van Dyne once summoned a Kosmosian to Earth, which killed him; Henry Pym drove the creature away from Earth. First seen in Tales to Astonish #44 (Jun 1963).

    Kronans — A semi-humanoid race whose orange bodies are silicon-based and 8′ tall on average, with thick, virtually impenetrable stone-like hides. First seen (as the Stone Men from Saturn) in Journey into Mystery #83 (Aug 1962).

    Krylorians — A semi-humanoid race from the planet Krylor, third from the sun in the Aceta star system in the Andromeda galaxy. Krylorians have an extremely high level of technology, with advanced interstellar ships powered and guided psionically. They are also advanced in molecular-scale manipulation, transmutation, and robotics. First seen in Incredible Hulk #269 (Mar 1982).

    Kt’kn — A semi-insectoid race with 2″ sperhical bodies with six spindly legs. They come from the planet Kn’kn, first from the sun in the Tk’kn star system in the Milky Way galaxy. They can communicate telepathically and have psionic senses rather than physical ones. First seen in Astonishing Tales #2 (Oct 1970). “Insectoid Disease”?

    Kymellians — A humanoid equine race, who oppose the Zn’rx (”Snarks”). Kofi Whiteman, empowerer of the Power Pack, is a Kymellian. First seen in Power Pack #1 (Aug 1984).

    The “K” could also be for “Keratinization.” Keratinizing Infection Derived from H*** ?

  6. John
    June 7th, 2007 at 2:34 pm

    I’d have guess something Kree…
    Like Kree Immunity Decresed Health.

  7. M
    June 7th, 2007 at 9:14 pm

    ‘Flu’: diminutive from influenza.
    Used colloquially for any disease caused by influenza or any disease with a suite of symptoms such as lethargy and achiness typical of common mild influenza and rhinovirus infections (or just about any other non-fatal infection).

  8. Blanko
    June 8th, 2007 at 11:01 pm

    About the alien STD thing, Top Ten had S.T.O.R.M.S. or “Sexually Transmitted Organic Rapid Mutation Syndrome” (Wikipedia is my friend) as a result of all the cross-species interbreeding that went on in the city.

  9. Blake
    June 9th, 2007 at 1:47 am

    Since he can breath and not die in space, I’m going to assume that whatever atmo/pressure forcefield keeps him safe is still active, but requires the suit to stay on. I’m also going to guess that since he’s spent weeks in space before without a pit stop, the suit can recycle any waste or sweat. Like a suped-up astronaut diaper.

  10. M
    June 10th, 2007 at 7:31 pm

    Just stopped to wonder, if the suit’s field blocks pathogens making it an effective quarantine, then how did he get infected in the first place?

  11. Juho Salo
    June 12th, 2007 at 4:32 am

    M,
    ‘cos he’s an idiot who thought that just because the planet can support humans, he should take the suit off? :P

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