The intergalactic peacekeeping force known as the Nova Corps began as the space militia of the planet Xandar, evolving over millennia into a proactive police force that protected all civilizations in the Milky Way and Andromeda Galaxies. Corps members were recruited from a diverse range of sentient races including Rigellian, Kree, Skrull, Alpha Centaurian and even humans.

The source of the Nova Corps’ powers was the Nova Force, an energy source contained and controlled by the Xandarian Worldmind. The Nova Force could imbue members with powers such as increased strength, speed, flight and force blasts.

Xandar, located in the Tranta System of the Andromeda Galaxy, was the headquarters of the Nova Corps and the homeworld of the Xandarian race. Xandar had been decimated several times in interstellar conflicts; the largest surviving chunks of the planet were protected by airtight life-support domes and were linked together into a network called the Xandar Cluster.

The Nova Corps was targeted by the Annihilation Wave as a key enemy and was attacked shortly after the invasion fleet entered this universe. The Corps was almost entirely destroyed by the sudden assault, with only one survivor, human Richard Rider.

The Xandarian Worldmind
The Worldmind is a sentient computer network containing the collective intelligence of all deceased Xandarians from the past ten millennia. The Worldmind serves as the political leader for Xandar, directs the Nova Corps, distributes the Nova Force, and is the primary energy source for the Xandar Cluster. Additionally, the Worldmind is the repository for all of Xandarian art, history, science, philosophy and culture.

After the destruction of the Nova Corps, the Worldmind survived by downloading its consciousness into the Nova Force and anchoring itself within the mind and genetic structure of Richard Rider.