Marvel fans have been waiting for a few years to hear the word that our favorite Human Rocket would be making their way to the MCU, though despite the Xandarian Nova Corps appearing in Guardians of the Galaxy, the character of Nova remains unconfirmed after the Phase Four announcement.

RELATED: To Infinity: 10 Of Nova's Most OP Feats Of Strength

It still remains to be seen which Nova the films will focus on when the character makes the jump to the big screen. The first human Nova was Richard Rider who first appeared in 1976's The Man Called Nova #1though he was later replaced by Sam Alexander, whose first appearance was in 2011's Marvel Point One promo issue.  Today we are going to compare these two galactic heroes to see who is the best Nova!

10 SAM: LEGACY NOVA

Sam Alexander as Nova

Sam Alexander is actually a second-generation Nova, as he inherited his helmet from his father, Jesse Alexander. Jesse's life as a Nova Centurion was a secret from Sam for most of his life, and he unfortunately never got the chance to train or serve with his father.

However, Sam did receive training (of a sort) from Uatu the Watcher before his death in Original Sin, where he learned that Jesse was alive, somewhere in the universe. This drive to find his father and return his helmet has given Sam powerful motivation that makes him the best Nova.

9 RICH: THE LAST NOVA

Of course, Richard Rider's transformation into Nova came with its own sense of legacy, as Rich only gained his abilities after the destruction of the Nova Corps. This meant that Richard was the last Nova, and it would be a theme that would factor into his story for years.

RELATED: 10 Nova Stories We Hope To One Day See In the MCU

As the last Nova, Richard Rider was the torchbearer of the Corps, and therefore he was also responsible for rebuilding the Corps. Sam may be carrying on his father's legacy as Nova, but Rich carried on the legacy of the entire galaxy-protecting Nova Corps.

8 SAM: YOUTHFUL EXUBERANCE

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The characters of Sam and Rich are both very different and way too similar, which is likely due to the fact that they both became Nova in their youth. Sam was younger than Rich when he first put on his father's helmet, but he also had a different worldview and perspective than Rider.

This meant Sam, while still plagued with a heavy sense of responsibility towards his family, was also full of youthful exuberance that set him apart from the dark-and-gritty crowd. Nova was also a huge fan of the superheroes that existed in his world, which amped up his excitement every time he was able to prove himself a hero amongst his heroes.

7 RICH: YOUTHFUL ARROGANCE

Richard was in his late teens when he was chosen by Rhomann Dey to be the last Nova, and his transformation into the Human Rocket did not go smoothly as Rich was put in a coma when the Nova power was transferred to him.

RELATED: Rocketmen: 10 Things About The Nova Corps Every Fan Should Know

Whether it was this difficult transference, home life, or the fame/scrutiny that came along with his early years as a teen hero, Nova developed a bit of a chip on his shoulder that others wrote off as arrogance. While this arrogance often distanced him from the other Earth-bound heroes, it (along with his stubbornness) also helped get him through a number of difficult battles.

6 SAM: SUPERNOVA

When Sam first found his father's helmet, it was at a time that Richard Rider was presumed dead, and the energy of Nova Corps along with him. Thankfully, Sam's father was part of a Black Ops faction of the Corps, and his "Black Nova" helmet contained it's own power source, unlike the gold helmets that accessed an exterior power source.

As the last Supernova, Sam can access the full power of the Nova Corps thanks to the reactor in his Black Nova helmet, as opposed to the "Gold Domes," which rationed power based on the various ranks of the Corps. This separates Sam from the rest of the Nova Corps while also keeping him powered should Xandar get destroyed for the hundredth time.

5 RICH: WORLDMIND

Nova Richard Rider

Richard Rider may have only ever worn a golden helmet as a regular Nova Centurion, he has at different times in his career wielded the full power of the Nova Force. Rich was able to access the full Nova Force initially after Supernova Garthaan Saal died and passed his powers to a decommissioned Rider.

RELATED: 10 Marvel Stories To Read After Endgame

Later, following the destruction of Nu Xandar, Richard had the Xandarian Worldmind downloaded into his helmet, which granted him access to not only the full power of the Nova Force but also the complete history and culture of Xandar and its people, granting him incredible power that he used to restart the Corps.

4 SAM: AVENGERS/CHAMPIONS

Sam proves he's the best Nova after earning a spot on the Avengers shortly after his first appearance as the human Rocket, something Rich only managed to do well into his career, and even then only with the Secret Avengers. He was invited to the team by Thor after the battle with Dark Phoenix in Avengers vs. X-Men.

Unfortunately, Sam's time with the All-New, All-Different Avengers didn't work out, and he soon founded the newest iteration of the Champions alongside other youthful heroes. The team had a different idea of how superheroes could help the world, and Nova's time with the Champions have made him a bigger hero in the media than Rich ever was during his time on Earth.

3 RICH: NEW WARRIORS/GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY

Rich was a solo hero for the beginning of his career, and then a member of the restarted Nova Corps, but it was only after the loss of his powers due to a dereliction of duty with the Corps that he found his first superhero team with the New Warriors. His powers would return thanks to team leader Night Thrasher, and Nova would remain with the team for years.

RELATED: The 16 Strongest Nova Corps Members

However, his duty as Nova would call him back to the stars, where he was instrumental in a few key cosmic events. He would also be heavily involved with members of the modern Guardians of the Galaxy before they formed, and would later join the team and work alongside them.

2 SAM: MARVEL'S TEEN TRINITY

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When Sam Alexander joined the Avengers, he was joined with a few other young recruits who had also proven themselves in recent battles with the team - Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel and Miles Morales/Spider-Man. The three would become fast friends, though they would soon find themselves at odds with their Avengers teammates.

The three would leave the team to form the Champions with other like-minded teen heroes, and effectively created a new iteration of the Marvel Trinity. Ms. Marvel, Spider-Man, and Nova serve as the moral heart of their superhero community, and Sam has proven himself to be a vital member of the new Teen Trinity.

1 RICH: MARVEL'S COSMIC LEGEND

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Sam may be popular on Earth and considered a crucial part of Earth's new wave of young heroes, but out in space, everyone is and always will be talking about Richard Rider. Once Rider left Earth as Nova (with the Xandarian Worldmind) he became the sole protector of the galaxy and began to build his own legend among the various planets he helped.

When the Annihilation Wave hit, Rider became one of the commanding forces of the armies that had gathered to fight back Annihilus and his armies, with Rider delivering the final blow of the war. He would later give his life (temporarily) to protect the universe from Thanos and the Cancerverse, an act that is still talked about when the greatest Nova's name is mentioned.

NEXT: Annihilation: The 10 Most Unforgettable Moments Of Marvel’s Space Epic