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Cassandra Nova

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Cassandra Nova
Cassandra Nova as depicted in X-Men Red #4 (May 2018).
Art by Tom Taylor.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceNew X-Men #114 (July 2001)
Created byGrant Morrison
Frank Quitely
In-story information
Alter egoCassandra Nova Xavier
SpeciesMummudrai
Team affiliationsShi'ar Imperium
Marauders
Notable aliasesCharles Xavier / Professor X, The Immensity
AbilitiesTelepathy
Telekinesis
Intangibility
Possession

Cassandra Nova Xavier is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, most commonly in association with the X-Men. Created by writer Grant Morrison and artist Frank Quitely, the character first appeared in New X-Men #114 (July 2001). She is a mummudrai, a parasitic life form born bodiless on the astral plane.

Cassandra is the older twin sister of X-Men founder, the telepath Professor X (Charles Xavier).[1] While in the womb together, Charles recognized her evil presence and killed her, resulting in her stillbirth.[2] The mummudrai that became Cassandra became telepathically entangled with Xavier, granting Cassandra some psionic powers herself, including the ability to exit the womb and create a body, with which she sought revenge on Xavier. As Xavier's ideological dark shadow who is bent on destruction and genocide, Nova is most infamous for being responsible for the massacre of 16 million mutants within the mutant homeland Genosha. In 2009, Cassandra Nova was ranked as IGN's 50th Greatest Comic Book Villain of All Time,[3] the only villain introduced in the 21st century to make the list.

The character made her live-action debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film Deadpool & Wolverine (2024), portrayed by Emma Corrin.

Fictional character biography

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Cassandra Nova is a mummudrai, a parasitic entity from the astral plane who initially lacks a body and forms one from Charles Xavier's DNA, effectively making her his twin sister.[4] During the two's gestation, Nova attempts to kill Xavier, but he seemingly destroys her, causing her physical body to be stillborn.[5][1] Nova survives as a mass of cells that clings to a sewer wall for decades, rebuilding her body and swearing revenge on Xavier.[4][6][7]

After regenerating her body, Nova manipulates Donald Trask, Bolivar Trask's nephew, to utilize the Wild Sentinels to destroy Genosha, killing 16 million mutants. Nova duplicates Trask's DNA to gain control of the Wild Sentinels before killing him.[8]

Nova is captured by Cyclops and Wolverine and taken to the X-Mansion, where she escapes and defeats most of the X-Men easily. Nova uses Cerebra (an enhanced version of Cerebro) and switch minds with Xavier. Xavier is trapped in Nova's body and unable to warn the X-Men before Nova shoots him.[9]

Nova contacts the Shi'ar and manipulates them into battling the X-Men until they show the truth to the Imperial Guard.[10] Angered at Nova's treachery and realizing the danger she poses, the Imperial Guard battle Nova, who defeats them and heads to the X-Mansion. She plans on using Cerebra to eliminate all mutants, but Jean Grey stops Nova and forces her out of Xavier's body.[7] Nova's essence is tricked into entering the body of Stuff, a shapeshifting member of the Imperial Guard. There, she is locked in a self-repeating program.[4]

Cassandra Nova and the imaginary Inner Circle, by John Cassaday.

Nova appears to return to her original form in Astonishing X-Men, alongside Sebastian Shaw of the Hellfire Club. However, it is revealed that she is an illusion created by Emma Frost, who is acting out post-hypnotic suggestions implanted by Nova.[11] Nova's influence causes Frost to create manifestations of Nova, Shaw, Frost's younger self, and Negasonic Teenage Warhead, a student of Frost who was killed in Genosha.[12] Frost and the imaginary Hellfire Club attack the X-Men, only to be defeated by Cyclops and the Xavier Institute students.[11][13]

Nova escapes from the X-Men's clutches by using her psychic powers to possess the bodies of others.[14] She also creates microscopic Sentinel technology that transforms humans into Sentinel-like forms.[15] With the help from the Avengers and the Atlanteans, the X-Men mass-produce Magneto's helmets to free Nova's brainwashed victims.[16]

During the Krakoan Age, Nova moves to the mutant nation of Krakoa, having been given a second chance per the island's laws. She resides in a hidden section of Krakoa, away from the Quiet Council's influence.[17]

Powers and abilities

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Cassandra Nova is able to access the full spectrum of latent mutant functions in Charles Xavier's genome, granting herself vast psionic powers.[4] These powers include telepathy, telekinesis, and intangibility.[9] Nova has all the powers of the "average" mummudrai as well, including possession and genetic alteration.[18]

Other versions

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Here Comes Tomorrow

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An alternate universe variant of Cassandra Nova from Earth-15104 appears in Here Comes Tomorrow. This version is the headmistress of the Xavier Institute and a member of the X-Men.[19]

X-Men: The End

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An alternate universe variant of Cassandra Nova from Earth-41001 appears in X-Men: The End. This version gained control of the Phoenix Force and became known as the Phoenix.[20]

The Great White Owl

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An alternate universe variant of Cassandra Nova from an unidentified universe appears in Uncanny X-Force. This version survived four thousand years into the future and nearly conquered Earth as the Great White Owl after destroying the veil that separated the main universe from that of the mummundrai.[21]

X-Men '92

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An alternate universe variant of Cassandra Nova from Earth-15730 appears in X-Men '92. This version is a female clone of Charles Xavier created by Apocalypse.[22]

In other media

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References

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  1. ^ a b X Lives of Wolverine #1 (January 2022)
  2. ^ Mendez, Moises (April 22, 2024). "Everything to Know About Cassandra Nova, Marvel's Latest Villain in Deadpool & Wolverine". Time. Archived from the original on April 23, 2024. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  3. ^ "Cassandra Nova is number 50". IGN. Retrieved September 15, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d New X-Men #126 (July 2002)
  5. ^ New X-Men #121 (February 2002)
  6. ^ New X-Men #122 (March 2002)
  7. ^ a b New X-Men #125 (June 2002)
  8. ^ New X-Men #115 (August 2001)
  9. ^ a b New X-Men #116 (September 2001)
  10. ^ New X-Men #124 (May 2002)
  11. ^ a b Astonishing X-Men (vol. 3) #18 (December 2006)
  12. ^ Astonishing X-Men (vol. 3) #13 (April 2006)
  13. ^ Astonishing X-Men (vol. 3) #15 (August 2006)
  14. ^ X-Men Red #1 (April 2018)
  15. ^ X-Men Red #5 (August 2018)
  16. ^ X-Men Red #11 (February 2019)
  17. ^ Marauders #1 (December 2019)
  18. ^ Uncanny X-Force (vol. 2) #10-11 (October - November 2013)
  19. ^ New X-Men #152-154 (March - May 2004)
  20. ^ X-Men: The End (vol. 3) #5-6 (July - August 2006)
  21. ^ Uncanny X-Force (vol. 2) #4 (May 2013)
  22. ^ X-Men '92 #1-4 (August - November 2015)
  23. ^ "Deadpool and Wolverine". United States Copyright Office. February 13, 2024. Archived from the original on February 28, 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  24. ^ Marvel Future Fight - Official 'Deadpool and Wolverine' Update Trailer - IGN. August 1, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2025 – via IGN.
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