What If...?: What If... Nebula Joined the Nova Corps?

December 22, 2023 6:36 PM - Season 2, Episode 1

The multiverse-spanning animated series starts its second season with the cyborg daughter of Thanos working as a part of the planet Xandar's police force in what you could call NCPD Blue. Jeffrey Wright returns as the Watcher.

The voice actors include some voice actors reprising their roles from other MCU features, including Karen Gillan (Nebula), Jude Law (Yon-Rogg), Michael Rooker (Yondu), Seth Green (Howard the Duck), Taika Waititi (Korg), and Peter Serafinowicz (Garthan Saal, a member of the Nova Corps). Julianne Grossman subs for Glenn Close as Irani Rael (Nova Prime) and Fred Tatasaciore for Vin Diesel as Groot.

The second season is releasing one episode per day through December 30th.

"Show-off."
"It's called style. Get some."
"Get some? I've got a bandanna."

--Nebula and Howard the Duck

posted by Halloween Jack (10 comments total)

You mean this Nova Corp?
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 6:39 PM on December 22, 2023 [4 favorites]

That's Novicorp, and you're eponysterical.
posted by Halloween Jack at 6:45 PM on December 22, 2023 [4 favorites]

Out of all the What If scenarios I imagined for Nebula, this was not it. Nor was it something I discovered I wanted.

The episode was fine, just nothing great. However Howard the Duck and that crew were fun to see, wouldn't mind another story with them.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:28 AM on December 23, 2023 [1 favorite]

Also, the Wikipedia page for the series lists the titles of the upcoming episodes, which are interesting--one seems to be a sequel to something from the first season, one would be of particular interest to Neil Gaiman fans, and one features a character that I had to google because they are apparently original to the series.
posted by Halloween Jack at 8:02 AM on December 23, 2023

This was more enjoyable on a second watch. Marvel does banter well and this episode it was very well, loved the exchange between Howard and Nebula aka "you're a detective..."

We're still seeing the same Nebula we know, just with good intentions and her initiative, which isn't a bad thing at all. Just would like to see more, you know?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:21 PM on December 24, 2023 [1 favorite]

Now that you mention it, Brandon Blatcher, I too would really love to see a movie or series with Nebula as new leader rebuilding Knowhere and making it safe for displaced peoples. It's what she said she would do at the end of Guardians 3. Alas, I feel series focusing on New Galactic Urbanism and Good Governance is not something most Marvel fans are going to want to see. Just like how I'll never get my wished-for Hunger Games movie about a reconstruction-era Panem under the Paylor Presidency.
posted by seasparrow at 3:02 PM on December 28, 2023

Pretty embarrassing for Ronan that he is defeated by the equivalent of getting smashed by closing elevator doors.
posted by Saxon Kane at 11:29 PM on December 28, 2023

Out of all the What If scenarios I imagined for Nebula, this was not it. Nor was it something I discovered I wanted.

Thought same. Nebula as a well meaning detective isn't a bad idea, nor is throwing in The Duck, but otherwise I was pretty bored.
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:02 PM on December 29, 2023

Huh, I really liked this one. I think it was helped by being in the only part of the MCU that is still broadly well regarded, featuring beloved characters and banter? I mean ok I probably know Nova Corps better from the GotG game than any of the actual MCU, but ... It was fun, y'know?
posted by Kyol at 6:45 PM on December 29, 2023 [1 favorite]

"Bright 'n' shiny technopolis shields itself behind an impenetrable planetary shield to escape destruction, casting a gloom over the planet and leading its residents to increasingly turn to crime and other forms of self-destruction" is a hell of a concept for a setting. I'd definitely read a bunch of scifi crime novels based on that.
posted by Ian A.T. at 8:28 PM on December 29, 2023