Cassandra Nova (Marvel Comics | X-Men)

Cassandra Nova is a formidable supervillain in Marvel Comics, most commonly associated with the X-Men. Created by writer Grant Morrison and artist Frank Quitely, she made her first appearance in New X-Men #114 (July 2001). Nova is a mummudrai—a Shi'ar term for a parasitic entity that represents the antithesis of a person—manifesting as the psychic twin of Professor Charles Xavier. In the womb, she replicated Xavier's DNA to form a physical body, but Xavier, detecting her malevolent nature, psychically induced her stillbirth. Surviving as dispersed cellular matter, she clung to life for decades, gradually reconstructing a human form to pursue her vendetta against her "brother" and the mutant race.

Nova possesses omega-level psionic abilities that rival or surpass those of Xavier, including vast telepathy capable of mind control and illusion, potent telekinesis, DNA manipulation for genetic duplication or alteration, phasing through matter, and rapid cellular regeneration. Her most notorious act was orchestrating the genocide of over 16 million mutants on the island nation of Genosha by seizing control of advanced Wild Sentinels. Following this catastrophe, she infiltrated the Xavier Institute, overpowered the X-Men, swapped bodies with Xavier, and attempted to use Cerebra to eliminate all mutants worldwide, cementing her status as one of the X-Men's deadliest adversaries.

In subsequent developments, Nova's psychic essence persisted despite the destruction of her body, leading to further conflicts, including devastating the Shi'ar Empire and manipulating events from the astral plane. During the Krakoan era, she was resurrected under the nation's protocols of forgiveness and resided on the island, though her antagonistic impulses endured, resulting in alliances with oppositional groups post-Krakoa's fall. Her profound cruelty and psychological menace have earned her recognition as one of the most impactful villains introduced in the 21st century.

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