Frankie Raye was just 14 when her step-father, Professor Horton, brought her with him to an abandoned warehouse where he kept the chemicals that gave the original Human Torch android ( Jim Hammond) his powers. After hearing about a new Human Torch (Johnny Storm), Horton wanted to recreate a new android. While transporting the chemicals that allowed the Torch to become on fire, Frankie tripped and was doused in them. The chemicals caused her body to burst into flame, endowing her with the power to do so at will. When Galactus needed to consume the Earth to survive, Frankie volunteered to become his next herald to explore space and have adventures as long as he spared the Earth. Galactus accepted, endowing Frankie with the Power Cosmic, (although less than other heralds, as Galactus' power was diminished). With Galactus' touch, she gained the abilities needed to traverse space and successfully find the proper sustenance for her master. No longer Frankie Raye as she had once been known, she now came to be called Nova. Later, Frankie and the Silver Surfer fell in love, causing her to leave Galactus to spend as much time as she could with the Surfer. Unfortunately, the two parted ways when the Eternal Eros, aka Starfox, forced Frankie to have feelings for another former herald, Firelord. These feelings were only temporary, but Galactus authoritatively forbid her from leaving to explain to the Surfer. She threatened to quit his service, but eventually stayed. This furthered her suspicions that he may have had feelings of love for her too. When she tried to reach the Surfer, he had urgent matters on Zenn-La and did not speak to her. There were further opportunities to discuss this with the Surfer, but he simply didn't want to talk about it. She then came to the conclusion that their love was just the Surfer rebounding from the loss of Mantis.