Laura Dunham is a fictional supporting character in the Marvel Comics

Marvel Comics

Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...

 universe. She was the girlfriend of Richard Rider, aka Nova

Nova (comics)

Nova is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the Marvel Comics universe. Upon becoming a member of the galaxy's Nova Corps , the youth gained enhanced strength, flight, injury resistance, and a specialized uniform with life support.In May 2011, Nova placed 98th on IGN's Top 100 Comic...

.

Laura Dunham, a Connecticut-born college student attending Yale University

Yale University

Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...

, first met Richard Rider when she crashed her car into the company van Richard used for deliveries in one of his many odd jobs. They would later go out on a date where they had to split the check because Richard was too broke to pay for the two of them. Nova always felt selfconscious dating Laura, because Laura's family was wealthy.

While still dating Laura, Nova shared a passionate kiss with his teammate Namorita

Namorita

Namorita Prentiss is a fictional superhero in the Marvel Universe, commonly known by the name of Nita. She is a mutant clone of her mother, Namora, and a member of the New Warriors. She was killed in the explosion in Stamford that started the Superhero Civil War.-Publication history:Namorita first...

. Nova would later admit the truth to Laura, but they were unable to discuss the situation once the Xandar

Xandar

Xandar is a fictional planet in the Tranta system in the Andromeda galaxy of the Marvel Comics universe. It is best known as the home world of the Nova Corps, an intergalactic police task force. The most prominent member of the Nova Corps is Richard Rider, one-time member of the New Warriors...

ian Garthan Saal -aka Supernova

Supernova (Marvel Comics)

Supernova aka Nova Omega ' is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics Universe. Garthaan Saal a member of the Xandarian Nova Corps was one of the few Xandarians who survived the destruction of Xandar at the hands of Nebula the space pirate Supernova aka Nova Omega (Garthan Saal) is a fictional...

- arrived looking to find Nova. In the ensuing battle Nova was seemingly killed, but was resurrected by another Xandarian named Air-Walker

Air-Walker

The Air-Walker is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics...

.

Richard and Laura would eventually agree to an open-ended relationship where both were allowed to see other people. Laura did not realise that Rich and Nova were the same person, until Richard confronted her as Nova when he thought that she was the Tailhook killer who murdered rapists on the Yale Campus. The actual killer was Laura's roommate Marissa, due to her sister having been raped while at the Tailhook convention in 1991. Laura, who had been abused by a previous boyfriend, felt sympathy for Marissa and forced Nova to choose between saving her or saving Tailhook when Tailhook committed suicide. Marissa did not want to be judged by the legal system and jumped off a roof.

Laura was last seen calling the New Warriors to rescue Nova after his powers had been stolen (yet again) by Garthan Saal.