Someone with more experience can correct me if I'm off-base or using the wrong words for this, but Novas "control" by aggression. By spamming attacks and forcing your opponent to do something about it (ie: lose card advantage).
Rough examples:
Brutal Jack - CB1 is basically free in Novas. So you basically have a 11k intercept who's scary enough even on his own.
Kirara/Hani - Opponent faces the threat of you drawing on hit.
Asura Kaiser / Death Army Guy + Lady - Turns G3s into psuedo-stand triggers, forcing more damage or guards. Asura himself is even a great 11k defender on top of that.
Gold Rutile - Turns RGs into damage-unflippers; makes Jack and Kirara scarier. If he hits, you get another RG attack. Basically your opponent is always going to lose something come battle phase time. Evil.
Stern Blaukluger - Standing the Vanguard column for CB2. Absurd. Must perfect guard or die, and you can't PG all game.
This is mostly just parroting things discussed
here.