[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and DC Entertainment in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]
Summary
You might think a second person with the powers of Wonder Woman would be welcome. But when she has brown skin like Nubia, it’s… complicated. For example, Nubia stops an armed robbery, but the victim assumes she is one of the culprits. She’s even cuffed and questioned by the police.
Nubia’s moms want her to lay low and stay out of the limelight. When her powers were discovered before, they always had to move to a new community. Nubia doesn’t want to leave her friends and a place where she is starting to feel she belongs. So she promises to keep her head down and stay out of things. But when trouble comes close to the people Nubia loves, she’ll have to decide what she is willing to risk to keep them safe.
Review
I was unfamiliar with the story of Nubia from DC comics history. This story is an amended take on the version where Nubia is Wonder Woman’s twin sister. (Yes, there’s an explanation here for the age difference.)
The Wonder Woman pieces of this are small. The larger focus is on Nubia and her peer group (friends, potential love interest), which I liked. Nubia’s friends are her world (in a good way), and they are the ones she wants to defend using her powers.
The conflict with Nubia’s moms is to be expected. They are torn between protecting her and giving her space to become the adult she is going to be. And there are also more stereotypical parent/teen conflicts they are working through as well.
My favorite parts were the places where Nubia’s journey intersects with contemporary issues – racism, sexism, sexual assault, police brutality, gun violence, etc. These very present, very real issues are placed up against Nubia’s supernatural gifts in a way I really enjoyed. (The publisher has included a content warning on the copyright page as well as reader resources in the back matter.)
Superhero fans, especially those looking for racially diverse and relevant characters and stories, should not miss this one! (Language, LGBTQ+, TW: racism, sexism, sexual assault, gun violence, school shooter)
Rating: ♥♥♥♥*
*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.