L.L. McKinney

Nubia has always been a little bit...different. As a baby she showcased Amazon-like strength by pushing over a tree to rescue her neighbor’s cat. But despite her having similar abilities, the world has no problem telling her that she’s no Wonder Woman. And even if she were, they wouldn’t want her. Every time she comes to the rescue, she’s reminded of how people see her: as a threat. Her moms do their best to keep her safe, but Nubia can’t deny the fire within her, even if she’s a little awkward about it sometimes. Even if it means people assume the worst. When Nubia’s best friend, Quisha, is threatened by a boy who thinks he owns the town, Nubia will risk it all-her safety, her home, and her crush on that cute kid in English class-to become the hero society tells her she isn’t. From the witty and powerful voice behind A Blade So Black, and with endearing and expressive art by Robyn Smith, comes a vital story for today about equality, identity, and kicking it with your squad.

Nubia: Real One

L L McKinney

Can you be a hero...if society doesn't trust you as a person? Nubia has always been a little bit...different. As a baby she showcased Amazonian-like strength by pushing over a tree to rescue her neighbor's cat. But Nubia's no Wonder Woman, she couldn't even be one if she tried. And she has tried. Every time she comes to the rescue, she's the one who needs saving. Her moms do their best to keep her safe, but Nubia can't deny the fire within her, even if she's a little awkward about it sometimes. When Nubia's best friend, Quisha, is threatened by a boy who thinks he owns the town, Nubia will risk it all--her safety, her home, and her crush on that cute kid in English class--to become the hero society tells her she isn't. From the witty and powerful voice behind A Blade So Black and with endearing and expressive art by Robyn Smith, comes a vital story for today about equality, identity and kicking it with your squad.

Sarah Sammis

Nubia: Real One by L.L. McKinney and Robyn Smith is another standalone YA graphic novel from DC Comics. Nubia has been raised to keep her super strength a secret. The few times she has used it, her moms have forced her to move to a new city, a new school. She's now happily settled with two good friends and a life she likes. A robbery at the local bodega will change everything.

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Lisa W.

L.L. McKinney is a real one for putting out this timely comic! We stan for Nubia. Young Black Princess of the Amazons. Get into it.
Also Robyn Smith is the MVP for the dope illustrations. If the cover didn't sell you the inside surely will. But really, get into the cover. I was fortunate enough to get my hands on a physical cover. I love glossy focal points mixed infused with the matt cover. The stars on the nails and the shine of those bangles. Iconic! 

Before I gush about this book, it is only fair that I provide trigger warnings. This book contains racism, sexual assault, abuse, homophobia, body shaming, police interaction. 

That being said, Nubia couldn't have come out at a better time. She is the heroine black children and teens need. She is the heroine queer teens need. She is the heroine young progressive girls need. She is the heroine of modern day. 

McKinney comes out the gate swinging with the social commentary starting on page 11. I love that they went straight in empowering the youth. "seventeen, only one year before you can die for your country." This sets up an important theme that is carried throughout the entire book. The convenience of the white gaze between being an adult and being a child, especially in reference to black and brown children. McKinney showed the contrast of this statement by directly commenting this after introducing the killing of a young black boy by the police. "They stay killing kids, so kids should be marching." What an amazing way to empower young readers and show the importance of their engagement! 

If you didn't gather, Nubia is Black-black. Her full name is Nubia L'Shae Johnson; that should tell you all you need to know. Her mother's raise her to be aware of how she is viewed in the world and the weight that is placed on her shoulders (outside of just being a girl with superhuman strength). " Black women have always been looking out for others. Sometimes it's a thankless, tiresome, and dangerous task. But here we are. Life started in Africa, so black women are protective of it." When I tell you this allowed me to release the loudest sign in my kitchen, I felt seen. Black women do the work that everyone else benefits from. 

Speaking of her parents, let me commend both of those women because they exemplified healthy parenting skills. They knew how to balance each other out. They discussed things together in the moment. They acknowledged their faults and used carefully placed words. They freaking shared pajama pieces. Everything about them was ADORBS! 

Lastly, this book was hilarious and precious at the same time. Not a single character was wasted. Quisha is the absolute best! Please tell me how both Jason and Oscar both fine on page?!? In addition to the characters, there were so many laugh out loud scenes for a book packed with serious content. It helped to lighten the load. One thing that tickled me, that necessarily wasn't meant to be funny, was how much Hippolyta don't play about stepping foot outside of Themiscyra. It was very black mama rules "If you leave out, you stay out. Don't try to come back in my house" type rules lol.

I petition for this to be the next DC movie!

Kate

I really hope L.L. McKinney gets given a chance to make this into a long running series because Nubia as a character, a hero and a story have the power to change so many readers lives for the better. 

This was a truly phenomenal read and one of the best graphic novels I've read in a while. It's poignant, powerful, relevant, brilliantly self aware and tackles racism (specifically that towards the Black community) with nuance, sensitivity and unwavering, brutal honesty. 

Nubia is such a powerful character to follow. I thought McKinney did such a wonderful job at balancing the multiple sides of Nubia's character. She's bold, scared, unsure, powerful, brave, awkward and passionate. She's a hero who doesn't know how to be one yet, an awkward teen with a crush, best-friends and Mom's she adores but still lies to and she's a young Black girl trying to navigate the reality of how that fact effects her safety and actions everyday in a society working against her. 

Plot wise, this was action packed, emotion filled and utterly addictive from the first page until the last. Despite exploring everything from racial profiling to protesting to gun violence to super-heroism, there was never a point in which it felt 'too much'. It was perfectly balanced, painfully relevant and I adored every moment. 

With countless bold and powerful panels, Robyn Smith's art style couldn't have been a better pairing for L.L. McKinney's story. It fit Nubia as a character beautifully and the way the colour scheme flowed and changed throughout the story was wonderful. 

This was honestly sensational. I have so much love for Nubia and the journey she went through throughout this book and I hope I get to see a lot more of her in the future. I've officially found a new favourite teen hero.

Nubia: Real One

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