Review by Booklist Review
McKinney provides a contemporary teenage perspective on the beloved comic book character. Nubia Johnson is a young Black girl with superpowers who doesn't quite know how to wield them or whom to trust with her secret. When she witnesses a robbery and uses her powers to protect her crush, Oscar, she has to deal with the shop owner suspecting her of committing the crime and the possibility she'll have to move again. For Nubia, along with her friends Quisha and Jason, high-school drama is inextricable from tragedy and police violence against their friends. Nubia applies the classic Wonder Woman themes of truth, love, and justice to the struggle for racial justice and protecting her loved ones. The focus on Nubia's relationships gives background to Nubia's competing motivations to save her friends and keep her powers hidden, and Smith and Henderson's boldly colored and stylized art adds plenty of character. Readers of Faith, by Julie Murphy, and Eve Ewing's Ironheart run will connect with this fresh, absorbing reimagining of Nubia's story.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
DC's first Black woman superhero gets a refresh in McKinney's (A Blade So Black) graphic novel debut, wherein Nubia Johnson, a Black 17-year-old, struggles with a secret: superhuman strength and speed. Under the watchful eyes of her mothers, Nubia attempts to traverse high school without revealing herself. But when her crush, Oscar, is threatened by a robber, Nubia knows she can't stand by and watch. In one of the more frustratingly realistic scenes, a white store clerk assumes Nubia is the robber, and a cop handcuffs her. As Nubia tries to determine whether she can ever live a regular life as a Black superpowered teen, her mother calls an old friend to reveal the explosive truth of Nubia's origin. Now Nubia must choose between relocating and laying low, or potentially exposing her powers and navigating a hero's responsibilities in a society that views Black and brown teens as dangerous. Smith's illustrations are colored in warm shades of pink and orange, balanced by cool shades of purple and blue; the artwork is detail-specific, down to Nubia's above-average height and her long natural hair. Nubia's humorous awkwardness will resonate as readers marvel at her strength and sense of duty in a world that fails to protect her. Ages 14--up. (Feb.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 8 Up--The world may laud white superheroes like Wonder Woman, but 17-year-old Nubia knows it's different for Black girls like her. For her whole life, her moms have struggled to keep her safe--and to conceal her super strength and speed; even Black girls without superpowers are vulnerable in a world of systemic racism and misogyny, and paradoxically, Nubia's abilities could make her a target. But during a convenience store robbery, Nubia inadvertently reveals her superpowers while protecting a friend. She soon learns that she's the twin sister of Wonder Woman and discovers the strength to stand up against systemic racism in her town and to the increasingly violent bigotry of a school bully. A good friend with a kind and open heart, McKinney's Nubia is a delightful take on a character long considered to be DC's first Black female superhero. Her desire to combat injustice, combined with her longing for the typical teen experience, makes her the perfect 21st-century counterpart to Wonder Woman. Readers will appreciate the story's mix of adventure and reflection, as well as the list of crisis resources at the book's conclusion. Smith's illustrations in pleasingly saturated sunset pastels set the mood for Nubia's escapades, with charming and modern character designs that still put readers in mind of classic Wonder Woman stylings. VERDICT A thrilling, timely, and thoroughly engaging full-length debut for a classic comic hero. No superhero collection is complete without Nubia.--Darla Salva Cruz, Suffolk Cooperative Lib. Syst., Bellport, NY
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Wonder Woman's teen sister comes to life. Instantly relatable 17-year-old Nubia is, in many ways, like any other teen girl--she stresses about what to say to her crush, sneaks out to parties, and wonders what type of woman she'll grow up to be. But at the same time, Nubia has giant shoes to fill. Possessing powers she doesn't quite understand and being a Black girl in a racist world compound to put an immense amount of pressure on her. Though she can stop a robbery without breaking a sweat, Nubia must also deal with racism and misogyny, evils that are no less insidious than your average supervillain. In the past, many have seen her race and special powers and assumed she's a threat, so she attempts to keep her abilities secret even while injustices of all kinds flourish in her community; but Nubia's caring heart propels her to do good in the world. Believable teen dialogue and sincerely funny scenes balance out the more serious themes, resulting in an origin story that is equal parts poignant and witty. Nubia's support system of parents and friends is especially heartening, a balm against the bleak reality of oppression that she must contend with daily. The minimalist illustration style draws the eye, and warm pinks, purples, and yellows bathe every page in tender hues. An essential superhero story for this moment. (resources) (Graphic fiction. 13-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
