Nubia: Real One

Content warning: racism, police brutality/discrimination, attempted sexual assault, school shooting

I absolutely loved Nubia as a character. She was strong in more ways than just her superpowers. I think her fight to become a good citizen/friend/person is something that could resonate with a lot of readers. With so many of the topics described in this comic book the are on the news these days, this story could be a good starting point on how young (and older) readers can stand up and fight for causes black Americans have been fighting for so long. In addition to Nubia, I also adored her moms. You could feel their love for Nubia just power through the words and art. They gave great advice to Nubia that a lot of people can use in their own lives, not just secret superheroes. Nubia's friends and love interest were also a joy.

I loved the use of pink and purple palettes throughout the book. It showed LL McKiney and Robyn Smith weren't afraid of having a female superhero as their protagonist. I also enjoyed seeing how much diversity there was in the comic book. There wasn't just racial diversity, but also lots of different types of body types and skin tones. I felt like both KcKiney and Smith wanted to showcase all the ways that people can be different but also be part of the comic book genre. I also enjoyed the small details that truly tied this story together like the matching PJs of the moms and the incredible outfits everyone wore (shout out to Quisha and Oscar;s outfits).