No celebration for Pride Month would be complete without honoring Nubia, the Queen of the Amazons. Originally conceived as the twin sister of Wonder Woman, Nubia has since propelled Themyscira into bold new territory, reenvisioning it as a place where women who suffered gender-based violence in Man’s World can be reborn. Last year for Black History Month, Rosie Knight suggested Stephanie Williams, Vita Ayala and Alitha Martinez’s Nubia and the Amazons for a Weekend Escape. This weekend, I suggest you pick up the sequel, Nubia: Queen of the Amazons, which collects Nubia: Coronation Special #1 along with the four-issue Nubia: Queen of the Amazons miniseries.
 

The Premise:

Nubia: Queen of the Amazons picks up from the “Trial of the Amazons” crossover event that resulted in the death of Hippolyta, Wonder Woman’s mother who was also the ruler of Themyscira. Now, Nubia steps into her role as the newly crowned Amazonian queen, where she hopes to use her people’s power to help communities in Man’s World. Crucially, the Amazons now have an open border policy with an island city floating in the sky, welcoming visitors from Man’s World. However, just as this joyous new chapter for the Amazons and humanity unfolds, people from Nubia’s past come back to haunt her, searching for a powerful amulet that she owned many years ago.
 

Let’s Talk Talent:

Writer Stephanie Williams returns for this next phase of Nubia’s story, picking up from the Nubia and the Amazons miniseries she co-wrote with Vita Ayala. Williams has been integral to expanding the world of Themyscira through her work on “Trial of the Amazons,” Wonder Woman and the Wonder Woman: Black and Gold anthology series. With Ayala and artist Alitha Martinez, Williams has created a fabulous group of new Amazon characters who make their return in Nubia: Queen of the Amazons. While the focus is on Nubia in this book, Williams’s supporting cast shines just as brightly as the main heroine. It’s a delight to catch up with characters like Bia, Andromeda and Anahi.

Like on Nubia and the Amazons, Martinez is the main artist in the series. She is an Eisner-winning illustrator whose work you have seen in Gail Simone’s Batgirl run, Lazarus Planet: Next Evolution, Superman: Red and Blue and Wonder Woman. Her artwork deftly captures Nubia’s fierceness as a warrior alongside her softer, tender moments. The action sequences in this series are not to be missed, especially once Nubia is joined by the other Amazons. I will never tire of seeing Nubia and Yara Flor fight alongside each other!

Beyond the dynamic duo of Williams and Martinez, the Nubia: Coronation Special also features artists like Marguerite Sauvage, Darryl Banks, Colleen Doran, Jill Thompson, Mark Morales and John Livesay.
 

A Few Reasons to Read:

• If you watched the show Lovecraft Country and enjoyed episode 7, “I Am,” where Hippolyta travels through space and time to find herself, you will love this story. Seeing Nubia reckon with her past and present as a warrior woman, a lover, a queen and so much more is a beautiful way for us to see the expansiveness of her character.
   
• One thing that has always been compelling about Wonder Woman and Amazonian lore is the sense of history that comes with each character. Being Amazons, these women have lived through different historical time periods, which we get glimpses of throughout the miniseries. Seeing Nubia in different contexts struggling with societal expectations underscores just how essential she is.

• There’s a wonderful fight sequence where Nubia fights alongside Yara Flor, Hawkgirl and other Amazons. Martinez’s artwork highlights the distinct fighting style of each warrior and it’s nothing short of epic.
   
• If you’re new to reading comics, Nubia’s recent stories are very accessible. You can jump straight into this one after reading Nubia and the Amazons. Or if you want the full experience, include “Trial of the Amazons,” which can be read in full on DC UNIVERSE INFINITE.
   

Why It’s Worth Your Time:

The Wonder Woman mythos has never felt richer or more urgent, thanks to stories like Nubia: Queen of the Amazons. Wonder Woman was a radical character when she was first created, and Diana and her sisters—particularly Nubia—continue to push boundaries all these years later. By joining the larger global community, the Amazons face crucial questions about their place in the world. With this story, Williams and Martinez expand their reinvention of Nubia, and by extension, the significance of the Amazons in the DC Universe. This story hints that there is so much more to be explored with Nubia, and I can only hope that someday we get to see more of her past.
 

Nubia: Queen of the Amazons by Stephanie Williams, Alitha Martinez, Marguerite Sauvage, Mark Morales, John Livesay and Alex Guimarães is available in bookstores, comic shops, libraries and digital retailers. It can also be read in full on DC UNIVERSE INFINITE.

Jules Chin Greene writes about comics for DC.com, and his work can also be found at Nerdist, Popverse and Multiverse of Color. You can follow him on Twitter and Bluesky at @JulesChinGreene.

NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in this feature are solely those of Jules Chin Greene and do not necessarily reflect those of DC or Warner Bros. Discovery, nor should they be read as confirmation or denial of future DC plans.