I don’t know much about Wonder Woman lore—in fact, outside of the movies, I know very little about Diana and Themiscyra. I really didn’t know anything about Nubia beyond the mere fact that she exists. But I love this graphic novel, which reimagines her story in a rich, updated way.
For as long as Nubia can remember, she’s had to hide who she is. She doesn’t know where her powers come from, but her moms have drilled into her, time and time again, that she can’t let anyone know what she can do. While she sees superheroes like Wonder Woman on the news saving the day, her moms know that the police will see a Black girl with powers as a threat, not a hero. But the older Nubia gets, the harder it is to stand aside while people suffer.
Written by L.L. McKinney, who does the A Black So Black series, this is just a fantastic graphic novel. So-called “woke” storytelling often gets a bad rap because some writers tend to focus on the message to the detriment of the narrative, but Real One explores complex issues like police violence, incels, and social justice through a progressive lens in a way that’s both dramatically compelling and accessible for teen readers. Rather than preach, it shows Nubia and her friends trying to navigate these subjects the best they can, in a world that leaves them little room for margin of error.
As a powered teen, I like that Nubia is caught between her deep desire to help others and her very understandable fear of the consequences if she does. Her moms have uprooted the family in the past over incidents that threaten her secret, and as a teen girl who’s found her squad and is nursing a serious crush, she doesn’t want to do anything to jeopardize the life she has. And furthermore, she knows that her moms aren’t wrong: being a hero would be dangerous for her in ways that it isn’t for many other (white) heroes. As her mom Amera explains, “We all know doing the right thing while looking the wrong way is enough.”
I also like that her moms, Amera and Danielle, know about Nubia’s powers from the jump and are very actively involved in trying to raise a powered kid in a safe and responsible way. They don’t always agree about how best to protect her while not making her feel like her powers are the problem, and they don’t always get it right. But they never stop trying to do right by her. After seeing countless stories about teen heroes sneaking around behind their guardians’ backs, it’s nice to see one where the parents play a larger role. It doesn’t make the relationship any easier, but the story takes it in a different, more interesting direction.
And for all the heaviness, there’s also just a nice story about a teenage girl figuring herself out. Having frenzied hash-out sessions in the best-friend group text. Vehemently protesting any suggestions about her own crush even as she wonders when her friends will realize they’re in love with each other. Talking summer plans, concocting stratagems to sneak out to parties, etc. It’s a good blend of drama, action, romance, and fun, which all come together to make for an excellent read.
Warnings
Strong thematic elements, violence (including police violence and attempted sexual assault,) language, and drinking.
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