Nubia Queen of the Amazons #1
- Writer
- Stephanie Williams
- Artist
- Alitha Martinez, Mark Morales, John Livesay
- Letterer
- Becca Carey
- Cover Artist
- Khary Randolph, Emilio Lopez
- Publisher
- DC
- Price
- $3.99
- Release Date
- 2022-06-07
- Colorist
- Alex Guimarães
There have been quite a few changes to the Amazonian Hierarchy in the last few months, and DC isn't stopping anytime soon. After Hippolyta's death, the warrior women of Themyscira appointed Nubia to be their queen. Nubia: Queen of the Amazons #1 kicks off a new four-part miniseries, written by Stephanie Williams, with art by penciler Alitha Martinez and inkers Mark Morales and John Livesay. The first issue explores the impact the last few months have had on the Amazons. Nubia is on a mission to take her rule global and to make sure Amazons around the world can feel the warm embrace of sisterhood. The newly crowned Queen throws herself back into the perils of Man's World with her trusted advisors, but enemies are ready to strike.
In Nubia: Queen of the Amazons #1, life has become increasingly difficult for the Amazons in the wake of the Trial of the Amazons. Nubia has a lot of learning to do when it comes to leading the Bana-Mighdall, Esquecidas, and the daughters of Themyscira. As if she wasn't powerful enough, the new queen discovers new powers and new weapons, which come in handy by the end of this issue.
Stephanie Williams does an incredible job of world-building in this first issue. She explores the various ways that the three tribes of Amazons have found ways to help around the island -- blacksmithing, gardening, or predicting the future. Themyscira has, once again, become a place for sisterhood, as former enemies find redemption and purpose in working together. Williams portrays Nubia as a strong, well-spoken, and highly skilled Amazon in Nubia: Queen of the Amazons #1. She is someone who is not afraid to break tradition to show the world what the Amazons have to offer.
At times the dialogue can be overwhelming. The large amount of text occasionally makes it difficult for the reader to smoothly move from panel to panel. But Nubia has some great interactions with other Amazons and members of the Justice League once she arrives in Man's World. Yet the conversations seem to get cut short in order to focus on other Amazons. And although these moments are great to see, the book seems to focus more on the Amazons as a whole than it does on Nubia establishing herself as Queen. This lack of focus combined with a lackluster villain makes it difficult to invest in the story.
Alitha Martinez's artwork is one of the high points of Nubia: Queen of the Amazons #1. The book opens up with Paradise Island looking as dreamy as ever. The lush greens of the gardens pop next to the grey stonework of ancient buildings, with the beauty of the Amazons shining through the panels as they learn new skills. Martinez celebrates the different shapes, sizes, and colors that all Amazons come in. It is refreshing to see women in comics represented this way. Nubia is dripping in gold and regalia throughout this first issue, and when she's on the page, she commands the reader's attention.
Nubia: Queen of the Amazons #1 has the potential to be a huge game-changer for Amazons across the globe. This story is definitely worth checking out in spite of a few aimless moments and some clumsy dialogue. Williams and Martinez make a tremendous creative team. They have crafted a fun first issue that shows how important sisterhood is and hints at what the future has in store for the Amazons.
