Nubia (Prime Earth)

Nubia is an honorable Amazon warrior and formerly the guardian of Doom's Doorway. After Hippolyta abdicated, Nubia was appointed the new queen of Themyscira.

History

Origin

Before becoming an Amazon, Nubia was Zahavah, princess of an ancient kingdom on the African island of Madagascar. She served as a general to her people, and led them in a war against the Kingdom of Aridai. During battle, she was betrayed by her compatriot, Azariah, after she faltered and refused to kill a young boy.

In Rebirth Continuity, Nubia was a woman subjected to a violent man, her captor who kept her in chains and constantly beat and raped her.^[2] However, during the Infinite Frontier era, her backstory was revised.

Zahavah was then reborn, sprung from the Well of Souls. She was born around the same time as Princess Diana, and as such the pair are often considered sisters.^[3] The Well of Souls fell still after Nubia's rebirth, and she would be the last Amazon to be born from it for many years.

Guardian of Doom's Doorway

For many long years, Nubia was the solitary guardian of Doom's Doorway in the underground caves of Themyscira.^[4] At least once, a monster escaped her watch and the island, fleeing into the world of men; she pursued it into Man's World, eventually catching up with it in Chicago, USA. During a school visit to a city museum, Nubia saved Ms. Knight and many schoolchildren from the Manticore's attack, and later saved Ms. Knight from the harassment of an unknown man on the street. They quickly found themselves attracted to each other, and started a relationship that, unfortunately, was doomed to end too soon.^[5]

Return Of The Amazons

When the mythical Olympian world collapsed and Grail usurped the throne of Queen Hippolyta, Nubia pretended to betray the Queen and support Darkseid's daughter until the Amazons could once again rally and fight for Themyscira's recovery.^[6]

Infinite Frontier

With Diana's departure at the end of the great battle that redefined the Multiverse,^[7] some Amazons fought each other for the title of Wonder Woman. Queen Hippolyta wisely imposed a test of courage, saying that the next Wonder Woman would be the one who dared to look at the head of the Gorgon Medusa inside a bin, and only the one whose heart is just and whose mind is not clouded by ambition would survive the petrifying gaze of the monster.

Only Nubia, without hesitation, agreed to undergo the test, but inside the bin instead of Medusa's head she found a golden crown. Hippolyta made her the new Queen of the Amazons while she herself would go to the World of Men instead of any other. The other Amazons were pleased by Hippolyta's choice, who also passed the royal scepter to the new queen.^[8]

In the present day, five new sisters have sprung up from the Well of Souls, which has turned out to be a grave harbinger of Themyscira's near future, as seen in dreams by the seer Penelope.^[3]

Powers and Abilities

Powers

Amazonian Physiology
- Superhuman Strength
- Superhuman Durability
- Superhuman Stamina
- Superhuman Agility
- Immortality

Abilities

Amazonian Training
- Hand-to-Hand Combat (Advanced): Nubia holds the record of most Knock-Outs in Victor's Circle. She is also proficient at self-defense and knows how to use the opponent's momentum against them by timing and applying little to no pressure.^[9]
- Swordsmanship
- Archery
- Equestrianism
Deception^[6]
Indomitable Will^[8]
Leadership
Music: To pass the time in the years she was the guardian of Doom's Doorway, Nubia learned to play the lyre.^[4]

Paraphernalia

Equipment

Golden Crown^[8]
Lion Totem^[9]
Lyre^[4]
Royal Scepter^[8]

Transportation

Nia, her mare^[9]

Weapons

Bow and Arrows
Staff of Understanding^[5]
- Electro-Blast^[10]
Sword

Notes

Nubia was created by Robert Kanigher and Don Heck, first appearing in Wonder Woman #204. However, in the Prime Earth continuity, Nubia first appeared as part of the New 52 DC Universe in Wonder Woman (Volume 5) #75 by G. Willow Wilson and Vicente Cifuentes.

Trivia

Nubia is currently in a relationship with another Amazon,^[3] the blacksmith Io.^[9] She also had a brief relationship with Ms. Knight in Man's World, who was reborn as the Amazon Andromeda.^[5]