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As a result of the New 52 in 2011, the entire line of DC characters was relaunched, incorporating properties belonging to the company's imprints: Wildstorm, Milestone, and Vertigo. As such, elements of this character's history have been altered in some way from the previous incarnation. For a complete list of all versions of this character, see our disambiguation page. |
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
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
Transportation
- Nia, her mare[9]
Weapons
- Bow and Arrows
- Staff of Understanding[5]
- 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]
Related
- 37 Appearances of Nubia (Prime Earth)
- 39 Images featuring Nubia (Prime Earth)
- 2 Quotations by or about Nubia (Prime Earth)
- Character Gallery: Nubia (Prime Earth)
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Nubia: Coronation Special #1
- ↑ Wonder Woman #750
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Nubia and the Amazons #1
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Wonder Woman 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular #1
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Nubia and the Amazons #4
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Wonder Woman (Volume 5) #75
- ↑ Dark Nights: Death Metal #7
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Infinite Frontier #0
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Nubia and the Amazons #2
- ↑ Nubia and the Amazons #5
Wonder Woman Supporting Cast This character is or was an ally of Wonder Woman. This template will categorize articles that include it into the "Wonder Woman Supporting Cast" category. |