Overall, Nubia: Real One is a modern telling of the superhero genre with concerns for today. While the art was not a hundred percent “my thing” it is clever and fits the tone of the story. Robyn Smith created illustrations that are classical graphic novel with comic overtones and works as both a blanket to hold the text and characters and be independent of it. I am not sure if they have reinvented the story of Nubia (outside of probably giving her two moms and being a teenager), but it is a mostly a unique origin story and Nubia’s entire story is relatable on multiple levels. And while I am sure there is worse out there by the way of TV and movies kids watch, but I would recommend it for ages 13 and up for concepts and content. There are Triggers with several issues of violence, domestic assault (seen and implied), language, and a school shooting.
L. L. McKinney created a story that might be controversial on multiple levels. The first of the obvious reasons are the facts the main characters are all of color, there are two mothers, even the fact Nubia is adopted might cause issues (I have been in the biz long enough to know you never know what will cause problems for people). And secondly, there are the big hot button/topic issues. First, the police with their police violence, police shootings, police racism. All done by white police officers. Second, there are protests and protesters and how people feel about them. And the big villain of the teens is a stereotypical, white, spoiled, super rich, misogynistic, racist a-hole. And finally, there is the fact that Nubia is just a normal kid. She feels broken and a burden, feeling her mothers are stuck with her. She deals with anxiety, she deals with how she does not look “normal” (after all, she is black, Amazonian tall, and of course, she has those superpowers). And finally, her two moms will not let her be “normal” and go to parties and such, as she must be “careful” she is not seen doing things like lifting Buicks over her head or giving said rich white boy a shiner at a party.
And all those reasons are the reason for the book. This uncomfortable at times look is what McKinney is after. The introduction by Dhonielle Clayton addresses this and more. The author made choices with the path taken and it is perfect for the message they want. And this makes this book not for everyone, but probably everyone should read.