As Wonder Woman's new Amazonian matriarch, Nubia, enters the forefront of comic mythology in Nubia: Queen of the Amazons, she has adopted a huge new role in DC lore. Alongside this increase in prominence has come a wave of incredible fan art, with artists the new ruler of the Amazons in all her glory.
Nubia is an Amazon originally hailing from the island of Madagascar. During this time, she was a princess and general, serving her people in battle. She was eventually betrayed by one of her closest allies after refusing to kill a young boy and her soul was bound to the Cavern of Souls. Eventually, Nubia was reborn as an Amazon, around the same time as Princess Diana, which led to the two being considered sisters. With the death of Wonder Woman at the end of Dark Knights: Death Metal, the Amazons experienced much infighting. In the end, only Nubia volunteered to face Hippolyta's test of courage and thus she was given the title of Queen of the Amazons. Much like Wonder Woman, Nubia is also a warrior of extraordinary capabilities and her newfound position as Queen of the Amazons only serves to exemplify this.
On their Twitter, user @un_1028, artist JuYoung Ha, posted concept art of Wonder Woman's Nubia, fully rendering her in a striking pose that perfectly shows off her golden battle armor. JuYoung’s work takes a more realistic approach to the character, with sharp linework that still manages to convey a smooth and imposing silhouette. Character design is as much expression as it is form and JuYoung has managed to convey Nubia’s power and importance with her stature. JuYoung’s work consistently deals with powerful and armored women, and their work with Nubia is a quality addition to their portfolio.
With Nubia’s new position as the Queen of the Amazons, she has quickly become one of the most important figures in the DC Earth’s political landscape. Occupying the seat of the Amazonian Queen is no small feat and, like Wonder Woman before her, Nubia will soon be tasked with maintaining order between all the various terrestrial factions. Some have theorized, however, that Nubia’s design hints at a more militaristic nature, perhaps pushing for a more expansionist version of Themyscira rather than the isolationism embraced by former queen Hippolyta. This is because her breastplate only shields half of her chest, a detail that appears to reference ancient myths about the Amazons as a warrior group, and the idea of sacrificing defense to better draw back the string of a bow.
Following Wonder Woman's eightieth anniversary and her induction into the Comic-Con Hall of Fame, DC seems particularly interested in exploring the Wonder Woman mythos, with Diana and Nubia at its center. JuYoung Ha's amazing art of Nubia communicates her legendary new status in Wonder Woman lore, and the potential she has as DC unveils a new era for the hero.
Source: @un_1028