Nu'Bia

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Nu'Bia is a DC Comics character from the Wonder Woman family of books who was originally known as Nubia. Nubia was created by Robert Kanigher and Don Heck in Wonder Woman vol. 1 #204, January (1973). Nu'Bia was created by writer Doselle Young and artist John McCrea in Wonder Woman Annual vol. 2 #8 (1999).

Contents

1 History

1.1 Nubia
1.2 Nu'Bia

2 Nubia Chronology
3 Nu'Bia Chronology
4 Powers
5 Resources

History

Nubia

Formed from clay as a twin to Diana (Wonder Woman), the dark skinned Nubia was kidnapped by Mars, who raised her, controlling her mind so that she would help him bring down the Amazons.[link]

After a session in the Amazon Memory banks, Diana is confronted by an armored female warrior who challenges her to single combat. The two initially wrestle, then face each other with swords. Diana and the intruder seem evenly matched until the intruder knocks the sword from Diana's hands, and then hesitates to kill her, giving Diana the chance to wrestle her to a draw.[link]

The stranger declares "I am Nubia!" the she and Diana embrace. Queen Hippolyta wonders if this was indeed the same Nubia who was to be raised as Diana's sister.

Nubia leaves the Amazons and returns to her mist concealed Floating Island (named Slaughter Island by Mars). She tells Diana that they will meet again and one of them will be proven the true Wonder Woman. She eventually does return, and reiterates her claim to the title of Wonder Woman. Hippolyta tells her, "Aye, Nubia, that is the law. Anyone may challenge my daughter's right to that title. Until then may I wish that you find favor in wise Hera's eyes as you already have in mine?" Later on she puts down a challenge to her rule by one of the male warriors of Slaughter Island, she defeats the man but lets him live, stating that "A woman doesn't destroy life, she cherishes it!"[link]

The next appearance of Nubia came in Supergirl vol. 1 #9, December (1973) written by Robert Kanigher. In the story Supergirl is made an honorary Amazon. Later when it is discovered that Nubia is suffering from shark poisoning, Hippolyta sends Kara to retrieve a rare root needed to cure her.[link]

In Super Friends #25 October (1979), Wonder Woman is seen attempting to liberate the oppressed women of the African continent. She tells them that men still treat women as if they were possessions and it's time for women to stand up to men, with Wonder Woman as leader. But Diana is interrupted by, Nubia who is temporarily under the control of the evil Overlord. Nubia tells her to back off and they fight, eventually the Overlord is defeated and they part as friends.[link]

Nu'Bia

Sometime after Crisis we are introduced to Nu'Bia, a black Amazon warrior. An elevator in a Las Vegas hotel suddenly manifest a golden metal lion insignia. When Diana investigates this strange occurance, a strange woman steps out of the elevator. She says, "Many leagues from the kingdom of light have I traveled. Through the province of Nox and the territory of shades have I hunted the demon-king Ahriman. Finally, to track him here, to Patriarch's World... to my ancient faraway home. How passing strange it is then, Princess, that I should find you here, as well."[link]

When Nu'Bia first meets Diana, she calls her "Antiope", and is only slightly surprised to find out that Diana is Antiope's niece. The woman names herself Nu'Bia and says that she she was a Themysciran Amazon who won the "Tournament of Grace and Wonder" like Diana had, and become the Amazons' first champion. Her mission was to guard "Doom's Doorway" the entrance to the river Styx and the Tartarus Gate. Sometime during her time in the underworld, Nu'bia met the Zoroastrian god of light, Ahura Mazda, and became his lover.[link]

The demon Ahriman murdered Ahura-Mazda, and carved his heart from his body. Nu'Bia has come back to earth in search of Ahriman, hoping that she can retrieve the heart and revive her lover. The last we see of Nu'Bia, she has Ahriman in her possession and rides an elevator back to Hades.[link]

Nubia Chronology

Wonder Woman Vol. 1 #204-206 [link]
Supergirl #9
Super Friends #25

Nu'Bia Chronology

Wonder Woman Annual #8
Wonder Woman Vol. 2 #154-155

Powers

Nubia possessed a magic sword created by Mars which was the only weapon on Earth that could counteract Diana's magic lasso. She could also glide on air currents like Wonder Woman.
Nu'Bia wore special magical armor with a raised embossed lion's head on it's breastplate. She carried an unspecified magic sword.
In honor of an ancient pact, the Gorgons of the underworld blessed Nu'Bia with the Cold Sight, which allowed her to turn demons to stone.
Nu'Bia could travel back and forth to Hades at will, and had millenia of experience in fighting and killing demons.

Resources

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