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https://nerdist.com/article/nubia-real-one-immortal-wonder-woman-l-l-mckinney/
After years on the sidelines, Nubia is back at the forefront of the DC Universe. Author L.L. McKinney is the driving force behind her return. Her two new comics—Nubia: Real One, with Robyn Smith, Brie Henderson, Bex Glendining and Ariana Maher; and Immortal Wonder Woman, with Alitha Martinez, Mark Morales, Emilio Lopez, and Becca Carey—put Nubia center stage. Nerdist chatted with McKinney about her journey bringing Nubia to the page, the power of fiction, and superhero stories.
![[Weds AM] L.L. McKinney on Reintroducing Nubia to the DC Universe_1](https://nerdist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/NUBIA_Final_CVR.jpg)
DC Comics
As both a storyteller and a fan, reintroducing Nubia to readers is a profound moment for the author. “It honestly means everything,” McKinney shared. “I’ve been very loud about my frustrations concerning what was done to Nubia post-Crisis [on Infinite Earths]. She went from being Diana’s twin sister, same powers and everything—and even a few of her own—to being a regular Amazon. And this isn’t me hating on the Amazons, but you gotta admit it was a bit of a downgrade going from being twin to Wonder Woman to guardian of hell or random advisor or whatever. Or, if she was around as Wonder Woman, it was an alternate reality or different world. I wanted the original Nubia back, as lots of fans did. Being part of her comeback is…affirming.”
McKinney’s passion for Wonder Woman‘s powerful twin sister goes back to childhood. “My first memory [of Nubia] is being at the library,” the author shared. “My parents used to take my sisters and I all the time. They had comics on this wire stand between the kid and teen sections, and the issue where Nubia and Diana are chained together with swords lifted was there. I remember being like, ‘Who was this Black woman fighting Wonder Woman?’ I picked it up and the rest is history.”
![[Weds AM] L.L. McKinney on Reintroducing Nubia to the DC Universe_2](https://nerdist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Future-State-Immortal-Wonder-Woman-1-2-29.jpg)
DC Comics
Though this is her first foray into comics, McKinney’s stunning fantasy series that began with A Blade So Black gave her a framework. “My main footprint as an author is in the YA space,” McKinney explained. “So crafting a story about a young Black girl with super powers wasn’t too far outside of what I was already doing with my original series, which is about a Black girl with super powers!” Once she finished Nubia: Real One, DC approached McKinney to take on Nubia in the mainline comics. “In that way, both stories were told entirely separate, but I based them both off of Nubia pre-Crisis. As far as a personal history that I stick to, it’s the original. Every time. Diana’s twin. I won’t write any other version of her.”
Interestingly, the two Nubia titles encompass both sides of DC’s current publishing initiative. The gorgeous and powerful Nubia: Real One represents the publisher’s move towards the younger readers market; meanwhile, the superhero action of Future State is part of their huge mainline event. McKinney shared her vision for both titles with us, beginning with the upcoming original graphic novel. “Nubia: Real One sees Nubia as a Black teen being raised in America and dealing with the nonsense that goes with that. She still has her Amazon origins in place, though.”
![[Weds AM] L.L. McKinney on Reintroducing Nubia to the DC Universe_3](https://nerdist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Nubia_1_13.jpg)
DC Comics
The author’s experiences as a writer speaking with young Black people shaped the YA comic. “On school visits and in virtual meetups, I talk to lots of Black teens about things they enjoy,” she explained. “Many times, these kids—who are brilliant and more aware than people give them credit for—will talk about how heroes will manage to save the world. But you never see those heroes doing anything about police brutality or trying to save the neighborhoods these kids come from or even caring about people from those neighborhood and what goes on there. And every time I was like, ‘You’re absolutely right.’ So, Nubia: Real One deals with that. It gives them a reflection of themselves and what they have to deal with in one of their heroes.”
While Nubia: Real One reframes the icon for a new younger audience, her Future State: Immortal Wonder Woman story is what McKinney calls “straight hero business!” As the author teased, “She’s here to knock heads and take names.” These two juxtaposing tales gave McKinney space to really dig into the hero. “Being able to explore different versions of this character has been important to me, and I hope either Nubia reaches the readers who need her.”
![[Weds AM] L.L. McKinney on Reintroducing Nubia to the DC Universe_4](https://nerdist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Future-State-Immortal-Wonder-Woman-1-2-32.jpg)
DC Comics
McKinney isn’t just juggling two different eras of Nubia, but also two different formats. Nubia: Real One is a vibrant full-size standalone graphic novel. But Immortal Wonder Woman is a more classic serial story. Putting together both at once afforded McKinney a unique learning experience. “The graphic novel came together over the course of a couple years, while Future State came together over the course of a couple months! Granted, the latter is significantly shorter, 40 pages compared to almost 200,” McKinney told us. “Younger Readers was much more open to what I wanted to do and the story I wanted to tell, likely because the graphic novels are part of their own universe and not the main continuity. DC Future State impacts a lot of stories in the main continuity, so your work is part of a larger tapestry, and that requires flexing a different creative muscle.”
Although the processes may have been different, there was one vital through-line for both books. “Having Black woman artists drawing Black women was my line in the sand,” McKinney shared. “I wasn’t going to do either project if they couldn’t do this for me, and for the books, really. With Nubia: Real One, my editor was like ‘Bet,’ and we went from there. It was a bit bumpier with Future State, but I was persistent and the team wound up respecting this, and I’m grateful for it. As a result, I got to work with Robyn [Smith], whose style really sells the warmth and heart at the center of Nubia: Real One. Her work encapsulates so much of the magic of Black girlhood. And Alitha [Martinez]’s style just fills the page with this unrepentant power and command that makes you sit up and pay attention.”
![[Weds AM] L.L. McKinney on Reintroducing Nubia to the DC Universe_5](https://nerdist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Nubia_1_130.jpg)
DC Comics
The response to the Nubia: Real One announcement threw the internet into paroxysms of joy. Readers were desperate to see Nubia given the respect and spotlight she deserved. Seeing her passion shared by other fans was a powerful thing for McKinney. “Oh man, it was…whew. It was incredible. The outpouring of love and support from the fans was heavy. I could’ve wrapped myself up with it like a blanket,” the author recalled. “Now that the book is out next month? I’m simultaneously excited and scared, but that’s how I get with the release of any of my work. I hope I did the fans proud. As far as if I have more stories I want to tell? Absolutely, I would love to see something like…Nubia meeting up with the Young Justice crew.”
Now that she’s playing such a vital role in the DC Universe, how does McKinney want to shape it next? Well, the author has a lot of plans. “Let me count the ways! Vixen, Rocket, I’d love to do a Black Superman in the main continuity. Red Hood is another favorite. Any of the mystic characters like Constantine or Zatanna. Doctor Fate? Seriously, the list goes on and on and on.”
Future State: Immortal Wonder Woman comes out on Jan. 19 and Nubia: Real One on Feb. 2.
The post L.L. McKinney Talks Reintroducing Nubia to the DC Universe appeared first on Nerdist.
After years on the sidelines, Nubia is back at the forefront of the DC Universe. Author L.L. McKinney is the driving force behind her return. Her two new comics—Nubia: Real One, with Robyn Smith, Brie Henderson, Bex Glendining and Ariana Maher; and Immortal Wonder Woman, with Alitha Martinez, Mark Morales, Emilio Lopez, and Becca Carey—put Nubia center stage. Nerdist chatted with McKinney about her journey bringing Nubia to the page, the power of fiction, and superhero stories.
DC Comics
As both a storyteller and a fan, reintroducing Nubia to readers is a profound moment for the author. “It honestly means everything,” McKinney shared. “I’ve been very loud about my frustrations concerning what was done to Nubia post-Crisis [on Infinite Earths]. She went from being Diana’s twin sister, same powers and everything—and even a few of her own—to being a regular Amazon. And this isn’t me hating on the Amazons, but you gotta admit it was a bit of a downgrade going from being twin to Wonder Woman to guardian of hell or random advisor or whatever. Or, if she was around as Wonder Woman, it was an alternate reality or different world. I wanted the original Nubia back, as lots of fans did. Being part of her comeback is…affirming.”
McKinney’s passion for Wonder Woman‘s powerful twin sister goes back to childhood. “My first memory [of Nubia] is being at the library,” the author shared. “My parents used to take my sisters and I all the time. They had comics on this wire stand between the kid and teen sections, and the issue where Nubia and Diana are chained together with swords lifted was there. I remember being like, ‘Who was this Black woman fighting Wonder Woman?’ I picked it up and the rest is history.”
DC Comics
Though this is her first foray into comics, McKinney’s stunning fantasy series that began with A Blade So Black gave her a framework. “My main footprint as an author is in the YA space,” McKinney explained. “So crafting a story about a young Black girl with super powers wasn’t too far outside of what I was already doing with my original series, which is about a Black girl with super powers!” Once she finished Nubia: Real One, DC approached McKinney to take on Nubia in the mainline comics. “In that way, both stories were told entirely separate, but I based them both off of Nubia pre-Crisis. As far as a personal history that I stick to, it’s the original. Every time. Diana’s twin. I won’t write any other version of her.”
Interestingly, the two Nubia titles encompass both sides of DC’s current publishing initiative. The gorgeous and powerful Nubia: Real One represents the publisher’s move towards the younger readers market; meanwhile, the superhero action of Future State is part of their huge mainline event. McKinney shared her vision for both titles with us, beginning with the upcoming original graphic novel. “Nubia: Real One sees Nubia as a Black teen being raised in America and dealing with the nonsense that goes with that. She still has her Amazon origins in place, though.”
DC Comics
The author’s experiences as a writer speaking with young Black people shaped the YA comic. “On school visits and in virtual meetups, I talk to lots of Black teens about things they enjoy,” she explained. “Many times, these kids—who are brilliant and more aware than people give them credit for—will talk about how heroes will manage to save the world. But you never see those heroes doing anything about police brutality or trying to save the neighborhoods these kids come from or even caring about people from those neighborhood and what goes on there. And every time I was like, ‘You’re absolutely right.’ So, Nubia: Real One deals with that. It gives them a reflection of themselves and what they have to deal with in one of their heroes.”
While Nubia: Real One reframes the icon for a new younger audience, her Future State: Immortal Wonder Woman story is what McKinney calls “straight hero business!” As the author teased, “She’s here to knock heads and take names.” These two juxtaposing tales gave McKinney space to really dig into the hero. “Being able to explore different versions of this character has been important to me, and I hope either Nubia reaches the readers who need her.”
DC Comics
McKinney isn’t just juggling two different eras of Nubia, but also two different formats. Nubia: Real One is a vibrant full-size standalone graphic novel. But Immortal Wonder Woman is a more classic serial story. Putting together both at once afforded McKinney a unique learning experience. “The graphic novel came together over the course of a couple years, while Future State came together over the course of a couple months! Granted, the latter is significantly shorter, 40 pages compared to almost 200,” McKinney told us. “Younger Readers was much more open to what I wanted to do and the story I wanted to tell, likely because the graphic novels are part of their own universe and not the main continuity. DC Future State impacts a lot of stories in the main continuity, so your work is part of a larger tapestry, and that requires flexing a different creative muscle.”
Although the processes may have been different, there was one vital through-line for both books. “Having Black woman artists drawing Black women was my line in the sand,” McKinney shared. “I wasn’t going to do either project if they couldn’t do this for me, and for the books, really. With Nubia: Real One, my editor was like ‘Bet,’ and we went from there. It was a bit bumpier with Future State, but I was persistent and the team wound up respecting this, and I’m grateful for it. As a result, I got to work with Robyn [Smith], whose style really sells the warmth and heart at the center of Nubia: Real One. Her work encapsulates so much of the magic of Black girlhood. And Alitha [Martinez]’s style just fills the page with this unrepentant power and command that makes you sit up and pay attention.”
DC Comics
The response to the Nubia: Real One announcement threw the internet into paroxysms of joy. Readers were desperate to see Nubia given the respect and spotlight she deserved. Seeing her passion shared by other fans was a powerful thing for McKinney. “Oh man, it was…whew. It was incredible. The outpouring of love and support from the fans was heavy. I could’ve wrapped myself up with it like a blanket,” the author recalled. “Now that the book is out next month? I’m simultaneously excited and scared, but that’s how I get with the release of any of my work. I hope I did the fans proud. As far as if I have more stories I want to tell? Absolutely, I would love to see something like…Nubia meeting up with the Young Justice crew.”
Now that she’s playing such a vital role in the DC Universe, how does McKinney want to shape it next? Well, the author has a lot of plans. “Let me count the ways! Vixen, Rocket, I’d love to do a Black Superman in the main continuity. Red Hood is another favorite. Any of the mystic characters like Constantine or Zatanna. Doctor Fate? Seriously, the list goes on and on and on.”
Future State: Immortal Wonder Woman comes out on Jan. 19 and Nubia: Real One on Feb. 2.
The post L.L. McKinney Talks Reintroducing Nubia to the DC Universe appeared first on Nerdist.
Source: Paras Griffin / Getty
Rapper YFN Lucci, perhaps best known here as Reginae’s on-again, off-again boyfriend is in some serious legal trouble.
According to TMZ, he is wanted by local Atlanta law enforcement as police suspect he is responsible for shooting and killing a man.
Atlanta’s homicide unit told TMZ that they are still searching for Lucci, 29, whose real name is Rayshawn Bennett on several charges including “felony murder, aggravated assault, participation in criminal street gang activity, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.”
Law enforcement believe Lucci was involved in a shooting last month in southwest Atlanta. The incident resulted in the death of one man who suffered a gunshot wound to the head and another man was injured. The second victim was shot minutes after the first.
Police believe the shootings are related to two arrests they’ve already made, including Ra’von Boyd, 23, and 17-year-old Leroy Pitts, who were arrested on felony murder charges.
The police haven’t had such luck with Lucci and are now asking the public to help find him. They are offering a $5,000 reward for any information that leads to his arrest and indictment.
This is a lot for young Reginae, 22, to think about and consider.
Lucci and Reginae began dating in 2018 and broke up in 2019.
While Reginae swore that she would not let Lucci continue to embarrass her after #CucumberGate, Lucci told Angela Yee in an interview just last month that the two were working on their relationship.
This might put a bit of a damper on their plans.
We’ll be sure to keep you posted.
Writer: Kieron Gillen / Artist: Esad Ribic / Marvel
As a relatively new comic book reader, Eternals #1 felt like a dope attempt to introduce this section of the Marvel universe to people like myself, while respecting the Jack Kirby, Neil Gaimen, and Jon Romita Jr. legacy that has been built. I was wild impressed with the ambitious groundwork that Gillen has laid for the future of this book. I’m sitting here motivated to learn names, internalize history, keep up with the well-paced story, and enjoy every page of this beautifully illustrated #1!
Eternals: They Have Always BEEN
We open up to Ikiris being reborn, like he has an infinite number of times before that. We are introduced to “The Machine” through its narration and learn that it is one of the 3 principles of all Eternals.
Protect Celestials. Protect The Machine. Correct Excess Deviation.
The way that Gillen allows us to piece together who the Eternals are and what characteristics they possess make you proud to be a comic book reader. He doesn’t hit you with a dictionary.com explanation, he describes Ikaris by saying, “He flies at the future without fear or regret. He has always been a living arrow,” which allows you to showcase your appreciation for Gillen’s attention to detail when he drops, “Arrows are nothing if not direct,” after Ikaris asks “Who else is alive?“.
This theme of rebirth permeates all throughout this issue, but the actions that were taken before these Eternals’ demise, and the consequences that are handed down as a result, are what keep you invested.
The Way of the Eternals
Veteran Eternals fans will tell you that their most powerful capability is to combine forces, somewhat akin to the Power Rangers’ Zords becoming the Megazord or the paladin’s lions becoming Voltron. While Gillen doesn’t touch on the Uni-Mind, he does unveil the law, if you will, of the Eternals. “We are of one mind” is all it takes for an eternal decision to be declared as final, and the first final decision is to free Sprite, the most troublesome Eternal.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22217450/img_5828.jpg)
Zuras is Eternal Prime, the leader of all Eternals and the one who receives the blame if something goes awry. If something goes horribly wrong, the decision may be made to exclude the eternal who caused it, such as siring a creature who killed half the galaxy with the snap of a finger.
It’s an Eternal World & We’re Just Living In It
By the end of this issue, there were some key takeaways that I’m excited to see play out in the coming issues. The first was Gillen’s restrained, yet impeccable use of humor. Choosing the right moments to up the comedy, while rising to the challenge of progressing the plot from rebirth to life to death. His comparison of Deviants to Gremlins was a delight and aptly done.
Next is the highly impressive artwork. The world Esad Ribic created for these Eternals to live in is bonkers. Matt Wilson is the modern-day comic book Picasso with the colors, so you know that was going to be tight but Ribic goes hard with his vision. The scale, the scope, the grandiosity! Places sealed between molecules and cities located within echo dimensions? Nuts. Can’t wait to get more of that. The mid issue cameo was typical, yet enjoyable. I imagine we’ll be seeing some key members of the MCU as this story unfolds since it is introducing so many readers to this relaunched group of pseudo gods about to make their movie debut soon.
Lastly, purpose. Now that the Eternals have no clear cut celestial purpose, where do they go from here? In the ‘Never Die, Never Win’ edition of this book, Gillen says he wants to honor the past while pushing the Eternals into the 21st century. Safe to say he’s off to one hell of a start with Eternals #1.
9 Excess Deviations Corrected out of 10
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The post Eternals #1 Review: Making Jack Kirby Proud appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
From today’s lens, it is hard for some to imagine the United States government tormenting anyone for just singing a song. Certainly not ‘Strange Fruit,’ her protest song against lynching. What crime could the United States government possibly find in amplifying the senseless killing of Black people, Black men specifically, for nothing more than the color of their skin? Why was any entity of the federal government outraged over a now classic American protest song with the lyric “Black bodies swingin’ in the Southern breeze/Strange fruit hangin’ from the poplar trees?”
The harsh truth is Jim Crow wasn’t just in the South. Racism was all over the nation and few knew that as well as Billie Holiday.As a woman born Black and poor with extremely limited options in Jim Crow America, survival, in and of itself, was a win. Becoming the iconic Lady Day, beloved by both Black and white Americans for her talent, did not shield her. No amount of fame could save her from the punishment reserved for her refusal to stop singing ‘Strange Fruit.’ Unable to outrun her demons, she had turned to drugs early to numb the pain of her rough childhood, her unfortunate choice in men and just the price of living Black and female in America. And the government, her government, used her weakness, her drug addiction, against her.
Fighting unfairly, Federal Bureau of Narcotics chief Harry Anslinger, who founded this country’s infamous “War on Drugs,” hired Jimmy Fletcher, a Black man, to infiltrate her jazz circles and take her down. But their plan hit a major snag when Jimmy did the unthinkable and fell in love with her. It wasn’t enough to save her from a horrific death chained to a hospital bed surrounded by federal agents. Did the government kill Lady Day?
The United States vs. Billie Holiday dares to answer that question.
Directed by Academy Award nominee Lee Daniels, with a screenplay written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks based on the chapter “The Black Hand” on Billie Holiday in Johann Mari’s 2015 bestselling book, Chasing The Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs, and introducing Grammy-nominated singer Andra Day as Billie Holiday, Hulu presents The United States vs. Billie Holiday. Trevante Rhodes, from the Academy Award-winning film Moonlight, stars as Jimmy Fletcher, with Tony Award nominee Da’Vine Joy Randolph from Ghost: The Musical and Dolemite Is My Name, Orange Is the New Black’s Natasha Lyonne, Mudbound’s Garrett Hedlund, and Rob Morgan, as well as Miss Lawrence, Tyler James Williams, Evan Ross, and Tone Bell.
The United States vs. Billie Holiday premieres in February.