DC Pride 2022: Nubia in “Confessions”

Nubia has to make a confession to her partner, Io… the sword she had created for Nubia was not destroyed in an epic, fantastical battle against a mythical creature, but instead during a wrestling match against Giganta and Mama Mound. You must be thinking, “What in the campy hell is this?” You’d be right to think that, because this story is campy as hell in the best way possible.

The issue opens and closes with Nubia and Io. This relationship was explored in Nubia & The Amazons, also written by Stephanie Williams. It’s a beautiful queer relationship between two Amazons (one of which is now queen!). They reminisce about a sword that Io had created for Nubia which had been destroyed during one of her adventures. But Nubia wasn’t truthful in the past about the sword, so we get an amazing homage to early 90s comics with “Confessions,” a stylized piece of art that shows Nubia fighting what looks like a green-colored Roc (giant bird from Middle Eastern mythology). This segment of the story is brilliantly drawn and colored in a retro style which I’m a huge fan of. Meghan Hetrick does an impressive job all around.

Nubia meets Big Barda, a character who you’d think would have a lengthy history in the Wonderverse but has surprisingly only appeared sparingly in Diana’s world. Barda asks Nubia to help some “women in need”. It turns out these women are actually wrestlers from the Babes of Bodyslam. If you’re not familiar with these ladies, you’re forgiven, but they are actually established characters from Mister Miracle #25 (from 1991), which editor Andrea Shea even notes in the issue. Words cannot express the joy I get when we get throwbacks to obscure characters and teams, so I was floored when I saw these ladies return. Pythona, Roweena, Betty… the gang’s all here! Except Amazon Angel, who Nubia ends up replacing.

There’s also a surprise guest in Giganta, who is only there as part of her parole. Giganta is fully dressed in her classic cavewoman outfit and I’m living. It’s super campy but I wish the comics would bring that look back. Giganta gets a better showing here than most of her recent appearances, and the battle between Nubia and Giganta results in the destruction of Nubia’s sword. Back to the modern era, Io naturally forgives Nubia and the two share a kiss.

Every year, it astonishes me that the big two comic industries are willing to put out specials celebrating Pride Month. There’s a lot of queer romance and self-love here that if I had seen when I was a kid, I probably wouldn’t have felt so alone and ashamed of my own queerness. Kudos to DC and all of the creative teams on each of these stories.