DC Comics Introduces First Trans Amazon In 'Wonder Woman' Series
Themiscyra, the island home of Wonder Woman and her Amazon sisters, has officially welcomed its first known transgender Amazon.
The character of Bia, a Black trans woman, was introduced in the first issue of the DC Comics series Nubia & The Amazons, out this week. She is one of five women who have entered the Amazon world through the Well of Souls, “a portal through which women who have died as a result of the terror of ‘Man’s World’ are reborn, given new life among the immortal women,” Screen Rant reports. Their memories of their previous lives are erased.
“I don’t know how to explain it yet, but this exact moment feels like my soul has desired it long before I came here,” she says. She then chooses the name Bia, as all who have come through the portal give themselves new names.
On Twitter, Stephanie Williams and Vita Ayala, the writers of the series, confirmed that Bia is trans. They also said she “isn’t a box to tick ... [she] is important to her community. Just as Black trans women are important to us in real life.” In a skill test, she demonstrates expertise at navigating a maze.
“With violence against the transgender community sadly rising in the United States, readers are allowed to link the two elements of the story, presuming Bia was one victim of such violence in her previous life,” Screen Rant notes. Black women represent the majority of victims of fatal violence against the trans population.
Nubia, the new queen of the Amazons in the series, is also Black.
Lynda Carter, who played Wonder Woman in the popular 1970s TV series, tweeted her support for trans women this week.
The introduction of Bia comes shortly after another milestone for inclusivity in the DC universe. This month it was revealed that the new Superman, Jon Kent (son of Clark), is bisexual, and panels from Superman: Son of Kal-El, showed him kissing a male love interest, reporter Jay Nakamura.
