Tony’s Superhero Saturdays: Naomi McDuffie – Claiming Her Power, Her Identity, and Her Place Among the Stars

In the vast universe of superheroes, few arrive with the fire, poise, and promise of Naomi McDuffie — a Black teenage girl who discovers she isn’t just powerful, she’s limitless. In a world where so many Black girls are expected to shrink to fit in, Naomi’s story is one of expansion — of discovering who you are, claiming your legacy, and realizing you were never ordinary to begin with.

Created by an award-winning creative team, Naomi is a fresh voice, a powerful force, and a symbol of what it means to be young, Black, adopted, and heroic in a world that often tells you otherwise.

Today, on the 12th day of International Black Women’s History Month, we celebrate Naomi McDuffie — a hero of her world and for ours.

📝 Her Creation and Debut

Naomi McDuffie was created by:

• Brian Michael Bendis

  
  

• David F. Walker

  
  

• Jamal Campbell

She made her debut in:

• 📚 Naomi #1 (2019), published under DC’s Wonder Comics imprint

The series was met with critical acclaim for its stunning artwork, emotional storytelling, and timely themes of identity, adoption, and self-discovery.

Her name — McDuffie — is a tribute to the late, great Dwayne McDuffie, co-founder of Milestone Media and a pioneer of authentic Black representation in comics.

🪐 Naomi’s Origin Story – Who Is She?

Naomi is raised in the small town of Port Oswego, Oregon. She’s adopted, loved, and supported by her parents — including her father, Greg, a military veteran.

Everything about her life seems normal. Until it isn’t.

When Superman makes a brief appearance in her town — a town where nothing ever happens — Naomi becomes obsessed with uncovering the mystery of why she felt a strange connection during his visit.

Her search for truth leads her to an even deeper revelation: she isn’t from Earth.

Naomi is from an alternate Earth — a world that was torn apart by corruption, power, and war. She was sent to our world as a baby to protect her from a powerful villain named Zumbado who destroyed her birth parents and her home planet.

💥 Powers and Abilities

Naomi is no ordinary teenager. Her powers are cosmic, radiant, and vast.

Her Abilities Include:

• Energy Manipulation – Can release blasts of raw, golden energy

  
  

• Flight – Glides effortlessly through the skies

  
  

• Superhuman Strength & Durability – Capable of battling Kryptonians and surviving extreme force

  
  

• Dimensional Awareness – Feels when something is "off" in her timeline or reality

  
  

• Light Armor Manifestation – Forms glowing armor and wings when fully powered

✅ Naomi’s powers are tied to her emotions, her memories, and her will to protect.

🔎 Self-Discovery and Identity

At its core, Naomi’s story is about identity:

• She’s Black.

  
  

• She’s adopted.

  
  

• She’s from a different Earth.

  
  

• And yet, everywhere she goes, she feels the tension between who people think she is — and who she knows she could be.

She’s not defined by trauma.She’s not limited by stereotypes.She’s rooted in purpose — and driven by the need to protect those she loves and discover her full truth.

In her own words:

“I’m not going to pretend I’m not different. I’m not going to run from it either.”

🛡️ Naomi and the DC Universe

Though her origin begins small and quiet, Naomi’s emergence has cosmic impact.

She eventually joins Young Justice, working alongside:

• Robin (Tim Drake)

  
  

• Impulse (Bart Allen)

  
  

• Wonder Girl (Cassie Sandsmark)

  
  

• Teen Lantern (Keli Quintela)

  
  

• Jinny Hex

And later, she’s personally mentored by Superman, who sees her as not just powerful — but trustworthy and ready to stand among legends.

She later joins the Justice League, fighting alongside Superman, Batman, Hawkgirl, and Aquaman — even battling Brutus and the villainous Zumbado once more.

🖥️ Naomi on Screen – The CW Series

In 2022, Naomi got her own live-action TV series on The CW, developed by Ava DuVernay and Jill Blankenship.

• Portrayed by Kaci Walfall

  
  

• The show ran for one season and reimagined Naomi’s story in a school setting with more mystery and emotional depth

Though short-lived, the series:

• Highlighted a strong, smart Black girl protagonist

  
  

• Focused on friendship, adoption, loyalty, and identity

  
  

• Emphasized emotional strength as much as physical power

✅ It was one of the few series centered on a Black female teen superhero on network television.

💬 Quotes That Define Naomi

“You don’t get to decide who I am. That’s my story to tell.”— Naomi #6

“I might be from another world, but I’m fighting for this one.”— Naomi #5

“The truth doesn’t scare me. The lie does.”— Naomi #4

🤎 Why Naomi McDuffie Matters

Naomi is everything we celebrate during International Black Women’s History Month:

✅ She is smart.

✅ She is powerful.

✅ She is kind.

✅ She is chosen.

✅ And most of all — she is not afraid to stand in her truth.

She represents:

• The adopted Black girl who wonders where she fits

  
  

• The quiet one who finds her voice

  
  

• The strong one who doesn’t have to apologize for it

  
  

• The next-gen leader who redefines what a superhero looks like

She carries her name with pride.She carries her legacy with grace.She carries Dwayne McDuffie’s vision forward — boldly.

📚 Where to Read Naomi’s Adventures

• Naomi: Season One (2019)

  
  

• Naomi: Season Two (2022)

  
  

• Young Justice (2019–2021)

  
  

• Justice League #59–74

  
  

• Naomi: The CW Series (2022)

💥 Want More Superhero Stories?

Naomi’s journey reflects the kind of superhero storytelling I believe in — Black characters with light, legacy, and leadership at their core.

If you’re looking for stories that inspire, uplift, and honor heroes of all kinds, check out my books in the S.O.L.A.D. series.

👉🏾 Order now at: www.tyronetonyreedjr.com/the-shop

Celebrate characters who represent faith, hope, and a better future — just like Naomi.