WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Justice League #59 by Brian Michael Bendis, David Marquez, Tamra Bonvillain, and Josh Reed, on sale now.
The Justice League's roster is currently in the process of a shake-up. Not only is the team planning to induct Hippolyta and Black Adam into their ranks, the team is also set to bring on one of the newest and greenest young superheroes in the DCU, Naomi. But while Naomi is a very powerful young woman, questions of age, power, experience and trust will be relevant concerns in coming issues as Naomi joins the world's greatest team of superheroes.
In Justice League #59, the League, especially incoming recruit Black Adam, has taken an interest in Naomi due to a recent battle the Justice League had with a being known as Brutus. This single individual went toe-to-toe with almost the entire Justice League before deciding he was unprepared for the fight. He fled the fight, but not before the League could try to identify where he came from. As it turned out, only one other individual on Earth has a similar powerset: Naomi.
An explanation of Naomi's abilities are complicated, even by superhero standards. Naomi McDuffie debuted in Naomi #1 by Brian Michael Bendis, Jamal Campbell, and Josh Reed. She is the adoptive daughter of Greg and Jen McDuffie and lives in Port Oswego, Oregon, a town where nothing ever happens. That all changed when Naomi began investigating her origins.
Naomi McDuffie came from an alternate universe similar to Earth-0, but with key differences. On her birth world, an unknown radiation granted 29 people godlike power. Unfortunately, this triggered a civil war between these individuals that nearly destroyed the Earth and killed 14 of them. Seven left the world in disgust, and eight formed a truce to keep Earth standing. This all changed when Naomi was born as the first child of two superpowered metahumans. The superpowered Zumbado tried to kill the infant to prove his superiority, but Naomi was shipped off to another universe to keep her safe.
Since discovering her powers, Naomi has been briefly mentored by Superman and even worked alongside Young Justice. Despite her relative inexperience, there are merits to her joining the Justice League. She has great power, a fresh perspective and a genuine desire to do good. If mentored properly by the senior members of the team Naomi could become one of DC's finest superheroes.
When it comes to the Justice League, age and experience aren't always the deciding factor. Ultimately, it comes down to a matter of trust, and Superman's trust in her will go a long way for the rest of the League's heroes. Plus, considering the stakes, if Brutus is one of the remaining 14 metas from her universe, then the Justice League is going to need Naomi on their side.
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