Warning! Spoilers ahead for Justice League #64!
In the newest issue of Justice League, one of the team’s most powerful heroes, Naomi, reveals her biggest weakness. Naomi, in DC’s current run of Justice League, is the comic’s big focus right now. Brian Michael Bendis’ first issues of his run centers around Brutus and Zumbado, two villains from Naomi’s homeworld. Therefore, the stakes have been consistently high for the new Justice League member. As the big cosmic threats that the league have been facing directly correlate to Naomi, even with Zumbado knowing her name.
In the League’s latest adventure, Naomi is forced to train with Aquaman, just like every other league member once did. Even though Naomi is extremely powerful, controlling her powers is even more important than just being able to utilize them. This has been something that the issues have been honing in on, that Naomi is a “mega-power“. But she’s only a teenager and has no battle experience like the rest of the Justice League. The team wants to help her become a greater hero than she already is. Batman was the one who went to Superman talking of Naomi being a “mega-power,” it’s clear that he believes she could be a major threat for all villains.
In Justice League #64 by Brian Michael Bendis and Steve Pugh, Naomi temporarily loses control of her powers during training. This happens as Aquaman provokes Naomi into hand-to-hand combat, but he’s distracted and Naomi winds up her powers and prepares to hit him. The way it’s portrayed, it’s clear that Hawkgirl and Hippolyta had to restrain her before she knocked Arthur out. Naomi’s greatest weakness is her temper. It’s made clear that if she were to be able to control her outbursts, Naomi could be an extremely powerful warrior. Even Aquaman and Hippolyta state that her temper isn’t necessarily a bad thing if she can “aim it properly.”
Of course, Naomi has the ability to adapt and the Justice League knows it. Otherwise, why would they have taken her on as a league member? It’s clear that she is a valuable asset to the team, despite being new to the superhero game. But that’s what her teammates are there for, to help her become the best version of herself. Luckily, for Naomi, she is surrounded by one of the most understanding Justice Leagues in quite a long while. The biggest evidence of this is Black Adam, who normally would’ve never been considered to join. As stated by Batman in the previous issue, Naomi is a “mega-power,” which Brutus is described as too. To see the potential of her powers, readers just need to look at how powerful Brutus and Zumbado are. It’s possible that Naomi, coming from the same planet and being described in the same vein, could become as strong as them.
Ultimately, when Naomi is able to harness her greatest weakness, as Aquaman and Hippolyta state, she will be an unstoppable force. For now, Naomi will have to listen to her fellow Justice League members for their experienced advice on training for battle. It’s clear that someone like Hippolyta, who easily took down Brutus, would be a prime candidate to train Naomi in the ways of fighting. Whilst the other league members can teach her the importance of what they stand for as heroes, she shouldn’t look any further than Superman for this. With the combined help of the Justice League, Naomi is sure to overcome her so-called weakness and transform it into power for the Justice League.
