Mera: Tidebreaker

Aquaman and Mera are one of the most iconic couples in DC and in comics. They have been the first couple to get married in comics back in the sixties. They had their fair share of happiness and tragedies.In 2011 Geoff Johns started a revival of Aquaman characters, he was the one that dragged Mera out from being a secondary character into being as big as Arthur Curry. Since then Mera'a popularity increased so much that eventually DC decided to have this novel about Aquaman's soulmate.This book captures the essence of Mera, who after falling in love with Arthur, will turn her back on her people, family and warlike nation for him. Mera has always been an independent character with a somehow fiery temper. Take no prisoner type. She sacrifices a lot to be with Arthur and looks to be happy only when with him.She is mellowed by Arthur. Both bring the best from each other, in this book its no less, although it gives a new perspective of their first meeting and somehow differs from the usual Arthur Curry background. It is based on their first encounter and the story revolves around that.The book also delves into Mera's childhood, which till now was quite unknown despite the character has been around since 1963 . The book ends setting the pace for Arthur and Mera taking their relationship to the next step, that will eventually see them rule Atlantis as King and Queen, as equal partners and eventually as parents.Will be nice if this book will have a sequel.

My son loves heroes and I wanted a female one against the boringly male backdrop...Mera is good! There's still hero-style violence but there's a storyline too, all in comic book format. Delivered promptly and in good condition.

If you're familiar with Aquaman, you might know of Mera. I sadly didn't know who she was until around a year ago when they brought her to the big screen with the DC Franchise. I'm all about Girl Power™, so getting to see Mera shine in her own light and not underneath the shadow of Aquaman (although this is a sort of origin of them both) in her own Graphic Novel was amazing.Mera is a teenager (around sixteen I believe) and already royalty, an heir to the throne of Xebel, a colony underwater. But her destiny isn't so straight forward under the sea, and now on land. Mera is thrown when the people of Xebel want her to wreck havoc in the homeland of Atlantis (I've always associated this with The Little Mermaid, somehow) and kill the heir to the throne, one Arthur Curry, aka Aquaman as we'll come to know him. But between the colonies, a different kind of feeling brews: love. Mera and Arthur fall head over heels for each other, quite quickly inside the pages. But the question of whether he'll come to demise under her demands to have him killed, or rule alongside him, begs the ultimate finale of under-the-sea war, love and stripping free.Overall, I'm surprised at how much I utterly loved Mera. Whether it was her strikingly red hair that vividly gathered my eye-line every page, the fast-paced action-meets-backstory or underlying love aspect, it blew me away with every turn of the page. The colours and palettes of Mera are cool, blues, greens and reds, unique in every way. Although I did feel that the plot moved very quickly, sometimes too quickly, I know this is the way that comic books tend to reel on as they're differently written and planned out to regular novels. Despite this, I was still blown away with how much I completely loved Mera. Danielle Paige has outdone herself with the captivating story and brilliance behind Mera's and Arthur's backstory. Four amazing stars!

Bought this online. I liked the cover and it had good reviews. I also, wanted to know more about a character I knew little about. Just finished it, what a waste of time. Silly pointless story, with ok art. One for the charity shop.2 stars is generous.

A graphic novel from a new range by DC Comics, which is all aimed towards young adult readers.The dimensions of this are midway between an ordinary trade paperback, the kind that collects issues of comics, an a manga sized volume.This one is all about Mera. A character who should be familiar to many now thanks to the Aquaman movie. But who has been known for years to DC comics fans. A lady from the undersea Kingdom of Xebel, who can control the flow of water and bend it to her well. She was sent by her country to assassinate Arthur Curry. But then promptly fell in love with him.This is a new take on that particular backstory of hers. Which isn't one I can ever recall being properly told in comics before.It runs for 186 pages. And it is a complete and self contained story, which ends with the words THE END rather than TO BE CONTINUED.Recommended reading age would be thirteen and up, since its about teenagers at that time of life when they start getting interested romantically in others. There is some mild violence, and one very mild adult moment.The art is in a style all of it's own. The colouring is mostly black and white and certain shades, but with limited and judicious use of colours, such as for Mera's red hair.The plot is as mentioned. We meet young Mera in Xebel, where she is raging against the unfairness of life there for it's people. She has a couple of good friends both of whom do influence her thinking. She has a boy whom she has been arranged to be married to as well. And then when she strikes out to find Arthur, a whole new world awaits.I really enjoyed this. Although it's going through a slightly familiar main character arc for Mera, it's not entirely predictable. There's some good set up early on. Anyone who in their teens has ever railed against injustice will relate to Mera's predicaments. And it all feels solidly character driven.It's when it gets her to the surface world - there is a slight narrative leap here but you quickly forget about it - that it really clicks and gets great. Because she is a complete and utter fish out of water. And the way it handles her dealing with this new place, and how she reacts to and relates to Arthur is just great character writing. This version of Arthur - black rather than blonde hair, but it doesn't really matter - is just decent and noble that you can't help but like him as well.The way it wraps everything up is nicely done also, in a manner that will make you want to grab this book and show it to people and say 'this is how you sort out differences!.'A great read. Although it is self contained, there is still room for more to follow. I wish that would happen.The final few pages contain some character sketches by the artist, and a few pages to preview the Catwoman volume in this range.