DC Ink is trying to capture the teen crowd by having established YA authors give some of their heroes new origin stories. In this outing, Danielle Paige reimages a teen-aged Mera meeting Arthur Curry for the first time. The timing is good, as the Jason Mamoa Aquaman movie is still fresh in people’s minds, plus I myself read two Aquaman graphic novels recently.

Mera is introduced as a rebel warrior princess of the underwater kingdom Xebel. Xebel is currently under the domain of the stronger Atlantis, and the inhabitants are chafing under their rule. Mera and a friend are caught defacing property, but a palace guard diverts attention from the Atlantanians so Mera can escape. The king later establishes that he wishes Mera to marry a prince in a neighboring kingdom, and later gives him a directive to find and kill Atlantian heir Arthur, as to establish Xebel dominance. Mera decides to do this herself and leaves to go on shore to find Arthur on her own. She quickly finds him, but things keep on happening to prevent her from carrying out her mission. Will she be able to kill Arthur when she has a chance, even after discovering he is kind and unaware of his heritage?

The art by Stephen Bryne establishes Mera as the center of attention by keeping the entire color palate in muted green and blue ocean colors, except for Mera’s distinctive red hair. Bryne creates an appealing underwater world with varied sea creatures but also renders realistic portrayals of people below the ocean and then later in Amnesty Bay. I appreciate that he did not draw Mera as a bombshell, instead he drew a lovely but not too developed teen-age girl. She even wore flats to a dance! But…why in the world was Arthur given dark hair? In all DC comics he is a blonde, so I wondered if this is a nod to the Momoa version on screen? It truly felt wrong to me.

The story had some huge holes you could drive a truck through. Plus it had insta-love which is a plot device that I hate. However, I believe it will be liked by the audience it is shooting for- teens. It was a solid origin story for a brand new audience that won’t get hung up on it not matching past established canon. I was able to read this story before it was published as I received an online copy through NetGalley. However, they put an embargo on reviews until it’s publication date on April 2nd, making me think they were not confident that it would be reviewed well. Another blogger clued me in this is standard with DC online books, but still. Nonetheless, as a marker of how I feel a teen audience will like it, I already have placed an order for it for my work library for the YA collection.

A couple of disclaimers before I start: I went into this graphic novel with absolutely no background knowledge about Mera (or Aquaman, who I wouldn't have even known was involved if I hadn't read it in the synopsis). Instead, I read this as a Little Mermaid retelling and nothing more. Also, I always have a hard time reviewing graphic novels because you get so much less detail in them than you do a standard novel. I tend to just go in with the expectation that the story will be sparse and just try to enjoy the artwork and the characterization.

So, my reviews of graphic novels really just come down to how much I enjoy them. Since this is targeted at a MG/young YA audience (ages 12-14), I think that’s what most readers will be doing anyway, so I don’t feel too bad about that. I thought the artwork was great (though Mera and her mother did look a lot alike, which could sometimes throw me for a moment). I liked the muted green color palette. The story involves instalove, but as a Little Mermaid retelling, I wasn’t particularly surprised by that. I liked Arthur and Mera together, and I thought it was intriguing that Arthur didn’t know his background but he always felt the pull of the sea.

The story was interesting, and I was curious about the background history between Xebel and Atlantis. Some of that is explored in this story, but it’s glossed over a bit–we get enough to make me understand Mera’s frustration and her desire to free her people from a tyrannical rule, though.

Overall, I thought this was a good read, and I enjoyed the art. I would definitely read future installments.

***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***

I wanted to like this one more than I did. I agree with Forever Young Adult that the art is better than the text. There were multiple times that I felt like I was missing things, and I wanted a story just about her, not about Aquaman.

I do appreciate getting an ARC from both NetGalley and ALA.

I didn't like i as much as i hoped i would. I'm not to much into superhero comics even do i love newer Marvel and DC movies, but like i said comics about them aren't my thing. Honestly i didn't love the characters and they weren't developed and i din't like the romance at all because i knew that it will happen from begging and it wasn't good. When it comes to other characters except Mera we maybe see them 3 times in the whole book (even her best friend). Sometimes the art style was trying too fit too much story one page and i didn't know where to look because there were things happening on that whole page. Overall i tough going into it i would like it more than i did even do i didn't know anything about Mera as a character, but the art and the story in general wasn't great.

4.5 stars. I've been so excited about the 2019 DC releases, and this one lived up to my expectations. While a graphic novel generally doesn't have the depth of a prose novel, I still felt like I understood where all the main characters were coming from and their motivations. The best friend and the Xebellian trainer weren't as well fleshed out as the rest, but that didn't impact the full story. I enjoyed Mera and Arthur and the ins and outs of the politics going on with Atlantis and Xebel. I felt like this was a great backstory for these characters.

Mera: Tidebreaker is the first in DC's new DC Ink line, and with Aquaman's recent release, it's not surprise this was chosen to launch the line. Tidebreaker follows Mera, the later queen of Atlantis, as a 16-year old princess warrior, ready to fight for her people. When her father and intended start making choices without her input or consideration, she decides to take matters into her own hands by going after Arthur, the Atlantis heir living on land. But when they meet, she discovers that he's not what she thought he was. He's actually kind and generous, and appears to know nothing about his gifts. She must decide if killing him is right or if they can work together to bring peace.

What I Liked:

Mera- My knowledge of Mera is limited, but I've always been interested in her. This story does a fantastic job of introducing readers to her personality and dedication to her home. She has a realistic emotional arc of figuring out how to make a stand, even when the consequences may not be in her favor.

The world-building- Though we don't learn all the intricacies of Xebel and Atlantis's history, there is just enough to make you feel familiar with the world and the general political relations. I could easily see readers grabbing as many stories set in the two kingdoms as they can after reading Mera.

What Left Me Wanting More:

The coloring- The color scheme is mostly blues and greens, with Mera's red hair being the most striking color. While this worked really well in the underwater scenes, it felt awkward in the parts Mera is on land.

Secondary characters- I love Mera taking center stage, but the secondary characters, Arthur in particular, feel very flat in comparison and lacked depth. This particularly hurts the romance, as Arthur doesn't make for an intriguing love interest.

Final Verdict:

While the secondary characters and romance left something to be desired, Mera herself ultimately makes this graphic novel a fun splash, perfect for those new to the Atlantis universe.

Mera: Tidebreaker follows the epic superhero Mera in her early days as a young princess eager to make a name for herself. She’s surrounded by people who treat her like she’s fragile and unable to become the warrior she’s meant to be. It’s a powerful origin story, showing how a young woman fueled by hatred against the enemy can instead learn compassion and compromise on behalf of her people. With fierce artwork and a compelling story, Mera: Tidebreaker entertains and expands the story of this essential DC character.

Spoilers ahead!

Mera is a completely different person by the end of the graphic novel. At the beginning, she thwarts authority at every turn, never afraid to break the rules, even if it means danger for those she loves. She’s reckless at times, and doesn’t understand what the world requires from its rulers. A rash decision leads her to the surface and she quickly learns that the world holds a lot more than the constantly brewing conflict between her people and Atlantis.

While her meeting with the future Aquaman begins their storied romance, the graphic novel is so much more than the start of a love story. We see two future rulers who are still new to the greater world, yet have more foresight than their ruling parents. They learn from each other in unexpected ways and become stronger for it. It becomes a story about becoming the person you were meant to be with the help of others. Going it alone creates a one-sided approach to life. Mera learns compassion from Arthur, while Arthur discovers his own strength thanks to Mera’s guidance. It’s a fascinating approach to an origin story.

On a quick note, the artwork is flawless. I loved every panel and it makes the graphic novel fly by. I was transported into the story and couldn’t put it down.

Overall, Mera: Tidebreaker is a deeply entertaining read, complete with a powerful narrative on personal growth and compelling artwork that’s nothing short of mesmerizing.

Thank you to Netgalley, author/illustrator, and publisher for an advance copy of this graphic novel.

This was my first(!) graphic novel and as far as the format being new to me, I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. I am admittedly ignorant to the backstory of most superheroes and only know what I know from the movies I see, so I know absolutely nothing about Mera, and had no idea Arthur will become Aquaman until I read some other reviews on Goodreads.

That being said, I can't comment on their story but on my perception of it. I felt like in a short amount of time, we got to know Mera and her world pretty well and should this be the first in a series, we were given enough information to decide whether or not we would want to continue in the series (I personally would read more volumes).

My big complaint was the relationship between Mera and Arthur. I really don't care for the 'instalove' trope.

For those of you who come back week after week to check out the column (Yes, I’m talking about you, and you are amazing!), you know that a recurrent theme here is that I’m always on the lookout for strong new content that I can pass along to my stepdaughter. Based on her preferences, this means young reader-friendly adventure stories. If the main character is a badass woman, all the better. So, I gave Mera: Tidebreaker a run through. Overall, this isn’t a bad story, and I think if you go into it with the right expectations, you might enjoy it more than I did. Based on the press releases, I was anticipating a young woman battling against a society that wants to dictate her life, who must set out on an epic adventure to forge her own destiny. All of which is true. But there is also a prominent plot point of falling in love with pre-Aquaman Aquaman at first sight. It isn’t wrong to have a romance title in comics. In fact, I think comics needs far more of them! But that wasn’t what I was sold, and seeing the potential for this to be a great coming-of-age, defying-systemic-oppression story, having it turn into a light teenage romance was a bit of a buzzkill.

Review will be available at provided link on 4/4/19.

Mera: Tidebreaker was a fascinating read. We get to learn about her people and the city she lives in. Things aren’t perfect there, and the reason has to do with Atlantis. Mera decides she has to do something to help her people out, so she chooses to take on a tough mission. It takes her to a new world, and it does fascinate her in some ways. Once she meets her target she thinks this will be easy, but as she gets to know them it looks like it will be harder than she thought. If you want to know more about Mera and her story then this is a graphic novel you should take a look at.

I enjoyed this graphic novel. I thought the writing was nice and the artwork was amazing. It really complemented the story. It wasn't perfect, I had some problem with the plot and some things the characters did, and at moments I wanted more from the characters. Overall, I liked the story and I loved the art. It kept me turning the page and I wanted to see what happened next. I'm looking forward to reading more.

Journey beneath the waves in Mera: Tidebreaker as author Danielle Paige introduces you to a (bland, one-dimensional) Mera and Arthur Curry and tells you the (boring and predictable) story of how they first met.

I was very excited for Mera: Tidebreaker. I’m unfamiliar with the lore (and I still haven’t seen the recent Aquaman movie – soon!) but I am intrigued by Mera as a character. It was probably better that I don’t really know a lot about these characters because I didn’t have a lot of expectations, and I don’t have past characterizations to weigh this book against. That said, I was still disappointed.

As I said, I don’t know a lot about these characters. And after reading this almost 200-page graphic novel… I still don’t know a whole lot about these characters. There was precious little development for any of the characters (especially the side characters). Mera, as a heroine and as a main character, is wishy-washy. Arthur is flat and boring. The two have absolutely no chemistry, know nothing about each other, and have no significant conversations, yet somehow they manage to fall in love in the span of two days.

Mera and Arthur’s romance isn’t the only thing that’s rushed; this entire book feels like it moves at a breakneck pace. It skips ahead too quickly, and at times it felt like there were panels or even pages missing. Mera’s change of heart happens incredibly fast; Arthur learns about and then is somehow able to control his powers in record time. The story itself is very predictable: young woman is out to prove that she can rule just as well as a boy, so she sets out to perform a task and then ends up falling in love with the target. Very ho-hum, and it sadly lacked any sort of interesting climax.

This is a graphic novel. It’s a visual medium; yet so much of this story consists of two characters standing around and large speech bubbles explaining everything. I don’t read a lot of comics, but I read enough to know how much can be conveyed in a scene without using any dialogue. Mera: Tidebreaker suffers from too much dialogue – and it’s not even really that good of dialogue.

I’m not a fan of the art; that’s fine – I don’t have to be a fan of every artist who ever lived – but the art in this book seems inconsistent. I did like the emphasis on blues and greens, with only the red of Mera’s hair to distinguish her, because it gave the whole book a very watery atmosphere, which seems apt for a story about two characters who live under the sea. However, when combined with the over-reliance on dialogue, the lack of color only served to emphasize the dullness of the story.

It’s nice to see Mera get her own title, as she is usually only a side character, and Mera: Tidebreaker may serve as an adequate introduction for people wanting to get into the lore. But it didn’t do much to hold my interest, and honestly I thought it did a huge disservice to Mera.

I didn't feel like this was an important piece of Mera's history. It was cheesy and kind of annoying. I really liked the artwork, the colors popped even on a screen. But Mera got on my nerves. This isn't important, for me at least.

Title: Mera: Tidebreaker
Author: Danielle Paige
Genre: YA Graphic Novel
Publication Date: April 2nd, 2019
Rating 2 stars

Digital copy provided by publisher (DC Entertainment/DC Ink) through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

->Click for Synopsis<-

I was really looking forward to starting this graphic novel as I am a fan of superheroes but it just didn’t live up to what I was expecting.

The characters felt pretty one dimensional and when their part of the plot was done they weren’t really mentioned until the very end, minus a couple characters. The instalove between characters was another thing I didn’t like. I am just not a fan of it and it just didn’t work in this graphic novel.

The plot felt pretty rushed and maybe that is another reason for lack of character development. I would have loved to see it spanned out more. It would have made for a better flow of things.

Although the characters and plot fell short, I did enjoy the artwork and the colors they decided to use for the illustrations. The vibrant orange was beautiful against the teal blue.

Overall, it lacked too much for me to give it a higher rating. I am sure others will find it to be a great read especially if they are a fan of superheroes and instalove doesn’t bother them!

A graphic novel that gives us a new origin story for Mera and Aquaman. Mera: Tidebreaker follows Mera as she struggles to prove that she is more than a princess. She is a warrior and she is the future of Xebel, despite those who do not believe she can be queen. After overhearing her father's plan to send another to kill the heir of Atlantis and if he succeeds he will be the heir of Xebel, Mera decides that she won't let anyone steal her birthright. She leaves home to find Arthur Curry. But she soon realizes that there is more Arthur Curry than she believed. He is innocent and has no idea what his birthright is. And soon she is falling hard. It was fun to read but I will say I wish there was more to it.

I received an ARC for an honest review.

I want to start with the beautiful illustrations! It was mostly in aquas/greens and then there was Mera's beautiful red hair. It draws your eyes to her immediately. 

I feel like Danielle did a wonderful job telling Mera's story. The dialog flowed nicely, and the journey interesting. For anyone who has seen the Aquaman movie, but hasn't read the comics, they could identify characters, and connect with them. I do feel the love story went a bit too quickly. I feel friends first would have been a better transition. I am totally in if there is another part to this journey!

This is a fairly simplistic story about Mera meeting Arthur (Aquaman). I don't read a lot of graphic novels, but this one seems to be aimed at young girls or tweens, not really complex enough for adults to enjoy. It also seems to change some of Arthur's story- or at least the story told in the Aquaman movie. All in all, a comic I think young girls could enjoy, but adults may find it lacking.

The writing was really choppy, unrealistic, and kinda cringe-worthy. I really loved the graphics and the storyline was good, but I just couldn't stand reading it...

I'm not much of a graphic novel fan but I HAD to read this. I mean, Mera?! Written by amazing goddess Danielle Paige? Sign me UP. I am so happy to say that it did not disappoint one bit. Fast paced, filled with vivid imagery, I adored Paige's take on Mera. I loved the art style used here and the monochromatic color palette which is only accented by Mera's flaming hair. It's actually a nice tactic for letting Mera stand out in the overall graphic novel. All in all, a great stand alone graphic novel.

Princess Mera is heir to the throne of Xebel, a penal colony ruled by Atlantis. The Xebellian Court is expecting her to marry and bring a new king in, and their military is plotting to overthrow Atlantis. Mera plans to seize control over her own destiny rather than follow through with her father's expectations by assassinating Arthur Curry, the heir to the Atlantean throne. However, the two fall in love, complicating her plans to free her people.

The art in this comic is done by Stephen Byrne, and it's all clean lines and blues (except for Mera's bright red hair) while in Xebel. Even up on land, there is a muted state to the colors, almost as if it was done with watercolor. That brings the feeling of the sea even to the land-based scenes, in keeping with the sea theme for the story.

The drawings of the action and fights really convey the tension from the very beginning of the story. While Mera tries to fight and generate a little anarchy to upset the Atlantean warriors that patrol the Xebellian territory. Mera is a teenage rebel, after all, and she values those actions more than dressing up and looking pretty to simper in front of Atlantean dignitaries. This is why she takes it upon herself to go to the surface world to find Arthur Curry, and intends to kill him to ensure that she would rule on her own. Because she doesn't know how to use her abilities on land for the first time, this means she's physically weak and taken in by Arthur to heal. Of course, she learns about him while hiding her purpose, and discovers that Arthur doesn't know about his Atlantean heritage and is a genuinely good man. We learn the truth of him and the history of their people as she does, and she does have difficult decisions to make.

Overall, this is a great story focusing on Mera and Arthur, involving hard choices and delving into the nature of honor when different kingdoms at war are involved.