DC Ink couldn't come up with a better first release for their new young adult brand than original graphic novel Mera: Tidebreaker. First off, it's centered around a strong female protagonist who must balance the emotional strains of being a teen with the pressures of taking on the responsibilities of adulthood. It also doesn't hurt that it centers around a main character in DC's biggest box office success, Aquaman.
Princess Mera is teenage royalty and heir to the throne of Xebel, a colony ruled by the other no-so-lost land under the sea, Atlantis. Her father, his court, and the entire kingdom are expecting her to marry and introduce a new king. But Mera is destined to wear a different crown....
When the Xebellian military plots to overthrow Atlantis and break free of its oppressive regime, Mera seizes the opportunity to take control of her own destiny by assassinating Arthur Curry—the long-lost prince and heir to the kingdom of Atlantis. But her mission gets sidetracked when Mera and Arthur unexpectedly fall in love. Will Arthur Curry be the king at her side, or will he die under her blade as she attempts to free her people from persecution in Mera: Tidebreaker?
Mera: Tidebreaker is everything its target market is looking for in a graphic novel. There's forbidden love in the vein of Romeo and Juliet... or Twilight. Blend that with a superhero tale comparable to Wonder Woman or even Captain Marvel and you have a winning cocktail tailor-made for the sophisticated young adults of today. I would even go as far as to say it mirrors the fish-out-of-water tale found in The Little Mermaid.
Writer Danielle Paige (Stealing Snow and Dorothy Must Die) definitely hasn't forgotten how to relate to a younger demographic and does a great job reflecting the growing pains of womanhood in Mera: Tidebreaker. Illustrator Stephen Byrne forges a landscape which will please the eyes of any age of reader. The real crown jewel of the book visually is the unique coloring by David Calderon, who somehow uses a palette of maybe three different colors to bring the artwork to life in each panel - orange, black, and a blue / green aquamarine shade that perfectly accents the theme of the character the book is based upon.
Inclusivity is definitely a key ingredient in Mera: Tidebreaker. A woman taking the reins of her own life is a major theme in the book. One panel of the book shows two men kissing as an example of it's all-encompassing attitude. The concepts of true love and loyalty are also explored. Accepting who you are as a person figures into the tale as well.
Male readers might find Mera: Tidebreaker to lean a little too far into the female themes of young adult novels like Twilight, The Hunger Games, Haddix, or The Uglies. I found it to be an entertaining enough read if you can somehow tap into your inner 16-year-old self for a couple of hours. Those hoping for some Aquaman action will be disappointed however. He's just a nice black-haired dude smitten by Mera who doesn't have a clue where he comes from or what her true intentions are for him.
