Lovely art and a really solid story. Follows along the same lines as the Aquaman movie but obviously a female-centred, YA version. Loved Mera as a character and although it was a bit instalove, there was still decent some character development.

I had read the mini-preview a while ago and knew that that looked really awesome, but, this, this was even cooler.

Mera is the princess of Xebel. A part of the ocean that is under the rule of Atlantis. She comes to Amnesty Bay to kill Arthur, the Prince of Atlantis (although he doesn't know he is the prince) before Mera's betrothed Larken (from the Trench) does. But, then she starts getting to know Arthur. That goes about as you would think it will.

It was a fun story and while it took me a bit to get into (maybe because I had already read some of the beginning?) I definitely liked the story and the art too.

I received this book via Netgalley thanks to DC Entertainment.

As a fan of the Aquaman series it was really refreshing to read about Mera. She's so fierce and strong, I love her character. I will be hand selling this comic so much!

With ocean-esque colors and a revolution plot, Mera breaks the tide and offers various interpretations on what it means to be good, and what it means to be true to one's self. My full review is to come on the pub date, as requested by DC Ink!

The muted color palette serves a purpose but at times it distracts from the story. The art is average. I had a hard time discerning between a few of the female characters because they looked similar and the story was kind of boring. Perhaps a teen might like this but I can't be too sure without getting the book in their hands.

Mera is a strong independent warrior. Who does not need a man to protect her. Instead she needs Arthur to help her understand compassion.

This was not at all what I was expecting and I was pleasantly surprised. The beginning was a tad confusing since I know almost nothing about DC background. But as you read on everything is explained. You just have to keep going if you don't get it.
Highly recommend for any DC lover or those who want to break out of books into illustrated reading.

Mera is the Xebel Princess. To inherit the throne, she must kill Arthur Curry (aka Aquaman, though this is an origin story and he doesn't know he's Aquaman). In the process of trying to kill him, she falls in love and begins to question what it means to be loyal to her people.

I don't mind the assassin falls in love with their target trope, if its done well (see Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers). This missed the boat for me, though. It was just a bit too generic and predictable and none of the characters had any...character. It was just bland. Arthur and Mera fall in love because they are both pretty and misunderstood. I also felt like I was reading a weird mashup up the Little Mermaid - the original and the Disney versions. With that said, I did like the coloring. Most of the book is done in muted greens and blues that gives it a cool atmosphere. I also think that some of the reasons I didn't like it are why tweens and younger teens will eat this up! If one gets past the lack of characterization, it's quite swoony.

While this one was not for me, I think those that like Disney's Descendents will really like it. I'll be adding it to booklists. 2 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and DC for the advance copy, which I received in exchange for an unbiased review. Mera: Tidebreaker will become available on 02 April.

The art is vibrant and beautiful!! It's safe to say I stared at each page for way longer than you're supposed to with a graphic novel but it's fine! 😋
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The story line was addicting and I tried to take my time with it so it wouldn't finish it too fast. The world I'd want to live in is definitely Xebel/Atlantis with the way Steven has drawn it!!🧜‍🌊 If only I could breathe underwater and not die...😵 haha!
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I loved that Mera had that feminist attitude like screw all these guys, I got this!! Throughout the comic, Mera wants to prove herself and become the warrior her mother was by killing the Atlantean heir Arthur Curry so that Xebellians are not under Atlantean rule. She leaves Xebel and adventures to the surface where crazy drama unfolds, where conflicts between love, duty, and freedom blur. Mera is a badass chick, let me tell you, and this has only made me more excited to see Aquaman in theaters on December 21st so that I can drool over Mera!!! A very big THANK YOU goes out to @dccomics for granting me access to a DRC!!🧜‍♀️

A quick, fun read likely to keep YA audiences entertained. There are a few pacing issues, particularly with the love story involving Princess Mera and Arthur. The first fifty or so pages of the GN feel slightly slower and more controlled, once Arthur is introduced there's a looseness that settles in over the narrative. I end up feeling like I haven't spent enough time with each character. Some of the prose can feel a little ham-handed and cliche in spots, but I am mindful that I'm not the target audience here. The latter portion of the GN feels more rushed than I wanted it to be because I think the narrative is being asked to do more work than it can provided the length of the novel. Relationship dynamics do not have the breathing room they deserve, and this ends up working counter to Danielle Paige's otherwise lovely work.

The idea that our parents do not understand us and have our lives planned out for us without considering our wants, needs, or desires are all themes that teenaged audiences will identify with. I think that's where Mera: Tidebreaker does some of its best work. Delving into why our parents might treat us a certain way or understanding how our memories of the past can influence how we see the present, these are themes which feel spot on for the demographic this book is created for. The most poignant message of this GN is that we are responsible for our own choices and we can choose another path, or change our mind when we get new information.

With the renewed popularity of Runaways, this story would be a good fit for students who enjoy that series. Mera plays by her own rules, trying to find a way to be a warrior, a princess and a rebel under Atlantian rule. She's tough and likable. I look forward to this series.

Mixed feelings about this title, which I think is either the first or the second in DC's new YA series. For better or for worse, it definitely reads like a YA novel! (But it's a graphic novel, not an illustrated novel; I wasn't sure about that until I actually opened the book.) Overall I think this style of writing does really work for an origin story, except that the romance between Mera and Arthur was VERY instalove and might have been less jarring if it had been spread out over more time. (In the space of a week this girl is ready to abandon her revolutionary principles and betray her country for a boy? No. For a moral principle, though, I would believe it, so the fact that it's framed as "but daddy I love him!!!" makes it more irritating.) The use of thought bubbles is weird and kind of cheating -- pick a POV character and stick with them! The art is great.

A promising start to a new series.

Fun, clever, and charming. The story is pretty simple and nothing truly new, but it gets the reader invested quickly and has some really sweet moments (the whales!) as well as some subtle humor.

The plot feels a little predictable at this point but I expect it to expand as the series eventually progresses.

Oh, and I LOVED the art.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a fascinating graphic novel about Mera's first moments on land and meeting Aquaman for the first time.

I read this quick read, thinking it would tie into Aquaman, but it was a completely different universe. I enjoyed seeing a young Arthur and Mera interact and what Mera's life was like under the sea. A good story for Aquaman fans.

I thought I would love Mera: Tidebreaker with its pitch of a strong female lead, romance, and unwater setting, but I didn’t. I was just bored. I never felt particularly invested in Mera journey. The other characters felt particularly one-dimensional and uninteresting. The romance between the two leads was very lackluster and unoriginal. The art was good though. I simply wanted more from this graphic novel.

I am not much of a graphic novel reader, but I enjoyed this quick read. I have been a fan of Danielle Paige because of the Dorothy Must Die series, and I found this one to be fun as well. Mera is a warrior princess, but definitely more warrior. She is sent on a mission that she thinks will be easy; until she actually meets her target. Could he really be as nice as he seems? She has to decide how to proceed and how to make peace between her world and his.

Danielle Paige has quickly became one of my favorite authors after reading the Dorothy Must Die series. She did a great job with Mera! I enjoyed this book very much!

Loved this! I enjoyed learning Merra's story. I loved the independence and fire of Mera! I appreciated that she was not a damsel-in-distress. I liked that she wanted to price that she could rule on her own, although she was impulsive and hot-headed. This is a great intro for girls and women who like superheros and comic books. I'm impressed with with the writing and artwork. I hope there is more to come.

After seeing Mera in the recently released movie from this ocean world, this graphic novel enhanced my appreciation of the bravery and initiative of this DC character, who previously knew very little about. This storyline is different from the movie, but this will not surprise those who are familiar with the difference of stories in print and movie adaptations. . Mera’s attempts to fit into human society was hilarious and mellowed out the instances when she was thinking about her darkish plan to gain the marine throne. I liked the inclusion of supportive female friends from her ocean life as well as the contrast between Arthur, future Aquaman, and her manipulative suitor, Larken. Not surprising, Byrne’s marine scenes were my favorite with their delightful colors, contrast, and featured animals. I also loved the contrast of Mera’s well-known red hair against the mostly muted colors of each panel. Paige’s story should expand Mera’s fandom among teens.

I received an e-galley from the publisher through Netgalley.com.
My reviews for and opinions to publishers, authors, and review sources are my own and not related to my employer.

Soon to be published by DC Ink in April 2019, the 192 page graphic novel Mera is not my thing. It is the origins series of Mera and Aquaman. It is interesting, The art is good. The story is so generic. Nay… it was EXTREMELY generic.
You know, girl clashes with father over an issue. Dad says no, she does it anyway and falls in love with somebody. They all sort it out and live happily-ever-after. That sort of thing.
Although the title is MERA: Tidebreaker, this is far too wrapped up in Aquaman. It also has romance in it, which is weird. The story is hard to follow and I had difficulty in understanding the pictures in the action bits – which were all very few. Overall, I was disappointed as I think that Mera is cool… but she deserves so much better. I think that the ending was also pretty anticlimactic.
ISBN: 9781401283391
I received a free e-ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.