Mera: Tidebreaker Paperback
Princess Mera is teenage royalty and heir to the throne of Xebel, a penal 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....
Age Range: 12 - 14 years
Grade Level: 7 - 9
- Paperback: 192 pages
When the Xebellian military plots to overthrow Atlantis and break free of its oppressive regime, Mera seizes the opportunity to take control over 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 Mera's side, or will he die under her blade as she attempts to free her people from persecution?
An astonishing graphic novel that explores duty, love, heroism and freedom, all through the eyes of readers' favorite undersea royalty.
From New York Times best-selling author Danielle Paige (Dorothy Must Die) and artist Stephen Byrne comes a Mera and Aquaman origin story that explores Mera's first steps on land, and her first steps as a hero or villain, forcing her to choose to follow her heart or her mission to kill.
Watch the Promotional Video here:
An interview with Danielle Paige
Danielle Paige is the New York Times bestselling author of the Dorothy Must Die series and the Stealing Snow series.
Tell Us About Mera: Tidebreaker. Mera grows up as the daughter of the king of Xebel, a colony of Atlantis. Instead of marrying the boy her father expects her to, Mera sets off on her own to kill the future king of Atlantis, Arthur Curry (a.k.a. Aquaman). She is hoping to secure her claim on her father’s crown and to take revenge on Atlantis for years of perceived oppression. But when she meets Arthur, she begins to question all that she has been told to believe. She ultimately falls for him and has to choose between her mission and her heart.
What Made You Want To Tell This Story? Mera herself! I grew up loving the DC Universe! I was less familiar with Mera’s backstory, but the more I learned about her, the more I connected with her and wanted to tell her story—and the more epic it felt. Mera’s conflict between her history and her heart is just as epic as Wonder Woman’s or Batman’s or Superman’s, and I felt honored to get to write it!
What Did You Think When You First Saw Completed Illustrations? I believe there was some squee-ing! Seeing Mera in the “hero pose” was huge for me! Stephen’s work is beautiful, but more than that, the Mera on the page feels like the girl I saw in my head—smart, brave, funny, and determined.
What Do You Hope Fans Take Away From Your Story? I have gotten to read a few of the other DC Ink and DC Zoom titles, and while they are all so diverse, I think they all share a common theme that relates to all young people: what it means to be a hero. Whatever your upbringing, whatever your circumstances, you can grow up to be a hero.
