School Library Journal Review
Gr 6 Up-This latest DC Universe reboot reintroduces fans to Mera. The daughter of the dethroned Xebel king, she's a princess without a people. Atlantis has ruled the Xebellians for as long as Mera can remember. Though those around her focus mostly on her beauty and marital prospects, Mera's no damsel awaiting a prince-she spends her days training to be a great warrior and ruler like her deceased mother. So when Mera overhears her father say that whoever kills the long-lost Atlantean king will one day be the Xebel ruler, she decides to claim the honor, and the throne, for herself. Her target is Arthur Curry, a mild-mannered teen living with his father in a lighthouse in Amnesty Bay, ME. He doesn't know about the existence of underwater kingdoms, let alone his own birthright. But the two begin to fall for each other, making Mera's mission nearly impossible. What could have been a bland "When Aquaman Met Mera" love story is a powerful tale about the fruitlessness of war. Byrne's dynamic art uses murky blues and greens to evoke the Atlantic Ocean and coastal setting, Mera's red hair standing out. Paige devotes a bit too much of the narrative to the romance, and mermaid enthusiasts may be a little frustrated with how much time is spent on land, but hopefully later volumes will bring Mera back to the sea, where she belongs. VERDICT An exciting and romantic look at a lesser-known superhero, for DC comics followers and newcomers alike.-Anna -Murphy, Berkeley Carroll School, Brooklyn © Copyright 2019. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Paige (the Dorothy Must Die series) details the story of the water-dwelling Xebel heir Princess Mera's initial meeting with Aquaman-Arthur Curry, the Prince of Atlantis. Tired of living under the harsh rulings and prejudices inflicted upon penal colony Xebel under Atlantean rule, Mera wants nothing more than to protect her people, and she's convinced that she can do this best by assuming the throne. After her father seems to choose for his successor Mera's unwanted betrothed (and ex-lover) Larken, Mera decides she will stop at nothing to get her chance at the crown. All she needs is the head of the Prince of Atlantis. But when she meets him, he isn't the cruel Atlantean she expected. Suddenly torn about carrying out her mission, Mera is faced with the difficult decision of following her heart or her ambitions. Byrne's detailed illustrations capture Mera's connection to the water in shades of blues and greens. Though it would have been all too easy for Paige and Byrne to focus on the well-known Aquaman origin story, the panels concentrate directly on Mera. Paige avoids employing the distressed female protagonist, instead providing a strong warrior princess who does the rescuing. Ages 13-up. (Apr.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
A feisty undersea princess must choose between love and duty.Bestselling author Paige (The Queen of Oz, 2017, etc.) reinvents Mera, the fierce, fiery-tressed heir to the throne of Xebel, an undersea realm ruled by the Atlanteans. The Xebellians yearn to be free of the Atlantean reign and plot to kill their missing royal heir, Arthur Curry (also known as Aquaman), who has been living among the humans. Singularly focused Mera comes to the surface to murder him but is ultimately touched by his intrinsic kindness. As Xebel and Atlantean tensions crescendo and romantic feelings grow, will Mera be able to slaughter the boy she now loves? Paige has rendered a sassy, take-no-prisoners heroine who may look like Disney's Ariel but who is imbued with grit and substance. Artist Byrne's tidy illustrations utilize a spare color palette, with cool gray marine tones save for the dramatic splashes of Mera's red hair. Arthur and Mera's backstory in the DC Universe is rather intricate, and while this volume explains it as well as possible, certain details are still a bit hazy. Those turned off by insta-love may want to pass; Mera and Arthur's relationship and its ensuing tension are easily foreseen. Nearly all main characters are white and straight, however secondary and background characters portray a sampling of different skin tones and orientations.Though a bit convoluted, this mashup puts a fresh spin on a lesser-known superhero. (Graphic fiction. 12-18) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Mera is the princess and successor to the throne of Xebel, a nation under the rule of Atlantis. Mera's mother was a warrior killed in battle, and her father tries to protect her from the same fate. Eager to prove herself, she secretly takes on the task of killing Arthur Curry, unknowing heir of Atlantis, until she realizes she loves him more than she hates his lineage. Mera is a compelling, easy-to-admire character. She readily proves her worthiness as a warrior, and readers will see in her plenty of parallels to Wonder Woman. The forbidden love theme plays out in the contention between the Xebellians and Atlanteans (and, more specifically, Arthur and Mera), which bears more than a passing resemblance to that of the Montagues and Capulets. Mera's and her family members' red hair is the focus of the illustrations, since it is the brightest thing in each of Byrne's muted, bluish-gray panels. What with Aquaman's introduction in last year's Justice League movie and his own feature to pique extra interest, this graphic novel is likely to be a hit.--Suzanne Temple Copyright 2019 Booklist