| “ | You will kill no more children. NEVER AGAIN. | „ |
| ~ Mera to her sister, Hila. |
| “ | The absence of water is not my weakness. It's all of yours. | „ |
| ~ Prime Earth Mera. |
Mera is a fictional character and superheroine appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, appearing as one of the major characters of the Aquaman comics.
Created by Jack Miller and Nick Cardy, the character first appeared in Aquaman #11 (September 1963) as a queen of the sea. Mera was ranked 81st in Comics Buyer's Guide's "100 Sexiest Women in Comics" list.
Overview[]
Mera of Xebel is an Atlantean and famous love interest and wife of Aquaman. She hails from the penal colony of Xebel in the Bermuda Triangle of Atlantean exiles and was tasked with the mission to kill the King of Atlantis before she abandoned her quest when she met and fell in love with Aquaman. Mera has been at Aquaman's side ever since proving to be his most valuable partner in battle and in life.
Biography[]
The first major development which occurred to Mera was the death of their child Arthur Curry Jr, who was murdered by Black Manta. Mera began to resent that the father was not by the son when he died (as the son died a short time later while they tried to save his life.)
The two eventually came to a violent confrontation in which Aquaman assumed that Mera had died, but it was later revealed that Thantos had brainwashed her. She was held in a hellish dimension known as the Netherworld. She was eventually freed by her husband. The two remained estranged and she even ruled as Queen during his exile. Arthur had also begun a relationship with Dolphin for a time, but he would eventually reunite with Mera.
Atlantis was sent back in time by Tempest during the Imperiex War. It was later restored with the help of the Justice League of America. She later showed up shortly before Aquaman’s death in One Year Later. After these events she regained her full abilities and formed a rebel army with the new Aquaman with the goal of rebuilding Atlantis after its destruction at the hands of the Spectre. During Blackest Night, a group of Atlanteans including Mera attempt to retrieve the body of Aquaman to return it to the royal tomb. She is shocked to discover he has been returned to life as a Black Lantern, and was later joined by Dolphin and Tula(Aquagirl.) In the end the remainder of the Atlanteans are killed and Garth is brought back as a Black Lantern as well. Black Lantern Aquaman tempts her with their deceased child but she flees and joins forces with the Atom and the Flash. She is eventually deputized as a Red Lantern, which increased her power substantially. When Arthur was subsequently revived, her red ring separated itself from her, leaving her in cardiac arrest, but Saint Walker and Carol Ferris were able to save her.
During the events of Brightest Day the two of them rekindle their love and the two began to work together, notably saving a group of children from abduction, but they are confused as Aquaman can summon zombie version of marine wildlife. Soon after she is forced to reveal to Aquaman her true history, that she was originally sent to kill him.
New 52[]
Mera's origin has been changed for the New 52, as she was an alien from a different dimension before, now she is from Xebel, one of the seven underwater kingdoms. She is the daughter of the King of Xebel and like all Xebelians she grew up hating Atlantis for all it stood for. Mera received intense training over the years to make her the perfect warrior, tasked with the mission to kill the Atlantean King. However after Mera learns that Arthur is no tyrant and what a nice man he is, she falls in love with him, forgetting all about her mission for good. Her character with New52 is that of fiercely Independent woman, quick tempered and quite Hawkish in her approach but she doesn't hesitate to fight to protect innocent human beings and Atlanteans. Beneath the standoffish exterior there is a very compassionate and caring woman who is very Arthur centred. She sacrificed all turning her back on her people, nation and family to be with him. Her world revolves round her partner and her desire is to lead a life with him, away from the intrigues of Atlanteans politics.
In the New 52, Mera is initially the fiancee of Arthur Curry, The couple had decided to pursue a life on the surface in Amnesty Bay, after Arthur decided to abdicate the throne in favour of his half brother Orm. Mera was only to happy to leave Atlantis, since she wasn't welcomed due to her xebelian background, the dislike Atlanteans showed her she reciprocated. She struggles to adapt to life on the surface, especially when faced by diffidence and lack of appreciation from surface dwellers, She feels they don't deserve Arthur's concern for them. Gradually she would come to appreciate life on the surface and that not all humans are mean.
Amnesty Bay is one day attacked by mysterious carnivorous creatures called The Trench, this prompted Arthur and Mera to defend the town and push back these creatures. Knowing that the creatures would probably return, they follow them into their lair that was in the Marianas Trench. Here they discover that these creatures are what remains of one of the ancient tribes of Atlantis and who have regressed into these savage creatures. To avoid loss of human lifes, reluctantly Arthur and Mera decide to entrap these creatures under a tectonic plate.
Mera is involved directly in the war that eventually takes place for the Throne of Atlantis, which breaks out after Orm and the Atlanteans attack the surface, which transforms into a major crisis involving the entire Justice League. To stop his half brother, Arthur fights Orm in a duel for the throne and defeats him, thus ordering the Atlanteans to retreat. However Mera decides not to follow him back to Atlantis and she stays at Amnesty Bay. Not that her dealings with surface dwellers are plain sailing, in one instance after she is sexually harassed by a man whom she breaks his arm which leads to a confrontation with the local police. Soon after this accident Mera is faced and imprisoned by a mysterious entity which turns out to be the Dead King, Atlan the revived first King of Atlantis, He has returned to claim his kingdoms which leads to various confrontations involving Atlantis, Xebel, the Trench and a discovery of ancient secret that led to the hatred of the Dead king towards the rulers of Atlantis. After many setbacks, amongst which Atlantis falling to the Dead King, Arthur and Mera lead the revolt that finally defeats for good the Dead king. This time although reluctantly Mera decides to return to Atlantis, for Arthur's sake to be his Queen.
When Arthur has to attend to his duties as member of the Justice League, Mera is often in charge in Atlantis, although initially the Atlantean elders aren't happy at taking orders from a Xebelian. Mera is at one time faced by an assassination attempt at the hands by Atlantean rebels who oppose Arthur's rule which she and Tula manage to defeat. She joins Arthur on a mission to find out what really happened to his mother, which will lead to the discovery that the former Queen is alive living on the hidden island of Pacifica. At first Atlanna is weary to believe he is her son, but eventually impressed by the devotion of Arthur and Mera to each other, Convinced that he was her son, she gives Arthur her Royal signet through which his authority over Atlantis would be recognized.
Skills[]
Powers[]
Mera possesses considerable superhuman strength (carrying capacity of at least 70 tons). She has been shown as strong enough to lift an entire section of an Atlantean ship with dozens of people still attached to it. She can easily leap hundreds of yards, and effortlessly rip through metal barriers. Her Hydrokinetic powers (called aquakinesis) allow her to control bodies of water and create "hard water" constructs. Her powers are such that she is the most powerful Aqua Kinetic ever recorded, to an extent that the she managed to have various tsunamis moved against a magical barrier that was imprisoning Atlantis. Her most lethal power is her ability to drain body fluids from any living creature.
Since her body is adapted to survive the tremendous pressures of the ocean depths, besides superhuman strength, she has superhuman durability and even survive the immensely hot environment below the Earth's surface. She also has enhanced hearing and can see through the pitch darkness of the ocean depths.
Abilities[]
Mera can swim much faster than normal Atlanteans or Xebelians. Her swimming is boosted by her advanced level of water manipulation. She is on Aquaman's level if not surpassing those of her partner, which would make her one of the fastest swimmers in the DC universe, and able to 'cruise' through the water at a rate of at least 300mph. Her top speed is still unknown.
As heiress to the throne of Xebel, She has been trained in the arts of politics, leadership and diplomacy which will eventually convince even the elders of Atlantis to make her Queen in her own right. Since childhood Mera was also trained in various arts of combat making her an accomplished and deadly warrior.
Weaknesses[]
Earlier stories placed some limits on Mera's abilities, such as susceptibility to lead. However, her main weakness was her struggle with mental insanity, made more apparent after A.J.'s death. Once suspected to be the lingering effect of the psychotic breakdown suffered for the loss of her only son, with Mera blaming Arthur for his shortcomings. After the events of Flashpoint, She no longer struggles with mental instability.
As a Red Lantern, removing her power ring causes her cardiac arrest.
Portrayals[]
Films[]
- In the DC Extended Universe, she is portrayed by Amber Heard.
- In Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Aquaman: Rage of Atlantis, she was voiced by Susan Eisenberg.
- In DC Super Hero Girls: Legends of Atlantis, she was voiced by Erica Lindbeck, who also voiced Queen Amelia in Barbie: Princess Adventure and Cassie Cage in Mortal Kombat 11.
Television[]
- In The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure, she was voiced by Diane Maddox.
- In Justice League, she was voiced by Kristin Bauer.
- In Batman: The Brave and the Bold, she was voiced by Sirena Irwin.
- In Smallville, she was portrayed by Elena Satine.
- In Young Justice, she was voiced by Kath Soucie.
Gallery[]
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Trivia[]
- She only used the alias Aquawoman briefly, as it called by her real name in public.
- Mera from the DCEU is based on the New 52 version.
