The book takes place in the thick of the Atlantis-Xebel conflict and recasts Xebel as the oppressed colony of the Atlantean empire. The color scheme is an Aquaman easter egg, of course, but it also gives the book a unique, dreamy look that works especially well in the Xebel-set scenes. Paired with colorist David Calderon, Byrne reinvents his style with a minimalist approach that uses only green, orange, and white palettes. Much of this OGN takes place underwater, and that’s where Stephen Byrne’s art shines most. I think that might actually be a smart choice, though – fantasy author Danielle Paige has a freer hand with the character than she would with a bigger name, and she makes the most of it. So the choice of a launch title is a bit surprising – the lead character is Mera, sea warrior and frequent love interest of Aquaman who only got her first starring role a few months back. The upcoming lineup is VERY Gotham-heavy – besides a Wonder Woman project, future books are slated to feature Batman, Catwoman, Harley Quinn, Oracle, and Cassandra Cain. The DC Ink line is one of the most promising new initiatives to come out of DC Comics in years, uniting some of the biggest all-stars in Young Adult literature to reinvent DC icons in stories free of continuity geared towards the bookstore market.

Mera: Tidebreaker – Danielle Paige, Writer Stephen Byrne, Artist David Calderon, Colorist Joshua Reed, Letterer Ray – 8.5/10 This story wasn't ground-breaking or overly complex, but was still enjoyable and one I can recommend to readers from ages 9-19 without worry, and can also seeing adults enjoying it as long as they don't try to compare it, and instead are willing to accept it for what it is, a YA teen story about a girl trying to find her place.Mera: Tidebreaker cover, via DC Comics. I know there seems to be a push for 'older' characters and situations in YA lately, but this one tends to fall back more to the YA when it started to really get noticed, and I loved the somewhat simpler style that tells the story that teens can read and enjoy without being asked to grow-up too fast. I enjoyed the artwork, and the story is easily one that YA readers would enjoy.

While it's definitely YA and for the teen crowd, I enjoyed reading Mera's story, and seeing this adaptation. I don't read graphic novels or comics as often, but with all the movies, I've started to find that I do enjoy the stories.

Mera tidebreaker