Y'Mera Xebella Challa, simply known as Mera, is the princess of Xebel, the queen of Atlantis, the wife of Arthur Curry and the mother of Arthur Curry, Jr..
History
Early Life
Princess Mera
Born in the underwater kingdom of Atlantis, the princess Y'Mera Xebella Challa was born to Nereus, the king of the Xebelians, and an unnamed woman. While her parents fought in the Xebelian wars, Mera was cared for and trained by the queen of Atlantis, Atlanna, forming a great bond, before Nereus returned, discovering that his mother had died during the wars. Following Atlanna's presumed death, Mera was forced to marry Atlanna's successor and son, Orm Marius, who had a deep hatred for the surface, unlike Mera, who was trying to find a way to prevent a possible war led by Orm.[1][3]
The Steppenwolf's Invasion
In 2015, due to the death of the Kryptonian hero, Superman, Mera and the Atlanteans felt the awakening of the Mother Box, an object of great power that was acquired by the Atlanteans thousands of years ago, began to shake, confusing Mera for the situation. Two years later, Mera returned to the Atlantis Fortress, where a guard informed her that Orm had not sent any reinforcements to protect the Mother Box.
Fightning against Steppenwolf
After this, the New God Steppenwolf appeared in the place through a Boom Tube, attacking the guards. Mera rushed to generate an air bubble before Steppenwolf got the Box. When he recovered, he attacked Mera, who generated another air bubble. While being subdued, Mera confronted Steppenwolf, using her powers to draw all the water out of him, only to be thrown back. About to be killed by Steppenwolf, Arthur Curry, also known as Aquaman, Atlanna's half-blood son, appeared to stop him and engage Steppenwolf in battle, who managed to get the box. Mera then created a bubble, where she expressed her displeasure at finally showing up in Atlantean territory. Before Arthur left, Mera revealed that Atlanna had raised her. After claiming that Atlanna left him for his own good, Mera tried to convince Curry to face Steppenwolf, only for he to leave the venue without saying anything.
Later, Mera along with other Atlanteans felt the tremor of the three Mother Boxes uniting by Steppenwolf to create the Unity and destroy the Earth for the arrival of their master, Lord Darkseid, however, Steppenwolf was defeated and killed by Arthur, who fought with Atlanna's trident and the Justice League, a newly formed team of superheroes. Soon after, Mera and the royal advisor, Vulko, met with Arthur to thank him, sharing glances with him before he returned to Amnesty Bay, Maine.[3]
War against Ocean Master
Mera recruits Arthur
Months later, Mera learned of Orm's plans to attack the surface and start a war, forcing her to go to Maine to ask Arthur for help and claim the throne as Atlanna would have wanted, but Arthur was reluctant to the idea because it was the Atlanteans who killed his mother. When a tsunami occurred, Mera protected Arthur and saved his father, Tom Curry, warning that Orm's attack was worldwide, which encouraged Arthur to join her in stopping his stepbrother. The morning after the attack, Mera guided Arthur under the sea, taking him to his underwater ship and taking him for the first time to Atlantis, a kingdom that surprised Arthur after seeing it completely.
Inside Atlantis, Mera and Arthur entered the sunken galleon, where they met Vulko, who, after greeting the duo, explained that Orm had secretly orchestrated the attack on the surface and an attack on the fortress, which convinced Nereus to join his war. In order to stop Orm and make Arthur the new king, Mera and Arthur learned that they must go on a journey to find King Atlan's legendary trident, which would make him respected by the seven Atlantean kingdoms and the power of all sea creatures, but the talk was interrupted by several Atlantean soldiers, which caused Mera and Vulko to have to escape to find out, leaving Arthur, who was captured.
Escape from Atlantis
As if nothing had happened, Mera and Vulko headed to the royal palace, watching Orm threaten Arthur for coming, refusing to stop their war over the contamination made by humanity, but when Arthur indirectly challenged him to a duel, Mera suggested teach him the customs of his battle. Before the duel, Mera received a bracelet from Orm as a wedding gift and watched the match, claiming her father for joining Orm. Before Orm killed Arthur in the Ring of Fire, Mera did not have to stop Orm, rescuing Arthur from his death, escaping together in their underwater ship, being pursued by Orm and his guards. During the chase, Mera argued with Arthur for altering the plan, using her weaponry to evade enemy ships until being shot by Orm in a fit of rage, though the duo were able to survive and enter a whale, faking their deaths to Orm.
As the first stop to find the trident, Mera and Arthur traveled to the Sahara Desert from a plane, launching into a desert while discussing love. The duo were able to find the Kingdom of Deserters, discovering Atlan's holographic message, which gave the direction for his trident, deducing that it was in Sicily, Italy. Exploring the city, Mera began to fall in love with the surface, befriending several humans and beginning to have romantic feelings for Arthur, with whom she continued to investigate the clue left behind by Atlan to "find the true king".
Chased by the Orm's soldiers
In their search, Mera and Arthur realized that the true king was the first king of Rome, Romulus, placing a bottle in his hand, discovering where the trident was, however, several Atlantean soldiers appeared to capture Mera after learning of their survival, being led by Arthur's vengeful enemy, Black Manta. Quickly, Mera was chased by Captain Murk and his subordinates throughout the city until she fell into a liquor store, where Mera used her powers with wine to knock down the soldiers. After Black Manta's defeat, Mera went to Arthur to help him, learning that Orm's bracelet was tracking them, Mera destroyed it, taking Arthur to a boat she stole.
On their boat ride, Mera chatted with Arthur, listening to his concern for her, the creation of Black Manta as a enemy, and his doubts about whether he would be a great king, though Mera consoled him, stating that he would be a worthy king. In the middle of the sea, Mera and Arthur were hit by the Trench, Atlanteans turned into monsters, who tried to kill them, forcing the duo to escape under the Kingdom of the Trench, surviving with a red flare and taken to an island. On the island, Mera and Arthur discover Atlanna alive, learning that she was exiled and left for dead by her ex-husband and former king, Orvax Marius. Supporting Arthur, Mera and Atlanna asked him to take the trident accordingly, confronting the sea creature that protected it, Karathen, watching in amazement at Arthur with the trident and Atlan's armor.
Love during the War
As planned, Mera and Arthur, with control of all sea creatures, including the Trench and Karathen, headed towards the Kingdom of the Brine, facing the army of Orm, who became the Ocean Master, managing to defeat several soldiers. To overthrow the Ocean Master, Mera passionately kissed Arthur, motivating him to defeat his stepbrother while Mera confronted Nereus to respect Arthur as the true king, which he did, and she rescued Vulko from captivity, watching the duel between the two kings. After Arthur defeated Orm and let him live, Mera and Vulko reunited the kingdoms of Atlantis to name Arthur the true king of Atlantis, and Mera began a love relationship with Arthur, helping him protect the kingdom from any threat.[1]
Becoming Queen
In the 4 years following the arrest and imprisonment of Orm, Arthur and Mera found themselves getting married and later on, Mera discovered she was pregnant. Eventually, Mera would give birth to a son named Arthur Curry, Jr. in the surf near the lighthouse, with the aid of her mother-in-law, Atlanna, while Tom filmed it. Both she and Arthur would then spend time on both land and sea, performing their duties as Atlantis' monarchs, as well as parents to Jr.[4]
Alternate Future
Notes on concept art of the Knightmare by Jim Lee state that it takes place five years after the end of Zack Snyder's Justice League, placing it in alternate 2022. Arthur and Mera apparently never got married and their son was never born.
Crusade for Revenge
In a horrific alternate timeline, Darkseid returned to Earth and slaughtered Superman's fiancée, Lois Lane. Using the mind-controlling Anti-Life Equation, he brought Superman over to his side by making him feel his former teammate and nocturne vigilante, Batman, was responsible for her death. During Darkseid's massacre, Mera watched Arthur and Vulko die, inheriting his trident, before allying with Batman to find a way to alter the past. Staying hidden, Mera and Batman's team, the Insurgency, regrouped to carry out a plan, watching the argument between Batman and his arch-nemesis, the Joker, before being confronted by the evil Superman.[3]
Powers and Abilities
Powers
- Atlantean Physiology
- Amphibian
- Superhuman Strength
- Superhuman Durability
- Superhuman Speed
- Enhanced Vision: Mera is able to see perfectly in the pitch black ocean.[3]
- Hydrokinesis
Abilities
Paraphernalia
Equipment
- Atlantean armor
Transportation
- Ship (Formerly) (Destroyed)
Notes
- This version of the character is exclusive to the continuity of the DC Extended Universe and is an adaptation of Mera. The original character was created by Jack Miller and Nick Cardy and first appeared in Aquaman #11.
- Mera was portrayed by Amber Heard.
Trivia
- While Mera speaks in an American accent in the theatrical Justice League, she speaks in a British accent in Zack Snyder's Justice League.
Related
- 6 Appearances of Mera (DC Extended Universe)
- 15 Images featuring Mera (DC Extended Universe)
- 1 Quotations by or about Mera (DC Extended Universe)
- Character Gallery: Mera (DC Extended Universe)
Footnotes