Warning: Spoilers for Aquaman #1As a longtime DC fan, I was thrilled when Aquaman's new solo series was announced last year. I'd been waiting for the chance to see my favorite aquatic characters in action again, particularly Mera. However, the first installment of this saga has left much to be desired, as a change made to Mera's status quo diminishes her importance to Aquaman's story and disrespects one of DC's most underrated heroes.
Aquaman #1 by Jeremy Adams, Jeremy Adams, John Timms, Rex Lokus, and Dave Sharpe kicks off Aquaman's next journey, and there's a surprising twist from the outset. Aquaman has newfound hydrokinetic abilities at his disposal, which enable him to manipulate water, and he reveals that he's received this power from Mera.
Mera no longer has her hydrokinesis, robbing her of her superhero potential and forcing her to stand by as Aquaman uses her former powers. It's difficult to admit, but this change isn't handled particularly well here, and I believe that DC is wasting Mera as a result of it.
Aquaman Takes Mera's Hydrokinesis, Rendering One of DC's Strongest Heroes Powerless
Mera Loses Her Main Superpower After the Events of Absolute Power
The DC Universe faced a critical power overhaul in Absolute Power #4 by Mark Waid and Dan Mora, when they tried to recover their abilities after Amanda Waller stole them, but they inadvertently switched many characters' powers instead of returning each one to its proper host. This mistake has caused some heroes to lose their powers, such as Barry Allen's Flash, while others obtain new ones that they've borrowed from their peers. Mera is officially confirmed as another victim of this switch-up, as her hydrokinesis has been taken from her and bestowed upon none other than Aquaman.
In a particularly wild twist, one could say Aquaman is married to Black Manta—a statement that, despite sounding like fanfiction, is entirely true.
Aquaman not only possesses Mera's former superpowers, but he's also close to surpassing her, and I can't say I'm a fan of this development. Arthur carries out a rescue mission with his hydrokinesis in the opening scene of this issue by preventing a plane from crashing into the ocean. Once he's landed it safely, Mera says, "Even at the height of my powers, what you did would be...challenging."Mera has had decades of practice with these powers, even earning Batman's respect, yet Aquaman is already just as - if not more - proficient. Therein lies my main gripe: Mera has been downgraded for the singular purpose of upgrading Aquaman.
Mera's Power Loss Exposes the Sexism at the Heart of Aquaman's New Era
Despite Being a Queen and a Hero, Mera Is Treated as Lesser Than Aquaman
With Aquaman fighting battles that Mera is no longer able to, she is relegated to watching their baby as Aquaman embarks on daring missions and kingly duties. In-universe, their role reversal is a coincidence, but I understand as a reader that real-life storytellers make these choices consciously. Aquaman himself didn't intend to steal Mera's powers, but DC chose to rob Mera of her powers and hand them to Arthur instead. Aquaman's power-up, as exciting as it is on a surface level, is thus the byproduct of a woman being cast aside to prop up a man.
Mera recently showed off her hydrokinesis alongside the Justice League in Batman / Santa Claus: Silent Knight Returns #2 by Jeff Parker and Lukas Ketner.
Mera is one of the Justice League's best fighters, so it's frustrating to see her get sidelined to this extent, and her powerlessness isn't where the mistreatment stops. As the Queen of Atlantis, she should be closely involved in the meetings Aquaman attends throughout this issue. Instead, she sees him off while tending to their child, despite caretakers having watched Andrina in the past so that Mera can devote time to ruling beside her husband. Mera has served as Atlantis' queen with and without Arthur over the years, but here, she's depicted as a wife and mother alone.
DC Downgrading Mera Continues Its Trend of Wasting Female Superheroes
From Heroes to Love Interests, The Women of DC Aren't Always Treated Fairly
The DC Universe is full of powerful female heroes, but Mera is one of many who isn't treated as well as she deserves. For instance, Carol Ferris is a character with impressive superpowers as a Violet Lantern. Since she returned as Star Sapphire in Green Lantern #12, however, she's been written as a rookie who lacks control over her abilities. In actuality, Star Sapphire helped Green Lantern save the world in the Blackest Night event, and that story is far from the only time she's used her Power Ring for good. She's now less skilled so that Green Lantern can outshine her, and the same is happening to Mera.
Star Sapphire has joined the Justice League in DC's All In era, finally living up to her heroic potential. To see what she's up to now, check out Justice League Unlimited #1 by Mark Waid and Dan Mora, available now from DC Comics!
Another example that's reminiscent of this disappointing portrayal of Mera is Linda Park-West, the wife of the Flash. Although Linda doesn't traditionally have abilities of her own, she received a temporary super-speed power boost while pregnant with her and Wally West's third child. She became a superhero alongside the Flash-Family until she gave birth in The Flash #798 and lost her speed. Most would be written to express some degree of sadness over this change, but Linda simply smiles and never addresses it again. Just as Linda's feelings about being de-powered are ignored to focus on the male superhero in her life, so too are Mera's.
Mera Deserves to Play a More Prominent Role in Aquaman's Latest Story
As Queen of Atlantis, Mera Should Be More Than a Damsel in Distress
Unfortunately, for the time being, there is no indication that Mera's role in this series will be elevated. In fact, the issue's events suggest that Mera won't be featured much at all in the coming months. At the end of Aquaman #1, Arthur discovers that Atlantis has been destroyed, and his family - including Mera - has vanished with it. Her absence fuels Aquaman's pain and drives him to investigate a mysterious pearl in hopes of bringing back his fallen kingdom, reducing her to a "damsel in distress". With Mera gone, any hope that she would ascend to prominence has been squandered - for now, at least.
Mera being stripped of her powers has also stripped her of her importance in Aquaman lore, and DC needs to rectify this error by giving one of its best characters her due respect.
Mera has been a vital part of Aquaman's narrative since her debut in 1963, always fighting valiantly by his side when he needs her. Arthur and Mera are the King and Queen of Atlantis, and they should therefore be regarded as equals. An argument to the contrary might be that the story is titled Aquaman, so the focus on him is warranted, but Mera doesn't need to steal Arthur's thunder to play an integral role. Simply put, I feel there are better directions to take her in than draining her powers for Aquaman's benefit and tossing her to the side.
If this story cannot exist without Aquaman taking Mera's powers, then there are still ways she could be included in his adventures. Aside from letting her enact queenly duties, Adams could explore her emotional response to losing her hydrokinesis. For example, I'd love to see a glimpse of jealousy or longing while she watches Arthur perform feats she once could, thereby affirming that she's retained her depth. Ultimately, Mera being stripped of her powers has also stripped her of her importance in Aquaman lore, and DC needs to rectify this error by giving one of its best characters her due respect.
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