Annax Mera Nereus is High King of Atlantis, Princess of Xebel, headmistress of the Conservatory of Sorcery and was the Atlantean Minister of Magic. She is Lord Orin's wife, and mother of Artur. She was Queen of Atlantis while her husband was High King, before he passed the crown on to her.
Queen Mera takes the appearance of a slender woman with an angular face and green eyes. She has long red hair caught up in a ponytail, and wears an India green halterneck top that exposes her midriff, and a matching pareo around her waist. The top and pareo are fastened together with a golden ring. Queen Mera also wears a golden crow-like tiara with green protuberances that frame her face, and an India green usekh-style collar with a golden piece at the center. The outfit is completed with a harlequin translucent veil underneath her pareo and around her shoulders, strapped to her collar. When she uses the full extent of her powers, glowing tentacle-tattoos appear around her arms and on her cheeks.
While training her top students Garth and Tula, Kaldur'ahm returned to Atlantis. She was overjoyed to see him again, saying she'd missed him since his departure to the surface world.
At the banquet later that day, she informed Aqualad, Tula and her brother-in-law Prince Orm that she and Aquaman were expecting their first child.
The festivities however were cut short that night as Atlantis was attacked by Black Manta. Despite her pregnancy and the pleas of her subjects to get to safety for the sake of herself and the child, Queen Mera helped in defending her people, with her impressive magical and water manipulating abilities.[2]
Mera was elated to meet Aqualad's friends, Miss Martian and Superboy, when he brought them for a visit to Atlantis. Orm thought it wiser to limit her time with strangers, since she carried the future ruler of the realm.[3]
Poseidonis September 6, 23:45UTC-2
Asleep in her quarters, Mera was attacked by purists.[3]Ocean-Master stunned her with his trident, and ordered the purists to take her to his hideout.[3]
Mera was chained to a table in front of Ocean-Master's throne. Despite her pleas for her life and that of her unborn child, the villain drained her of her life-force and magic. He admitted to her that his plan was not purely to rid Poseidonis of its impure elements, but to cause a civil war. It was overheard by Ronal, who with Aqualad and his friends' help, turned the tide. Mera was freed, and restored to full power when Garth's tempest power caused Ocean-Master to lose grip of the trident. Mera was safe, but Ocean-Master got away.[4]
Poseidonis September 7, 07:01UTC-2
With her husband back at her side, Mera thanked Aqualad and his friends for saving her life.[4]
Mera attended the annual conference between representatives of the eight Atlantean city states. The meeting ended somewhat abruptly after it became clear that Xebel had failed to send a representative. Orin urged Mera to contact her father to get him to send someone for the start of proper talks the next day. Mera checked on her son outside before going to talk to her father.[8]
The conference resumed with the arrival of Bishop Beluga representing Xebel. The delegates discussed recent conflicts between states, the effects of climate change on ocean food chains, and the wealth gap between Poseidonis and the other city states. As Orin acknowledged the delegates concerns, the conference, and Poseidonis as a whole, came under attack by Ocean-Master. Empowered by Neptune's Trident, Ocean-Master proved a superior foe even while greatly outnumbered, and easily swatted back attacks by Mera, Orin, Kaldur, the delegates and the palace guards. Ocean-Master was finally defeated by a hooded stranger with powerful magic, causing Ocean-Master to quickly flee. The stranger disappeared before the others could recover. Mera mentioned a seemingly relevant prophecy, but Orin urged her not to speak of it. Orin and Mera looked out over the devastated city.[8]
Mera counselled Orin in the throne room. They discussed the unrest caused by those who felt The Prophecy of the One True King was coming to pass. Orin had Mera recite the exact wording of the prophecy, and noted that events might have fit too well, suggesting Orm might have set up the savior to appear to fulfil the prophecy. Mera noted that the stranger did have real magic power. Orin ordered Mera to have the Widowhood make the search for the stranger their top priority.
A great pillar of fire appeared just outside the city. Mera was alerted by Madame Xanadu and rushed out to confront the threat. The pillar was a creation of a new Chaos Lord, and it was generating red waters that killed anything it touched. As Mera attempted to quell the pillar, she had Kaldur take over their protective shield. Ocean-Master then arrived and offered his help, using Neptune's Trident to reinforce Mera's construct. Even Ocean-Master's help was not enough, but then the hooded stranger arrived, and together the three extinguished the pillar. Ocean-Master immediately attacked Kaldur and Mera, knocking Kaldur out, but the stranger prevented further attack, and took the trident from Orm, and passed it on to Mera. Orin then easily apprehended Orm. As a crowd gathered whispering of a prophecy, the stranger reluctantly revealed himself to be Arion. The crowd quickly began chanting Arion's name.[9]
At the Science Center, Mera oversaw the tests to confirm Arion's identity. Though the magic and DNA testing was not conclusive, it was consistent with his story. They discussed the possibility of recovering Arion's crown, but Arion felt it must be buried beyond reach beneath Xebel.
Mera and Orin discussed the increasing civil unrest in Arion's name, particularly in Xebel, which Mera noted was ironic given her father's own efforts to distance his people from Orin. Orin tasked Kaldur with a covert mission to explore a pocket ocean detected underneath Xebel by the Watchtower, in search of Arion's crown.[10]
Mera was present when a suspicious Orin ordered Blubber to examine Ocean-Master's helmet to determine if the Orm they had captured was really him. Orin then left the kingdom in Mera's hands as he went in search of answers.
Orin returned to the palace and spoke with Mera in the throne room. He explained the evidence for his doubts about Orm, which were confirmed when Blubber arrived with DNA test results confirming this Orm was a clone. Orin did not believe that the appearance of the Orm clone and Arion at the same time was a coincidence, and wished to speak with Arion again, but Mera informed him that he and Chian had disappeared while he was gone.[10]
As public unrest grew, Mera, Orin, Lori Lemaris and Nanaue Sha'ark went to the palace in Xebel to discuss the growing crisis. Ryus Nereus blamed Orin and Mera, claiming that their failure to govern outside of Poseidonis had led to public discontent.
With the other representatives calling in, Orin opened the Conference of Delegates. It quickly became clear that they intended to elect a new High King, just as Arion and Chian arrived at the palace. Though Mera urged him not to allow it, Orin stated he was not a dictator. With all the other delegates voting for Arion, save Nereus who voted for himself, Orin reluctantly agreed to transfer power.
Mera looked on as Arion gave a public address. After Kaldur and his squad arrived with Arion's crown, Arion took it and put on the crown, and was immediately disintegrated by the Lords of Order. Mera took this as proof that Arion was not the One True King, and crowned her husband once more. But Orin refused the crown, believing that it was Mera who satisfied the prophecy. The Atlantean crowds quickly agreed, as did the delegates. Though Mera was uncertain, Orin explained that the crown had never sat well on him, but that Mera had been born and raised to rule. Mera addressed the crowd, promising to bring all the Atlantean people together and rule to benefit all city-states.
Later, Mera relaxed on the throne with Artur on her lap and Orin at their side.[11]
She was among those considered as a possible Justice League reservist.[12]
Mera gathered with a number of other powerful magic users around the bell of the Tower of Fate. They attempted a ritual to find Superboy's spirit, but failed.[13]
Powers and abilities[]
Atlantean attributes: Atlanteans, although human, have through scientific and sorcerous means[3] developed several abilities which allow them to live comfortably under the sea:
Underwater breathing: All Atlanteans are capable of surviving the aquatic atmosphere under the sea. Some accomplish this without the presence of visible gills.[2][3]
Temperature resilience: Resistant to low temperatures[14] and the effects of freezing,[15] although notably hindered by high temperatures.[16]
Sorcery: Mera is the headmistress of the Conservatory, and a teacher herself. She has octopus skin icons which are invisible when not in use.[2]
Electricity generation: Mera has the power to generate electricity, which she can channel through water or use as a direct offense against opponents.
Hydrokinesis: Mera is able to manipulate water to serve any number of uses: water blasts, whips, waves, shields, or water spouts to lift her off the ocean floor.
Hard-water constructs: Mera has the unique ability to solidify water into a myriad of different weapons for physical attacks and protectiveness as well. For example, she created a manta-shaped shield as well as a giant octopus whose tentacles were used for defensive and offensive purposes.
Aquaman is Mera's husband as well as her King. They are an extremely loving couple, who share a bond of mutual respect for the other and their duties. The two were joyfully awaiting their first child in 2011.[2]
Young Justice marks Mera's fourth animated appearance. She previously appeared in The Superman/Aquaman Hour, Bruce Timm's DCAU (Justice League) and Batman: The Brave and the Bold.
In the comics, Mera's ability to control water is not shared by the rest of the people of Atlantis, but is instead an ability that her people (from an alternate dimension) developed.