The DC Extended Universe is about to get a whole lot bigger when Justice League arrives in theaters next year. In addition to meeting some new superheroes (Cyborg, The Flash, Aquaman) and some new villains (Steppenwolf and the hordes of Apocalypse), we’ll also get to meet a variety of supporting characters that help to flesh out each of the League members’ respective worlds.
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Today we got to meet a member of Aquaman’s (Jason Mamoa) entourage: his queen and fellow undersea warrior, Mera (Amber Heard). After seeing Heard in her official Mera costume, we’ve combed back through DC Comics history to take a look at how the live-action costume compares to the costumes Mera has worn in the comics.
Golden Age
Mera started out like so many DC characters: wearing a simplistic outfit that would be silly be today’s standards. With a spandex one-piece and bare-shouldered look, the character creators went for a sort of mermaid/Disney princess vibe.
The crown and shoulder less outfit would make a come back in the modern times, but fans doing keeping up with DC Comics history will have fond memories of this rosy-cheeked girl swimming through the campy waters of the deep sea.
Silver Age
Mera’s Silver Age costume reflects a lot of the stylistic realities of the 1970s. Her spandex with its green algae design, thick white collar, and deeply plunging neckline, looks like it was made for a disco club.
Even the crown on her head looked a little more “fashion” than “function.” Needless to say, this is a look that few fans would mind seeing lost to history.
Bikini
This one is more enduring as a cosplay favorite than it is a comic book look – but it shouldn’t be surprising that, at some point, DC Comics artists decided that sea-based character like Mera should be rocking a bikini.
Aside from the more modern iteration of her crown, this outfit is pretty much silly male fantasy. The hoop bracelets, seaweed mini skirt and skimpy top are pretty much what every guy hopes to discover in an undersea woman. But when it comes to creating a badass DC Comics heroine, this outfit is a FAIL.
’90s Sea Queen
Mera’s Silver and Golden age costumes culminated in a more edgy costume in the 1990s, when acclaimed Aquaman comic book writer returned to the series.
This version of Mera was trapped in a hell-like dimension called the Netherworld, where she had a young son. Mera escaped the dimension (and her captor, Thanatos) and returned home to Atlantis, where she reconciled with Aquaman. Her costume returned to the one-piece spandex look, with the Silver Age white collar. Her crown got a lot more spikey, reflecting the demonic influences.
Like so much of David’s work, the foundations he laid down would carry the characters (including their looks) into the future.
Blackest Night / Brightest Day
“Blackest Night” and “Brightest Day” were two DC Comics storylines that let to Aquaman/Arthur Curry coming back to life, and Mera was a big part of that storyline. When an undead Aquaman came back as one of the zombies possessed by a black power ring, Mera was forced to battle him.
Her costume in the storyline was upgraded version of the classic look, with scale-like armor replacing the spandex. Between “Blackest Night,” “Brightest Day” and The New 52 reboot, her outfit would alternate between sleeved and no sleeves.
Red Lantern
During the “Blackest Night” crossover event, Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) was required to seek help in dealing with the undead threat of the Black Lanterns. That required Hal to seek out masters of other Lantern Corps (Red, Orange, Yellow, Blue, Indigo and Violet), and partner with them. These other Lantern Corps masters then spun off their own secondary rings as “deputies” of sorts. And Mera was one of the recruits.
With a red ring on her finger, Mera became a living embodiment of rage, and her costume transformed accordingly to reflect her new Red Lantern status. It’s not a big variation on her traditional look (just more spikes and edges), but it was a pretty cool departure for her character.
New 52
The “New 52” reboot helped put Mera center stage as a formidable DC Comics superheroine. Her costume was less armor and more a one-piece of hard scales, alternating between a sleeved and sleeveless look (as stated). Her suit was also modernized for more of a combat aesthetic, with gauntlets on her arms, and shark fins on her calves. Her crown was largely unchanged.
It’s definitely more of a comic book look than a live-action one. It’s also far less regal-looking than the outfit that Heard wears in the film.
Aquawoman
Mera has always been her own unique character, but in early 2016, she finally embraced the moniker that uninformed DC Comics fans have been mistakenly attributing to her for years: Aquawoman.
Along with the new name came a new costume – one that closely matches the style and design of Aquaman’s traditional uniform. More than ever, Aquaman and Mera were two of a kind; but clearly, we’re not there yet in the live-action format. That’s not to say Mera couldn’t evolve into Aquaman within the DCEU, but from the look of things, it definitely won’t be a starting point.
NEXT: First Look at Amber Heard as Mera in Justice League
The DCEU continues with Wonder Woman opens in theaters on June 2, 2017, followed by Justice League on November 17, 2017; Aquaman on July 27, 2018; Shazam on April 5, 2019; Justice League 2 on June 14, 2019; Cyborg on April 3, 2020; and Green Lantern Corps on July 24, 2020. The Flash, The Batman, Dark Universe and Man of Steel 2 are currently without a release dates.
