Book Review: Avatar TLA: The Bounty Hunter and the Tea Brewer by F. E. Hicks et al.

Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Bounty Hunter and the Tea Brewer script by Faith Erin Hicks and art by Peter Wartman

Iroh's tea shop in the Earth Kingdom capital of Ba Sing Se is a popular spot, though some of the locals still resent his leadership in the siege of the city in the hundred years' war. He tries to smooth over the conflicts when an old acquaintance, June, shows up. She's a bounty hunter who helped Zuko track down the Avatar during the war. Now she is here to take Iroh since he has a bounty on his head. She doesn't want to talk about the situation. Iroh's patience and persistence makes him easy to transport though their destination is not something June will to admit to. She wants to be a loner and keep to her old job even though the world has changed so much. She finds out how much when they get to their destination.

The story develops the theme of adapting to new circumstances, reaching all the way back to Iroh's abandonment of the siege of Ba Sing Se during the war. Many different characters (not just the title two) are confronted with the changing world and have to decide how or even if they want to change with it. The story makes for interesting reading even if it wears its theme on its sleeve.

Recommended--highly for fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Book Review: Avatar The Last Airbender: Azula in the Spirit Temple by F. E. Hicks et al.

Avatar The Last Airbender: Azula in the Spirit Temple script by Faith Erin Hicks, art by Peter Wartman, and color by Adele Matera

Azula continues her campaign against her brother Zuko, the current Fire Lord. Her team is a small band that conducts sabotage. One granary they attack turns out to be a trap. Azula and her allies escape with only one captive left behind. The rest of the gang want to rescue their comrade but Azula is ready to move on with other things that are more important to her (i.e., she doesn't see them as allies, only as underlings). When Azula wakes up in the morning, the rest of the group is gone. Azula wanders through the woods, winding up at a strange temple with only one person inside, a monk who offers meager hospitality. Azula is unimpressed and demands the monk's private room to sleep in. She has a bizarre dream and wakes up to bizarre circumstances and unexpected characters in the temple.

The story is an examination of Azula's attitude and what she wants out of life. Azula herself is not aware of what she needs but is entirely aware of what she wants. As the story progresses, readers clearly see that her needs and wants are very different, practically polar opposites. Azula has a chance for growth...will she take it? 

I enjoyed this as a basic look at Azula's psychology and at her tragic self-unawareness. The best villains are the ones who are understandable. The reader can see where they went wrong and lament their inability to fix themselves. So many people care for Azula and want what's best for her. She does not accept their attitude, advice, or actions. The other thing she does not accept is blame. Nothing is her fault. Any failure is due to betrayal or incompetence in others. Azula thinks she should be a winner but the world and everyone around her holds her back. She can't find a way to what she wants but she keeps trying. Truly, a tragic hero.

Recommended, highly for Avatar The Last Airbender fans.

TV Review: Avatar: The Last Airbender Season Three (2007)

Avatar: The Last Airbender Season Three (2007) created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko

For my review of season one, go here, and season two, go here.

Avatar Aang is recovering from a near-mortal wound. He and his friends are hiding out in the Fire Nation, getting ready to attack on the day of an upcoming eclipse, hoping to knock out Fire Lord Ozai. Firebenders gain strength from the sun, so the eclipse will weaken them substantially. If successful, Team Avatar won't have to worry about the return of Sozin's Comet, which promises to give the Firebenders a huge advantage. Ozai plans to finish his world-wide conquest when the comet returns, creating a hard deadline for Team Avatar if the eclipse plan does not work. 

Meanwhile, Zuko has returned to the Fire Nation and the favor of his father since he "killed the Avatar" at the end of last season. His victory feels hollow to him even before he finds out the Avatar is still alive. His betrayal of Team Avatar and especially of his uncle Iroh weighs heavily on his mind. Is his destiny really to become the next Fire Lord? Will his crazy sister Azula let it happen?

As in other seasons, the story moves at a good pace. It's not too fast, allowing the characters to develop and more of the world to be explored. It's not too slow, keeping up the sense of excitement and peril. The story weaves in a lot of the old, familiar characters for the big fights during the eclipse and during the return of the comet. The narrative comes to a climax in the last episodes that is very satisfying.

The show also maintains the quality of writing. The characters are rich and conflicted. Zuko has a crisis of vocation, realizing that maybe he is not meant to be on his father's side. He has to swallow a lot of pride and overcome a lot of mistrust from Aang and Katara. His character arc is my favorite part of the show. Aang also deals with a huge conflict. Everyone tells him he must kill Fire Lord Ozai but his Air Temple training teaches him that all life is sacred. As a twelve-year old (if you don't count the hundred years of suspended animation in the ice berg), he has a burden that even adults would struggle with. The show doesn't give quick, easy answers to these problems. Though set in a fictional world, the show has a lot of moral truth. The writing is great.

Highly recommended--this is easily the best kids' show I have seen, and in my top ten shows of all time.

TV Review: Avatar: The Last Airbender Season Two (2006)

Avatar: The Last Airbender Season Two (2006) created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko

For my review of season one, go here.

Avatar Aang and his two compatriots, Katara and Sokka, head south from the Northern Water Tribe is search of someone to teach Earthbending. After a few false starts, they discover Toph. She's the only daughter of a rich Earth Kingdom family. She's also blind, so they are very protective of her, to the point of smothering her. Toph sneaks off to compete in professional Earthbending fights (much like out professional wrestling) and is convinced to go with Team Avatar for adventures and training. They travel over much of the Earth Kingdom, looking for help and knowledge to take down the Fire Nation before Sozin's Comet returns. The comet's presence will boost the firebenders enough to complete their conquest of the other nations.

Meanwhile, dishonored Prince Zuko and his Uncle Iroh are reduced to fugitive status when Zuko's sister Azula tries to take them both back to the Fire Lord for a reckoning. Azula is clever and sadistic. She's been tormenting Zuko all his life. Now he's forced to be an impoverished outcast. Iroh is more philosophical about the situation. He still trains Zuko and tries to convince him to move on with his life. They also have a good variety of adventures as they alternately pursue the Avatar and search for a regular life.

The show does a great job of building on the strong foundation of the first season. More of the world is revealed, with the embattled Earth Nation fighting on various fronts and in different ways. The world is mostly Asian in character but the writers are able to give a lot of other familiar things an Avatar interpretation, like rednecks and professional wrestling and circuses. Azula makes a good foe for everyone. She is able to lighteningbend as well as firebend, making her a tough opponent. She is completely ruthless, making her even more dangerous. The show maintains the balance of drama and comedy well.

Highly recommended.

TV Review: Avatar: The Last Airbender Season One (2005)

Avatar: The Last Airbender Season One (2005) created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko

In a world of elemental magic (though it's the classical elements (earth, air, fire, and water), not the periodic table ones), different nations focus on an individual element. For example, the Earth Kingdom has Earth-benders who can use special movements to control earth, shaping it or making it move or fly. The Fire Nation has spent one hundred years trying to take over the world. Part of their success was a surprise attack, part was the disappearance of the Avatar, an element-bender who can bend all four elements. As the story opens, two young teenagers, Sokka and Katara, from the Southern Water Tribe discover Aang, a young air-bender who has been frozen in an iceberg for a hundred years. He is the new incarnation of the Avatar but went into hiding for reasons explained in the first season. He is a very good air-bender but he needs to learn to bend the other elements before he fights Fire Lord Ozai. The young trio set off to the Northern Water Tribe in hopes of finding a water-bender to train Aang and Katara, who shows some talent for water-bending. She hasn't been trained since all the benders went off to war. 

The kids head north on Appa, a flying bison who was frozen with Aang. They travel across the world having various adventures along the way. They also come into conflict with the Fire Nation in two ways. Prince Zuko (a slightly older teenager) has been banished from the Fire Kingdom and wants to capture the Avatar to restore his honor. The official Fire Nation hunt is led by Commander Zhao, who has a large fleet and plenty of resources at his disposal to find the Avatar. Zuko and Zhao are both talented fire-benders, though Zuko still has a lot to learn. Zuko travels with his disgraced uncle Iroh, who provides some training and wisdom (and lots of comic relief).

This show is an amazing blend of world-building, character development, and storytelling. The various nations have their own color palates, styles of dress, and architecture that matches well with their specific element. Lots of animals are crosses or combinations of familiar animals, like turtle-ducks. The cast of characters all have their strengths and weaknesses and depth and history. The story slowly builds as the trio explores the world and finds out more about the Fire Nation's plans and the various reactions to the Fire Nation's aggressions, from appeasement to resistance. The story is engaging and interesting even for adults. It is a kids' show, so some humor is juvenile. But the quality of performances and writing more than makes it worth watching.

The animation style mimics Japanese anime. It's kid-friendly, so there's no overly buxom females who are scantily clad. In fact, the show presents very strong female characters and deals with sexism and bigotry in serious ways that kids can understand. The style suits the slightly unfamiliar world and the magical abilities of many of the characters.

Highly recommended. This is the best animated series I have seen (I am watching for the third time).

 

Book Review: Avatar: The Last Airbender: Team Avatar Tales by G. L. Yang et al.

Avatar: The Last Airbender: Team Avatar Tales written by Gene Luen Yang, Dave Scheidt, Ron Koertge, Sara Goetter, and Kiku Hughes; art by Ryan Hill, Little Corvus, Faith Erin Hicks, Gene Luen Yang, Sara Goetter, Kiku Hughes, Carla Speed McNeill, and Coni Yovaniniz

This anthology of eight short graphic stories reprints a handful of stories from Free Comic Book Day and other places. It is a mishmash of art styles and characters, so some stories are better than others and the visual appeal will be different in each. The show's humor and creativity clearly inspired everything. The best story is "Sisters" which features Kyoshi Warrior Ty Lee. She is cheered up during a moment of feeling down when blind earthbender Toph takes her to see the circus...not just any circus, but the one Ty Lee left years ago. She didn't just leave the circus behind, she left behind six identical sisters! Comedy and heart-warming family drama ensue.

Overall the stories are entertaining but don't add a lot to the Avatar universe.

Slightly recommended--this is really for Avatar completists, not casual readers.

Book Review: Avatar: The Last Airbender: Suki, Alone by F. E. Hicks et al.

Avatar: The Last Airbender: Suki, Alone written by Faith Erin Hicks and illustrated by Peter Wartman

Suki, the Kyoshi Warrior, is captured by Princess Azula and sent to The Boiling Rock, a maximum security island prison. No one ever returns from there. The treatment is harsh. Suki realizes she can't make it on her own. When she discovers a small plant growing through the cracks of the prison yard, she hatches a plan to grow a little bit of extra food. Food enough not just for herself, but for others in the prison. She grows food. She inspires hope. She makes community. But can there be loyalty among prisoners in a place from which no one has ever escaped?

This story is another great addition to the overall plot of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Some of Suki's backstory is told, enough to give her actions credibility and to fill in the details about the Kyoshi Warriors. A lot of the story is told through images rather than dialogue, always a plus in a graphic novel. It's a fine work all around.

Recommended.

Book Review: Avatar: The Last Airbender: Toph Beifong's Metalbending Academy by F. E. Hicks et al.

Avatar: The Last Airbender: Toph Beifong's Metalbending Academy written by Faith Erin Hicks and art by Peter Wartman

Toph's Metalbending Academy is a roaring success. She has several instructors, plenty of students, and people to manage the business side of things. So Toph is bored. No adventure, no excitement, nothing new. Sokka and Suki come to visit and try to cheer her up by taking her to a concert. At least that's Suki's idea. The band is called Trustfully in Love and they are a big hit with the young ladies. Toph is hardly the stereotypical young lady, so she sneaks out and discovers some excitement with an underground (i.e. illegal) bending tournament. As soon as they recognize her, they split because she is friends with the Avatar, so she is "with the authorities." She sees enough to be intrigued by a young bender who seems to have combined fire-bending and earth-bending. Maybe things won't be so boring after all?

The story is quick and fun, with the usual Avatar humor and positive message about life. The art is fine and the writing is great.

Recommended.

Book Review: Avatar: The Last Airbender: Katara and the Pirate's Silver by F. E. Hicks et al.

Avatar: The Last Airbender: Katara and the Pirate's Silver script by Faith Erin Hicks and art by Peter Wartman

On the run from the Fire Nation, Team Avatar is enjoying riding on Apa the Flying Bison. Toph gives Katara a hard time about being too soft and nice. The others more or less agree, which makes Katara mad. Before she can come up with a good rejoinder, they are attacked by the Fire Nation. Katara falls off, plunging into the river below. She's ok but needs to find her way back to the gang who were forced to fly off without her. She winds up in a seaside town and is recruited by a band of Earth Kingdom pirates who need a waterbender to help them get back upriver with their contraband. She decides to be tough like Toph and joins up with the crew.

The story is fun and exciting, following the typical themes and twists from the television show. Faith Erin Hicks is proving herself to be on par with Gene Luen Yang in writing the characters well and expanding the (already impressively broad) Avatar world.

Recommended.

Book Review: Avatar: The Last Airbender: Imbalance Part Three by F. E. Hicks et al.

Avatar: The Last Airbender: Imbalance Part Three written by Faith Erin Hicks and art by Peter Wartman

Read my review of volume one here. and volume two here.

Avatar Aang faces a big decision: Should he take away Liling's bending powers just as he did to the Fire Lord? Liling is the leader of the pro-bender movement in Cranefish Town and has upped her ambition to driving all the non-benders out of the city. The Fire Lord was trying to take over the world; Liling is trying to take over a small town. Would his act be commensurate with Liling's crimes? The question becomes very urgent when Liling's bender daughter breaks her out of prison. Liling's next move is bound to be trouble. How bad will it be? Can the Avatar find a peaceful solution to the bender-versus-non-bender problem?

Interestingly the action falters a little bit at the end of this story but the moral complexity is given a lot of attention and care. Different characters have different perspectives on the value and legitimacy of the solution. The ending respects the optimism of the series and makes me want to read more of the Hicks's work in the Avatar universe.

Recommended.

Book Review: Avatar: The Last Airbender: Imbalance Part Two by F. E. Hicks et al.

Avatar: The Last Airbender: Imbalance Part Two written by Faith Erin Hicks and art by Peter Wartman

Read my review of volume one here.

Team Avatar (Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Toph) continues its investigation into the unrest in Cranefish Town. Benders and non-benders are in conflict and a lot of non-bender factories were attacked. Avatar Aang appeals to Councilwoman Liling (one of the heads of the bender faction) to help her fellow non-bending citizens in their moment of need. Meanwhile, Toph finds out about a secret meeting of benders. The team sneaks in to find their true enemy among the bender community.

The story moves along nicely without any big surprise but with plenty of humor and heart. 

Recommended for Avatar fans.

Book Review: Avatar: The Last Airbender: Imbalance Part One by F. E. Hicks et al.

Avatar: The Last Airbender: Imbalance Part One written by Faith Erin Hicks and art by Peter Wartman

Team Avatar (Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Toph) head to Cranefish Town, the Earth Kingdom city where Toph's dad owns a factory. Since the war ended, the town has grown substantially, with many other businesses moving into the area. Some problems have arisen. First, the businesses have expanded but there's no local government. The business leaders have formed a council but they haven't developed a police force. This is a problem because, second, there is fighting in the street between various benders. The factories have developed new machines that require fewer benders (who are expensive employees). The unemployed benders have turned to crime, causing trouble for the factories and the non-bending citizens. Toph's dad has invited the team so Aang can help get the situation cleaned up. Speaking of cleaning up, the third problem is the generally poor use of natural resources and trashing of the area. Team Avatar spends some time cleaning up the beach as a start. Unfortunately, a conspiracy is afoot to keep the conflict between various factions going strong.

The book is a great intro to the story (there's two more parts) and captures the action, humor, and heart of the television series. The art does a great job mimicking the art from the series. This is a great continuation of both the television series and of Gene Luen Yang's impressive run of Avatar graphic novels.

Recommended, highly for Avatar: The Last Airbender fans.

Book Review: Avatar The Last Airbender: North and South Part Three by G.L. Yang et al.

Avatar The Last Airbender: North and South Part 3 written by Gene Luen Yang, art and cover by Gurihiru, lettering by Michael Heisler

Team Avatar works to protect a meeting between Southern Water Tribe leader Hakoda and the newly arrived Fire Lord Zuko and Earth King Kuei. They have come at Hakoda's invitation to discuss plans and support for economic development in the Southern Water Tribe's kingdom. Oil has been discovered and a refinery is under construction but some locals oppose development that might turn the Southern Water Tribe into a pale imitation of the other nations. Resistance leader Gilak (who was imprisoned in the last issue) breaks out of jail and makes trouble for everyone.

As always, Yang does a great job balancing the action and jokes with a more substantive storyline. Waterbender Katara has both nostalgia for the tribe's past and fear of a future assimilation into the other cultures. The story presents many sides of the issue and gives a nice, hopeful resolution.

Highly recommended!

Book Review: Avatar The Last Airbender: North and South Part 2 by G. L. Yang et al.

Avatar The Last Airbender: North and South Part 2 written by Gene Luen Yang, art and cover by Gurihiru, lettering by Michael Heisler

Having avoided kidnapping by Southern Water Tribe separatists in Part 1, Katara and Sokka try to strike a balanced response to the Northern Water Tribe's activities. The Northerners are developing the south's infrastructure and social order. Katara is very cautious while Sokka is very enthusiastic. Their father Hakoda is romantically interested in one of the Northerners, causing more complications, especially as he is the newly elected head of the Southerners. The situation only becomes more tense when they find out that the Northerners have discovered a huge oil deposit and plan to exploit it for their own benefit. Can the recently arrived Avatar Aang help smooth over some pretty horrible developments?

I was very worried when the oil issue came up that the story would turn into an "oil bad, bad, BAD!!!!" political screed. Yang takes a more balanced approach, showing both sides as having both valid points and extreme, unhelpful attitudes that lead to horrible actions. The storytelling continues to amaze me and I look forward to the final volume of this story line.

Book Review: Avatar The Last Airbender: North and South Part 1 by G. L. Yang et al.

Avatar The Last Airbender North and South Part One written by Gene Luen Yang, lettering by Michael Heisler, art and cover by Gurihiru

Sokka and Katara return home to the Southern Water Tribe only to find a lot of progress has happened in their absence. Instead of a bunch of igloos and huts, their home village has been transformed into a city. After the war with the Fire Nation ended, some Northern Water Tribe people came to improve and modernize things for the locals. Sokka is all for it but Katara worries about their own culture and attitudes being lost. Their father is on board with the developments and is now chief of all the whole Southern Water Tribe. An underground resistance element has sprung up with which Katara sympathizes. They try to recruit the brother and sister, but are their methods too questionable?

The issue of preserving cultural identity while being part of the larger world is an interesting one, though I feel like it has been covered in this series before. I am looking forward to some new angles or ideas that will come out of this series, though I'll have to wait till January for the next installment of the story.

Book Review: Avatar The Last Airbender Smoke and Shadow Part Three by Gene Luen Yang et al.

Avatar The Last Airbender Smoke and Shadow Part Three written by Gene Luen Yang, lettering by Michael Heisler, art and cover by Gurihiru

Reviews of Part One here and Part Two here!

Fire Lord Zuko and Avatar Aang have chased down the Kemurikage and discovered Azula, Zuko's disenfranchised sister, is their leader. She escapes during the fight and kidnaps Zuko's baby sister. Zuko uses his authority as Fire Lord to shut down the capital city and round up all of the people involved with the New Ozai Society, which turns out to be an arm of the Kemurikage. Riots erupt. Can Zuko rescue the kidnapped children and keep the peace with his people? What is Azula's plan?

This volume finishes the story well. It focuses on the characters' motivations and has a nice awareness of the larger political situation. The book doesn't skimp on the action, either, though the humor is less than usual. The last page of the book promises the return of Sokka in October 2016 so you can be sure the humor will be back in full force then. I can't wait!

Book Review: Avatar The Last Airbender: Smoke and Shadow Part Two by Gene Luen Yang et al.

Avatar The Last Airbender: Smoke and Shadow Part Two written by Gene Luen Yang, art and covers by Gurihiru, lettering by Michael Heisler

See my review of Part One here.

Avatar Aang is summoned to the Fire Nation capital to help Fire Lord Zuko deal with their latest crisis. Children are being kidnapped in the middle of the night by the dark spirits known as Kemurikage. The legends of these spirits go back for centuries but solid information about them is scarce. Aang and Zuko go into the Dragonbone Catacombs (where previous Fire Lords are buried) in hopes of finding some answers. In the meantime, Ukano (secretly a member of the New Ozai Society trying to overthrow Zuko) stirs up trouble in the city by forming a volunteer militia to fight the spirits. He thereby undercuts the authority of Zuko. Is he really interested in protecting the city or is he still working the political angle of the situation?

The story is more of the same goodness I've come to expect from Yang and the gang. The plot is interesting with enough action and jokes and history (albeit fake history) thrown in. Very satisfying and I can't wait for the conclusion of the story.

Book Review: Avatar The Last Airbender: Smoke and Shadow Part One by Gene Luen Yang et al.

Avatar The Last Airbender: Smoke and Shadow Part One written by Gene Luen Yang, art and covers by Gurihiru, lettering by Michael Heisler

Fire Lord Zuko sails back to the Fire Nation with his long-lost mother. As he's arriving, Ukano, the leader of the New Ozai Society, plots to assassinate Zuko and return Zuko's imprisoned father to the throne. Ukano is motivated by a visit from the Kemurikage, a supposedly mythical band of spirits who promise to inflict great pain on him if he does not depose Zuko. Ukano plans a daring attack on the royal procession. Ukano's daughter Mai is a Kyoshi Warrior (the elite troops of the Fire Nation). She has her own plans--to thwart her father's secret group. With Aang and friends off on other business, can Zuko and his allies survive?

This story is another solid start to an on-going story set in the world of Avatar. The characters are interesting, the political intrigue is fascinating, and the humor still comes through. I can't wait for the next issue in December!

Book Review: Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Rift Part 3

Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Rift - Part Three script by Gene Luen Yang, art by Gurihiru, lettering by Michael Heisler

The rifts between the human world and the spirit world, between Aang and Toph, between Toph and her dad, and between Aang and his previous Avatar incarnations are all resolved in this final issue. Solutions are achieved through a bit of knowledge and a bit of raw determination, creating an exciting blend of pathos and action as everyone does what they think is best. Happily, the confrontations force people to face their issues and find an honest response to the problem rather than holding to dogmatic stances that accomplish nothing. The book ends with a happy, satisfying ending.

I liked the overall story though I didn't find it as compelling as the previous two series (The Promise and The Search). Part two of this series lacked a little bit in the humor department but humor made a good comeback in this issue. I'd definitely recommend this to Avatar fans.

Book Review: Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Rift Part 2

Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Rift - Part Two script by Gene Luen Yang, art by Gurihiru, lettering by Michael Heisler

The action picks up with Toph confronting her father, who is one of the heads of the mining business that's ruining the land sacred to the Air Nomads. Her father doesn't want to acknowledge her, which is devastating but she gives him another chance. Meanwhile, Sokka and Katara discover the mine under the city isn't as safe as it should be. Aang continues with Yangchen's Festival as best he can. He contacts Yangchen in the spirit world where she explains the history of the area and the importance of the festival. It honors ancient and powerful spirits who came into conflict with human settlers in the area. Her description of those first humans is eerily reminiscent of the current situation. Bad stuff is coming in the next issue for sure!

This part of the story weaves between many different story lines quite well, keeping the suspense and action at a high level. I'm looking forward to the final part of the story.