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: The Lost Adventures by Various Authors

Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Lost Adventures based on the television series created by by Brian Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino with contributions from twenty-two writers and artists

This graphic novel contains a myriad of stories set during the television show's three-season storyline. Many of the stories are very short (just a few pages) and seem like they might have been jokes or little side stories that didn't make it into the show, probably for time constraints, not for the lack of quality. They don't add a much to the overall story arc. They do remind the reader of the high points and push nostalgia buttons. The show premiered in 2002, so it's just about 20 year old!

The stories are in chronological order and may be confusing if you have not seen the show. While they focus on the Avatar's group, plenty of the side characters make appearances. Considering how good the show was at developing even minor characters, their reappearances bring a smile to the fans. My favorite stories were ones about Sokka pretending to be the Avatar to impress a girl, an epic showdown between Toph and King Boomi to see who is the best earthbender ever, and Zuko visiting an arcade where he plays a game against his sister. The collection is very entertaining.

Highly recommended for Avatar fans.

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: 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: 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: 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.

Book Review: Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Rift Part 1

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

The city of Yu Dao has elected a coalition government of Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom representatives who are committed to working together--a bright new future is in store. Avatar Aang and the gang attend the celebration banquet where Aang sees the ghost of Avatar Yangchen (one of his previous reincarnations). She can't speak and just points off into the distance before disappearing. Aang puzzles over the meaning of this until he realizes it's the time of the year that Yangchen's Festival was celebrated by the Air Nomads a hundred years ago. He decides to relive fond memories of the past and reestablish some Air Nomad culture by having an impromptu festival.

He takes his Air Bending apprentices and his friends to a clifftop with a massive statue of a woman. This spot is where the festival traditionally begins. They start to go through the rituals but Aang can't remember who the statue is (it's clearly not Yangchen) or why they do certain things. He says, "That's just how it's done." This sets Earth Bender Toph off since she grew up in a sheltered home where her parents always told her "that's just how it's done" whenever she questioned anything. Aang and Toph almost start to fight. The group heads down the hill to a field where the feast used to be held. The field is now an industrial town where a coalition of Fire Benders and Earth Benders run a refinery. The local river is polluted though the industrialists say it's from natural causes, not the refinery. Aang sees the whole thing as a violation of sacred ground but Toph sees it as the future of harmony that they've been working for all along.

The story is an interesting look at the tension between doing things "the old way" and "the new way." This issue seems a little slanted towards the old but not very slanted. The situation could go in many different directions. Based on the previous graphic novels, it will be very interesting to find out what's really going on and how Aang and Toph will patch up their differences (plus there's a big surprise at the end of this issue).

Book Revew: Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Search - Part Three by Gene Luen Yang et al.

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

A surprising heartfelt conclusion comes with the third part of Zuko's search for his mother. In the Forgetful Valley the gang confronts the Mother of Faces, an ancient spirit who can change people both physically and mentally. Once a year (or thereabouts) she grants a boon to a human who asks her. Zuko wants to find his mom Ursa but they've also run into a brother and sister who want the brother's face restored. The siblings have been wandering the Forgetful Valley for years hoping to find the Mother of Faces. Zuko is willing to let them have the boon and he will keep searching on his own but Azula butts in and demands the whereabouts of their mother. The spirit reveals that Ursa received the boon years ago and is now one of the Hira'a villagers. Zuko and Azula race back to confront their mother. Avatar Aang tries to get a second boon out of the spirit which leads to all sorts of problems.

Meanwhile, the back story of Ursa finishes out in a surprising and touching way, bringing it up to the present story which also has a great conclusion. This part wraps up the family drama well with its emphasis on forgiveness and reconciliation among the family members. I can't wait to read the next series.

Book Review: Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Search - Part Two by Gene Luen Yang et al.

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

The group makes it to Hira'a after some banter and battles when Zuko discovers a letter revealing he is not the son of the previous Fire Lord, but of his mother's boyfriend Ikem. So when they arrive in town they ask about both Ursa (Zuko's mother) and Ikem. Rumors say Ikem disappeared into the Forgetful Valley a long time ago. Different rumors hint that Ursa came back briefly and also disappeared into the same valley. The group sets off for the valley from which no one has returned. The Forgetful Valley provides plenty of action, mystery, and new problems.

The back story of Ursa and her life at the royal court continues, showing why she left and why Zuko is still considered the legitimate heir to the throne. But not what happened to her after she entered the valley. The story is paced well with the main story.

Not a whole lot happens in this issue but the story moves forward enough to keep me reading the next part.

Book Review: Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Search - Part One by Gene Luen Yang et al.

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

A key bit of dialogue comes early on in this continuation of the Avatar story. Fire Lord Zuko is listening to an Earth Kingdom professor discuss the reunification issues and hones in on "an ancient Earth Kingdom philosophy: Family is in essence a small nation, and the nation a large family...In treating his own family with dignity, a ruler learns to govern his nation with dignity." Zuko takes the words to heart. Zuko decides he needs to restore order and dignity to his family to be a better ruler. He wants to find his banished mother Ursa. But he has no clues where to start. He can't get anything out of his imprisoned father so he has his institutionalized (as in mental institution) sister Azula talk to their father. She finds out about a stash of letters their mother sent back to her hometown of Hira'a. Zuko begins his investigation by traveling there. He brings his crazy sister and asks the Avatar to join them. Naturally, Katara and Sokka come along. They take turns keeping an eye on Azula, who threatens at least to run off, if not to kill them all.

The main story is intercut with Ursa's story of how she left Hira'a and began her life at the royal court. That story gets far enough to match up with the shocking revelation about Zuko at the end of this book.

I like the idea that generate the story. The family is the building block from which societies and nations are built. Zuko's actions are motivated by this insight, enabling him to make some bold and risky decisions for the greater good of himself and the Fire Nation. I am curious to see how it will play out in the next two issues!

Book Review: The Last Airbender: Prequel: Zuko's Story by Dave Roman et al.

The Last Airbender: Prequel: Zuko's Story story by Dave Roman and Alison Wilgus, art by Nina Matsumoto

This prequel to The Last Airbender movie gives the back story of the main villain, Prince Zuko. He is a prince of the Fire Nation and at the beginning of this story he is cast out of the kingdom by his father for an unseen transgression. The only way for him to regain his honor is to find the Avatar, who mysteriously disappeared one hundred years ago. Zuko begins his search by trying to muster any support at all from the citizens of the capital. Finding none, he begs the royal palace for help. He's given a small ship and his presumed useless and embarrassing uncle Iroh. Zuko sets off on a hopeless quest which, in this part, is more about self-discovery than about discovering the whereabouts of the Avatar.

I haven't seen the movie but have seen the television series. If memory serves, there's nothing new in this book that wasn't already told in the series. Presumably the movie left out Zuko's back story. This book fills that in quite well. The art is manga-style, so it does not look like the series, but it gets the job done. The end of the book has a little "making of" section showing the script by Roman and Wilgus on the left page and the rough pencil sketches on the right page.

If you've seen the TV series you can skip this, if not it is a good, interesting story.

Book Review: Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Promise - Part Three by Gene Luen Yang et al.

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

Avatar Aang arrives at Yu Dao, the Fire Nation city on Earth Kingdom soil, before the armies of both countries make it there. He fails to convince the local Fire Nation people to leave. They claim that they are too fully integrated to go--this is their home. Then the Earth Kingdom army shows up to remove the Fire Nation descendants by force. Soon enough the Fire Nation troops arrive and things go from bad to worse. Katara convinces Aang to separate himself from the conflict so he can think clearlyt about what the best solution is. He enters deep meditation where he can discuss the situation with the spirit of a previous avatar, a Firebender named Roku who happens to be the great-grandfather of Fire Lord Zuko. His advice is for Aang to contemplate the world and the obvious choice must be made--kill Zuko. Aang does his contemplation and comes to a different, more satisfying conclusion.

The book has the usual combination of action, comedy, and drama that the series does so well. The story wraps up nicely and sets up a new storyline for another series--The Search--which I'll be sure to read.

Book Review: Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Promise - Part Two by Gene Luen Yang et al.

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

The gang goes to see Earth King Kuei to broker a meeting with Fire Lord Zuko over the halted repatriation of Fire Nation colonies. On the way, Sokka and Toph stop off at Toph's metalbending academy to check on things. Metalbending is an advanced form of earthbending that is virtually unknown. Her three students are ready to leave the school, mostly because the firebending teacher who used the school earlier is back with his students. Sokka talks them out of a death-match over the building (which would probably just destroy the building anyway). They all agree to meet in three days for a fight to the sit (whoever is forced to sit first loses) between Toph's students and the firebending students. Toph's students have not mastered any metalbending yet. Sokka has some "get trained quick" schemes, but will they work out?

Meanwhile, Zuko is secretly meeting with his deposed father (who is locked in a dungeon). The father elegantly argues that Zuko should be strong and defend the Fire Nation's interests--right and wrong are determined by the ruler's decision. Zuko counters that an objective moral order exists but his resistance is crumbling. Aang's negotiations with the Earth King have no good results--the Earth King has decided to take a stand and send his army to force out the final colonies. Zuko's spies have discovered this and he leads his army to the Earth Kingdom. Can Aang and Katara find a way to avert war?

At first reading, the metalbending school story seems like filler, but maybe it is a foreshadowing of what will come in the final third part. A good balance of action, comedy, and drama is maintained in this book, setting the stage for a big finale. I can't wait to read it!

Book Review: Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Promise - Part One by Gene Luen Yang et al.

Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Promise - Part One written by Gene Luen Yang, art by Gurihiru, lettering by Michael Heisler

This graphic novel picks up right where the TV show left off. Prince Zuko is now Fire Lord Zuko and he works to undo all the damage his father and the Fire Nation did when it tried to take over the world. The main project (for this story at least) is removing colonies from the Earth Nation. Avatar Aang volunteers to help the repatriation. Before they start, Zuko asks Aang for a favor--if Zuko ever starts acting like his father (i.e. like an evil tyrant bent on advancing the Fire Nation's cause against all others), Aang should kill him. Zuko realizes the pressure of leadership could change him and he thinks both he and the world need a safety net. Aang reluctantly agrees.

The story jumps forward a year later. Things have been going well on the surface. Zuko is a bit paranoid about being assassinated. His policy is unpopular with his people, especially the ones who have been living for generations as colonists in the Earth Kingdom. He has second thoughts about the colonies that have been in place for over a hundred years. People have integrated with the locals and they feel the land belongs to them as much as anyone else. Zuko gives in and announces he will stop the repatriation, but will that lead back to war?

The story has a depth casual readers wouldn't expect. The political messiness of the situation is quite interesting and isn't resolved with some simple moral platitudes like you'd see in Saturday morning cartoons.

The art is exactly the same as the TV series which is good. There's plenty of action and humor, also just like the TV show. I am looking forward to the next issue!