Avatar the Last Airbender: the Promise

by Luen Yang Gene

Genres: Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Comics, Fiction, Manga, Found Family, Young Adult

Paperback

Reviews

[Isaac Lewsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

[3.5 Stars] Let’s have the Gaang solve colonialism! That’ll be a neat way to continue the series!

Actually yeah… It kind of is…

They’re just muddling through a post-war world in all of its complexity. Even if at points ideologically I don’t know how to feel about it, I think, on the whole it works.

A new world demands new solutions in the grey.

[Andi Sink · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some really powerful imagery, dynamic page layouts and (most notably) sobering, mature, nuanced dissection of what happens in the aftermath of settler colonialism. Also, the jokes kinda bang!! Makes you wonder what the show runners coulda done with a fourth season.

[Olivia Zerger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sooo good

[Taia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This universe is enjoyable in any format.

[Kassy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Avatar The Last Airbender: The Promise is an incredible continuation of the hit television series. This book was amazing and it definitely made me love ATLA even more than I already do.

I love getting to see what happens to all of our favorite characters, and how their lives unfold before them. This book specifically was cool that it explained what happens the days falling the defeat of Fire Lord Ozai and the end of the 100 year war. The 1 year time jump was also cool, getting to see more of the lives our heroes chose to live.

The promise that Zuko asked Aang to make was kinda interesting. I understand his reasoning, but asking one of your best friends to end you? Especially considering he is 12 and you're 16. Pretty crazy if you ask me.

I love that Iroh still has his tea shop, that's for sure.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I couldn't remember why I didn't like this one that much until I started and it all came screaming back to me. This run suffers from "he wouldn't fucking say that" syndrome. The amount of times Aang and Katara call each other "sweetie" is just embarrassing. I just feel like a lot of this is not really in character, especially for Aang. I do feel like Zuko was a bit more in character because he probably would have anxiety about decision making til the end of time. But I love seeing Toph and Sokka being best buds.

[Magnus Nilsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it here - me about the avatar universe.

Read this as well as the other avatar comics that had released as of 2013, but didn't feel like I remembered enough about them to catalog them here, just remember that I loved them. received the three first graphic novels for Christmas, and lemme say, they're actually better than I remembered!
(I haven't gotten around to reading "The Search" and "The Rift" yet, but I'm calling it!) will definitely acquire the rest of these bad boys!

[Dala · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short little followup to the show. These comic arcs are like little OVAs to the show in comic form.

As always, it might oversimplify some things but it is something trying to be read by all ages and made by Nickelodeon.

If nothing else it doesn't oversimplify the solution as simply taking X side etc.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

honestly it's kinda impressive how this book managed to handle colonialism and culture and appropriation/erasure of it and legacy and low-key ??? suicidal ideation ??? in such a mature way while also keeping the avatar vibe..... rest in peace zuko you would have LOVED having a therapist. stop asking ur bestie to kill you every time life gets tough

[Fagner Fonseca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This graphic novel is amazing.
I think it is better to read it after watching the animation because after that you can hear the characters voices while reading, and it is like you are watching the animation. I'm really impressed on how well they captured the animation essence in this graphic novel.

[Brooke Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

it’s avatar baby !!

loved how this dealt with post war colonialism and the intricacies of zuko and ozai’s relationship but -1 star because it probably shouldn’t take you thinking about your own relationship to develop empathy (sorry katara)

[Audge Shrewsbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that you can see the very start of the idea for republic city in this

1h57m libby

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cool comic. Enjoyed the end more than the rest. Very satisfying conclusion.

[Cloud · Rating 5 out of 5]

preserves the feel of the original series really well! it reminded me how much i love avatar. also, zuko baby you are so real

[Elliot Miles · Rating 4 out of 5]

The gaang stops a civil war

[Jack Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fire Nation, yes. But also Earth Kingdom. Water tribe and now Air Nomad. This is who stands against your army.

[rosegardenmadisonsquare · Rating 5 out of 5]

NO NOTES I LOVED IT

[Quinn Church · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5 rounded up)

[Nanalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this after rewatching the series recently. The story picks up to where the show ends at. The book is good for fans of ATLA that want more content. As a fan of the show I thought the story was pretty good. We get more insight how on how the idea of Republic city came to be. I also thought the interactions between the characters weren’t that weird that it felt like I was actually watching the series. 10/10 would recommend to any fan of the series.

[Jette Oei · Rating 5 out of 5]

No words

[Samantha Daynes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This show was too good for this world. I loved spending more time with the characters.

[ORACLE · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always wanted season 4 of Avatar:Airbender and this is basically that… i can hear their voices while i read this. Great start to a post war world

[MysteryloverHilina · Rating 4 out of 5]

So nostalgic. This continuation of our heroes’ journeys fully embodies the spirit of the show.

[gianna nigro · Rating 5 out of 5]

they should be learning algebra let these kids rest😭

[Manjot]

(5/143) So fun to revisit the Gaang again and I’m so upset with myself for putting these novels for years despite standing a foot away from them almost every day. I’m so relieved that Gene Yang Luen fully understands and loves these characters, I can hear them in my head! I enjoyed the exploration of Zuko’s struggles as the Fire Lord, Aang and Katara’s new relationship (🥰) and even getting some Ozai exposure! All that being said using this new story to explore how complicated decolonization can be, especially when the occupying force is a completely different culture, was not something I expected of this dive back into the Avatar universe but that’s what Avatar has been doing for many many many years.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

How I Came to Read This Book: In the past year I watched the entire Avatar: The Last Airbender series with my daughter, and was delighted to discover the story continues via graphic novels. I borrowed all 3 of them from the library - but I'm only counting it as one read.

The Plot: In the aftermath of Avatar Aang's successful peace brokering of the Fire Nation's objective to truly take over the world, we discover that what rulers dictate doesn't always translate into realities on the ground. Specifically, we're taken to a Fire Nation colony in the Earth Kingdom, where tensions are flaring between who has the right to be where, suggesting peace isn't as simple as saying it's so. As Zuko wrestles with protecting his people and Aang struggles between taking down Zuko and figuring out which side is 'right', we also get an update on Toph, who is running a metal-bending academy. Ultimately Aang need to find a path forward: Does it make sense for the four nations to leave in peace separately, or find a way to forge ahead together?

The Good & The Bad: The original Avatar series was perfect, and didn't overstay its welcome with three seasons. What's also fascinating though, is the glimpses we get of these characters' adult lives in the Legend of Korra (the follow-up series), including the ripple effect of things like Toph's metal-bending, and what peace looks like into the future. While I wouldn't necessarily have wanted more "show", these books hold promise in showing that the space between declaring peace and living in peace isn't a linear path, and that there will be ups and downs.

In that sense, these books are a winner. They capture the spirit and essence of what made the show great - lots of cheeky humor and philsophical tricky situations. I can hear the voices of the characters clearly as well, which was a lovely thing to re-experience, even if it's in my own head (exception: Katara and Aang calling each other 'Sweetie' jars). You can see how the show could have progressed forward, even if I'm kind of glad it didn't.

I would say this three-part series reads as a two-part episode; there's a fair bit of action, but lots of fun little side plots that all come neatly together by the end. While the outcome feels a little obvious, the journey to get there is fun nonetheless. I'm not eager to devour ALL of these graphic novels overnight or anything but it is nice to know I can return to the world of Avatar in a different media and be swept away by the heart, drama, and humor that make it so great.

The Bottom Line: A fun continuation of the TV saga that both honors its source material while continuing to advance the plot in a meaningful way.

Anything Memorable?: No.

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