Avatar: The Last Airbender--The Kyoshi Warriors #1

by Brandon Hoàng, Adele Matera (Colorist), BellBessa (Artist)

Suki and the Kyoshi Warriors leave their island home to join the war against the Fire Nation. Met with suspicion and resentment by the mainlanders, they struggle to prove their worth to the Earth Kingdom. But when that opportunity arises, will they be willing to compromise their values as Kyoshi Warriors to embrace it?

From writer Brandon Hoàng with illustrator BellBessa and colorist Adele Matera comes a new story following the fan-favorite Kyoshi Warriors and their first steps into the wider world!

• Brand new story from the world of The Last Airbender.

• Bridges the gap between the first two animated show appearances of Suki and the Kyoshi Warriors.

• Fills in key lore about beloved Avatar characters.

• Builds on the nostalgia and revival of the Avatar franchise.

• Three-issue series.

Genres: Comics, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Young Adult, Graphic Novels Comics

Kindle Edition

Published May 6, 2026

About the author

Brandon Hoàng is the author of the critically acclaimed Gloria Buenrostro is Not My Girlfriend and The Crossbow of Destiny.

Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Brandon grew up coveting The Baby-Sitters Club books and slurping noodles. Before he was a writer, Brandon spent 10 years as an animation executive.

Now a television writer by day and novelist by night, he currently resides in Portland, OR with his wife and two daughters.

Reviews

[Jadyn❀]

The opening issue of this three-part story does a great job establishing the five Kyoshi Warriors we are following and their sometimes-conflicting perspectives, shaped by their strongest values. We know Suki well from the series, and I think she's appropriately characterized here. She is the leader and has a lot on her shoulders because of that role. She also appears to function as a mediator between the other four girls. It is clear she is very respected because of her role, but she also seems a bit troubled by it. She is just a kid like the rest of them, after all. I look forward to seeing how the expectation that the Kyoshi Warriors fall in line with the Earth Kingdom army tests Suki and the rest of the girls in the following issues.

[Christine Bobby]

Amazing start! Can’t wait for the next two issues to come out!

[Brooksie Fontaine]

An Avatar comic that takes inspiration from All Quiet on the Western Front is every bit as awesome and poignant as it sounds.

And if that sounds tonally dissonant, it's not. It juggles its heavy themes extremely well, not minimizing them to keep it child-friendly but also not being too gratuitous for children.

We get to actually get to know the other Kyoshi Warriors besides Suki, and I love them. I'll never look at them as just quiet background characters again!

The story captures what its like to have close female friends, and this friendship is a grounding and delightful presence as the series immediately tackles a tough subject matter. That last page was haunting!

[Vendea]

All the individual issues are out though it looks like the full TPB is not published yet. I read the individual issues so I am going to review the full arc here.

I think this is a solid Avatar comic story. The art is good (not mind-blowing, but very enjoyable and of the quality I would expect for this type of story).

The plotline is not too advanced - I won't spoil anything but suffice to say it is, in my opinion a good wartime plot with decent conflicting views both within the Earth Kingdom side and between the Earth / Fire kingdom soldiers. Resolves in a satisfying manner.

I think it does a good job of touching on some moral dilemmas of war without getting too bogged down for a three-issue arc. It's probably in the PG, maybe verging on PG-13 rating area. It doesn't get super graphic with the battle depictions but obviously there is some blood and wounds depicted.

Overall I think it's a fun and satisfying Avatar read.

[Gretchen]

Thank you to the publisher for this free eARC! All opinions are my own.

This book takes place between Aang, Katara, and Sokka's first visit Kyoshi island and them meeting up again with the Kyoshi Warriors on the way to Ba Sing Se.

The Kyoshi Warriors haven't left their island in centuries, and are a naive to the ways of the world. They go to join the Earth Army and find their ways challenged. Suki must decide what it is to be a true leader. #Edelweiss+

[Phylicia ☾♡]

Really nice that there’s still Avatar content being made! 🥰 I love the original series a lot. A great start; I can’t wait to see more of Suki’s leadership and the war with the Earth Kingdom soldiers. 😄

[jolie]

this was way better than i expected! a new storyline introducing the kyoshi warriors as they prepare to join the earth kingdom army doesn’t go the way they expected. i love how they always stick together. but i don’t really like that general.. i hope she gets better in the next part

[Simeon Scott]

Really impressive start, aside from a minor continuity hiccup I think most folks won't notice this just feels like an episode of the original series we never saw. The themes, characterization & art are all on point. Looking forward to the rest.

[Brandon Hoàng]

I worked really hard on this comic and I think it's 5 stars.

[Hamza ☆]

I dislike General Andal. If you’re so knowledgeable about the Kyoshi warriors, then you should know they’ll be greater assets with their fans. Smh.

[Maisie Dickson]

a good start.

[Daniel Carballo Alfaro]

El inicio

Suki como una líder por florecer y un gran equipo de guerreras a su lado. Ansioso por leer la segunda parte.

[stash]

I LOVE SUKI

[Skye]

Yes, more from the Kyoshi Warriors, here for that. But why are we doing single issues now?

[Melany]

4,5/5 ⭐

[Yo-El]

I like the moral dilema that it presents. Even though we know the right move, to save lives, it’s more difficult in the context of war, and with the beliefs that the soldiers present, where is more important to serve their kingdom than their wellbeing.

[deborah]

A little flat but there is potential for a fun arc - curious to see how this story goes. I would rather be getting to know the other Kyoshi warriors than I would random new side characters, so I hope there is good development of each of the girls.

[Brandon Hoàng]

I wrote this comic and worked really hard on it so I think it's 5 stars.