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Avatar: The Last Airbender: North and South #1
Avatar: The Last Airbender: North and South, Part 1
When Aang leaves to aid Zuko with the Kemurikage, Katara and Sokka return to the Southern Water Tribe by themselves. Katara is shocked to find that her beloved village has become a bustling city, with none other than their father, Hakoda, in charge! A Northerner named Malina seems to be behind this change, pushing the North and South to be more unified…but what are her true goals?
80 pages, Unknown Binding
First published September 28, 2016
213 people are currently reading
5207 people want to read
About the author
Gene Luen Yang
363 books3,387 followersGene Luen Yang writes, and sometimes draws, comic books and graphic novels. As the Library of Congress’ fifth National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, he advocates for the importance of reading, especially reading diversely. American Born Chinese, his first graphic novel from First Second Books, was a National Book Award finalist, as well as the winner of the Printz Award and an Eisner Award. His two-volume graphic novel Boxers & Saints won the L.A. Times Book Prize and was a National Book Award Finalist. His other works include Secret Coders (with Mike Holmes), The Shadow Hero (with Sonny Liew), Superman from DC Comics (with various artists), and the Avatar: The Last Airbender series from Dark Horse Comics (with Gurihiru). In 2016, he was named a MacArthur Foundation Fellow. His most recent books are Dragon Hoops from First Second Books and Superman Smashes the Klan from DC Comics.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 302 reviews
December 4, 2017
While I'll admit that the amount of Avatar: The Last Airbender in my daily life has decreased, my fondness for Aang, Katara & Sokka is firm. Perhaps that's why this title called me from the students' Want-to-Read shelves. (I'm almost positive they don't mind my reading it quickly before I hand it over.)
Revisiting the siblings in action and sarcasm has renewed my adoration and I really hope that the students add more books from this series to their shelves.
Revisiting the siblings in action and sarcasm has renewed my adoration and I really hope that the students add more books from this series to their shelves.
March 13, 2019
"I'm okay... I just had this dream that was happy and sad all at once... but I guess it was mostly happy."
Drama!
This comic is just calling for all the drama to come and start.
This part is mostly just Katara and Sokka coming back home, which is something that needed to happen already, and them adjusting-ish to all the changes are transpiring in their native tribe.
Katara can get on my nerves pretty bad sometimes, but that's something I love, that her character is just human and complex and isn't always right.
I like the direction this is taking.
_________________________
I'm in such a comic mood right now, so, naturally, I decided to continue reading Avatar.
What else is there to do?
This one is looking to be a more tamed one -compare with Smoke and Shadow - but still interesting in the history of the growing South Water Tribe.
Obviously, I already have an inkling into how things are gonna play out and end, after all, I've already watched The Legend of Korra which doesn't exactly leaves anything to the imagination.
Drama!
This comic is just calling for all the drama to come and start.
This part is mostly just Katara and Sokka coming back home, which is something that needed to happen already, and them adjusting-ish to all the changes are transpiring in their native tribe.
Katara can get on my nerves pretty bad sometimes, but that's something I love, that her character is just human and complex and isn't always right.
I like the direction this is taking.
_________________________
I'm in such a comic mood right now, so, naturally, I decided to continue reading Avatar.
What else is there to do?
This one is looking to be a more tamed one -compare with Smoke and Shadow - but still interesting in the history of the growing South Water Tribe.
Obviously, I already have an inkling into how things are gonna play out and end, after all, I've already watched The Legend of Korra which doesn't exactly leaves anything to the imagination.
December 16, 2020
Sokka and Katara return home! Yet it is not the small village they remember, it is now an up-and-coming city!
The two different perspectives are shown through the reactions from Katara and Sokka. On the one hand, it’s great for the tribe to grow and develop. On the other hand, will the Southern tribe take in too much of the Northern way of life as to lose their own identity?
I’m fascinated with where this story will go and how the siblings will deal with it.
Plus that drama going on with their dad!
The two different perspectives are shown through the reactions from Katara and Sokka. On the one hand, it’s great for the tribe to grow and develop. On the other hand, will the Southern tribe take in too much of the Northern way of life as to lose their own identity?
I’m fascinated with where this story will go and how the siblings will deal with it.
Plus that drama going on with their dad!
September 11, 2017
Aang is not in this part of the comic more than a flashback. This is about Sokka and Katara and the changes going on in the southern village. They did have some good surprises in this story and I do like the art which is very much like the cartoon. It was good.
September 19, 2016
I love all things Avatar-related.
And these comics continue the Avatar saga brilliantly!
They really capture the essence of the characters and the world they inhabit, while adding new wrinkles and twists.
This latest volume (Part 1 of "North and South") stands poised to by my favorite arc to date, which is high-praise indeed!
And these comics continue the Avatar saga brilliantly!
They really capture the essence of the characters and the world they inhabit, while adding new wrinkles and twists.
This latest volume (Part 1 of "North and South") stands poised to by my favorite arc to date, which is high-praise indeed!
March 1, 2022
I've never read anything Avatar related, just seen the crappy movie. I came across this in Edelweiss and I have to say it was excellent. Fantastic art. Great adventure tale. I can't wait to get more.
Received an advance copy from Edelweiss and Dark Horse.
Received an advance copy from Edelweiss and Dark Horse.
October 30, 2020
Bueno por fin conocí a la tía Ashuna y a su célebre carne de foca jaja
June 18, 2017
This review is for all three volumes of North and South. I think Yang bit off a bit more than he could chew with this one. There's an interesting theme, pitting progress against tradition, and he doesn't portray the issue as black and white. Better yet, he has more than just two viewpoints represented by the various characters. The only problem is that he's trying to portray a complex issue in a complex way in less than 300 pages. I was also much happier with the book when it was a true spotlight on Katara and Sokka, before Toph and Aang showed up. They were doing just fine without them!
November 16, 2016
Continuing in the vein of Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Rift and Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise, we have yet another culture clash, this time in the Southern Water Tribe. Katara and Sokka return home to find a "cheap imitation" of a Northern Water Tribe city. Sokka, as always, is thrilled with the progress. Katara's not so sure.
There's a group who really hate the way things are going trying to destroy everything that's been put together. There's a group trying to push forward.
About the only difference so far is that Katara and Sokka are on their own. It's just the two of them. No Avatar wisdom, no Iroh wisdom, just them. It's interesting to see how they're handling things, but...
The Avatar comics are starting to feel a little formulaic at this point. Half have been about cultural clashes, and I'm afraid that this will just be "Culture Wars: Water Tribe Edition." I'm hoping they will be able to make this one stand out from previous series, but I'm not sure how they'll do it.
There's a group who really hate the way things are going trying to destroy everything that's been put together. There's a group trying to push forward.
About the only difference so far is that Katara and Sokka are on their own. It's just the two of them. No Avatar wisdom, no Iroh wisdom, just them. It's interesting to see how they're handling things, but...
The Avatar comics are starting to feel a little formulaic at this point. Half have been about cultural clashes, and I'm afraid that this will just be "Culture Wars: Water Tribe Edition." I'm hoping they will be able to make this one stand out from previous series, but I'm not sure how they'll do it.
May 7, 2018
I'm admittedly not as interested in this one as I was with some of the others. And I feel like we saw some of these same issues in The Legend of Korra. But there are some funny Sokka moments, sweet waterbending from Katara, and an interesting cliffhanger. And now I wait for my copy of Part 2...
December 10, 2016
2.5. Don't get me wrong, I'm going to read these as long as they keep making them. Because ATLA. But these are starting to seem like variations for the same story, over and over again.
May 14, 2018
I kind of checked these Avatar comics out from the library out of order, but I'm making do! It was nice to get a story centered around Katara, Sokka, and their culture. I enjoyed this one!
March 1, 2021
Well, this is a first - usually I don't like the first volumes of these comics so much. They usually have to build up for me to like them in the end.
But wow, this one was good.
Katara and Sokka have been absent for a bit from the comics, but now they're on their own, and they are so, so amazing together. These comics handle Sokka with the perfect equivalent of jokes and seriousness, and he and Katara are so cute. I loved seeing just the two of them, and the discussion about the "progress" of the South Pole while they were gone. 5/5 stars.
But wow, this one was good.
Katara and Sokka have been absent for a bit from the comics, but now they're on their own, and they are so, so amazing together. These comics handle Sokka with the perfect equivalent of jokes and seriousness, and he and Katara are so cute. I loved seeing just the two of them, and the discussion about the "progress" of the South Pole while they were gone. 5/5 stars.
August 31, 2025
Diese Comicreihe begleitet Sokka und Katara zum Südlichen Wasserstamm. Es ist spannend zu sehen, was sich über die Jahre getan hat. Die Geschichte selbst fühlte sich aber etwas wiederholend an. Es war dadurch nicht weniger spannend, aber ich würde mir eine Geschichte mit weniger Rachegedanken wünschen.
9/10⭐
9/10⭐
July 21, 2020
Oh I loved this! 😍 took me back to the old days
February 8, 2017
Ahhh a whole commic about Katara and Sokka BLESS!
July 15, 2018
Oh heck
October 23, 2020
I love seeing more stories from the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender. It's so exciting to see Team Avatar growing up, dealing with bigger problems, and learning new things.
Katara and Sokka go home to the Southern Water Tribe, where their father has just been declared the Head Chieftain of all the Southern tribes. Their little village is gone, replaced by a huge and bustling city. Katara only wants to preserve the old traditions of her people, while Sokka is excited about the future progress that the tribes could achieve.
I love how this comic blends harmony and conflict. There are a lot of happy and nostalgic moments for Katara and Sokka as they come home, but there are also so many things that have changed and there is a lot of conflict because of that.
They get thrown into the adventure, and they have to call on Aang to come help them avert yet another war. I love the plot and the characters and the excellent story-telling! The art is wonderful too!
Katara and Sokka go home to the Southern Water Tribe, where their father has just been declared the Head Chieftain of all the Southern tribes. Their little village is gone, replaced by a huge and bustling city. Katara only wants to preserve the old traditions of her people, while Sokka is excited about the future progress that the tribes could achieve.
I love how this comic blends harmony and conflict. There are a lot of happy and nostalgic moments for Katara and Sokka as they come home, but there are also so many things that have changed and there is a lot of conflict because of that.
They get thrown into the adventure, and they have to call on Aang to come help them avert yet another war. I love the plot and the characters and the excellent story-telling! The art is wonderful too!
June 8, 2020
I wish I'd read these before I watched TLOK, but it is really interesting reading these with that context for how things end up.
August 15, 2020
**3.75 stars**
This was a fun volume but not as awesome as some of the others. But the ending left quite a surprise lol. Glad I have the next ones!
This was a fun volume but not as awesome as some of the others. But the ending left quite a surprise lol. Glad I have the next ones!
May 4, 2021
3.5
Me encantan! Adoro a Katara y Sokka
Me encantan! Adoro a Katara y Sokka
April 25, 2025
good start to the comic trilogy! Katara is the GOAT
August 6, 2023
I can't believe the Southern Water Tribe went from the tiniest village ever to a full on city in only a couple of years, which isn't that long in the grand scheme of things.
September 27, 2016
So while Aang's busy in the Fire Nation solving the problems in the previous three stories, Katara and Sokka are heading home for the first time since...well, since they left in the first few episodes of the series, I guess?
And behold, they must do battle with...gentrification!
No, but seriously. This first volume is of course very much set-up. We learn a little about what's been going on with the Southern Water Tribe in their absence, and they become involved in a plot to overthrow the new government, which is always nice. However, unlike certain Marvel events I could currently name, it's not clear yet which side is wrong - or even if there is a wrong side just yet.
And then there's an awkward cliffhanger, and we have to wait until January for Part 2. Bah.
The artwork is, as always, on point because Gurihiru have been drawing these characters and this world for so long now that they can't be faulted - the expressions, especially Sokka's when he's mid-joke, are amazing, and despite everything being blue thanks to the setting, it's still a lovely looking book.
And behold, they must do battle with...gentrification!
No, but seriously. This first volume is of course very much set-up. We learn a little about what's been going on with the Southern Water Tribe in their absence, and they become involved in a plot to overthrow the new government, which is always nice. However, unlike certain Marvel events I could currently name, it's not clear yet which side is wrong - or even if there is a wrong side just yet.
And then there's an awkward cliffhanger, and we have to wait until January for Part 2. Bah.
The artwork is, as always, on point because Gurihiru have been drawing these characters and this world for so long now that they can't be faulted - the expressions, especially Sokka's when he's mid-joke, are amazing, and despite everything being blue thanks to the setting, it's still a lovely looking book.
August 13, 2022
استمتعت بكل الحوارات الي ممكن نفتحها من بعد هذا الجزء من الطبقية، التحضر، نضرة المتحضرين للقبائل و المجتمعات الي تشارك في السلطة ، والكثير غيرهم . هم استمتعت شلون كل من ساكا و كاتارا لهم طرقهم للتعايش مع التغير ونظرتهم للاشياء بطريقتين مختلفتين ، هم لان بهذا الجزء نشوف اكثر من ساكا كان يضحك اكثر، و داااام اخر شيء ، كلش ما توقعتها من عمو هاكودا
December 1, 2016
Except for the last page, it was great.
November 6, 2017
Loved being back in this world. Can't wait to read the rest.
October 5, 2016
THE ENDING THO
April 4, 2018
I'm hoping the creators of the comics stop after this series, because I'm starting to see more of
If you've read any of my Avatar graphic novel reviews or spoken to me about Avatar, you will know that I despise Korra. Two videos that I recommend that give EXCELLENT reasons are The Legend of Korra is Garbage and Here's Why and Animated Atrocities #141: The Legend of Korra Book 1. These are not rant videos, but videos that take an in-depth look into why Avatar was great and why Korra is a failure. Korra had amazing potential, but the creators of it messed up badly.
One of my personal issue with Korra is this shift from an Asian/diverse world into a heavily-influenced, Steampunk-esque 1920s New York. The sudden shove toward this is so evident in the comics, and it's awkward. Except for one other of the comic series, none of the others have had this feel to shove Korra's ideas in your face until now.
North and South shows how the Northern Water Tribe wants to use the Southern Water Tribe's resources for their own. They want to convert the SWT into a colony of the NWT. The whole point for this? The fact that the SWT has oil. Firstly, that is SUCH an Americana idea, it's sick. And it's so blatant too! The NWT feels as though the SWT is primitive and animals all because they didn't live in big fancy houses and the SWT was a conglomerate of a bunch of tribes living down in the South Pole. You got a hint of the feeling of that in the first season of Avatar, but it wasn't quite so greed-based. The NWT looked down on their brothers because of an argument between the two and because the North prided themselves on "civilization."
None of this felt right. Saying that Katara's and Sokka's dad would want to change the whole tribe to be a NWT knock-off was a bit much. And making him in charge of everyone? Why? There was nothing in the TV series that showed he could be a great political leader for an enormous amount of people. He feels like a puppet monarch, more than anything.
The whole concept out of these two books was that old/ancient ways and customs are bad, and innovation, ambition, and "improvement" is the "right" way. But you'll argue and say that the NWT didn't get what hey wanted. Didn't they? The majority of SWT people are now happily living in Northern styled homes, eating Northern styled food, and wanting a fancier life while all the dissenters live in a cave, are quick to try to kill people, and are ridiculously foolish.
One of the arguments from the above mentioned videos is that the creators of Korra went out of there way to say that Democracy/Americana was the only good thing and that everything else is bad. It's very blatant in the show, whereas in North and South, it's more subtle, but it's there.
Also, still no one has explained how automobiles work AND why they require oil. yet another technological "advancement" that quickly shoves you more toward the Korra world.
If you've read any of my Avatar graphic novel reviews or spoken to me about Avatar, you will know that I despise Korra. Two videos that I recommend that give EXCELLENT reasons are The Legend of Korra is Garbage and Here's Why and Animated Atrocities #141: The Legend of Korra Book 1. These are not rant videos, but videos that take an in-depth look into why Avatar was great and why Korra is a failure. Korra had amazing potential, but the creators of it messed up badly.
One of my personal issue with Korra is this shift from an Asian/diverse world into a heavily-influenced, Steampunk-esque 1920s New York. The sudden shove toward this is so evident in the comics, and it's awkward. Except for one other of the comic series, none of the others have had this feel to shove Korra's ideas in your face until now.
North and South shows how the Northern Water Tribe wants to use the Southern Water Tribe's resources for their own. They want to convert the SWT into a colony of the NWT. The whole point for this? The fact that the SWT has oil. Firstly, that is SUCH an Americana idea, it's sick. And it's so blatant too! The NWT feels as though the SWT is primitive and animals all because they didn't live in big fancy houses and the SWT was a conglomerate of a bunch of tribes living down in the South Pole. You got a hint of the feeling of that in the first season of Avatar, but it wasn't quite so greed-based. The NWT looked down on their brothers because of an argument between the two and because the North prided themselves on "civilization."
None of this felt right. Saying that Katara's and Sokka's dad would want to change the whole tribe to be a NWT knock-off was a bit much. And making him in charge of everyone? Why? There was nothing in the TV series that showed he could be a great political leader for an enormous amount of people. He feels like a puppet monarch, more than anything.
The whole concept out of these two books was that old/ancient ways and customs are bad, and innovation, ambition, and "improvement" is the "right" way. But you'll argue and say that the NWT didn't get what hey wanted. Didn't they? The majority of SWT people are now happily living in Northern styled homes, eating Northern styled food, and wanting a fancier life while all the dissenters live in a cave, are quick to try to kill people, and are ridiculously foolish.
One of the arguments from the above mentioned videos is that the creators of Korra went out of there way to say that Democracy/Americana was the only good thing and that everything else is bad. It's very blatant in the show, whereas in North and South, it's more subtle, but it's there.
Also, still no one has explained how automobiles work AND why they require oil. yet another technological "advancement" that quickly shoves you more toward the Korra world.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 302 reviews