Toph Beifong's Metalbending Academy

Avatar: The Last Airbender Comics #7

by Faith Erin Hicks, Peter Wartman (Illustrator), Adele Matera (Illustrator)

Set in the post-series comics era of the beloved Avatar: The Last Airbender franchise, fans will get to see a new part of the original timeline that they've never seen before. A stand alone comic about the best earthbender and inventor of metalbending, Toph Beifong. Written by Faith Erin Hicks (The Adventures of Superhero Girl, The Last of Us: American Dreams) and illustrated by Peter Wartman (Stonebreaker, Over the Wall) and Adele Matera, the same team behind the Imbalance trilogy.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Fantasy, Fiction, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Graphic Novels Comics

80 pages, Paperback

First published February 16, 2021

About the author

Born in the wilds of British Columbia, the young Faith frolicked among the Sasquatch native to the province before moving to Ontario at age five. There she was homeschooled with her three brothers, and developed an unnatural passion for galloping around on horseback, though never without a proper helmet (because you only get one skull). After twenty years of suffering through Ontario’s obscenely hot summers, she migrated east, and now lives beside the other ocean in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She worked in animation for a bit, and now draws comics full time. She’s not sure how that happened either.

Reviews

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Toph is growing bored with her staid life teaching classes. She misses the excitement of fighting in the underground bender battles to survive. Basically she's going through the same mid-life crisis everyone goes through when their life becomes more comfortable and stable. It's all rather boring. Peter Wartman's art is spot on though.

Received a review copy from Dark Horse and Edelweiss. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.

[Dianna ☾midnight reads☽]

a solo comic just for the Melon Lord??? can't it come any sooner?!

[Manisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great addition to the Avatar comics. We see Toph being typical Toph: bored while living a routine life, and in search of something interesting.

We see what Toph is like as a teacher, what motivates her to look after kids in need, and a rare form of bending.

There were quite a few throwbacks to the original series too, including from one of my favourite episodes.

[Queen V™ · Rating 4 out of 5]

edit edit 4.5 star!! not me obsessing over Toph

edit: I GOT IT AHHHHHHHHHH YESSSSSSS. I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS ONE, TURN IT UP



Me finding out that this finally came out:


Me running to check it out from the library:


Me realizing that I'll have to wait for weeks since it's in high demand:

[Alexandra Elend Wolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

“My job is taking care of my students at the Academy. To make sure they’re safe, and they’re learning to master their bending abilities.

There's no doubt on the fact that the older I get, the more fascinating and in love I fall with Toph Beifong.

Everything about this comic was simply charming, hilarious, and quite profound, sneakily so. It was impossible not to want to continue reading about them all and feeling quite proud as well.

I have to be honest, I was not sure what this was gonna be about considering that we had already seen a fair amount of Toph's Metalbending Academy before. It certainly never occurred to me that this was going to focus on the growing pains of a girl whose life has had one too many absolute turns and is finding her place in this new world.

Seeing Ho Tun, Penga, and the Dark One again was such an unexpected treat for some reason. Getting to see where their journeys have landed them after so long was something I didn't even know I needed.

“Back in the day, me, Lily, and Moku used to play our music because it was what we did, man. We were all about the love. The love of music. But then the love became something else. It became a way to earn a living, and that can mess with the love, man.”

Between Toph's struggles and the unexpected return of a very funny little band of nomads we have a decent division of humor and seriousness that is just a staple of this world by now.

The existential crisis that comes with responsibility and stability when before there was none it's a particular brand that is quite hard to navigate. The way that it was portrayed, with the two different end results and reasonings, is quite fascinating.

Whatever the case, just seeing how grown up they all make me proud of them.

Needless to say, this world continues to hold its brilliance and depth without losing one ounce of its signature essence.

“I’m not going to be afraid anymore, not like the old Ho Tun. I’m the new Ho Tun, brave and strong.”

___________________

Quite honestly, this was one of the greatest things I've read in a while.

I loved it!

Certainly, a great way to end the year.

RTC.
___________________

I adore the idea of seeing Toph teaching others to use metalbending.

That being said, I do believe that we already had a bit of this in one of the comics - I can't remember which one it was - and that mostly sated my deep curiosity. So, I am curious to see what this more in-depth look at it is gonna bring to the table.

Knowing Toph, I think I'm just gonna have a great time and laugh a lot. That's good enough.

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the curators of these continuations of both Avatar animated series have done a good job of making these post video stories fit into continuity. Toph has arguably received less "screen time" than most of Team Avatar since the show's end.

This is a fairly logical extension of what Toph might have been doing. Leaving Team Avatar to open an earthbending academy, and becoming frustrated by becoming "the establishment". There are some minor teasers for events that happen in Korra.

Really, this is probably really for completists, but it makes for a quick light diversion.

[Antoine Bandele · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was super solid. Not a true 5-star, more like a 4.5, but a solid one. I really enjoyed seeing this side of Toph, because her being a teacher would definitely not be her cup of tea for too long. But to see her interacting with her origins in earthbending is pretty cool and there are some neat things that pop up. The story has heavy themes of doing work for work and doing work for passion, which I think went over pretty well.

I would definitely recommend this one over Katara's one-shot.

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick, easy read that gives Toph some perspective as she finds her days as the head of the Metalbending Academy just a little bit repetitive and boring. Add in the Secret Tunnel band, Sokka and Suki for a few pages, and some oddly poignant conversations between characters you'd never expect, plus some ever-reliable Avatar art from Peter Wartman, and you've got another solid, if not overly spectacular, Avatar story.

[April (Aprilius Maximus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Wisdom can come from unexpected places, tiny but powerful earthbender lady."

representation: Asian inspired world and characters.

[trigger warnings are listed at the bottom of this review and may contain spoilers]

★★★★★

AS IF I'D GIVE TOPH ANYTHING LESS THAN 5 STARS. WHAT A BADASS.

trigger warnings: fantasy violence.

[LW · Rating 4 out of 5]

So cute!!! This book made me laugh out loud.

These ATLA comics are such a delight. :)

[cyra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Toph Beifong's Metalbending Academy
The Melon Lord's Midlife Crisis

[jessica ☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved seeing more young Toph, as well as a guest appearance from our favorite secret tunnel singers!

[Neil Franz · Rating 4 out of 5]

That realization from Toph.

[Elysian · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

Kinda cool, love Toph, WAY too short to get anything out of it.

[Lara Nataliya · Rating 4 out of 5]

and yet she still becomes a cop

[Vinícius Sgorla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eu estava TÃO empolgado por esse quadrinho! Toph, apesar de não ser minha personagem favorita, é de longe a mais foda de Avatar (pelo amor de deus, ela CRIOU uma dominação!!!), e quando veio a notícia de um quadrinho solo dela (que, convenhamos, não teve muito tempo de tela na última temporada e ficou no gosto de quero mais) + o tópico da ESCOLA de dominação de metal = me ganhou. No caso, mais ou menos, porque eu fui ler esse quadrinho sem saber a sinopse e acabei me frustrando um tanto - apesar de não ser ruim, longe disso.

No quadrinho, a Academia de Dominação de Metal da Toph já está em pleno funcionamento. Tudo está ocorrendo bem, as pessoas estão aprendendo, já surgiram até novos professores. A questão é que Toph agora está entediada, pois sua vida virou um ciclo já sem emoção (depois das tantas aventuras que passou junto à Equipe Avatar). Ao saber de uma série de competições clandestinas de luta entre dominadores (que remetem muito ao seu passado), Toph enxerga ali - talvez - um pouco de emoção.

É aí que tudo me pegou. Eu peguei o quadrinho ~pelo título~ assumindo que seria sobre a construção da escola de dominação de metal, os perrengues que ela ia passar (por ser dura demais etc) e talvez enxergando uma nova forma de ensino - diferente de como ela fez com o Aang, por exemplo. Quando chego na segunda página do quadrinho e vejo que TUDO JÁ ESTÁ FEITO - caramba, foi um desânimo. Mas OK, ainda assim deve-se ter algum enredo diferente. Mas boy, oh boy, que enredo chato!

Primeiro que nós temos uma conexão direta com um episódio de Avatar, pois temos a participação especial da banda do 'Túnel Secreto' (não lembro o nome deles), mas se já na série esses personagens já não me desciam, aqui foi muito menos. Era o vocalista hippie aparecer que eu ficava com os olhos revirados. Não vejo humor, não vejo reflexões, é... bem meh. E por isso que a nota que estou dando é um tanto baixa - mas não é só isso.

Ao se tratar das competições clandestinas, essa parte foi muito legal - até as últimas páginas. Toph sente que alguma coisa ali nas competições está diferente, tem alguém... especial (?) ali dentro. Não vou falar muito pois, obviamente, isso é um spoiler, mas todo esse arco trouxe consigo muitos foreshadowings de coisas que a gente vê somente em A Lenda de Korra - e isso é incrível!! A questão é que, chegando nas páginas finais, o clímax de tudo acontece faltando 5 ou 6 páginas, o final é completamente abrupto e deixa um gosto de 'quero mais' ou 'queria que isso tomasse um rumo diferente, somado a mais umas 40 páginas'. Quem leu, imagino que vá entender.

Dos quadrinhos de Avatar que li até então, este é o mais fraco. Se você é fã da Toph ou um colecionador dos quadrinhos, vá em frente, mas se você espera um bom enredo com uma personagem tão foda quanto a Toph, baixe - e muito - as suas expectativas.

[Anne (ReadEatGameRepeat) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly I love this whole series, but I really loved this little comic book. I loved seeing Toph by herself and having grown into a teacher - I'm glad I picked this up, even if its short and doesn't really do a whole lot for character development or world building its still a wonderful little moment in time.

[Bruna Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Toph é maravilhosa. Essa história se passa pouco depois do arco "Imbalance", diferente da história individual da Katara que se passava ainda dentro da linha do tempo do desenho. Ela foca na personalidade da Toph e é muito bom ver mais dobra de metal e mais um tipo de dobra rara. Tomara que continuem com histórias sobre esses primeiros anos pós guerra do universo

[sel · Rating 5 out of 5]

TOPH TE AMO

[Nikakioy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Die Geschichte hat mir gefallen, aber ich hätte gerne mehr gehabt. Gerade als es spannend wurde, wurde die Handlung beendet.

7/10⭐

[*❆ Kαɾҽɳ ❆* · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story about Toph. Toph being amazingly talented. That is all you need to read this l.

[Holly Fleet · Rating 5 out of 5]

was bit too dusty today to keep going with my current read so this perfect for some light reading. toph has to be one of my fav main characters so i obviously absolutely loved this and i think the illustrations are so good and so true to the show im just obsessed

[. · Rating 5 out of 5]

[October 15th, 2020]: ive just finished the katara comic and it was cool so im excited to get a closer look at toph's metalbending academy in this comic, in just 124 days!!


~~
[July 26th, 2020]: YESSS a comic focusing only on toph and her metalbending academy is exactly what she deserves!!

february 16, 2021 cannot come soon enough💥💥

i hope one day suki or azula get solo comics too bc they deserve so!! much!! better!!!

[joanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Toph definitely isn't my favorite character so I was definitely a bit *skeptical* going into this one. I just find Toph to be abrasive and annoying.

Despite all of that, I enjoyed this graphic novel. It was fun to see Suki and Sokka and the "Secret Tunnel" band again.

It was also fun to watch Toph find more kids to teach and find some more unique earth benders like her.

☘️🪨🏫

[Ariya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite being a simp for Toph, I'm a little underwhelmed by this one-short adventure. It focuses more on her pupils and the new earth-shattering discovery (literally) about a new form of earth bending which was already introduced in LoK.

[Gretal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was great fun

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 - It was nice to catch up with Toph post Avatar, but the story was pretty thin, even for a one-off.

[Shreyas · Rating 5 out of 5]

"ATLA: Toph Beifong's Metalbending Academy" (Avatar: The Last Airbender #6.5) by Faith Erin Hicks, Peter Wartman, Michael Dante DiMartino, Bryan Konietzko, et al.



Rating: 4.75/5.



Review:
'Toph Beifong's Metalbending Academy' is a standalone graphic novel set in the ATLA universe after the events of 'The Rift' story arc. Quite honestly, this was one of the most entertaining ATLA stories that I have read so far. Loved it!

I wasn't sure what this story was going to be about since we have seen a fair share of Toph's Metalbending Academy in earlier novels. I was quite surprised to see that it focused on Toph's (way too early) mid-life existential crisis. With the growing responsibility and stability in her life, Toph feels her life has grown boring as she yearns for a return to her earlier illegal bending fight club days.

It was a perfect story, charming and hilarious in equal parts, and unexpectedly quite profound. Peter Wartman returns to the original art style (since he had deviated away from it in the 'Imbalance' arc) which remains consistent with the ATLA series. It also features a very funny little band of nomads (now a popular band), thus linking this volume with one of the earlier episodes of the second season of ATLA.

Overall, this book was a wonderful addition to the ATLA universe. Balancing hilarity and seriousness quite effectively, it manages to successfully hold the brilliance and depth of the ATLA series without losing its signature essence. Simply amazing, unexpectedly profound, and highly recommended!

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always anything from the Avatar team is automatically five stars for me. I read this new installment in the Avatar universe after the announcement of Avatar Studios. Which has me super excited.

With that little tidbit being said I will get to the review now which will contain spoilers. You have been warned.

Toph is bored of running her metalbending academy since it is the same routine. So she invites Suki and Sokka to come visit her. They drag her to a concert which is the band from book two who sings secret tunnel and they are on tour around the Earth Kindgom.

In Toph fashion she gets bored and finds that the local town is running an illegal bending arena. Toph sneaks in hoping to smash some heads but when they spot her; the whole arena clears out since Toph is Avatar Aang's friend. Oh we also see an untrained Lava Bender fighting too.

She is disappointed of course. Another boring day goes by at her academy and at nightfall she uses her feet to find a new location of the arena. While searching for her destination she comes across the front man of the band and she protects him from crazed fans.

Fast forward and she drops in and invites all of the kids fighting to live at her academy.

[Sophie_The_Jedi_Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5

I just love each and every one of these comics.

Well, almost. I still need and someone else to stop being stupid and start dating again, but - agh, irrelevant. That has nothing to do with this comic. It's about Toph!

It's really fun to see Toph again, and her metalbending students. And Toph paired up with Chong is such a great dynamic. This book also has some pretty good LoK tie-ins, which I was impressed by. I just don't have NEARLY the same love for LoK that I have for ATLA, so the fact that I liked them really means something lol. I do like LoK, but... it's not the same.

I really liked this one, but I do wish the conflict with Toph's boredom was addressed a little more directly - just a little, the more I think about it the more I like it lol. 4.5/5 stars!