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Avatar: The High Ground #1
Avatar: The High Ground, Volume 1
It has been almost a decade since the humans were forced to leave Pandora—but now they’re returning—with an armada of heavily-armed starships!
After years of peace, Jake Sully has settled down with Neytiri and raised a family, so for him, the stakes are even higher than when he first went to war against the corporate might of the RDA.
During the development process of creating the four Avatar sequels, a lot of new ideas and stories were created and discussed. One such EPIC original story idea that didn’t make it into the sequels was James Cameron’s original story—“The High Ground.” Cameron shared what he had written with Dark Horse Comics and it is now being adapted by award-winning author Sherri L. Smith (The Toymaker’s Apprentice, Orleans), and illustrated by Brazilian artist Guilherme Balbi.
Avatar: The High Ground Volume 1 ventures into all-new territory in the Avatar saga, and is a direct prequel to the highly-anticipated film sequel Avatar 2!
After years of peace, Jake Sully has settled down with Neytiri and raised a family, so for him, the stakes are even higher than when he first went to war against the corporate might of the RDA.
During the development process of creating the four Avatar sequels, a lot of new ideas and stories were created and discussed. One such EPIC original story idea that didn’t make it into the sequels was James Cameron’s original story—“The High Ground.” Cameron shared what he had written with Dark Horse Comics and it is now being adapted by award-winning author Sherri L. Smith (The Toymaker’s Apprentice, Orleans), and illustrated by Brazilian artist Guilherme Balbi.
Avatar: The High Ground Volume 1 ventures into all-new territory in the Avatar saga, and is a direct prequel to the highly-anticipated film sequel Avatar 2!
88 pages, Hardcover
First published December 6, 2022
43 people are currently reading
634 people want to read
About the author
Sherri L. Smith
49 books515 followersSherri L. Smith is the award-winning author of YA novels LUCY THE GIANT, SPARROW, HOT SOUR SALTY SWEET, FLYGIRL and ORLEANS. In October 2015, she makes her middle grade debut with THE TOYMAKER’S APPRENTICE from G.P. Putnam and Sons for Penguin Random House.
Sherri has worked in film, animation, comic books and construction. Her books have been listed as Amelia Bloomer, American Library Association Best Books for Young People, and Junior Library Guild Selections. FLYGIRL was the 2009 California Book Awards Gold Medalist.
She loves her family, travel, chocolate chip cookies, reading, and and a really good cup of tea.
Sherri has worked in film, animation, comic books and construction. Her books have been listed as Amelia Bloomer, American Library Association Best Books for Young People, and Junior Library Guild Selections. FLYGIRL was the 2009 California Book Awards Gold Medalist.
She loves her family, travel, chocolate chip cookies, reading, and and a really good cup of tea.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
December 18, 2022
I believe all of Cameron's weaknesses transferred to this novel — clunky dialogue, indulgent pacing — but none of his strengths carried through.
Here's hoping The Way of Water doesn't disappoint.
EDIT: Watched it, really quite liked the theatre experience. Wish it would've been shorter and crispier.
Here's hoping The Way of Water doesn't disappoint.
EDIT: Watched it, really quite liked the theatre experience. Wish it would've been shorter and crispier.
January 3, 2023
Wanted to enjoy it as I'm a fan of the universe, but found it pretty flat and uninteresting.
I found myself having to go back and check previous pages because it was hard to tell certain characters apart as they were depicted inconsistently. Specifically the fact the artists didn't seem to know how many fingers certain characters were meant to have. Seems like a minor issue sure, but since it's a specific plot point important to both the book and the sequel film, it feels like a pretty bad oversight!
I found myself having to go back and check previous pages because it was hard to tell certain characters apart as they were depicted inconsistently. Specifically the fact the artists didn't seem to know how many fingers certain characters were meant to have. Seems like a minor issue sure, but since it's a specific plot point important to both the book and the sequel film, it feels like a pretty bad oversight!
December 13, 2022
I recently watched Avatar for the first time, which was good, if not flawed, and my husband had this short A Avatar graphic novel lying around, so I decided to give it a go… and straight up did not like it. 🤷🏼♀️
January 8, 2023
Dobra ten lepszy od reszty, ladnie laczy 1 i 2 czesc
May 4, 2024
I think the space fighting was the best part. That would’ve been so cool to see in the movies.
September 6, 2024
Fühlt sich nach einem starken Auftakt zur Reihe an, aber ich seh auch, warum das am Ende doch "nur" eine Graphic Novel und kein Blockbuster werden konnte.
December 20, 2022
I think I really only started enjoying comics and graphic novels when, like anime, I realised that the inherent ridiculousness is part of their charm - and embraced that aspect, rather than expecting comic tie-ins to be tonal extensions of their parent media.
Because Avatar: The High Ground is ridiculous. It’s over the top, and even implausible at times. Not impossible - it’s reworked from an original James Cameron script, or script idea - but definitely implausible. But that doesn’t make it bad.
This is the first instalment in a three-part series which follows Jake, Neytiri, and their biological and adopted children immediately prior to the events of the second film. The Sky People have returned, and Jake Sully, as Olo’eyktan of the Omatikaya and as Toruk Makto, wants as many Na’vi clans as possible to unite and bring the fight to them. To the black world.
Yeah. Na’vi in space. It sounds cool, but there’s a reason this idea was cut and reformed into the sequel we got with Avatar: The Way of Water. It really stretches your suspension of disbelief in a way that doesn’t mesh with James Cameron’s total immersion philosophy, something that has always been at the core of this franchise, even before it was a franchise.
But that’s exactly why the graphic novel is the perfect medium to explore ideas like this. It’s perfect, low-stakes, over-the-top AU fun. In addition, the art was gorgeous, though it wasn’t always easy to tell the children apart; they didn’t resemble their film counterparts as closely as their parents did, but that was my only gripe. The landscapes, flora and fauna were all distinctly and recognisably Pandoran, and the dialogue was fine, though not as tight, natural, and imbued with character as James Cameron’s is.
Still, a solid 4 stars, and I’m excited to read instalments two and three!
Because Avatar: The High Ground is ridiculous. It’s over the top, and even implausible at times. Not impossible - it’s reworked from an original James Cameron script, or script idea - but definitely implausible. But that doesn’t make it bad.
This is the first instalment in a three-part series which follows Jake, Neytiri, and their biological and adopted children immediately prior to the events of the second film. The Sky People have returned, and Jake Sully, as Olo’eyktan of the Omatikaya and as Toruk Makto, wants as many Na’vi clans as possible to unite and bring the fight to them. To the black world.
Yeah. Na’vi in space. It sounds cool, but there’s a reason this idea was cut and reformed into the sequel we got with Avatar: The Way of Water. It really stretches your suspension of disbelief in a way that doesn’t mesh with James Cameron’s total immersion philosophy, something that has always been at the core of this franchise, even before it was a franchise.
But that’s exactly why the graphic novel is the perfect medium to explore ideas like this. It’s perfect, low-stakes, over-the-top AU fun. In addition, the art was gorgeous, though it wasn’t always easy to tell the children apart; they didn’t resemble their film counterparts as closely as their parents did, but that was my only gripe. The landscapes, flora and fauna were all distinctly and recognisably Pandoran, and the dialogue was fine, though not as tight, natural, and imbued with character as James Cameron’s is.
Still, a solid 4 stars, and I’m excited to read instalments two and three!
October 5, 2022
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
This is book one in a three part series detailing events leading up to the sequel film Avatar: Way of Water. It features Jake Sully and his new extended family and how they have rebuilt in the fourteen years since the RDA forces left Pandora when Sully defeated them. The writing is crisp and the characters nuanced. The illustration work is clean though there are quite a few new characters that can be hard to keep track of in this beginning story.Story: Sully and Neytiri have raised their own children along with adopted orphans of both species. The humans and the Na'Vi live peacefully as they rebuild after the destruction rained down on them from the RDA military. Most of all, the Na'Vi look to find a new home. But Sully knows the RDA will return from Earth and watches the skies with apprehension. He will train the people for what is to come, even knowing the humans will be back and in greater number - to claim the prize that is Pandora.
This first book gives us an update on how Sully has grown his family and the politics of the Na'Vi as they reestablish themselves. Many do not wish to heed Sully's warnings but Sully knows it is only a matter of time. Neytiri will always support him but she now has daughters and sons to protect as well. Especially concerning is one human child the family has adopted but who worries Neytiri greatly for his human tendencies.
The illustration work is clean and beautifully drawn and colored. The illustrator has done an excellent job of giving us Pandora in all its hues, though a lot of the action takes place at night. The characters look like their movie counterparts and are easy to follow.
The story stays true to the movie; it is, after all, derived from an original script by James Cameron. This was originally meant to be the beginning of the next movie but instead was turned into a graphic novel prequel with high production values.
Those looking forward to the next movie will enjoy this glimpse into the Avatar world. There is plenty of action and the Na'Vi will once again have to fight the humans to save their world. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.
November 27, 2022
Avatar High Ground takes you on a journey full of action and adventure again which we witnessed in the movie. The plot takes us further where Jake Sully has a family, but he knows that sky people will be back. how he prepares himself and his family is the main crux of the story. It was really fascinating re living the story. Full of action and adventure gives you a an enjoying experience. Also, graphics are nice.
Definitely, a 4 star book. Thanks to Edelweiss and Dark Horse Books for giving me an opportunity to read and review the book.
Read more on https://bibliophileverse.blogspot.com...
Definitely, a 4 star book. Thanks to Edelweiss and Dark Horse Books for giving me an opportunity to read and review the book.
Read more on https://bibliophileverse.blogspot.com...
December 19, 2025
Die Comic Trilogie "Das Blut von Pandora" ist zugleich Sequel zum ersten Avatar Film von 2009 als auch Prequel zu dessen Nachfolger "The Way of Water". Einige Jahre sind inzwischen vergangen und Jake Sully und Neytiri haben sich nit ihren zwei Söhnen, einer kleinen Tochter, einer Adoptivtochter sowie einem menschlichen Adoptivsohn eine eigene Familie aufgebaut. Sie leben in Frieden bis zu dem Tag, an dem sie erkennen müssen, dass die Himmelsmenschen bzw. RDA wieder zurückkommen und wieder einmal muss Jake die Navi auf den Kampf gegen diesen menschlichen Feind vorbereiten.
Man spürt richtig den Geist der zwei Filme und gerade zu Beginn sieht man Szenen, die man als Rücklblick aus "The Way of Water" bereits kennt. Auch Jakes und Neytiris Kinder kennt man natürlich schon der gelungenen Fortsetzung und alles wirkt wunderbar rund. Einziges Manko: Band Eins ist recht kurzweilig.
Man spürt richtig den Geist der zwei Filme und gerade zu Beginn sieht man Szenen, die man als Rücklblick aus "The Way of Water" bereits kennt. Auch Jakes und Neytiris Kinder kennt man natürlich schon der gelungenen Fortsetzung und alles wirkt wunderbar rund. Einziges Manko: Band Eins ist recht kurzweilig.
December 30, 2023
I don't know what I find harder to belive, that Avatar exists and keeps trucking or that I was so blown away by the incredible visual effects to think it was a work of genuis lmfao.
I had no idea what I expected, but I realise if couldn't have been anything else. If l you love Avatar, this is Avatar why everything turned up or down to eleven. You can literally guess the story, though I don't think anyone was expect Na'vi in spaaaaace.
Genuinely, beyond the art, which vacillates between actually gorgeous, through pretty good, to meh, sometimes with consecutive panels side by side, it reads like something from another time, long before the release of the original movie. The noble savage trope is in full effect and the politics and anthropology is as surface level as it comes.
I had no idea what I expected, but I realise if couldn't have been anything else. If l you love Avatar, this is Avatar why everything turned up or down to eleven. You can literally guess the story, though I don't think anyone was expect Na'vi in spaaaaace.
Genuinely, beyond the art, which vacillates between actually gorgeous, through pretty good, to meh, sometimes with consecutive panels side by side, it reads like something from another time, long before the release of the original movie. The noble savage trope is in full effect and the politics and anthropology is as surface level as it comes.
April 24, 2023
So for anybody who was wondering just how much we missed in the prologue with Jake and Neytiri growing their family, really not much.
In fact, other than trying to settle another bigass tree, the Na'vi were relatively ok.
But you know how it goes; you get complacent, that's when the Fire Nation attacks.
...
Ok, wrong Avatar, but as further explained by the movie, Sky People back and they have to prepare for war.
AND OF COURSE IT CAN'T BE AVATAR 2 WITHOUT THE KIDS GETTING INTO PICKLES AND SUITABLE RESCUES ALL AROUND!!
In fact, other than trying to settle another bigass tree, the Na'vi were relatively ok.
But you know how it goes; you get complacent, that's when the Fire Nation attacks.
...
Ok, wrong Avatar, but as further explained by the movie, Sky People back and they have to prepare for war.
AND OF COURSE IT CAN'T BE AVATAR 2 WITHOUT THE KIDS GETTING INTO PICKLES AND SUITABLE RESCUES ALL AROUND!!
January 13, 2023
Jake sully you’ll always have my heart
February 19, 2023
Love the art and I like that it was about the children
March 28, 2023
It’s pretty cool for what it is and has some good tidbits about the characters. Lemme buy the other two
December 29, 2023
they’re fighting IN SPACE! SPACE!!! ✨
Read
May 14, 2025fast nichts verstanden weil alle sehen gleich aus
July 3, 2024
spelling:
p13: <...Lo'ak him in the eye, boy!>
Here we go!
p13: <...Lo'ak him in the eye, boy!>
Here we go!
January 19, 2023
I love avatar but sadly this was not for me. Pretty colors and all but the art is a bit weird, could barely tell anyone apart and a lot of the time their faces were kind of ugly and goofy looking (why the weird lip biting?). The dialogue was also pretty bad, and the pacing felt off. If I end up picking up the next one it will be purely because I hate having an unfinished series on my shelf.
December 27, 2022
I would have liked to have seen some parts of the story on film, while other parts from this comic are still in Avatar: The Way of Water, so it doesn't feel totally fresh or unique. As is, Avatar: The High Ground, Volume 1 does not work as a comic and feels like a rough draft for what became the second film. It jumps all over the place without much rhyme or reason, and it just feels like it's missing a lot. I'll still give volume 2 a try.
August 8, 2023
Started reading these after I watched the second Avatar movie and NEEDED more avatar content. Highly recommend for all those obsessed with everything Avatar :)
February 24, 2023
Urrgggg! I know Na’vi anatomy can be difficult, but they are copying shots from the movie. I have seen the movie too many times that I recognize all of them! On top of it, it’s very difficult to tell who is who. I have seen fanart comics much better drawn than this. Sorry, I don’t want to disrespect the artists, but they put minimum effort into this.
Also, I’m just conflicted because it says it’s based on the actual screenplay by James Cameron himself. Does it mean this is canon?
Because if it is, I have a lot of questions.
And isn’t the kids exploring the battlefield and founding the Samson helicopter too much like what actually happened in the second movie? I know it’s based on the screenplay, and maybe it got changed. But then again, I ask, is this canon? I honestly don’t think so.
Also, I’m just conflicted because it says it’s based on the actual screenplay by James Cameron himself. Does it mean this is canon?
Because if it is, I have a lot of questions.
And isn’t the kids exploring the battlefield and founding the Samson helicopter too much like what actually happened in the second movie? I know it’s based on the screenplay, and maybe it got changed. But then again, I ask, is this canon? I honestly don’t think so.
December 10, 2023
Невикористана частина сценаріїв франшизи переїхала сюди, з додаванням часточки ідей з другої частини фільму. Героїв представили, комусь зробили костурбату історію походження і окреслили основну проблему - на’ві дуже важко відрізнити одне від одного, лише за шматтям.
Як на мене, комікс і сіквел запізнилися. Вдруге переказ сюжету про Покахонтас не працює. Та й інтриги тут ніякої. І розвиток подій зрозумілий. Ось читачеві презентують сім’ю Саллі, ось під ногами бігає Павук - зрозуміло, що чогось радикального з ними не станеться, бо вони нормально затусили у другій частині фільму. Сюжет складається з вічної стурбованості Саллі-старшого про повернення землян на Пандору і пошуку чи порятунку дітей. Діти не слухають батька і потрапляють у халепу. Двійко разів падають з висоти, але не вбиваються. У Павука на мордяці вічно є распіратор із балонами з земним повітрям - звичайно ж, у нього буде пригода, де запасні балони проїбуться, а дихальної суміші залишиться якраз на те, щоб марафоном проскакати по джунглях і бути вчасно врятованим. Просто кілька сюжетиків з проблемами мешканців Пандори.
Звичайно ж, земляни повертаються, хоча самі на’ві переконували Саллі, що цього не станеться. Аналітики рівня антропоморфних котячих, які користуються луком і стрілами, а на технології в них релігійна заборона. Та у Саллі є план, і він навіть втілюється у життя. Він створив з кільканадцяти синіх котів свій космодесант. Так, сама оригінальна фіча коміксу - це на’ві у космосі. навіть виробництво скафандрів налагодили, хоча, власне, як?! Кому табу, а кому…
Отже, кілька сюжетів на фоні повернення землян. Повертаються довго, бо то ж треба припертися, затормозити, налаштувати вихід на орбіту, запустити власну пропаганду, де перелоялити тих землян, що залишилися на Пандорі, назад на свій бік, пообіцявши зарплати та бонуси за весь час, поки корпорація була на планеті відсутня (а пройшло 10 років, і там набігло баблішка). І не те, шоб земляни-на’вілюби раптово розлюбили чужинську природу, але франкліни - вони і у далекому космосі франкліни. Коротше, навілюби розкололися навпіл, на’ві готуються битися, і на цьому перша частина коміксової адаптації закінчується.
Читати не те щоб не цікаво. Фанатам точно зайде. Але… Не вистачає тут якогось напруження. В діалогах старші просто нагадують молодшим, хто тут головний, от таке виховання. Дружина Саллі може зі скандалом наїхати на чужу дитину, бо її немає кому захистити, та ще й з такими аргументами, до яких дитина явно недотична. Древній народ прямоходячих котів наївний до мімімішності, хоча у їх прототипа - племен індіанців - було всіляке, і міжусобиці, і мир, і вирізання всіх, хто не подобався. В сюжет просто накидали стандартних історій.
Переклад. Нудні діалоги перекладені відмінно, є кілька промахів верстки, але вони на загальне враження не впливають.
Посередньо.
Як на мене, комікс і сіквел запізнилися. Вдруге переказ сюжету про Покахонтас не працює. Та й інтриги тут ніякої. І розвиток подій зрозумілий. Ось читачеві презентують сім’ю Саллі, ось під ногами бігає Павук - зрозуміло, що чогось радикального з ними не станеться, бо вони нормально затусили у другій частині фільму. Сюжет складається з вічної стурбованості Саллі-старшого про повернення землян на Пандору і пошуку чи порятунку дітей. Діти не слухають батька і потрапляють у халепу. Двійко разів падають з висоти, але не вбиваються. У Павука на мордяці вічно є распіратор із балонами з земним повітрям - звичайно ж, у нього буде пригода, де запасні балони проїбуться, а дихальної суміші залишиться якраз на те, щоб марафоном проскакати по джунглях і бути вчасно врятованим. Просто кілька сюжетиків з проблемами мешканців Пандори.
Звичайно ж, земляни повертаються, хоча самі на’ві переконували Саллі, що цього не станеться. Аналітики рівня антропоморфних котячих, які користуються луком і стрілами, а на технології в них релігійна заборона. Та у Саллі є план, і він навіть втілюється у життя. Він створив з кільканадцяти синіх котів свій космодесант. Так, сама оригінальна фіча коміксу - це на’ві у космосі. навіть виробництво скафандрів налагодили, хоча, власне, як?! Кому табу, а кому…
Отже, кілька сюжетів на фоні повернення землян. Повертаються довго, бо то ж треба припертися, затормозити, налаштувати вихід на орбіту, запустити власну пропаганду, де перелоялити тих землян, що залишилися на Пандорі, назад на свій бік, пообіцявши зарплати та бонуси за весь час, поки корпорація була на планеті відсутня (а пройшло 10 років, і там набігло баблішка). І не те, шоб земляни-на’вілюби раптово розлюбили чужинську природу, але франкліни - вони і у далекому космосі франкліни. Коротше, навілюби розкололися навпіл, на’ві готуються битися, і на цьому перша частина коміксової адаптації закінчується.
Читати не те щоб не цікаво. Фанатам точно зайде. Але… Не вистачає тут якогось напруження. В діалогах старші просто нагадують молодшим, хто тут головний, от таке виховання. Дружина Саллі може зі скандалом наїхати на чужу дитину, бо її немає кому захистити, та ще й з такими аргументами, до яких дитина явно недотична. Древній народ прямоходячих котів наївний до мімімішності, хоча у їх прототипа - племен індіанців - було всіляке, і міжусобиці, і мир, і вирізання всіх, хто не подобався. В сюжет просто накидали стандартних історій.
Переклад. Нудні діалоги перекладені відмінно, є кілька промахів верстки, але вони на загальне враження не впливають.
Посередньо.
February 3, 2023
Dieses Review bezieht auf die deutsche Version dieses Buchs mit dem Titel Avatar: Blut von Pandora. Band 1, ISBN: 3741630837
Dieses Buch ist ein Prequel zu Roland Emmerichs zweiten Avatar Film. Ich persönlich finde die Bezeichnung Prequel etwas unglücklich gewählt, weil es nicht die Ereignisse vor dem Film erzählt, sondern parallel dazu. Allerdings ohne eine Graphic Novel zum Film zu sein. Das klingt jetzt komplizierter, als es ist, aber ich wollte klarstellen, dass niemand von dem Film erwartet, dass er die Vorgeschichte bzw. die Ereignisse zwischen beiden Filmen erzählt.
Der erste Avatar Film (»Aufbruch nach Pandora« aus dem Jahre 2019) hat deshalb Geschichte geschrieben, weil er nicht nur eine emotionale Geschichte erzählte, sondern auch mit einer famosen Technik aufwarten konnte, die das 3D-Kino salonfähig gemacht hat. Der zweite Teil (»The Way of Water«) konnte da leider nicht mithalten und bot zu viel Action bei zu wenig Emotionalität. Und wenig verwunderlich gilt dies auch für den ersten Teil der Graphic-Novel-Trilogie »Das Blut von Pandora«, wobei weder das eine noch das andere deshalb schlecht sind.
Die Handlung ist noch immer auf dem erdähnlichen Planeten Pandora verortet, auf dem die humanoide Spezies Na’vi in Koexistenz zu den anderen Lebewesen des Planeten lebt. Ausgerechnet dort befinden sich große Mengen eines Rohstoffs, den die Menschheit sehr begehrt, weshalb der Konzern R.D.A. (Resources Development Administration) Raumschiffe aussendet, um diese abzubauen. Im ersten Teil wurden die Menschen vernichtend geschlagen und konnten lediglich eine kleine Forschungsbasis auf dem Planeten zurückzulassen.
Die Geschichte beginnt kurz bevor die Menschheit mit geballter Power zurückkommt. Wie Jake Sully sich eine Familie mit der einheimischen Neytiri aufgebaut hat, wird nur kurz angedeutet. Es muss lediglich das Gefühl vermittelt werden, dass die beiden ein einigermaßen unbeschwertes Leben führen, aber immer im Hinterkopf hatten, dass die Himmelsmenschen wiederkommen werden.
Die Zeichnungen sind gut gemacht und orientieren sich an dem Film. Der Wiedererkennungswert ist durchaus gegeben, so dass die Fans der Filme schnell zurechtfinden werden. Und genau jene sind auch die Zielgruppe dieser Trilogie, denn ich denke nicht, dass sich jemand zurechtfindet, der die Filme nicht kennt.
Fazit
Dieser Auftakt zur Graphic-Novel-Trilogie ist in meinen Augen gelungen, auch wenn “nur” die Fans der Serie angesprochen werden. Die Geschichte gibt anfangs noch nicht viel her, bildet aber die Grundlage für das, was da kommen wird. Wer von den beiden Avatar-Filmen begeistert ist, sollte hier gern zugreifen.
Dieses Buch ist ein Prequel zu Roland Emmerichs zweiten Avatar Film. Ich persönlich finde die Bezeichnung Prequel etwas unglücklich gewählt, weil es nicht die Ereignisse vor dem Film erzählt, sondern parallel dazu. Allerdings ohne eine Graphic Novel zum Film zu sein. Das klingt jetzt komplizierter, als es ist, aber ich wollte klarstellen, dass niemand von dem Film erwartet, dass er die Vorgeschichte bzw. die Ereignisse zwischen beiden Filmen erzählt.
Der erste Avatar Film (»Aufbruch nach Pandora« aus dem Jahre 2019) hat deshalb Geschichte geschrieben, weil er nicht nur eine emotionale Geschichte erzählte, sondern auch mit einer famosen Technik aufwarten konnte, die das 3D-Kino salonfähig gemacht hat. Der zweite Teil (»The Way of Water«) konnte da leider nicht mithalten und bot zu viel Action bei zu wenig Emotionalität. Und wenig verwunderlich gilt dies auch für den ersten Teil der Graphic-Novel-Trilogie »Das Blut von Pandora«, wobei weder das eine noch das andere deshalb schlecht sind.
Die Handlung ist noch immer auf dem erdähnlichen Planeten Pandora verortet, auf dem die humanoide Spezies Na’vi in Koexistenz zu den anderen Lebewesen des Planeten lebt. Ausgerechnet dort befinden sich große Mengen eines Rohstoffs, den die Menschheit sehr begehrt, weshalb der Konzern R.D.A. (Resources Development Administration) Raumschiffe aussendet, um diese abzubauen. Im ersten Teil wurden die Menschen vernichtend geschlagen und konnten lediglich eine kleine Forschungsbasis auf dem Planeten zurückzulassen.
Die Geschichte beginnt kurz bevor die Menschheit mit geballter Power zurückkommt. Wie Jake Sully sich eine Familie mit der einheimischen Neytiri aufgebaut hat, wird nur kurz angedeutet. Es muss lediglich das Gefühl vermittelt werden, dass die beiden ein einigermaßen unbeschwertes Leben führen, aber immer im Hinterkopf hatten, dass die Himmelsmenschen wiederkommen werden.
Die Zeichnungen sind gut gemacht und orientieren sich an dem Film. Der Wiedererkennungswert ist durchaus gegeben, so dass die Fans der Filme schnell zurechtfinden werden. Und genau jene sind auch die Zielgruppe dieser Trilogie, denn ich denke nicht, dass sich jemand zurechtfindet, der die Filme nicht kennt.
Fazit
Dieser Auftakt zur Graphic-Novel-Trilogie ist in meinen Augen gelungen, auch wenn “nur” die Fans der Serie angesprochen werden. Die Geschichte gibt anfangs noch nicht viel her, bildet aber die Grundlage für das, was da kommen wird. Wer von den beiden Avatar-Filmen begeistert ist, sollte hier gern zugreifen.
July 10, 2025
I'm not quite sure how I feel about this comic. I love the Avatar films and am just now branching out into the other canon media such as the comics. This volume was interesting, but just okay. I'm not particularly a fan of the art style and I found it hard to even know which character was which unless it was Kiri, Spider, or Neytiri. The other Na'vi characters would alternate between looking distinctly like themselves and then all looking the same. This was confusing for me, but maybe that's because I'm not a huge comic reader.
It was interesting to see more into the life of the Sully family, how Neytiri deals with having human/Na'vi mixed children, and how Jake still battles thinking like a human on Pandora while trying to keep his family and the Na'vi people safe. It's clear that not all Na'vi really like him and some don't see him as a leader. There was also an interesting revelation that now makes me think that Jake is only accepting of Spider into the family out of guilt.
This was an interesting volume and I will read the next one to see what happens. I'm just not sure how I feel about Na'vi fighting in space, in actual space suits. How in the world did they get space suits? And space suits that fit their 10-foot bodies?? Idk. It's interesting, but also a little weird lol.
It was interesting to see more into the life of the Sully family, how Neytiri deals with having human/Na'vi mixed children, and how Jake still battles thinking like a human on Pandora while trying to keep his family and the Na'vi people safe. It's clear that not all Na'vi really like him and some don't see him as a leader. There was also an interesting revelation that now makes me think that Jake is only accepting of Spider into the family out of guilt.
This was an interesting volume and I will read the next one to see what happens. I'm just not sure how I feel about Na'vi fighting in space, in actual space suits. How in the world did they get space suits? And space suits that fit their 10-foot bodies?? Idk. It's interesting, but also a little weird lol.
January 30, 2023
If it was any longer I would have DNF'd it. Boring and confusing. Terrible pacing. The narrative jumps around a lot. The characters' motivations are a mystery. There are a lot of characters whose role in their society, and their purpose in the story, are unexplained.
The art is mixed. In some ways it looks great. There are a great many individual drawings that are very good. But there are also a lot of bad drawings, and very few good panels, let alone full pages. There are several times when the characters' expressions don't match the dialog. There are awful scene changes that are almost impossible to detect -- the characters and backgrounds are not distinctive enough, and there is no indication that we're switching to a different scene.
A third into the book we're in a large gathering of Na'vi when in the center of one panel, as if they're important to the scene, there are suddenly 3 humans dressed like Na'vi (meaning, they stand out very clearly) who we haven't seen before. And then they're never seen again. WTF?! I don't know if this was an art problem or a script problem, but it was weird and confusing.
I will definitely not continue this series.
The art is mixed. In some ways it looks great. There are a great many individual drawings that are very good. But there are also a lot of bad drawings, and very few good panels, let alone full pages. There are several times when the characters' expressions don't match the dialog. There are awful scene changes that are almost impossible to detect -- the characters and backgrounds are not distinctive enough, and there is no indication that we're switching to a different scene.
A third into the book we're in a large gathering of Na'vi when in the center of one panel, as if they're important to the scene, there are suddenly 3 humans dressed like Na'vi (meaning, they stand out very clearly) who we haven't seen before. And then they're never seen again. WTF?! I don't know if this was an art problem or a script problem, but it was weird and confusing.
I will definitely not continue this series.
January 30, 2023
Just like the second movie, I wasn't really crazy about the story. I did love the first Avatar movie and had hoped that the second movie would be way more about the life on Pandora. But the human aspect is way too present. The fighting, the extremely unoriginal storyline really bothers me in both that second movie and this 'story in between the two movies.'
And besides that, why did the Na'vi become so very human-like. Why, after 14 years being Na'vi does Jake act like he's in his first 2 months of being Na'vi.
It just wasn't good. And on top of that, the art was half way there. Some panels were amazing. Zo gorgeous, but those were mostly the universe, and not the blue creatures that seemed to be added to the paper without much love. I wanted to love this, but I've decided that Avatar on paper isn't working for me and if the next movie will still focus so much on the fight between humans and everything that's living on Pandora, I'm gonna check out. 2.5 stars. Making it 3 for some of the art.
And besides that, why did the Na'vi become so very human-like. Why, after 14 years being Na'vi does Jake act like he's in his first 2 months of being Na'vi.
It just wasn't good. And on top of that, the art was half way there. Some panels were amazing. Zo gorgeous, but those were mostly the universe, and not the blue creatures that seemed to be added to the paper without much love. I wanted to love this, but I've decided that Avatar on paper isn't working for me and if the next movie will still focus so much on the fight between humans and everything that's living on Pandora, I'm gonna check out. 2.5 stars. Making it 3 for some of the art.
January 29, 2023
Presque déçue. Il y a plusieurs dessinateur-ice-s, mais je n’ai pas particulièrement aimé les dessins. J’avais parfois de la peine à savoir qui était qui.
Au niveau de l’histoire, celle-ci commence directement à la fin du livre 1, puis passe très rapidement à ~14 ans après, lorsque les sky people arrivent à nouveau sur Pandora. J’aurais voulu plus de détails sur la partie entre deux. Dans le film 2, au début, il y a un saut d’une année. Nous sommes plutôt pendant cette période-là, qui a été remplie de guerres.
J’avoue que parfois j’avais de la peine à savoir et comprendre ce qui se passait. Ça n’était pas à cause de l’anglais, car ce sont des bulles de dialogue simples. Mais plutôt parce qu’il y avait des sauts bizarres entre deux scènes, et je ne sais pas, je n’ai pas percuté. Bizarre.
Je le relirai certainement, et puis il y a les deux tomes suivants que j’ai déjà, mais là je dois dire que je suis un peu déçue.
Au niveau de l’histoire, celle-ci commence directement à la fin du livre 1, puis passe très rapidement à ~14 ans après, lorsque les sky people arrivent à nouveau sur Pandora. J’aurais voulu plus de détails sur la partie entre deux. Dans le film 2, au début, il y a un saut d’une année. Nous sommes plutôt pendant cette période-là, qui a été remplie de guerres.
J’avoue que parfois j’avais de la peine à savoir et comprendre ce qui se passait. Ça n’était pas à cause de l’anglais, car ce sont des bulles de dialogue simples. Mais plutôt parce qu’il y avait des sauts bizarres entre deux scènes, et je ne sais pas, je n’ai pas percuté. Bizarre.
Je le relirai certainement, et puis il y a les deux tomes suivants que j’ai déjà, mais là je dois dire que je suis un peu déçue.
February 11, 2023
Gelesen habe ich die deutsche Fassung, Avatar: Das Blut von Pandora Band 1
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Nachdem ich Avatar 2 im Kino gesehen hatte, wollte ich über die Figuren und ihr Leben mehr wissen und bin auf diese Comic-Trilogie gestoßen (die übrigens auch canon ist).
Die 3 Bände bilden die Zeit zwischen den Filmen Avatar 1 und 2 ab. Die Illustrationen sind überwiegend gut, hier und da waren Figuren aber schwer zu unterscheiden. Die Handlung ist eher eine Art Einleitung auf das was folgt. Insgesamt war es gut und man erfährt tatsächlich mehr über z. B. Kiri und Spider, aber auch zu Lo'ak (meine Lieblingsfigur aus Avatar 2) und Neteyam, was ihnen und ihren Beweggründen mehr Tiefe verleiht.
Ich bin gespannt auf die Folgebände, da ich davon ausgehe, dass in diesen die Handlung erst richtig an Fahrt aufnehmen wird, nachdem dieser erste Band als Überleitung zu dem fungiert, was ursprünglich als zweiter Film von Cameron geplant war.
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Nachdem ich Avatar 2 im Kino gesehen hatte, wollte ich über die Figuren und ihr Leben mehr wissen und bin auf diese Comic-Trilogie gestoßen (die übrigens auch canon ist).
Die 3 Bände bilden die Zeit zwischen den Filmen Avatar 1 und 2 ab. Die Illustrationen sind überwiegend gut, hier und da waren Figuren aber schwer zu unterscheiden. Die Handlung ist eher eine Art Einleitung auf das was folgt. Insgesamt war es gut und man erfährt tatsächlich mehr über z. B. Kiri und Spider, aber auch zu Lo'ak (meine Lieblingsfigur aus Avatar 2) und Neteyam, was ihnen und ihren Beweggründen mehr Tiefe verleiht.
Ich bin gespannt auf die Folgebände, da ich davon ausgehe, dass in diesen die Handlung erst richtig an Fahrt aufnehmen wird, nachdem dieser erste Band als Überleitung zu dem fungiert, was ursprünglich als zweiter Film von Cameron geplant war.
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