Avatar: The Last Airbender Already Has the Perfect Sequel But You've Not Heard Of It

Though the animated series ofAvatar: The Last Airbenderended in 2008, Team Avatar’s story continued over the years as a series of graphic novels–and one in particular,The Promiseis the sequel that fans of the original TV series have been looking for.The book is a gripping, morally complex tale, which pushes Aang and the rest of Team Avatar to the next level of their character development.

Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Promise– written by Gene Yang, with art by Studio Gurihiru artist Chifuyu Sasaki – finds the TV show’s beloved characters grappling with a new set of moral dilemmas, as they work to adapt to the new circumstances in the wake of the series finale. Particularly heartwrenching for long-time fans is Zuko’s plot.

Fearful that he will take after his father upon becoming Firelord, makes Aang promise to end his life if any shade of evil shows itself in Zuko again. Though uneasy with the idea, Aang agrees to Zuko’s request.

Fans Of “The Last Airbender,” Want More After The Series Ended? Check Out This Graphic Novel

The Promise– Written By Gene Yang; Art By Chifuyu Sasaki; Color By Naoko Kawano; Lettering By Michael Heisler

Soon after Zuko and Aang forge their pact, the world finds itself on the brink of yet another potential war. The Earth King, Firelord Zuko, and Avatar Aang argue about whether Fire Nation citizens who have lived in Earth Kingdom colonies for over a century should be sent back to the Fire Nation. Though the three initially agree on sending the Fire Nation citizens back to their homeland, Zuko has a change of heart when he realizes that life in the colonies is more complex than expected.

The great thing about theThe Promise, which picks up one year after the end of the war, is how it shows readers new sides to the characters they once knew.

A composite image features Aang in the Avatar state in the background and the four benders from the Avatar: The Last Airbender opening credits in the foreground

The real wars rage internally for both Aang and Zuko, who have to navigate a new type of world where the four nations are no longer separate.While the series finale ofAvatar: The Last Airbenderended on a hopeful note, life quickly forced Aang, Katara, Sokka, Toph, and Zuko to take on new responsibilities in a world that must be rebuilt. That is perhaps what is most exciting aboutThe Promiseand the other graphic novels that have continued the story of the animated series – they continue to write the legacy of these dynamic, fan-favorite characters.

The great thing about theThe Promise, which picks up one year after the end of the war, is how it shows readers new sides to the characters they once knew. Toph runs her own metalbending school in the Earth Nation. Aang has accepted full responsibility as the Avatar while also navigating a meaningful relationship with Katara. Zuko, as the unseasoned Firelord, struggles endlessly over each decision he makes, fearing that his choices will be wrong. As for Sokka – he’s still the same old Sokka, only with new innovative plans.

“The Promise” Carries On The TV Show’s Legacy Of Asking Morally Complex Question

While Aang Views The World As Black & White, Zuko Sees Shades Of Gray

InThe Promise, Team Avatar is scattered, with only Aang, Sokka, and Katara remaining together, as Toph and Zuko settle into their new lives. When everyone is brought together again,the cohesiveness that they shared a year prior is gone,replaced by differing world views based on their individual experiences.Aang is reluctant to change with the times. However, when Zuko visits the Fire Nation colony of Yu Dao, located in the Earth Kingdom, he finds things have already changed; Zuko witnesses Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation citizens living side by side, having created a unique culture over the last century.

The families of Yu Dao comprise both firebenders and earthbenders, with no class distinction between the two. Zuko realizes that enforcing an edict to send all Fire Nation citizens back to their homeland will destroy happy families with deep ties to the city. It is that realization that causes Zuko to rebel against Aang and the Earth King, who believe all nations should remain separate, no matter the cost. When Zuko and Aang meet after Zuko has occupied Yu Dao, the two have a clash of ideologies that makes Aang think thathis friend has become like his father, Firelord Ozai.

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The promise that Aang made to Zuko lingers at the heart of the conflict of ideologies between the two. Aang grapples with whether ending Zuko’s life would be Zuko’s real wishes, or would be an excuse for Aang to win the conflict. Though he seeks advice from the previous Avatar, Avatar Roku, Aang slowly realizes that the advice from Roku no longer applies to the world as it is today. Roku, while wise, lived at a time where the four nations were meant to be separate, and it was the Avatar’s job to keep it that way to preserve balance.

Avatar: The Last Airbenderalways stood out for its grounded approach to morally-complex questions, elevating it above just an action-adventure animated series into a beloved drama about individuals make the choices that determine the fates of nations.The Promisecarries on that tradition, and if anything pushes it even further, allowing the questions asked throughout the story to mature alongside the characters struggling to come to terms with the answers. This, if nothing else, is what makes it a perfect sequel to the TV show.

The Promise As a Perfect Bridge Between “Avatar: The Last Airbender” and “The Legend of Korra”

Filling In The Gaps

InThe Promise, the families in Yu Dao show Aang that the nations can no longer be separate, nor should they be. If Aang chose to follow Roku’s advice,the culture of the Air Nomadswould die with Aang, as he would no longer be able to be with Katara, a citizen of the Water Tribe. Instead of resisting change, Aang realizes he must embrace it.In doing so, he finds himself siding with Zuko once more to defend freedom of choice.

At the end ofThe Promise, Aang establishes the Air Acolytes: a group of mostly women who wish to learn the ways of the Air Nomads despite the fact that they are not airbenders. At the time, Aang’s creation of the Air Acolytes ensures the Air Nomad culture will continue to live on. During the events ofThe Promise, Aang is only thirteen years old; he does not know that he and Katara will have an airbender (Tenzin), or that Tenzin will go on to have children of his own that are also Airbenders.

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However, inThe Legend of Korra, the Air Nomad culture thrives mostly thanks to the Air Acolytes. When Aang decides that Yu Dao should remain a mixture of Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom, he uses earthbending to separate Yu Dao into its own territory. The creation of a place where benders of different nations can live in peace is very reminiscent of the existence of Republic City inThe Legend of Korra.The Promisesets Aang and Zuko up as the two leaders who will redefine the worldofAvatar: The Last Airbender.