Aang may be the last Airbender but it seems like he’s going to last forever. Avatar: The Last Airbender was obviously always going to be something special, but few couldn’t predicted that the Nickelodeon cartoon would one day become an ever-growing multi-media multiverse.
Following on from the original animated series, which ran from 2005-2008, we’ve had sequel show The Legend of Korra, the 2010 M. Night Shyamalan movie, and, most recently, the Netflix live-action adaptation. The legend of Aang has been told in every kind of medium there is at this point, including a run of comic books which continue the narrative of the animation.
As published by Dark Horse Comics, the continuation comics initially ran alongside the series and filled in the gaps between episodes, before outlasting the end of the show and going on to reveal what happened to the characters after the conclusion of season three. For those desperate to dive into the world of Avatar comics — to become a comic-bender, if you like — here’s all you need to know about how to read them in order.
What order should I read Avatar: The Last Airbender comics in?
The cool thing about Avatar comics is that they began in 2005 and never really stopped. In 2017, Legend of Korra even started getting its own tie-in comics, and back in 2010 the live-action film got the same treatment. Still, just to keep things simple, let’s only count those comics connected to the original Avatar series and set in its continuity. All in all, the comics comprise six story arcs, four anthologies, and four graphic novels that either take place after the show or reveal “lost adventures” from during the show’s timeline. Here’s how to read them in chronological, not publication, order:
- The Lost Adventures Book One: Water — Set during the main series, this story takes place between seasons one and two.
- The Lost Adventures Book Two: Earth — This second book takes place between seasons two and three.
- Katara and the Pirate’s Silver — This story follows Katara on her own adventure when separated from the rest of the Gaang. Its events take place alongside Book Two: Earth.
- The Lost Adventures Book Three: Fire — The final book in The Lost Adventures series takes place following the events of the show’s third season.
- Suki, Alone — This takes place during the events of Book Three: Fire and follows Suki during her time in Boiling Rock prison.
- Team Avatar Tales — A completely new story taking place after the main series, this book follows the team as they embark on a handful of adventures.
- The Promise – The first continuation comics, taking place within the year following the end of The Last Airbender animation.
- The Search — This similarly takes place after the original series and follows Zuko in his search to find his mother.
- The Rift — This series takes place directly after The Search and continues its story.
- Toph Beifong’s Metalbending Academy — Toph opens up her own academy for metalbenders in this standalone story set after The Rift.
- Smoke and Shadow — After a prophecy threatens Zuko’s reign on the Fire Nation’s throne, he and Aang work together to ease rising tensions.
- Azula in the Spirit Temple — Zuko’s vengeful sister Azula finally faces a shot at redemption in this standalone that follows Smoke and Shadow.
- North and South — Katara and Sokka return home to find that their village has become a grand city with Hakoda in charge.
- Imbalance — The conflict between benders and non-benders is rising and Aang and the teamwork together to ease tensions before it’s too late.
And the legend doesn’t end there either. August 2024 sees the release of The Bounty Hunter and the Tea Brewer, all about an unlikely reunion between June and Uncle Iroh, again set after the events of the series.