#toph beifong's metalbending academy

[thena0315]

ATLA Stand Alone Comics

[nothingxtosayx]

WAIT OMG THEY’RE DOING HORSE STANCE

[melatinzz]

[dont-blame-it-on-the-kids]

Legacy of Steel

Fancomic Draft: Ang 

its not complete and idk how its gonna look in tumblr text post but i have plotted out the entirety of the comic.

gonna be going through and adding dialogue and more details as i work on it

i wont be able to do any of the actual drawings but hopefully if i can get a detailed script then one day i'll be able to do the comic / find someone willing to work with me lmao

Synopsis:

With Republic City changing faster than ever, at almost 60 years old Chief Lin Beifong is ready to step down and find a worthy successor. But her plans are derailed when a series of violent attacks hit the city, carried out by a mysterious group using advanced spirit energy weapons. As Lin hunts down this new threat, she must navigate the delicate balance between her duty to the city, the weight of her history, and the search for someone to continue her legacy. But this final battle may demand more from her than she ever expected.

Examples of cover and Splash pages. 

Front Cover Art with Title  

Lin, Mako, Korra, and a shadowed/masked figure in foreground, the city behind them split between as it is now - behind Lin - and how it was when Lin was younger (in sepia) - behind the shadowed/masked figure - 

Legend of Korra Splash Page 

(credit: ruins of the empire part 1)

Page Turn

Intro Art 

Kya heaLing Lin they’re sitting on the couch in their home 

(credit: Toph Beifong’s MetalBending Academy)

All the Splash Pages use this cream and green theme

Legend of Korra Title page w/ credits 

(credit: ruins of the empire part 1)

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Legend of Korra/Avatar the Last Airbender legal / copyright page

(credit: ruins of the empire part 1)

Cover art Clear Image 

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Scenes:

Scene - Past ATI

Flashback to Lin and Tenzin training as children about 5 and 6 years old with grown up Aang,Sokka and Suki.

LP 1 Lin at 5 and Tenzin at 6 in the garden on Air Temple Island. They are sparring with each other Lin using her EarthBending Tenzin his AirBending. Aang stands as referee and coach. Few panels of action shots of the kids with Aang’s advice in quote bubbles for each kid. 

RP 1 Sokka comments on how Tenzin is digging his heels in and taking more of the earth stances while airbending while Lin took more of the air stances and flips while earthbending Suki comments that Lin got her element first so Tenzin tagged along to some of her training. 

Page Turn

 LP 2 shots of Lin and Tenzin being trained with Fans by Suki. Tenzin uses the fans to assist his airbending and knocks Lin over. 

RP 2 Sokka teaches Lin and Tenzin how to sword fight. He has a No Bending Rule after what happened with Suki’s lesson. 

Scene - Present day

Lin wakes up after a fight gone wrong with the new gang “I am married to a healer you know?” When mako insists on her getting checked out

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LP 1 Present day we see a few injured officers sitting down waiting for the medical team to arrive to help the wounded. Mako has taken control of the scene helping the wounded and ordering those who can to document the scene and collect evidence. 

RP 1 Lin is down on the floor of the warehouse they got ambushed at, she wakes and moves to sit up, hand to her head. Mako is standing next to her upon seeing her starting to sit up. 

Mako: (worried) “You should sit and wait for medical Chief, you took a pretty hard hit just now.”

Lin: (dismissive) “I am married to a healer, you know?” 

Mako: “You sure you can make it home with that hit? This gang hits rough.” 

Lin: (muttering to herself) “They’re not stronger, I’m just slowing down.”  

Page Turn

LP 2 Lin: (getting to her feet) “Alright Team let's work on recovering what we can-” (see’s they’re already doing everything by the book.) 

Mako: “already on it Chief, the medical team is on the way and we’re collecting evidence that's headed to HQ now.” 

Lin: (directed at Mako) “Good work detective.” 

Scene - Later that Night

Lin at home in pajamas as Kya heals her and she complains about being too old for this.

RP 2  we see Lin and Kya II sitting on the couch in their home Lin is in a white tank top and green pajama pants sitting leaning forwards with her elbows on her thighs holding a mug of tea while Kya II is sitting on the couch next to her with her legs under her heaLing Lins injured shoulder. We see Kya II’s mug of tea on the coffee table in front of them and the matching top of Lin’s pajama set next to it. (SCAR HC GO CRAZY YESSS)

Lin (grumbLing): “I’m too old for this… I should’ve been done with these street fights years ago.”

Kya (teasing): “Too old, huh? Linny, You’ve been saying that for years, but somehow, you always end up right back in the thick of it.”

Lin: “This time, it feels different. I am getting too old for this, Kya. I’m slowing the team down.”

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LP 2 Kya: (stopping the spot heaLing and moving to wrap her hands over Lin’s shoulder, leaning to kiss Lin's cheek.) “Maybe you just need to stop trying to carry the entire city alone.”

Lin: (contemplating as she pulls her pajama top on) “Yeah, maybe it’s time I start thinking about a replacement…”

RP 2 We have a final shot of Lin and Kya cuddLing on the couch listening to a radio show sipping their tea as they relax. 

Scene - Lin’s Office The Next Morning

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  LP 1 we see Lin going over the investigation paperwork

RP 1 we see the retirement paperwork on her desk kinda buried and not filled out, She’s about to pick up the blank paperwork when she’s interrupted by an officer with reports on the gang activity 

Scene - On the Streets

Page Turn

Lin and mako with a team on the trail of the bad guys short fight

LP 1 we see Lin and mako assembLing a team of officers and raid the location. 

RP 1 There is a short fight and they end up arresting 2 or 3 of the goons. 

Goon 1 (smirking as he’s pinned): “You’re too late. We’ve got something bigger planned. You think Amon’s gloves were bad? We’ve got weapons that’ll make those look like toys.”

Scene - Past Metal 

Page Turn

LP 1 we see Lin at 7 years old metalbending training with Toph 

Scene - Present RCPD

RP 1 We return to the present and see Mako and another detective in an interrogation room with the captured Goon

Page Turn

LP 2 .  goon reveaLing the group The Echoes were once benders who feel the rcpd didnt handle amon and kuvira correctly  

Goon (laughing, cuffed to the table): “There’s an army out there, and they all want Republic City. You can’t stop it.” 

RP 2 Lin behind the glass observing the interrogation going over the evidence files. Goon just saying basic take over the city, you cant stop progress, the RCPD is useless comparing them to book 1 

Scene - The Next Night Mako’s Apartment

Page Turn

Lin and Kya having dinner with Mako and Rina with the twins - twins birthday. Kya loves being a Gran Gran and the twins call Lin Grammy Chief.

LP 1 we see Lin and Kya in civilian clothes sitting at the table in Mako’s home, his wife, Rina, sits next to him as two seven year old twins (a boy and a girl, San and Moriko) excitedly talk to Lin and Kya about their school and fire bending practice. 

Moriko: (excitedly as she stands beside the table to show off her stances) “Grammy Chief! I was moved into the advanced bending classes!”

Lin: (encouraging) “Good work Rookie, you’re almost old enough to join a junior team.” (glances at Mako for his opinion)

Mako: “We’ve been considering allowing her to sign up or not when the time comes. Still got some rough memories of that place.”  

RP 1 San: (Sitting next to Kya) “Gran Gran my teacher wants my painting project to go up on his wall with the previous best in class works!” 

Kya: (smiLing wide) “That's amazing San, it's a big honor indeed.” 

Rina: “He needs to keep his math grade up before we allow the painting to go on display.” 

San: (pouting) “I know mamma, I'm trying.” 

Page Turn

LP 2 once the kids are settled down Lin speaks with Mako about the past and possibly allowing Moriko to sign up for the jr league 

Scene - Past Probending Jr

RP 2 flashback we see Lin at 12 years old on the probending stage with her team behind her, shes a part of a junior probending league run by the schools as a sports activity. Her team The Flying Boars is up against the Lucking Lightning Strikes. 

Past Young Lin (grunting as she throws a powerful earthbending strike): “You’ll have to do better than that!”

Past Young Zolt (smirking, blocking the attack with a fire kick): “I’m just getting started, Beifong.”

Page Turn

LP 3 we see the fight ensue ending with Lin knocking zolt off the back of the platform and her team winning the match 

Scene - Present Mako’s Apartment 

RP 3 We end the scene with Mako agreeing to think about it and Lin and Kya bidding the family farewell as they leave for the night

Scene - RCPD the Next Afternoon

Page Turn

LP 1 another tip leads to a dead end Tenzin is in the office when Lin gets back

RP 1 Lin and Tenzin talk about her possibly retiring (Kya II wanted him to talk to her)

Scene - Past Lin’s Career

Page Turn

Flashback montage Lin’s first few years on the force, rising the ranks maybe 6-10 scene ideas from beat cop to getting her chief badge showing growth timeLine / present day Lin’s in her office looking over old news articles and her retirement paperwork - mako interrupts with a fresh lead

Big art Scene across both pages. We start off LP 1 Bookend with Full body 18 year old Lin in her first uniform standing at attention no scars placed floating over the edge of the enclosed scenes

(with in framed comic all blending into each other)

Top Left LP 18 yr - beat cop with mentor officer 

Bottom Left LP 20 yr - first arrest of bad guy 

Top Right LP 22 yr - scar care with Tenzin and katara 

Bottom Rright LP 30 yr - taking the role of chief 

Top Left RP 40 yr - her and saikhan arresting/fighting zolt 

Bottom Middle RP 50 yr - the swinging from and the winner is 

Top Right RP 54 yr - Lin in the city fighting Kuvira Mech 

RP 1 Bookend with Full body 58 year old Lin in her Chief uniform. Her arms are at her side and though she's standing tall still she is much older with scars

Scene - Present Lin’s Office, a few days later

Page Turn

LP 2 we see Lin present day in her office going over old Articles about her career, she appears to be cleaning out/organizing her desk with her retirement paperwork now filled out on the desk next to her. 

RP 2 Mako comes into the office with a fresh lead on the new gang location. We see him notice the retirement paperwork but decides to not mention anything right now. 

Lin: “You take the lead on this one Detective, I have business tonight. Think you can handle this one without me?” 

Mako: (nodding) “Yes Chief, can I take Korra and the team on the investigation?”

Lin: “If you feel they’re the right team for the job, don’t let BoLin and Korra destroy evidence. I want a full report in the morning.” 

Scene - Team Investigation 

Page Turn

Investigation decrepit buildings downtown with Korra and team this time find evidence of how they’re making their weapons

Scene - At Saikhan’s

Page Turn

Lin having dinner at Saikhans talking about her possible retirement and who could step up in her place. Saikhan mentions he’s already held that position and he’s more than happy to “leave it to the kids” and support a new chief Lin picks.

Saikhan: “I’ve held that position before. Trust me, I’m more than happy to leave it to the kids.” 

Lin: “Are you sure? There's time for you to think it over.”

Saikhan: “I’m sure, Lin. If it’s time, then it’s time for the next generation to take a shot at it. Maybe Mako would be good to step in, if you feel he’ll be ready.”

Page Turn

LP2 Lin and Akira talking about getting old Akira mentions her newest grandson

RP 2 Taiyo excitedly talking about the news he's been keeping up with cuz he wants to be chief one day

Scene - RCPD, a few days later 

Page Turn

LP 1 Lin frustrated at dead ends when they get a tip about a location

RP 1 officers raid the location

Page Turn

LP 2 Lin’s shocked she thought Zolt had been killed by Amon

RP 2 a fight ensues and Zolt and his gang escape with the powerful spirit energy weapons.

Scene - Past w/ Zolt 

Page Turn

LP 1 Flashback scenes on Lin and Zolt school bullying

RP 1 flashback butting heads as they rise in the ranks of cop and criminal

Scene - Present day Zolt and Gang 

Page Turn

LP 2 zolt and his team in the underground hub

RP 2 zolt preparing for the final stage

Scene - Lin’s Office a few days later

Page Turn

LP 1 Lin talks to Mako about her stepping down after the investigation into Zolt is over and him possibly taking over as chief. 

RP 1 Lin offers mako the position of Chief 

Page Turn

LP 2 Mako expresses that he couldn’t picture the RCPD without her and he wasn’t sure he was the right fit for Chief.

Mako: “I’m not sure Chief, this place won’t be the same without you in this position.”

Lin: “Mako, RCPD was standing long before I was Chief and It’ll keep standing long after I retire. I want you to think about taking up the position, I trust you’ll make the city proud.” 

RP 2 korra interrupts with a lead

Scene - The Echoes’ Base

Page Turn

LP 1 Tracking down the lead

RP 1 fight ensues when they find the main operation hub/warehouse

Page Turn

LP 2 fight goes south Zolt and the avatar team end up fighting on the street.

RP 2 Team on Zolt but his weapons are long range and deal a heavy energy blow

Page Turn

LP 3 Mako’s hurt, boLin is down, tanzin is on his way, Asami and Opal trying to figure out how to stop the spirit energy whip

RP 3 Lin uses her metal bending to protect korra from a harsh blow

Page Turn

LP 4 korra gets the opening to take zolt down. As Lin gets hit with the spirit lightning whip

RP 4 korra makes the arrest of Zolt, while Lin does down and doesn't get back up

Scene - Past, Amon

Page Turn

Flashback Lin in Amon’s holding cell beat up without her bending

LP 1 We see Lin in her white tank top and grey uniform pants in a dark cell, her armor discarded in the cell with her, clearly been injured (she's got a bruised eye, a bloody nose, her leg is sitting at an awkward angle at the knee) and she is in pain, she tries to bend her armor and it remains cold and unmoving on the floor 

RP 1 Amon steps into the cell. Lin tries to stab him with the knife from her armor. He bloodbends her before she can land the blow, 

Amon: (bloodbending Lin) “Defying me is pointless Chief Beifong. Tell me where the airbenders are.”  

Lin: (in pain) “I won’t let you hurt those kids.”

Amon: (intensifying the bloodhold to make Lin cry out) “And just how do you plan to stop me from this cell Chief Beifong?”

Amon: “Where are my airbenders?”

Scene - Present fight ends 

Page Turn

LP 1 fight being over mako and boLin are standing up,

RP 1 korra is trying to heal Lin whos not moving on the ground.

Page Turn

LP 2 Tenzin comes up joining the fight too late as officers arrest Zolt and his goons

RP 2 Korra desperately still trying to save Lin as the medical team comes up to the scene

Scene - a few days later Lin’s Funeral

Page Turn

LP 1 Kya II and Saikhan speaking at Lin's funeral

RP 1 Crowd Shot of the family, friends, and officers attending

Page Turn

Graveside everyone takes their turn to throw in the first handfuls of dirt

LP 2  Kya II, Bumi II and Suyin, Tenzin and kids, Korra and Asami

RP 2 - Mako, Rina and twins, Saikhan and Akira 

Scene - A few months later Mako’s ceremony

Page Turn

LP 1 Mako getting the Chief badge ceremony

RP 1 Crowd Shot of the family, friends, and officers attending

Scene - Team Avatar Talk, Avatar Park

Page Turn

LP team avatar talk

RP Full page img - Team Avatar standing at Lin's statue in avatar park

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Splash Page Filler 

LP

Credits and Thanks

RP Lin’s statue at Avatar park but this time it's snowy and Tenzin and Saikhan stand looking up at the statue. 

Credits and thanks under artwork kinda like this  

(credit: Imbalance part 1)

Page Turn

Pg LP back of Last Page

Outro Art Page

LP Lin and Tenzin as kids training with Toph 

(credit: Toph Beifong’s MetalBending Academy)

Back cover Art / Summary 

Lin and the Avatar Team behind her kinda like the screenshot of the team celebrating and shes smirking in the foreground 

(credit: Toph Beifong’s MetalBending Academy)

NOTES: 

Set in 178 Ag, four years after show end

New Gang and Plan: 

The Echoes are a large group of people in RC who are UPSET because they had their element taken from them by Amon, or were displaced by the Vines, or displaced by Kuvira. Zolt and his gang have developed weapons inspired by both Amon’s gauntlets and Kuvira’s Mech. Using the Spirit Vines they can infuse weapons with spirit energy and use them as an additional hard shocking blow to already strong weapons. Zolt himself has Two Whips that work like longer, more flexible versions of Amon’s Lieutenant kali sticks. They pack about 60 times more punch too. The group's goal is to take over the city and destroy the current system they feel did not protect them. 

Characters and Ages:

Lin Beifong - 58

Kya II - 62

Saikhan - 55 (assumed)

Zolt - 59

Tenzin - 59

Korra - 25

Asami - 26

Mako - 26

BoLin - 24

Opal - 24 (assumed)

Pema - 43

Jinora - 18

Ikki - 15

Meelo - 13

Rohan - 8

Original Characters:

Mako’s family 

Rina - 28

San - 7

Moriko - 7

Saikhan’s Family 

Akira - 52

Rei - 32

Emi - 28

Eiko - 27

Haru - 23

Taiyo - 14

Links:

[zuko-always-lies]

Please put why you voted like you did in the tags and please reblog for more votes.

[loopy777]

Mini-Review: The Bounty Hunter & The Tea Brewer

Mid-to-light spoilers.

Well, so much for my idea of a fanfic where June goes on one last hunt, in a changing world, to either bring in the infamous Princess Azula or die trying.

I like the themes this thing is going for. It's kind of a Western in that it's about violent people having to deal with a changing world and the coming of civilization. I like that it acknowledges the tricky morality of formerly bad people earning forgiveness instead of punishment. And I like that it doesn't completely remove June's edge.

That said, I think the story was kind of aiming above its head and intended audience. This should be a messier story with some real tragedy in it. Acknowledging some tricky morality isn't the same thing as actually dealing with it or exploring it, and it ends up feeling rather shallow and pat. The end result is a fun little action adventure, but I feel like it was aiming to be more and fell far short.

I like all the new characters. The new bounty hunter characters are fun, and even the goofier ones don't overstay their welcome. I really like the villain; his transition from spy/saboteur to businessman/gangster is very Russian.

June gets some additional backstory, and thankfully no one felt the need to explain why she dresses like an old-school goth. But I'm honestly not sure the expansion was needed, other than adding a mother where one was conspicuously missing.

Speaking of representation and feminism, Iroh's awfulness to June in 'Bato of the Water Tribe' is acknowledged and brushed away with a, "I'm sorry about that, I was in my Season 1 characterization where I had some flaws and also people still thought that kind of thing was hilarious outside of anime for incels." So that's that.

Peter Wartman's and Adele Matera's art is as good as ever.

Ranking of the Faith Erin Hicks one-shot graphic novels so far:

Azula in the Spirit Temple

Suki, Alone

Katara and the Pirate's Silver

The Bounty Hunter and the Tea Brewer

Toph Beifong's Metalbending Academy

[fourthtimesthecharm]

Summary: Ten years after the war, Toph Beifong has a thriving metalbending academy, plenty of opportunity for adventure, and a self-made family that loves her. But when she joins Aang, Katara, and Sokka on a mission to help a village struck by natural disaster, Toph will meet someone who challenges those very concepts of adventure, family, and even the purpose of her Academy. As she considers her future, Toph must decide: is there more she could be doing?

Rating: T, for swearing, character death, and the grief/trauma that comes with that

[dont-leafmealone]

yeah Azula's mildly ooc and a little overdramatic in Suki, Alone (though I'd argue that her behavior wasn't really as far off as people say considering she's shown an awful lot of times in the show to be the type who enjoys a good gloat and seeing her enemies get what she believes they deserve, whether they personally did her harm or not), but I'd take that over the way she was handled in The Search and everything that followed. It might be annoying but it's not a complete disgrace to the character, it's a decent enough explanation for Azula knowing enough to taunt Sokka about it in Day Of Black Sun, and it's certainly not the shitshow we got in earlier comics.

For that matter Faith Erin Hicks has a better grip on literally *every* other character she's written while Gene Luen Yang dropped the ball on *all* of them. Imbalance was a good setup for for the benders vs. nonbenders conflict shown to be brewing for a while in LOK, and didn't reduce any of the canon characters to a flat caricature (no Stupid-Goofball!Sokka or Righteous-Angst!Aang or Perpetual-Martyr!Katara). Even the new characters introduced had more depth than the ones in previous comics, and the plot made sense.

Katara and the Pirate's Silver, Toph Beifong's Metalbending Academy, and Suki, Alone all were good at what they did: focusing on a character and giving some interesting introspection on them.

I'm cautiously optimistic about Azula In The Spirit Temple; really I don't think she'd be getting a solo comic if it wasn't supposed to be sympathetic or at the very least tie up the loose ends to some degree, so I'm holding out hope.

[lilbagdermole]

what about her solo comic

Hey anon!

I think you might be referring to 'Imbalance' - which I really don't regard as a solo comic for her; it's more Gaang centric then it is Toph-centric. Plus, Imbalance is the best comic release - I love all the characters portrayals and overall dynamic (and the Taang in it, just 10/10)

You may also be referring to 'Toph Beifong's Metalbending Academy' - TBH with you I have yet to read that comic, so I have no opinion on it. I had always thought it was just a re-write of the side-story in 'The Promise' but apparently it is it's own story, so I'll give it a read someday.

But yah, in my dissertation I'm mostly focusing on the comics published by Dark Horse Comics, as those are the most notable comics as well as the more controversial!

[elitheaceofalltrades]

2024 Reading Goals

Hello hello! Happy New Year to all!

Fun fact, by posting this at 11:00am GMT, 2023 has officially ended in all inhabited countries as UTC -11 is the last inhabited timezone.

I haven't been a resolutions person for a couple of years now but I admit I do love a challenge and goal setting. I also love reading. I'm sure you don't need the title to tell you where this is going. I've had goodreads since Sept, 2016 and have been taking part in their reading challenge since 2020. I've met my goal evey year except 2021 and I hope to make three years in a row this year!

2023's goal was an ambitious 48 books and I somehow managed to read 48 (I attribute a good 1/3 to getting a library card and access to libby). 18 of those books were comics/manga though and while I do believe anything with a ISBN counts, I'd like for comics & manga to only be about 25% of my books instead of the current 38%. I feel like I might be setting myself up a bit but I'm not going to be too upset if at the end of the year, I don't lower the percentage. This is just a bit of fun.

Anyways in no particular order, here's a tentative list of the 48 books I plan to read in 2024. This is subject to change due to availability, gifts, recommendations and new releases.

~Eli

Ace of All Trades, Pro at None😆

Atomic Habits by James Clear

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth

The Lost Adventures and Team Avatar Tales by Gene Luen Yang & Faith Erin Hicks

Girls and Autism by Barry Cerpenter, Francesca Happé & Jo Egerton

Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

ATLA: The Promise by Gene Luen Yang, Michael Dante DiMartino & Bryan Konietzko

Windrush by Mike Phillips & Trevor Phillips

In the Castle of My Skin by George Lamming

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan

The House of Hades by Rick Riordan

The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan

ATLA: The Search Omnibus by Gene Luen Yang

Queer by Frank Wynne

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain

ATLA: The Rift Omnibus by Gene Luen Yang

This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

ATLA: Smoke & Shadow Omnibus by Gene Luen Yang, Michael Dante DiMartino & Bryan Konietzko

The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking

The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie

ATLA: North & South Omnibus by Gene Luen Yang, Michael Dante DiMartino & Bryan Konietzko

I Will Not Be Erased by Gal-dem

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Katara & The Pirate's Silver by Faith Erin Hicks

They/Them/Their by Eris Young

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

Suki, Alone by Faith Erin Hicks

Let Me Tell You What I Mean by Joan Didion

The Turn of the Shrew by Henry James

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Abertalli

Toph Beifong's Metalbending Academy by Faith Erin Hicks

How We Fight For Our Lives by Saeed Jones

Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

V for Vendetta by Alan Moore

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

Middlemarch by George Elliot

This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron

The Movement Vol. 1: Class Warfare by Gail Simone

I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

Hold Tight, Don't Let Go by Laura Rose Wagner

Saga Vol. 1 by Brian K. Vaughn

[thena0315]

Avatar: The Last Airbender comics

Graphic Novel Trilogies

Standalone Novels

[prying-pandora666]

Ship polls are overdone. Let’s ask the real questions!

[mytly4]

you talked about those new atla comics... what about the toph one shot??

The Toph one-shot comic - Toph Beifong's Metalbending Academy - is not bad. However, I personally don't care much for it, because I just don't care for the metalbending academy idea at all. The academy was introduced by Gene Luen Yang in his first comic, The Promise. It was nearly insufferable in that one, as the storyline mainly involved Toph constantly verbally abusing her three students, who were all one-note caricatures. Yang, unfortunately, clearly thought they were hilarious, and managed to keep bringing them back in several of his other comics, even when their presence made no sense (such as at the South Pole, in North and South).

Faith Erin Hicks takes up Yang's concept and characters in Toph Beifong's Metalbending Academy, though she does a much better job of giving the characters a bit of depth (though that's a pretty low bar). The storyline is not bad either, and Hicks's Toph is at least not an asshole like Yang's. But still, IMO, nothing can really salvage the metalbending academy idea, and that's why I don't really like the Toph one-shot comic.

That said, obviously my reasons are pretty subjective, and if anyone doesn't mind the metalbending academy, they should check out Toph Beifong's Metalbending Academy along with the other one-shot comics, Katara and the Pirate's Silver and Suki Alone.

[aevyk-ing]

who do you think suyins father is???

I suppose you're talking about Suyin Beifong, from ATLOK. After reading the comic Toph Beifong's Metalbending Academy, I think the character of Sun could be the father. He looks a lot like Opal and I like his energy, he could be a good match for Toph. She also showed interest on him, which is interesting.

[dont-blame-it-on-the-kids]

Haven’t read avatar tales or the lost adventures yet.

But I read (most of) the ATLA comics!

Spoilers

Approx Timeline Order:

Katara and the Pirate's Silver mid. Honestly. The pirates are cool and all but it didn't really add much for me. 4/10

Suki, Alone was actually a really good addition to the plot line! It explained a lot and it did a pretty good job in the short comic style. Wish Kyoshi actually showed up more for her tho? She had like one speaking line that was echoing what Suki was already saying then she was Gone 6/10

The Promise was boring honestly. Zuko was the bad guy again?? Only thing I remember is it started to shake up Aang’s “the four nations need to remain separate to be in balance” ideals. Establishes Yu Dao as an old fire nation colony and how life there has changed over 100 years. Also Katara being… soft about Aang’s promise to End Zuko even tho she fucking told him straight up in the show if he stepped out of line she would kill him. 3/10

The Search, god Ursa is so unwell and honestly Azula gets it from her 100% they blame Ozai but it’s also gotta be Ursa too. Azula having complete mental breakdown. The continued influence of Ozai on the kids and the fire nation was a good set up. Ursa literally putting Zukos life on the line to prove Ozai was intercepting her letters to home she wasn’t supposed to be sending anyway was insane. Giant face and memory stealing spirit who said she would only give out one favor but ending up giving out like four? Amazing. Aang’s negotiating skills 0% helpful. Serving me a PTSD milf on a silver platter who’s made some awful choices. 10/10

The Rift I’m going to be very honest I am so sad we didn’t get to see more of the acolytes in this one. (And I’m UPSET we didn’t see any older one of the original acolytes covering their tattoos in LOK that would have been an amazing plot point.) TOPH!!!! God Toph rocked in this one. And go Poppy for dumping Lao’s ass lmao, sad we didn’t see her tho. Gonna be honest I didn’t clock in this one that the valley was where RC was built. Basic story, cool bending, and possibly Suyins father?? Idk after seeing it I’d be convinced. CABBAGE MAN!!! My truest fave lmao loved the overt shots of him deciding to get Cabbage Corp up and running. It would have been cool if they mentioned that one in Imbalance tho as a facility. Also seeing Yangchen!! 6/10

Macha Makers iroh gets a crushhh and also spirits work with him like it’s after LoK b2? Very cool. It’s pretty good for one of the free comic shorts 6/10

Toph Beifong’s Metalbending Academy honestly not much happens in this one. Suki is adorable. We see a lava bender named Sun and we Never See them AGAIN 3/10

Smoke and Shadow this one FUCKED SO HARD my godddd my PTSD MILF on a silver platter. Azula being so unwell and Kiyi fucking nailing firebending poses she saw Zuko do once and escaped the cell with all the kids. Tom Tom is adorable. Mai and Ty Lee bonding moments my godddd 10/10

Azula and the Spirit Temple gosh this one was pretty good. Loved the spirit tho a hope to see more of that haunting thing if we ever get an ending to azula’s story. Azula having a spirit lead mental breakdown? 8/10

North and South oh god. This one was basically LoK b2 all over again. How many time are these guys gonna fight?? And tbh I ALSO don’t like how in LoK the south looked like a mini replica of the Northern tribe. So seeing the explanation of why and then it kinda just being allowed was not fun. I feel like they could have done something more than recycle a LoK plot line but okay whatever. 2/10

Imbalance 😒 talk about recycled plot lines. How many water benders are going to try to pit benders and non benders against eachother? Bad guy was almost cool. A good bit of set up for how Cranetown actually grew into Republic City, it would be nice if LoK incorporated the original spirits of that valley tho. Especially when the portal opened. Art was amazing and Toph going undercover then immediately blowing that cover was amazing. if the bad guy here or Any of the set up was mentioned in LoK and it was expanded upon here it would be better. Like if Amon referenced Liling as part of the reason the Equalists formed. I know this is the problem with pre-quils 4/10

Not in timeline order:

The Bounty Hunter and the Tea Brewer iroh redemption arch for the worst directing choices made for him in the show? Yup. Gives June a good ending. Actually kinda like the set up of the tea cartel. Over all a nice short story. 6/10

Lost and Found very short story about Toph being good with kids?? Very cute. 7/10

[heartofkandrakarz]

ATLA comics reread— master post

The Lost Adventures—

Book one: Water

Book two: Earth

Book three: Fire

Katara and the Pirate’s Silver—

Part one

Suki, Alone—

Team Avatar Tales—

The Promise—

part one

part two

part three

The Search—

part one

part two

part three

The Rift—

part one

part two

part three

Toph Beifong’s Metalbending Academy—

Smoke and Shadow—

part one

part two

part three

North and South—

part one

part two

part three

Imbalance—

part one

part two

part three