Advance Review: ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender — Azula in the Spirit Temple’ TPB
Avatar: The Last Airbender - Azula in the Spirit Temple is a stand-alone graphic novel from Dark Horse Comics that will release on November 1, 2023. The story is set after the events of the original Avatar: The Last Airbender television series and follows Azula, the former Fire Nation princess, as she seeks refuge in a mysterious spirit temple after a failed attack on a grain distribution center being protected by forces loyal to her brother, Fire Lord Zuko.
The original graphic novel is written by Faith Erin Hicks, illustrated by Peter Wartman, and has colors by Adele Matera, all who have previously worked on other Avatar: The Last Airbender graphic novels, so it is now shock to see the team so at home with this world and its characters. It is a beautifully drawn book, with Wartman's clean and expressive lines and Matera's vibrant and atmospheric colors perfectly capturing the mood and tone of the story. The look of the big bad revealed towards the end of the book is awesome and the character looks truly intimidating.
The story is well-written by Hicks and explores Azula's complex character in a nuanced way. Hicks does a good job of capturing Azula's firebending brilliance, her ruthlessness, and her deep-seeded insecurities. The spirit temple provides a unique and challenging environment for Azula to confront her past and her present. I appreciated the fact that Hicks doesn’t try to make this a redemption story for Azula. We’re reminded that she’s still a villain, and Hicks doesn't try to sugarcoat Azula's actions or point of view. However, the lack of seemingly any character growth or new developments for Azula made the book feel a tad unnecessary even if it was a fun story.
Overall, Avatar: The Last Airbender - Azula in the Spirit Temple is sure to be an enjoyable read for any fan of the Avatar: The Last Airbender franchise. It’s a well-written story exploring a complex and fascinating character in depth, with some killer visuals that are the highlight of the book.
Rating: 7/10
