Avatar: the Promise - Review
Jan. 11th, 2012 03:37 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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scans_daily2 Out of 80 Pages: Spoilers
Due to the page limit apparently applying to graphic novels as well as individual issues, my review's been massively cut down. Here's the abridged version.
The headmistress of a new Metalbending School decides to invite herself along in her typically subtle style.
What I liked about it
- The writing and interactions between the characters is excellent, containing both the feel and the characterisation from the show very well.
- The characters have matured somewhat, in the year since the show ended. The relationship between Aang and Katara, albeit sappy, is really the kind of sappy we'd expect from two people in their mid to early teens who are in love for the first time, so I'd give them a pass on that. Also, points to Katara actually understanding that the situation isn't as clear cut as the Fire Nation War was, due to the issue of interracial marriages.
- Same, points to Zuko for actually NOT immediately following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather and exactly violent revenge against his potential assassin. Him taking a step back to reevaluate the situation definately shows he's matured as a ruler, possibly due to Iroh's influence. This does bring an interesting dynamic to the situation, as Aang, growing up in a nomadic culture that no longer exists, doesn't really have the sense of patriotism that influences Zuko's later actions.
- On the one hand, both sides now have valid reasons for their demands. But on the other, Aang's declaration that all the nations should be equal yet seperate... kind of makes him come off as something of a segregationist, even if it is to ensure that things like the Fire Nation War aren't repeated. This could probably explain why the world remained kind of stagnant up until Sozin's war, as the blending of cultures allowed for some scientific and cultural progress (even more so when Aang and Zuko found Republic City prior to Legend of Korra).
- Despite being only 80 pages long, the story is really dense, making it fear a lot longer, so kudos to the writer.
- Nonplot-related things: the art is very, very good, so props to that. And the action is also well drawn so yay for that too.
- Toph rocks.
Things I'm not to hot on,
- Although I get that the tea thing to meant to be a bait and switch deal to make you think that Zuko is getting advice from Iroh... Yeah, him going to his dad (alleged good statesmanship aside is a racist, genocidial fascist bastard) is more than a little stupid.
- Despite the relationship between Aang and Katara being realistically cutesy, they really need to find more terms of endearment for each other, seriously.
- Lack of Suki and Ty Lee.
- And, although I get that they're rifting the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, or the Northern Ireland situation and do a good job at showing that both sides have valid arguements... yet, the people who want the colonies dissolved are proportionally bigger assholes about their points than the people who want to stay. Such as them chucking a rock at Sokka (a man who pretty much saved the Earth Kingdom singlehanded against a pyrokinetic zeppelin attack) whilst shouting a racist taunt... Yeah, I get that the people in Avatar are people, and act as such (not all the "good" aligned people are saints, and not all of the "evil" aligned people are monsters), but that was pretty much uncalled for.
Still, kudos to them for handling the situation with more grace, depth and tact than Captain Planet did when they tried to deal with a similar subject way back when. That contained such immortal exchanges as "You hate each other because of your names?" "Sure, as good a reason as any!".
All in all?
A thoughtful, well drawn continuation of the series that, most importantly, actually FEELS like it's a continuation. Definately worth the price, and a good way to pass the time until Korra appears in the summer or autumn (which is what I've heard anyways).
For the longer review, please go to my blog or DevArt account, where I go into more depth on the comic.
Due to the page limit apparently applying to graphic novels as well as individual issues, my review's been massively cut down. Here's the abridged version.
The headmistress of a new Metalbending School decides to invite herself along in her typically subtle style.
What I liked about it
- The writing and interactions between the characters is excellent, containing both the feel and the characterisation from the show very well.
- The characters have matured somewhat, in the year since the show ended. The relationship between Aang and Katara, albeit sappy, is really the kind of sappy we'd expect from two people in their mid to early teens who are in love for the first time, so I'd give them a pass on that. Also, points to Katara actually understanding that the situation isn't as clear cut as the Fire Nation War was, due to the issue of interracial marriages.
- Same, points to Zuko for actually NOT immediately following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather and exactly violent revenge against his potential assassin. Him taking a step back to reevaluate the situation definately shows he's matured as a ruler, possibly due to Iroh's influence. This does bring an interesting dynamic to the situation, as Aang, growing up in a nomadic culture that no longer exists, doesn't really have the sense of patriotism that influences Zuko's later actions.
- On the one hand, both sides now have valid reasons for their demands. But on the other, Aang's declaration that all the nations should be equal yet seperate... kind of makes him come off as something of a segregationist, even if it is to ensure that things like the Fire Nation War aren't repeated. This could probably explain why the world remained kind of stagnant up until Sozin's war, as the blending of cultures allowed for some scientific and cultural progress (even more so when Aang and Zuko found Republic City prior to Legend of Korra).
- Despite being only 80 pages long, the story is really dense, making it fear a lot longer, so kudos to the writer.
- Nonplot-related things: the art is very, very good, so props to that. And the action is also well drawn so yay for that too.
- Toph rocks.
Things I'm not to hot on,
- Although I get that the tea thing to meant to be a bait and switch deal to make you think that Zuko is getting advice from Iroh... Yeah, him going to his dad (alleged good statesmanship aside is a racist, genocidial fascist bastard) is more than a little stupid.
- Despite the relationship between Aang and Katara being realistically cutesy, they really need to find more terms of endearment for each other, seriously.
- Lack of Suki and Ty Lee.
- And, although I get that they're rifting the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, or the Northern Ireland situation and do a good job at showing that both sides have valid arguements... yet, the people who want the colonies dissolved are proportionally bigger assholes about their points than the people who want to stay. Such as them chucking a rock at Sokka (a man who pretty much saved the Earth Kingdom singlehanded against a pyrokinetic zeppelin attack) whilst shouting a racist taunt... Yeah, I get that the people in Avatar are people, and act as such (not all the "good" aligned people are saints, and not all of the "evil" aligned people are monsters), but that was pretty much uncalled for.
Still, kudos to them for handling the situation with more grace, depth and tact than Captain Planet did when they tried to deal with a similar subject way back when. That contained such immortal exchanges as "You hate each other because of your names?" "Sure, as good a reason as any!".
All in all?
A thoughtful, well drawn continuation of the series that, most importantly, actually FEELS like it's a continuation. Definately worth the price, and a good way to pass the time until Korra appears in the summer or autumn (which is what I've heard anyways).
For the longer review, please go to my blog or DevArt account, where I go into more depth on the comic.
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Date: 2012-01-11 10:29 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2012-01-11 10:46 pm (UTC)Depending on when their birthdays are the age difference isn't THAT big (about the same as my girlfriend's and mine), and least ways in the North Water Tribe girls are expected to get married when they're 16, so their point of very it's probably not that strange.
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Date: 2012-01-11 10:51 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2012-01-12 12:12 am (UTC)aang/katara <333 they're endearing, idc, haters gon hate.
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Date: 2012-01-12 12:16 am (UTC)Wait wait wait
Date: 2012-01-12 01:20 am (UTC)Goddammit, the one time when I absolutely cannot afford any extra expenditures, this decides to come out.
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Date: 2012-01-12 12:44 pm (UTC)