An American animated television series for three seasons, Avatar: The Last Airbender follows the adventures of Aang and his friends, who must save the world by defeating Fire Lord Ozai and ending the destructive war with the Fire Nation.
Now, you can continue the adventure in comic book form. Some depict events and situations unseen during the series’ run, while most comics follow the characters after the conclusion of the show’s official run.
What to read before the comics Avatar: The Last Airbender?
More than reading, it is better to go for a rewatch of the TV series, before or in parallel with the first comics, as you prefer. But it’s also the perfect place to acknowledge Chronicles of the Avatar, a series of novels chronicling the lives of previous Avatars.
- The Dawn of Yangchen
- The Legacy of Yangchen
- The Rise of Kyoshi (takes place 396 years prior to the events of Avatar: The Last Airbender)
- The Shadow of Kyoshi (two years after the events of The Rise of Kyoshi)
Taking also place before the events depicted in the television series, you can read more about Zuko in a graphic novel detailing the years between his banishment and the reappearance of the Avatar. It has been released as a tie-in for the 2010 movie, but it still fits pretty well inside the canon (thanks to Somebody in the comments!)
Finally, you can revisit the animated tv series, with a Screen Comix retelling of the original series with full-color images and dialogue from the series, published by Random House.
- Avatar: The Last Airbender Book 1: Water Volume 1 (Screen Comix)
- Avatar: The Last Airbender Book 1: Water Volume 2 (Screen Comix)
- Zuko Finds His Way (Screen Comix)
- The Power of Toph (Screen Comix)
Avatar: The Last Airbender Comics in Order
Avatar: The Last Airbender comics depict events and situations unseen during the series run. The comics first published while the series was airing depicts events occurring during and between episodes as a means of supplementing the series. Most of the comics released after the conclusion of the TV show are a continuation of the story (and take place after the end of the Hundred Year War).
- The Lost Adventures (anthology)
stories of adventures that took place during the original TV series, in the middle of random episodes of the television show. To avoid any spoilers, we suggest reading them after each season.
- Book One: Water – Between Season 1 and Season 2
- Book Two: Earth – Between season 2 and Season 3
- Book Three: Fire – After Season 3
- Katara and the Pirate’s Silver
follows Katara as she gets separated from the rest of Team Avatar during the events of Book Two: Earth - Suki, Alone
follows Suki as a prisoner in the Boiling Rock prison during the events of Book Three: Fire - Team Avatar Tales (anthology)
Includes the previously published Free Comic Book Day issues as well as brand new mini-comics that are set during and after the series’ run. Better read together.
- The Promise (graphic novel trilogy)
The Promise details the events that occur immediately and one year after the end of the television series. - The Search (graphic novel trilogy)
Zuko’s quest to find his mother Ursa with the help of his sister and a few old friends. - The Rift (graphic novel trilogy)
Continues the storyline established in The Search. - Matcha Makers
Uncle Iroh’s tea shop is the center of some strange spirit activity in this one-shot part of Free Comic Book Day 2021. - Toph Beifong’s Metalbending Academy
Toph discovers something that just might put the sparkle back in her eye
- Smoke and Shadow (graphic novel trilogy)
Aang and Zuko attempt to resolve conflicts both physical and spiritual. - Avatar: The Last Airbender—Azula in the Spirit Temple
Azula continues her destabilizing campaign against the Fire Nation and her brother, Fire Lord Zuko in this stand-alone comic set after ‘Smoke and Shadow’ - The Bounty Hunter and the Tea Brewer New
Standalone graphic novel centered on June and Iroh. - North and South (graphic novel trilogy)
Focuses on Katara and Sokka who discover that their village has become a bustling city with Hakoda in charge. - Imbalance (graphic novel trilogy)
Aang and Team Avatar race to resolve rising tensions between benders and non-benders before a town is torn apart - Avatar: The Last Airbender—Chibi Vol. 1: Aang’s Unfreezing Day
a chibi comic for very young readers. Aang doesn’t know his own birthday date. Luckily his friends Katara, Toph, Sokka, and Zuko have a plan to surprise him with a new special day to celebrate. But they’ll have to be careful while they prepare–it’s a surprise! A preview for the graphic novel was released in Free Comic Book Day 2022: Avatar The Last Airbender/The Legend Of Korra.
Other Collected Editions
Every comic trilogy is first released in three paperback and digital parts. After a time, Dark Horse republishes those trilogies in other editions, offering another way to collect those stories.
The Library Edition
Library Editions are a format comic book collection from Dark Horse Comics and collect three parts of a story into one book. They are hardcover editions (a a heavy protective cover) with page-by-page sidebar commentary by Gene Yang and the Gurihiru team (something exclusive to that edition to my knowledge).
- Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Lost Adventures and Team Avatar Tales Library Edition
- Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Promise Library Edition
- Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Search Library Edition
- Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Rift Library Edition
- Avatar: The Last Airbender – Smoke and Shadow Library Edition
- Avatar: The Last Airbender – North and South Library Edition
- Avatar: The Last Airbender – Imbalance Library Edition
Coming in 2024… The following book collects three standalone graphic novels – Katara and the Pirate’s Silver, Toph’s Metalbending Academy and Suki, Alone – in one oversized hardcover and Includes exclusive commentary from the creators!
Paperback Omnibus Edition
The Omnibus edition also collects the three parts of a story in one book, but with a softcover (a cover that can bend) and for a cheaper price.
- Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Promise Omnibus
- Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Search Omnibus
- Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Rift Omnibus
- Avatar: The Last Airbender – Smoke and Shadow Omnibus
- Avatar: The Last Airbender – North and South Omnibus
- Avatar: The Last Airbender – Imbalance Omnibus
Coming in 2025… Avatar: The Last Airbender Omnibus Boxed Set collects the stories written by Eisner Award Winner Gene Luen Yang:
- Avatar: The Last Airbender Omnibus Boxed Set new
Collects The Promise, The Search, The Rift, Smoke and Shadow, and North and South
What to read after Avatar The Last Airbender?
What to watch would be more precise as it is the moment to binge Legend of Korra before reading The Legend of Korra comics (Reading Order).
Also, this reading order is dedicated to comic books. For the books, go check out Avatar: The Last Airbender franchise reading order (on our sister site howtoread.me).
