Episodes
Thursday Jun 16, 2016
Episode 28 - The Search
Thursday Jun 16, 2016
Thursday Jun 16, 2016
This week The Avatar Returns returns to the Avatar. We continue our discussion of Dark Horse Comics' ongoing Avatar: The Last Airbender graphic novel series with Volume 2 - The Search. We talk about how the shift from the larger, more epic story told in Volume 1 - The Promise to this much smaller, more intimate tale works for us, and more importantly for the characters. Whereas the previous book explored issues we didn't even know we wanted to explore, such as colonialism and cultural appropriation, this book focuses on the bonds of family, born and found, particularly the relationship between brothers and sisters. It also addresses ideas of identity, be they physical, societal, or emotional. We praise writer Gene Luen Yang's astounding gift for continuing and building on this world and these characters we've come to love so much. And we wax embarrassingly rhapsodic about the work of art duo Gurihiru, which just keeps getting better with every volume, every chapter, every page.
The Breakdown
- Intro / Banter (00:00 - 16:30)
- Main Topic (16:30 - 1:52:42)
- Outro / Next (1:52:42 - 1:54:56)
Friday Jun 10, 2016
Episode 27 - Skeletons in the Closet / Endgame
Friday Jun 10, 2016
Friday Jun 10, 2016
Book One of The Legend of Korra closes with a bang as Team Avatar and the United Forces face off against Amon and the Equalists. Chapter 111, "Skeletons in the Closet" finally reveals the true identity of Amon, and reminds us just how truly horrific bloodbending can be. And chapter 112, "Endgame" rings out the season with Asami confronting her father, Korra getting "unbent," and an argument for why villains should invest in oil-based makeup. Through all of this the boys defend murder suicide, compare The Legend of Korra to Speed Racer (Amon is Bender X?!), and explain why that ending is NOT just another "deus ex Aang."
The Breakdown
- Main Topic (00:00 - 1:34:50)
- Outro / Next (1:34:50 - 1:37:24)
Sunday Jun 05, 2016
Episode 26 - When Extremes Meet / Out of the Past / Turning the Tides
Sunday Jun 05, 2016
Sunday Jun 05, 2016
This week on The Avatar Returns it's action, action, and more action! In chapter 108, "When Extremes Meet," we get a full-speed car chase, and a villain stands revealed as Korra goes one-on-one against Tarrlok...the bloodbender! Dun-dun-duuuun! Then in chapter 109, "Out of the Past," Lin Beifong suits up, and we learn that Tarrlok is Yakone's son. (He's whose what now?) It all makes sense at last! (Wait, does it?!) And finally in chapter 110, "Turning the Tides," Team Avatar takes on more mechatanks, Lin and the kids defend Air Temple Island, and Naga bitchslaps the Moustache Guy. Through it all we discuss superhero tropes, fascism vs. due process, and the physics (and genetics) of bending, be it blood-, zipper-, or fartbending.
The Breakdown
- Intro / Banter (00:00 - 07:35)
- Main Topic (07:35 - 1:09:40)
- Outro / Next (1:09:40 - 1:12:11)