The Avatar Returns

The first two volumes of Dark Horse Comics' Avatar: The Last Airbender graphic novel series both dealt with the difficulty of change, the cost and confusion that comes with transition. Volume 3: The Rift is no different as Aang continues to struggle with letting go of the past and learning to live in the present. The young Avatar slept through an entire lifetime while frozen in that iceberg, and in this time of peace following the end of the Hundred Years War he wants nothing more than to recapture the traditions of his culture now a century gone, but the world has moved on. And speaking of moving on, Toph must come face to face with her own past as she is unexpectedly reunited with her father, and both must come to terms with what, if anything, has changed between them. Writer Gene Luen Yang and art duo Gurihiru continue to impress with their masterful translation of these characters and themes from screen to page.

And is there anything more fun that podcasting with one third of the crew under the influence? (Rhetorical question. There are lots of things more fun.)

Next: The Avatar Returns takes another brief hiatus, this time to allow one of the hosts to go on a walkabout or something. (A booze-about is more likely.) But we'll be back late-September to kick off our run through The Legend of Korra Book Three: Change.

 

 

The Breakdown

• Intro / Banter (00:00 - 08:30)
• Main Topic (08:30 - 1:38:50)
• Outro / Next (1:38:50 - 1:43:39)

The Legend of Korra Book Two: Spirits finally meanders to it's somewhat muddled but more-or-less satisfying status quo-shattering conclusion with the final three chapters; 212, "Harmonic Convergence," 213, "Darkness Falls," and 214, "Light in the Dark." We discuss the season highlights (Tenzin, Nuktuk, Varrick) and lowlights (the Water Tribe civil war, the dumbing down of Lin Beifong), and which characters were best or underserved. How does Unalaq stack up against other villains? (Spoiler: he's the boringest!) Azula evolves into her ultimate form as the Spirit Mushroom. Arlo gets Seed of Wondered by the Tree of Time. And the whole shebang wraps up with Korra's Krazy Kosmic Kaiju battle!

Also, this episode is late and it's Arlo's fault, and we whine about our first world podcast problems.

Next: a break between books of Korra means another book of the Dark Horse Comics graphic novel continuation of Avatar: The Last Airbender. So next week we look at Gene Luen Yang and Gurihiru's third installment, Volume 3: The Rift. So join us for that...we'll leave the spirit portal open for ya.

 

 

The Breakdown

• Intro / Banter (00:00 - 06:30)
• Main Topic (06:30 - 1:26:45)
• Outro / Next (1:26:45 - 1:29:38)

This week on The Avatar Returns we read the immortal classic Through the Looking-Glass, and What Korra Found There, also known as The Avatar's Adventures in Wonderland. In chapter 209, "The Guide" Korra and Tenzin are finally reunited, we meet Bum-Ju, and bid a fond(ish) farewell to animation Studio Pierrot. Then chapter 210 ushers in "A New Spiritual Age" as we follow the white dragonfly-bunny to Uncle Iroh's spirit tea party, see some genuinely creepy crawly things, and endure the return of the Dick Owl. And lastly chapter 211, "Night of a Thousand Stars" proves to be one of our favorites episodes of the entire season as Bolin becomes the real life Nuktuk we always knew he could be. But what's that? Unalaq really does have a doomsday device? Nuk-nooo!

Also we nominate the new Batman: The Killing Joke animated film for the Unsexiest Flash Animation Circa 2002 Award.

Next: say goodbye to Book Two as we close out the season with chapters 212-214, "Harmonic Convergence," "Darkness Falls," and "Light in the Dark."

 

 

The Breakdown

• Intro / Banter (00:00 - 11:33)
• Main Topic (11:33 - 1:11:08)
• Outro / Next (1:11:08 - 1:12:48)

This week on The Avatar Returns we explore the gritty Miller and Mazzucchelli masterpiece, Avatar: Year One. Okay, not really. But we are talking about The Legend of Korra two-parter "Beginnings," which like the classic graphic novel mentioned above explores origins, in this case the origin of the Avatar State itself. We are introduced to Wan, the lovable riff-raff street rat with the heart of gold, who would ultimately go on to mess the world up in a pretty big way, and in turn become the first Avatar in order to just hold everything together. In other words, we learn that the Avatar is a bandaid. 

Harmonic Convergence is almost upon us, and it's a plot device 10,000 years in the making! Can Studio Mir save us? Or perhaps the Grumpy Carrot spirit is our hero? Is Vaatu the Unalaq of spirits? Tune in to find out.

Next: Book Two nears it's world-altering end as we discuss chapters 209-211, "The Guide," "A New Spiritual Age," and "Night of a Thousand Stars."

 

 

The Breakdown

• Intro / Banter (00:00 - 03:10)
• Main Topic (03:10 - 1:22:40)
• Outro / Next (1:22:40 - 1:25:16)

As The Avatar Returns continues its exploration of The Legend of Korra Book Two, Eric thinks Unalaq's boringness continues to bore, Paul thinks Korra's temperamental teenager act continues to grate, and Arlo thinks Paul has gone from face to heel. [Ed. note: he's wrong, Paul has always been an evil bastard.] Fortunately for Eric, chapter 205, "Peacekeepers" features very little Unalaq. Paul is given a mostly Korra-free episode with chapter 206, "The Sting." And Arlo can forgive (or at least ignore) Paul's horribleness because Varrick's heel turn is just so amazing. And everyone comes together in their love for Nuktuk, The Hero of the South!

Next: Studio Mir makes their triumphant return to animation duties with chapter 207, "Beginnings, Part 1" and 208, "Beginnings, Part 2."

 

 

The Breakdown

• Intro / Banter (00:00 - 09:22)
• Main Topic (09:22 - 1:02:05)
• Outro / Next (1:02:05 - 1:04:12)

Six months later...we rejoin our regularly scheduled Avatar universe, already in progress.

The Legend of Korra Book Two kicks off with a gurgle as angry squid spirits drag unsuspecting sailors to their watery graves, Korra has finally "mastered" airbending, and Mako does his best Horatio Caine impression. Chapters 201 and 202 introduce us to Korra's uncle Unalaq, who is boring but apparently important, and Varrick, who's just plain smarmy fun. Oh, and there's a whole spirit portal thing the Avatar has to deal with, but really we just like Varrick. Then in chapters 203 and 204, it's civil war all over again as boring-but-bad Unalaq leads the Northern Water Tribe in a bid to "save" their Southern Water Tribe cousins. We learn more about Tenzin's family, including his hippie chick sister Kya, and his wild and crazy older brother Bumi. The hosts agree, Bumi 2.0 is a big improvement over King Bumi.

Also, Arlo reveals he's had an Eska or two in his past, and Battle Athletes Victory wins the prize for most obscure anime reference on the podcast yet. Congratulations!

Next: Book Two continues with chapters 205, "Peacekeepers," and 206, "The Sting." Starring Robert Redford and Paul Newman.

 

 

The Breakdown

• Intro / Banter (00:00 - 09:00)
• Main Topic (09:00 - 1:14:05)
• LISTENER MAIL! (1:14:05 - 1:18:50)
• Outro / Next (1:18:50 - 1:21:03)

M. Night Shyamalan directed a movie. Arlo made us watch it. We didn't like it. We talk about it. We're sorry.

(Ed. note: we experience intermittent audio issues throughout recording, because even the universe didn't want us to discuss this garbage fire of a film.)

Next: we finally get back to The Legend of Korra as we kick off Book Two: Spirits with chapters 201-204, "Rebel Spirit," "The Southern Lights," "Civil Wars, Part 1," and "Civil Wars, Part 2."

 

 

The Breakdown

• Intro / Banter (00:00 - 14:45)
• Main Topic (14:45 - 1:23:35)
• Outro / Next (1:23:35 - 1:26:55)

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.

There's also banter this week. We say just a few words (for now) about the first season of DreamWork's Voltron: Legendary Defender, and we say way too many words about "adult" coloring books. Seriously, no one cares as much about these things as at least one of our hosts apparently does.

Next: we take a week off in a desperate attempt to prepare ourselves for the following week's watch of director M. Night Shyamalan's 2010 "masterpiece," The Last Airbender. (We promise, The Legend of Korra Book Two is coming. Assuming we survive this.)

 

 

The Breakdown

• Intro / Banter (00:00 - 16:30)
• Main Topic (16:30 - 1:52:42)
• Outro / Next (1:52:42 - 1:54:56)

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."

Does the show resolve Korra's identity crisis? Does she overcome her case of Avatar block? Do benders and non-benders learn to live together in harmony? This and much more this week on The Avatar Returns! Featuring music by Arlo and The Love Trapezoids.

Next: we step away from silly cartoons to talk about funny books. Our look at Dark Horse Comics' official tie-in graphic novel series continues with Volume 2: The Search.

 

 

The Breakdown

• Main Topic (00:00 - 1:34:50)
• Outro / Next (1:34:50 - 1:37:24)

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.

Plus Iroh is back (sort of), and we banter just a bit about the announcement of the upcoming Miles Morales: The Ultimate Spider-Man animated feature film.

Next: The Legend of Korra comes to the end of Book One as we discuss chapter 111, "Skeletons in the Closet" and 112, "Endgame."

 

 

The Breakdown

• Intro / Banter (00:00 - 07:35)
• Main Topic (07:35 - 1:09:40)
• Outro / Next (1:09:40 - 1:12:11)