Like an old friend, “Avatar: The Last Airbender†is back with the new “Rift” arc-a similar,  yet refreshingly different tale that allows both who follow the series and those who don’t to begin from a new starting point.
Now that the war is over, there is peace across the nations and Aang and Katara are finally together everything seems to be over. Fortunately, that is not the case in “The Rift†where a whole new set of problems arise.
In these times of peace, progress comes so easily that repercussions are overlooked. The avatar, Aang, begins to recall his time with the monks 100 years ago as the previous air bending Avatar Yangchen tries to contact him.
As Aang attempts to bring back past and lost practices yet another journey begins with the mismatched group of friends. Waterbender Katara and her warrior brother Sokka don’t have large roles in “Rift: Part One†instead Earth Bender Toph Beifong stands out once again as she expresses her disinterest in the entire affair.
Not one to care for the past and traditions, Toph disregards Aang’s attempt to restart traditions from before the war. Instead she embraces progress and change even if it has to be at the expense of remembrance.
Similar to the Industrial Revolution, there is no care for the affect their actions has on anything or anyone else. This sets the progress vs. tradition theme of this volume as Aang and Toph face each other down.
Toph isn’t able to force her way through this situation as she prefers once she is also haunted by her past. This forces her to face the very things she has ran away from. This leaves readers in suspense for the next installment of “The Rift.â€
Gene Luen Yang’s script was also interesting. The reader understands both points of very clearly. This makes it quite difficult to choose a side.
As if that isn’t enough there is some trouble from the spirit realm where Aang can’t reach for some reason, which only makes his job more difficult and adds to the mystery.
The Avatar series has a lot to bring to the table with the supernatural, action, romance, and drama. The series never gets comfortable in a ‘formula’ in which they would repeat the same issues in different ways. Instead, there are creative new problems and solutions that come up in every chapter.
Many of these shocking scenes range from slightly crazy kings that was Aang’s once childhood friend, a murderous romantic interest, or even a psychotic young princess that will most likely kill everyone. These types of things are what drag the reader back for more.
Even though the show follows the adventures of young adolescent children on a journey the story they tell is not so simple.
During their travels they face adult problems since their world is no longer kind and safe. They are then forced to grow up and be the ones to take control and change this world, which in a way, can be inspiring to those who watch it.
Avatar gives a whole new type of coming of age story that anyone can become enthralled in once they give it a chance. It is a world different from what many are used to giving a new look at history. Also, the many different forms of ‘Asian’ culture displayed demonstrates how different it all actually is.
With the new, old, and unique mixed together something new and unexpected always comes forth making it difficult not to find that something that drags out interest.
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