Avatar: The Last Airbender – Smoke and Shadow
Zuko faces a coup and spirit kidnappings in the Fire Nation.
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Avatar: The Last Airbender – Smoke and Shadow is the fourth graphic novel trilogy that continues the story of the original animated series, created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. The trilogy begins during the events of *The Rift*, with the remaining two parts set after it, and follows directly after *The Search*. It takes place shortly after the original series and before the sequel series *The Legend of Korra*. The next comic trilogy by the same creators, *North and South*, picks up immediately after *Smoke and Shadow* and before *The Legend of Korra*.
The story returns focus to the Fire Nation and its royal family, a subject previously explored in *The Promise* and *The Search*. Fire Lord Zuko, with help from Avatar Aang and his estranged ex-girlfriend Mai, must confront the New Ozai Society, a group that wants to overthrow him and restore his deposed father, Ozai, to the throne. The situation is complicated because the group is led by Mai’s own estranged father and appears to be working with malevolent spirits called the Kemurikage.
In Part One, Ukano, Mai’s father and a former Fire Nation governor, is visited by the Kemurikage, who orders him to remove Zuko from power. He gathers the New Ozai Society and plans a quick strike, though his subordinate Kei Lo has doubts. Meanwhile, Aang and his friends escort Zuko, his mother Ursa, stepfather Noren, and half-sister Kiyi back to the capital. Ursa, traumatized by her marriage to Ozai, fears returning, which strains her relationship with Kiyi. Ty Lee finds Mai staying with family after her parents’ separation and reveals that her father sent Kei Lo to spy on her, but Mai plans to use his deception. Ty Lee is uneasy, especially since Kei Lo’s feelings for Mai are genuine. After learning of the society’s plans, they alert Zuko, who is met by a submarine carrying his uncle Iroh and the Kyoshi Warriors. Iroh acts as a decoy while Zuko and his family take a secret route. The attack happens on the main road, but Mai realizes they were tricked into sending Zuko on a less secure path. She suspects Kei Lo, but has little time to act. Kei Lo rebels during the real assault when Ukano threatens Zuko’s family, and Mai arrives with reinforcements. She confronts her father, but he escapes after offering her a chance to arrest him.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Avatar: The Last Airbender / – Smoke and Shadow
- Publisher
- Dark Horse Comics
- Date
- October 6, 2015 (Part 1) / December 29, 2015 (Part 2) / April 12, 2016 (Part 3)
- Issues
- 3
- Origpublication
- Avatar: The Last Airbender
- Origisbn
- 9781616557614
- Origedinfo
- Part One
- Writers
- Gene Yang
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Smoke and Shadow returns attention to the state of the Fire Nation and its royal family, which were previously emphasized in The Promise and The Search. With the aid of Avatar Aang and Zuko's estranged ex-girlfriend Mai, Fire Lord Zuko must deal with the threat of the New Ozai Society, a group that seeks to overthrow him and restore his deposed father, Fire Lord Ozai, to the throne. Their conflict is complicated by the fact that it is led by Mai's own estranged father, Ukano, and appears to be in league with a group of malevolent spirits known as the Kemurikage.
The plot unfolds in three parts. In Part One, Ukano is visited by the Kemurikage and gathers the New Ozai Society to strike against Zuko. Mai learns of the plot and alerts Zuko, but a decoy attack leads to a real ambush on Zuko's family. The Kemurikage later abduct Mai's younger brother Tom-Tom. In Part Two, Aang, Zuko, Mai, and Kei Lo investigate the Kemurikage at the Fire Sages Capital Temple, discovering that the spirits may be fakes. Ukano and Constable Sung form the Safe Nation Society, and more children are kidnapped. Kiyi is taken, and one fake Kemurikage attacks Zuko with lightning, revealing herself as his long-lost sister Azula.
In Part Three, Azula fights off capture and orders a riot. Zuko arrests many Safe Nation Society members. Aang discovers a secret passage leading to a graveyard, where Azula and her fellow mental institution patients attack. The children escape when Kiyi uses firebending to melt their cell door. Azula flees after warning Zuko that his harsh measures make him like her. Ukano accepts imprisonment, and Mai ends her relationship with Kei Lo.
Reader's Guide
Smoke and Shadow is significant as a direct continuation of the Avatar: The Last Airbender storyline, bridging the gap between the original series and The Legend of Korra. It deepens the character arcs of Zuko, Mai, and Azula, exploring themes of leadership, redemption, and the consequences of fear-based governance. The trilogy reintroduces Azula, who has mostly recovered from her insanity, and uses her as a foil to Zuko's attempts at benevolent rule. The story also examines the lingering loyalty to Ozai within the Fire Nation and the challenges of post-war reconciliation. By depicting Zuko's struggle to balance security with civil liberties, the trilogy offers a nuanced look at governance. Its legacy lies in expanding the Avatar universe through graphic novels, maintaining the tone and complexity of the original series while setting up future stories like North and South.
Did You Know?
- The first part of Smoke and Shadow takes place during the events of The Rift, while the other two parts occur after it.
- The fake Kemurikage are revealed to be Azula and her fellow patients from the mental institution where she was once imprisoned.
- Ukano, leader of the New Ozai Society, is Mai's estranged father.
- The next comic trilogy by the same authors, occurring immediately after Smoke and Shadow, is North and South.
Elsewhere in Avatar The Last Airbender
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