Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Rift

Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Rift is a three-part graphic novel written by Gene Yang, with art by Studio Gurihiru. It picks up after the events of The Search and leads into the Smoke and Shadow trilogy. The story continues the narrative of Avatar: The Last Airbender and acts as a prequel to The Legend of Korra, both animated series created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. Part 1 was released on March 5, 2014, Part 2 on July 29, 2014, and Part 3 on November 18, 2014.

The trilogy shifts focus back to a 114-year-old Avatar Aang as he starts laying the groundwork for Republic City, a contrast to The Search's emphasis on the Fire Nation royal family. Aang also intends to give Toph a larger role, as she was absent from the previous trilogy. As Aang and his friends prepare for Yangchen's Festival—an Air Nomad holiday not celebrated in over a century—Aang begins receiving cryptic visits from the spirit of Avatar Yangchen. These visits lead him to a refinery operating on sacred Air Nomad land, and the group suspects the refinery is polluting a nearby river. They investigate and soon face a malevolent spirit intent on destroying the human world.

In Part One, at a banquet celebrating Yu Dao's new coalition government, Aang has a vision of Avatar Yangchen and is inspired to revive her festival, which honors her supposed defeat of a powerful dark spirit. He brings Katara, Sokka, Toph, and the Air Acolytes, but tensions arise between Aang and Toph when his insistence on following an unknown tradition reminds her of her controlling father. The group discovers a town with a large crystal refinery built over a sacred meadow.

Exploring with engineer Satoru—whom Toph develops a crush on—they learn the refinery uses new technologies and three bending styles, making it the first joint business venture between nations. Aang, concerned about river pollution and his visions, argues with Toph, who is impressed by the refinery's innovation and dismisses his warnings. Earthquakes threaten the workers, forcing Aang and Toph to cooperate. Afterward, Toph says Aang clings to the past; Aang retorts that she runs from it, and Toph claims she has no choice.

The refinery's owners—Satoru's uncle Loban and Toph's father Lao Beifong—arrive, and the part ends with Toph and Lao recognizing each other.