Avatar: The Last Airbender’s prolific three-season run has stood the test of time as a modern classic, featuring a beloved cast of characters – including fan-favorite Prince Zuko – who continue to win hearts to this day. However, some might be surprised to learn that the series has a forgotten comic book prequel, and its story centers on none other than Zuko.
In 2010, Del Rey Books releasedThe Last Airbender Prequel: Zuko’s Story– written by Dave Roman, with art by Alison Wilgus and Nina Matsumoto. Set beforeAang emerges from the iceberg, this prequel comic chronicles the beginning of Zuko’s relentless search for the Avatar, as the banished prince seeks to reclaim his rightful throne.
Although this comic was created as a prequel toM. Night Shyamalan’sLast Airbendermovie, rather than the series,its contributions to Zuko’s lore are still fascinating, as it redefines key moments of the series in unforeseen ways, changing his character forever.
The Avatar: The Last Airbender Film Prequel Explores Zuko’s Tragic Past
The Last Airbender Prequel: Zuko’s Story– Written By Dave Roman; Art By Alison Wilgus & Nina Matsumoto
TheAvatar: The Last Airbenderprequel picks up directly afterZuko’s Agni Kai with his father. Scarred and stripped of his honor, he’s forced to hunt the Avatar alongside Uncle Iroh in hopes of returning home.Zuko and Irohshare impactful moments, providing context for their relationship, and conveying Zuko’s anger over his circumstances and Iroh’s unwavering love for him. Zuko eventually encounters Guru Pathik and mistakes him for the Avatar, later shedding tears as he questions whether he’ll ever succeed. Zuko’s vulnerability here is a stark contrast to his hardened exterior in the animated series, unveiling a newfound depth.
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Interestingly, this story foreshadows various events that occur in the animated series, even if the movie never got that far. For example, Zuko encounters a man called the Red Spirit and is inspired by him to take up swordsmanship, instead of relying too heavily on firebending – a reference toZuko’s Blue Spiritalter ego. Furthermore, Pathik reveals he experienced a vision of Zuko and the Avatar standing together, alluding toZuko being crowned as Fire Lordwith Aang beside him in the show’s final episode. These sly nods to Zuko’s future enhance the reading experience for longtimeAvatarfans.
Zuko’s Lost Origin Story Makes His Character Development Even More Meaningful
Avatar: The Last Airbender’s Prequel Improves Zuko’s Emotional Journey
The Last Airbender Prequel: Zuko’s Storyis an intriguingaddition to Zuko’s history, which recontextualizes his arc. Zuko’s early adventures humanize him in a way the show’s first episodes fail to, by depicting him as an empathetic figure from the start. Most notably, this story reveals how theAvatar’s returnis a tragedy for Zuko rather than a triumph. Shortly before Zuko detects Aang, he’s become content with his life at sea, even admitting that he no longer feels haunted by his past. However, Zuko backslides into his obsession once Aang appears, making the show’s beginning much darker.
Zuko’s early adventures humanize him in a way the show’s first episodes fail to, by depicting him as an empathetic figure from the start.
This prequel may not necessarily be canon to the franchise’s continuity, but it still works as a backstory for Zuko. The character designs are the only true link to the critically panned film, with Zuko and Iroh resembling theactors who portray them in live action. Aside from that visual detail, though, there aren’t any major timeline discrepancies preventing this story’s events from fitting intoAvatar’s established lore. As such, any fans of Zuko –andAvatar: The Last Airbenderin general – should give this overlooked prequel a read to consider the iconic Firebender in a whole new light.
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Cast
Avatar: The Last Airbender, released in 2005, follows a young boy in a war-torn world of elemental magic as he reawakens to embark on a challenging mystical quest to fulfill his destiny as the Avatar and restore peace to the world.
