The world of Avatar: The Last Airbender follows the life of Aang, Sokka, Katara, Toph, and Zuko as they try to bring balance back to the Earth Kingdom. Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water are together the four elements present in the Earth Kingdom and various nations rule under the banner of each element.

Aang, as the Avatar, has been fighting with his friends to end the tyranny of the Fire Nation. Upon the end of the series, Zuko was crowned ruler of the Fire Nation because Aang and his friends, among them prince Zuko, defeated Zuko’s father.

The comic is excellently written by Gene Luan Yang, who has received a Members’ Choice Award Winner from the American Literary Awards, along with accurate art and cover work done by Gurihiru and lettering by Michael Heisler. Created originally by Michael Dante DiMartino and Brian Konietzko, both creators were also the executive producers for the animated series.

The story takes off where the series ends, setting the stage for a two-part epic continuation of the Avatar universe. Efforts have begun by Fire Lord Zuko to begin a Harmony Restoration Movement to remove Fire Nation colonies that have settled in Earth Nation locations. Avatar has always been a story about relationships, whether this is between elemental combat or mental combat between people.

In “The Promise-Part One,” Zuko has risen to the position of Fire Lord, Fuler of the Fire Nation, while his father Ozai languishes in prison. The first of the many complicated relationships is certainly between Ozai and Zuko, Zuko’s youth and passion waging war against his father’s cunning and treachery. Even against his own judgment, Zuko knows that he lacks experience and thus seeks his father’s counsel.

Zuko’s relationship with his position as Ruler of the Fire Nation is also featured in “The Promise” as pressure mounts for him to be a good ruler. There are many who view Zuko as a traitor to his father’s strength while other’s still question his sanity. There is a sense of paranoia in Zuko’s restlessness which is not entirely unwarranted either as he faces assassins that are in fact out to get him.

As a result of Zuko’s push for the Harmony Restoration Movement, it appears that Fire Nation is once again on the brink of war while trying to restore balance to the Earth Kingdom. The relationship between Fire Lord Zuko and Avatar Aang however, are the centerpiece of this two-part comic. The ‘Promise’ refers to one made between Zuko and Aang, on the basis that Aang becomes the safety net for Zuko if his position as Fire Lord compromises his goal to bring peace to the Earth Kingdoms.

Aang promises, on the encouragement of Katara no less, to help Zuko on the path to equalizing the Earth Kingdoms. This promise is put to the test when Zuko does indeed retract orders for the Harmony Restoration Movement, causing a fight to break out between the two friends.

The relationship between Katara and Aang is least complicated since these two are now closer than ever before. The power of the Water Tribe manifests itself in a strong protectiveness over Aang when Fire Nation soldiers attack Aang on the orders of Zuko. Her powers have grown, with her control of the water element becoming a strong asset to Aang’s own skill set. Whereas Aang is carefree and quick to anger, Katara is passionate and yet serene.

The Avatar: Last Airbender series, ending at three seasons and 61 Episodes, has won numerous awards and other accolades from various international organizations. The Last Airbender movie received mixed reviews, while the animated series has a huge following amongst animation fans.

Whereas the movie was denigrated for its actors and screenplay, the animated series has pleased fans for a very long time. “The Promise-Part One” therefore, thankfully, falls into the second category, surely pleasing fans of the series with not only exciting action sequences, but the continuation of the series greatest characters.

Avatar: The Last Airbender- The Promise Part One Trade Paperback is available for pre-order through January 25th at Dark Horse Comics here. Part two of “The Promise” won’t be available until May, but fans will surely wait for what appears to be yet another exciting continuation into the world of Avatar the Last Airbender.

This series will hopefully be able to bridge the gap between the end of Avatar The Last Airbender and The Last Airbender: Legend of Korra.

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Coinciding with the release of the new Star Wars Old Republic MMORPG, The Old Republic comic is set 25,000-1,000 years Before the Battle of Yavin (BBY) and the destruction of the first Death Star by Luke Skywalker. By virtue of being a Sith Apprentice, Teneb Kel could potentially been the antagonist of this story.

However because he is the main character, Teneb is in actuality the protagonist even as he uses the Dark Side of The Force. Trained at the feet of one of the greatest Sith Lords, Darth Calpypho, who was his mentor until the time of Calypho’s fall from the graces of the Dark Council.

The aptly named Dark Council is the ruling council of the Sith Empire and is composed entirely of Darth Lords of the Sith. They were founded sometime during the 4,900′s BBY and in this story, Teneb Kel does their bidding during his rise to power. At the time of this comic, it has been nearly 1,000 years since the founding of the Dark Council, and thus this story takes place sometime in 3,600 BBY.

Nearly 100 pages in length, this is now small release by any means. With scripting by Alexander Freed and penciling by Dave Ross, the pace of the comic is just right to move fans along the harrowing journey of rising Sith Lord Teneb Kel. Alexander Freed fans will happily note that he is a senior writer on the new Old Republic MMORPG as well.

The inking was done by Mark McKenna with coloring by Michael Atiyeh. Michael Heisler handled lettering and the front cover art was done by Benjamin Carre. The Sith is a constantly brutal test of strength and paranoia. To be Sith is to suspect treachery at every turn, especially by your apprentice.

It can almost be said to be a founding tenant of Sith culture. Darth Calypho experiences this very thing, as evident by his fight against his apprentice Teneb. The other tenant which seems to pervade Sith culture is suffering no competition against a lesser power. Only equals in power on the Dark Council are safe and even then the first hint of weakness is like blood in the water.

If Teneb is our Protagonist then Exal Kressh, the now former Apprentice to Emperor Vitiate, is undoubtedly our Antagonist. She turns against her Master, gaining her freedom using skills she was taught and defying the Emperors’s lies as well as his Assassin’s. Teneb is thus far the only one whom has been able to find her and their duel is noteworthy because of the apparently difference in skill and her dismissive attitude towards Teneb.

The Jedi Order play a role here, with Master Jedi Jerbhen Hulis also investigating Exal Kressh. The Republic is not a floundering rebellion here. They have a presence all their own that is yet another turn of opposition for the Sith Empire. In an odd twist, Master Hulis and Sith Apprentice Kel do not come to blows as one might suspect, but in fact bargain with one another.

Still, Sith treachery makes itself known before the end of this volume, resulting in a death that will change the ending of the story greatly for Teneb Kel. He has seen the future through a Force Vision now and knows that to become an apprentice to another master is pointless. His rise in power continues, gaining the title of Dark Lord of the Sith, one of many to be sure, but still a power unto himself now.

Teneb Kel’s path, his destiny will be of his own making. His knowledge of Exal Kressh’s betrayal and the Emperors plans give him strength and guidance to forge ahead as he continues his dark path. The story within this 100 page Trade Paperback will not only continue to captivate fans of the Star Wars Universe, but give great insight into the mind of the Sith as never before.

Thousands of years before the rise of Darth Vader, there was an entire empire of Sith Lords and Apprentices. Only time will tell how they will fall, either through their own treachery or through conflict with the rising Republic.

Order here directly through Dark Horse Comics.

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If dreams are the thoughts of our subconscious as many believe, then those of Darth Vader himself during his brief periods of rest show his longing for his former life. Once upon a time, he was a young Jedi knight in love. Now lost, Darth Vader is exceedingly calculated and powerful, the picture-perfect Sith Lord in some ways.

Featuring priestesses and betrayals, combat through space and gunfights through an ambush, this has the makings of an excellent storyline. Available for pre-order here and releasing at the end of November, The Lost Command is a hardcover release that details the complete mission of Darth Vader’s search for Garoche Tarkin, the son of Moff Tarkin, in the Ghost Nebula System.

This story takes place some 20 years BBY (Before the Battle of Yavin) and the destruction of the first Death Star on the galactic calendar. Fans may remember Grand Moff Tarkin as the man responsible for the Death Star’s attack and destruction of Alderaan in Episode IV: A New Hope.

Scripted by Haden Blackman, penciled by Rick Leonardi, ink and colors done by Dan Green and Wes Dzioba respectively, lettering from Michael Heisler, and cover art by Michael Kutsche, this is a tale of three men haunted by their past deeds and their continued fight for the survival of their futures.

Traditionally, Garoche Tarkin is not a character that appears in the main storyline, but is featured in this comic as a man torn between his sense of duty and his moral compass. Garoche’s development throughout the story showcases the possibility of what his father, Moff Wilhuff Tarkin, might have been like in a different life without the Empire’s controlling hand.

However, Moff Wilhuff Tarkin is not without a heart and thus is still a father that is concerned about the disappearance of his son. The loss of his son would make Moff Tarkin furious, a man second only to Darth Sidious in his ruthlessness and military savvy. His anger would be great and his vengeance swift should Lord Vader fail to find his son.

The beginning and ending depictions of Lord Vader almost mirror each other in his subservience to his master, Darth Sidious. In addition to that portrayal, Vader’s reality is one of literal and figurative disrepair. For every part of his arms and legs that are damaged, there are replacements being fitted at each turn of the story, the beginning and ending sections showcasing his return to full-figured misery.

In contrast to his reality, Vader is plagued by dreams where he is healthy and whole, not half a man consumed by his anger. They depict his would-be life had Padme and his unborn son both survived. Vader’s dreams are a bitter joy to dream of and wake from, as they show Lord Vader not as a Sith Lord, but as a happy and loving man.

Against all preconceived notions of power and ruthlessness, guilt is what culminates in the ultimate ending of the story, with Vader returning damaged and Moff Wilhuff Tarkin coldly plotting the death of his enemies due to the loss of his son. This gives yet another avenue of insight into the mind and story of Moff Tarkin and his relentless pursuit of his enemies throughout the rest of his lifetime in the Star Wars Universe.

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