ofclumsywords's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This graphic novel picks up right where the movie ended. Jake is Olo'eyktan and it opens with him looking down over the grave of his human body. It immediately becomes clear that he is still adjusting to being fully Na'vi and not dependent on a machine to make the link to his Avatar. Then we quickly find out that the tensions are still high between the Na'vi and the humans that stayed behind when the rest left back for earth. Jake has to quickly deescalate the tension and it works until we are introduced to the parents of Tsu'tey and his little brother, Arvok. We learn that not all Na'vi are ok with a "Dreamwalker" leading them and they cook up a plan to get their son to take the position of Olo'eyktan as he should have been next in line after Tsu'tey's death. Even though Tsu'tey gave Jake the title as he lay dying, his parents are not convinced. One thing leads to another and Jake and Arvok battle for the title of Olo'eyktan and without Arvok knowing, his blade is coated with a poison to make sure that Jake dies.
When Jake is cut with the blade and the poison begins to take effect on his body he begins to have dreams of being visited by his human self which represents his guilt. He is in the burning Home Tree and visited by the Na'vi that died in the disaster. As he descends more and more into his guilt Eytukan, Neytiri's father and the former Olo'eyktan, visits him to save him from himself. Tsu'tey shows up as well and they tell him that to defeat his guilt he needs to forgive himself. It was a great moment where we get to see Jake finally accept his Na'vi body and give up his old life and forgive himself for things that the other Na'vi have already forgiven him for. It is the final stage that he needed to go through before he can become the Olo'eyktan the People need to rebuild and heal from all the humans have done to them. It was a perfect bridge between the first movie and all that we never got to see in the ten years that happened before the second movie takes place. Jake fully understands his role and that it is ok to show mercy and to be a different leader than what came before. Everything has changed since the humans showed up and the Na'vi do need a "Dreamwalker" to lead them, someone who can bridge the gap between humans and Na'vi.
When Jake is cut with the blade and the poison begins to take effect on his body he begins to have dreams of being visited by his human self which represents his guilt. He is in the burning Home Tree and visited by the Na'vi that died in the disaster. As he descends more and more into his guilt Eytukan, Neytiri's father and the former Olo'eyktan, visits him to save him from himself. Tsu'tey shows up as well and they tell him that to defeat his guilt he needs to forgive himself. It was a great moment where we get to see Jake finally accept his Na'vi body and give up his old life and forgive himself for things that the other Na'vi have already forgiven him for. It is the final stage that he needed to go through before he can become the Olo'eyktan the People need to rebuild and heal from all the humans have done to them. It was a perfect bridge between the first movie and all that we never got to see in the ten years that happened before the second movie takes place. Jake fully understands his role and that it is ok to show mercy and to be a different leader than what came before. Everything has changed since the humans showed up and the Na'vi do need a "Dreamwalker" to lead them, someone who can bridge the gap between humans and Na'vi.
ofclumsywords's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
5.0
This graphic novel picks up right where the movie ended. Jake is Olo'eyktan and it opens with him looking down over the grave of his human body. It immediately becomes clear that he is still adjusting to being fully Na'vi and not dependent on a machine to make the link to his Avatar. Then we quickly find out that the tensions are still high between the Na'vi and the humans that stayed behind when the rest left back for earth. Jake has to quickly deescalate the tension and it works until we are introduced to the parents of Tsu'tey and his little brother, Arvok. We learn that not all Na'vi are ok with a "Dreamwalker" leading them and they cook up a plan to get their son to take the position of Olo'eyktan as he should have been next in line after Tsu'tey's death. Even though Tsu'tey gave Jake the title as he lay dying, his parents are not convinced. One thing leads to another and Jake and Arvok battle for the title of Olo'eyktan and without Arvok knowing, his blade is coated with a poison to make sure that Jake dies.
When Jake is cut with the blade and the poison begins to take effect on his body he begins to have dreams of being visited by his human self which represents his guilt. He is in the burning Home Tree and visited by the Na'vi that died in the disaster. As he descends more and more into his guilt Eytukan, Neytiri's father and the former Olo'eyktan, visits him to save him from himself. Tsu'tey shows up as well and they tell him that to defeat his guilt he needs to forgive himself. It was a great moment where we get to see Jake finally accept his Na'vi body and give up his old life and forgive himself for things that the other Na'vi have already forgiven him for. It is the final stage that he needed to go through before he can become the Olo'eyktan the People need to rebuild and heal from all the humans have done to them. It was a perfect bridge between the first movie and all that we never got to see in the ten years that happened before the second movie takes place. Jake fully understands his role and that it is ok to show mercy and to be a different leader than what came before. Everything has changed since the humans showed up and the Na'vi do need a "Dreamwalker" to lead them, someone who can bridge the gap between humans and Na'vi.
When Jake is cut with the blade and the poison begins to take effect on his body he begins to have dreams of being visited by his human self which represents his guilt. He is in the burning Home Tree and visited by the Na'vi that died in the disaster. As he descends more and more into his guilt Eytukan, Neytiri's father and the former Olo'eyktan, visits him to save him from himself. Tsu'tey shows up as well and they tell him that to defeat his guilt he needs to forgive himself. It was a great moment where we get to see Jake finally accept his Na'vi body and give up his old life and forgive himself for things that the other Na'vi have already forgiven him for. It is the final stage that he needed to go through before he can become the Olo'eyktan the People need to rebuild and heal from all the humans have done to them. It was a perfect bridge between the first movie and all that we never got to see in the ten years that happened before the second movie takes place. Jake fully understands his role and that it is ok to show mercy and to be a different leader than what came before. Everything has changed since the humans showed up and the Na'vi do need a "Dreamwalker" to lead them, someone who can bridge the gap between humans and Na'vi.
alexandr1ne's review
4.0
You know that specific genre of epilogue fanfiction, wherein a dedicated fan author will tackle whatever loose threads (however small and unlikely to unravel the greater work they may be) they felt were left after the original conclusion, and tie them all up into a nice little bow?
This was like that.
Which was not to say it was bad - the characterisation was solid, the art serviceable (though it did feel a little generic, less Pandoran-rainforest and more Earth-jungle), and the story worked as a vehicle for character development, which is all it was really trying to do. The issue it covered in the most depth was Jake’s imposter syndrome after the events of the first movie: still feeling like an outcast or pretender, undeserving of the role of Olo’eyktan. These feelings were resolved nicely and in a satisfying, if ultimately unnecessary, way.
However, I don’t agree that Avatar: The Next Shadow bridges the gap between the first and second movies. I’d argue there wasn’t even a gap to be bridged; I’ve never watched a movie that succeeded so thoroughly at being its own fully resolved, satisfying, self-contained narrative, while also setting up the potential of future sequels, as Avatar 2009. In fact, these comics introduced some issues that, if anything, weaken the original ending, like the conflict between the Na’vi and the remaining humans.
Still, this was some nice supplementary material - not a must-read, but enjoyable for the more devoted fans!
This was like that.
Which was not to say it was bad - the characterisation was solid, the art serviceable (though it did feel a little generic, less Pandoran-rainforest and more Earth-jungle), and the story worked as a vehicle for character development, which is all it was really trying to do. The issue it covered in the most depth was Jake’s imposter syndrome after the events of the first movie: still feeling like an outcast or pretender, undeserving of the role of Olo’eyktan. These feelings were resolved nicely and in a satisfying, if ultimately unnecessary, way.
However, I don’t agree that Avatar: The Next Shadow bridges the gap between the first and second movies. I’d argue there wasn’t even a gap to be bridged; I’ve never watched a movie that succeeded so thoroughly at being its own fully resolved, satisfying, self-contained narrative, while also setting up the potential of future sequels, as Avatar 2009. In fact, these comics introduced some issues that, if anything, weaken the original ending, like the conflict between the Na’vi and the remaining humans.
Still, this was some nice supplementary material - not a must-read, but enjoyable for the more devoted fans!
itisnotrick's review
4.0
A great tie-in to explain what happened between 2009's "Avatar" and its long-awaited sequel.