Comic to Read

[korracast]

[irresistible-revolution]

#i don’t think people realize that ~THIS~ was the climax of the show #not energybending #not zuko’s coronation #not anything else people might commonly name as the climax #the energybending stuff might have been the active climax #but this is the thematic climax #this moment when aang has to decide once and for all what kind of avatar he’s going to be #is a perfect mirror for zuko’s climactic expression of what kind of man he has chosen to be #and both of them are redirecting lightning to do it #zuko to save a life #and aang to spare a life #and if that isn’t fucking beautiful to you on every level then #then… #well i wanna say get off my blog but that seems rude #aang #ozai

[sokkable]

OP HOW COULD YOU HIDE THIS IN YOUR TAGS

[thealternatemind]

Zuko and Aang redirecting the lightning in those scenes have very powerful and similar symbolism.

Ozai uses lightning to kill. With the skill of redirecting, Aang and Zuko are able to absorb the power and use it as a weapon, but they choose not to.

They absorb Ozai’s power and can use it the same way he does—to murder. But they don’t. In that moment, when they have Ozai’s power, they realize the people that they’re meant to be—better than Ozai. They choose not to use that power to kill.

The redirection of lightning has always been my favorite symbol of ATLA. It represents ultimate power, absorbed from the ultimate evil. But when these two loving and brilliant people absorb that symbol of ultimate power and evil, they choose to be better and to spare life.

The lightning shows us that Aang and Zuko are better than Ozai, that their love and compassion are the most powerful forces in the show—not the force to kill.

I could go on and on about the use of symbolism in ATLA, but this one in particular is so beautiful. What a way to teach kids such valuable and beautiful lessons, all through the use of lightning…

It’s also a wonderful metaphor for Zuko’s recovery from trauma and abuse, but that’s another post for another day. I have so much to say on that topic.

[royaltealovingkookiness]

As for fighting abilities I know Iroh as Zuko's father figure is a very appreciated character -especially when compared to the bad father that was Ozaï- however, I can't see how he appeared as stronger than the Fire Lord. I think Ozaï's showing during the comet trumps whatever Iroh did that day offensively and in terms of durability as well. Lately the info about Ozaï's superior strength came from the ATLA extra.

Iroh’s power is deceptive, because we NEVER see him go all out. I think this comes from his change of heart after Lu Ten’s death. He probably feels like he’s contributed enough to the violence, so he only uses firebending very rarely and mostly defensively and always showing restraint. He mostly fights bare-handed (like when he gets captured by the earthbenders, or when they run into Colonel Mongke. 

The first time we see him really fight is at the North Pole trying to protect the Moon Spirit (and Zhao is clearly scared of him, and he makes very short work of the soldiers there). 

He restrains Azula pretty effortlessly in the beginning of S2 and in CoD he only fights long enough to let Aang and Katara escape. He doesn’t want to fight Zuko, so he surrenders. 

But Zuko does say in The Firebending Masters that Iroh’s firebending talent was legendary. He’s called the Dragon of the West, and obviously notorious in the Earth Kingdom. 

So if we haven’t seen the type of destruction from Iroh that we have from Ozai, it’s not because he’s not capable of it, but because he doesn’t want to destroy. This restraint is even there as they take back Ba Sing Se. None of the old masters use more force than needed to accomplish their goal. 

Iroh is happy to use his firebending to warm up tea, because he’s sick of the violence he himself and the Fire Nation caused. 

This discussion between Iroh and Zuko makes me think though that they both think that Iroh is fairly equally matched with Ozai, that the outcome of a duel between them is not a foregone conclusion:

Zuko:  Uncle, you're the only person other than the Avatar who can possibly defeat the Father Lord. Toph: You mean the Fire Lord. Zuko: That's what I just said.  Iroh: Hmm... Zuko: We need you to come with us. Iroh: No, Zuko. It won't turn out well.  Zuko: You can beat him and we'll be there to help. Iroh:  Even if I did defeat Ozai, and I don't know that I could. It will be the wrong way to end the war.  History would see it as just more senseless violence,  a brother killing a brother to grab power. The only way for this war to end peacefully is for the Avatar to defeat the Fire Lord.

But Iroh also knows that it would end up with one of them dead and he doesn’t want that because the political fallout could be disastrous, leading to civil war and more fighting. 

As for what the Avatar extras say - these are interesting, but I never use them to interpret the material of that we see. For me, canon is what is in the show and I’m free to make my own conclusions. 

And obviously either way, whether Ozai is the most powerful or one of the two most powerful benders doesn’t change much in the big scheme of things. 

But Iroh’s character was all about finding and showing a different kind of strength that doesn’t measure a person though firebending feats or the destruction they can cause, even if he himself was a legendary bending master, and imbue that inner strength on Zuko. 

[leavesfromthevine-atla]

Destruction does not equal strength. I also believe the death of Lu Ten likely altered Iroh’s relationship with firebending significantly. To add my two cents to this already amazing answer, Iroh’s inner strength is exponentially stronger than his brother’s ever would be. To have the ability to cause destruction is one thing. To choose NOT to use it takes even more strength. (Not that firebending is always destructive but that’s another topic.)

[jonmercer]

Justice League

[comictoread]

Vera cool

[entertainmentweekly]

Just jamming in the Arrowverse!

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[comictoread]

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[comictoread]

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[comictoread]

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[comictoread]

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[comictoread]

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[comictoread]

Frank Miller returns to the Dark Knight Universe! It’s been three years since the events of Dark Knight III: The Master Race. Lara has spent the time learning to be more human, and Carrie Kelley has been growing into her new role as Batwoman. But a terrifying evil has returned to Gotham City, and Lara and Carrie must team up to stop this growing threat-and they have a secret weapon. Young Jonathan Kent, “the golden child,” has a power inside of him unlike anything the world has ever seen, and it’s about to be unleashed... Dark Knight Returns: The Golden Child is Frank Miller’s triumphant return to the world of the Dark Knight and joining him is the superstar artist Rafael Grampá, the mastermind behind the groundbreaking Mesmo Delivery. Following work in advertising and film, this incredible collaboration marks

[comictoread]

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[comictoread]

[comictoread]

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[comictoread]

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