....speaking of the Mangkwan/Mangkuan clan being confirmed to the the ash clan, though, I wonder if we'll get an easter egg cameo of Ateyo and Artsut 🤔
I highly doubt the events of the comic would be directly mentioned, since I'm pretty sure Cameron or Izzo or someone has stated somewhere that while the comics are canon, they don't want anyone to need to read them to understand what's going on in the movies; they want the plot of the movies to be able to stand on its own for the general audience without requiring context from "extra" material like the comics and game. Which means that major, direct references to the comics/game/etc are very unlikely.
But a small detail like some familiar faces in a crowd for dedicated eagle-eyed fans to spot? That's certainly not out of the question...🤔
Now that I’ve read all the comics, I think I’d rank them like this:
(From most favorite to least favorite)
1. So’lek’s Journey
Along with So’lek, we get to know several Na’vi clans and the unique way they interact with the world around them. The Anurai, the Tipani, and the Tawkami.
On his journey of recovery while dealing with PTSD from the Battle of the Hallelujah Mountains + being the sole survivor of his clan, seeing So’lek find himself and what it means to have a purpose in life hits home.
I loved how anti-war this comic was. So’lek’s journey was him learning the peaceful ways other clans go about their lives. He keeps thinking in order to find his place in the world, it requires violence and hardship. But each clan teaches him that no, it more often than not requires patience, sympathy, and compassion. No, the best way to bond with a thanator isn’t to beat it into aggression, it’s to care for it. No, the best way to obtain a shell off a cuirass crab isn’t to try to steal it, it’s to wait for when the crab no longer has need of it and allows you to take it.
I was actually sad when So’lek is forced to use all his newfound knowledge to wipe out the returning RDA forces. Which was the point!! So’lek’s a badass when it comes to combat, but it’s not necessarily something he’s proud of. It felt so painfully obtuse when the Resistance meets him and they’re all praising how skilled his fighting abilities are. Because they’re not fighting abilities at all, they’re skills of compassion he was forced to convert into violence.
It reminds me of Neytiri’s “Do not thank for this!” in the 2009 movie when Jake tries to compliment her killing the viperwolves. While So’lek does not place much value on the lives of Sky People, his preference to be seen as a teacher rather than a super powerful warrior is much more about him as an individual and his own mental growth. It’s about who he is rather than simply what he can do.
I really loved this comic. I could talk about it forever.
2. Brothers
This is my second favorite because it put a lot into perspective for me. To the point where I wish it had been incorporated into the movie somehow.
It’s about how Jake bonded with Toruk. In the film it seems like a purely physical feat. Like he just had to wrestle to become Toruk Makto.
But in this comic, it’s clarified that to become Toruk Makto, it’s actually much more of a mental & emotional test rather than a physical one. Jake spends the mini issue telling Toruk his story, from his life on earth to who he is now, and pleading with Toruk to allow the connection. To embrace him as a “brother” and become one during this dark time for Pandora.
It’s up to Toruk whether or not he views Jake, his cause, and the current crisis as worth assisting. Becoming Toruk Makto isn’t simply a test of physical skill (although that does play a part in it), it’s a test of morality and compassion. And Toruk, who appears to be somewhat sapient, is the judge who makes the final call on whether your plea will be accepted or dismissed.
Understanding this, it makes more sense why Jake becoming TM was such a monumental feat. It also makes Neytiri’s “I see you” much more impactful knowing exactly how emotional the bond is.
3. Adapt Or Die
This is set before the first movie and is about what happens before Grace’s school gets established.
I loved the relationship between her and Mo’at!! Mo’at recognized that Grace was one of the “more respectful” Sky People, and saw promise in her. But she also made sure to still be wary and didn’t leap to decisions or conclusions, whether they were in Grace’s favor or against.
It was really interesting how much Grace and Mo’at paralleled each other. In the films, Grace and Quaritch are often in direct parallel to each other, so it was fascinating seeing Grace held up against another leader character in this way.
Neytiri and Sylwanin get some cameos. We saw more of the family dynamic between Eytukan, Mo’at, and their daughters. And it was overall a good read.
The only reason I put it below Brothers is because of how much Brothers changed my perspective on Toruk Makto. But I will say that this comic broadens my view of Mo’at as well. She, of course, holds Eytukan in very high regard as their clan’s olo’eyktan, but she’s also willing to find loopholes if it means the better of their people. Interesting stuff!!!
I also really appreciate that this was set before the Na’vi-RDA feud. It is set during peacetime, albeit it’s clearly declining. I need more stories like this, set when the Na’vi don’t have to constantly worry about genocide. I now want a comic series set before the RDA even arrive and is solely about Pandora without human intervention. That’d be amazing!
4. The Next Shadow
This was good. It’s set soon after the end of the 2009 movie and is about the Omatikaya and ex-RDA members’ rebuild effort and tentative coexistence. It’s about Jake’s first days as olo’eyktan.
Jake experiences intense self image issues given he had to bury his original body and has a completely new one that doesn’t look remotely human. His mental state was a focus in this which was fascinating to see. He suffers from survivor’s guilt and imposter syndrome after the Battle of the Hallelujah Mountains, grieving over how many were killed under his command + the fact that he’s now in charge of this entire group of people who he’s only come to know over the last few months.
Speaking of, I loved seeing that the Omatikaya were mixed on him as their olo’eyktan. Although they were deranged, Tsu’tey’s parents hating him for disrupting the line of succession was interesting. After Tsu’tey’s death, the title of olo’eyktan should’ve went to his younger brother Arvok. By Tsu’tey nominating Jake, this caused conflict within the clan and their traditions. (Plus it was nice meeting Tsu’tey’s family. I have to give him kudos because he turned out a good egg despite being raised by parents like them. They did Arvok so wrong. Sheesh!)
I’m also glad that this comic touched on the biological differences between avatar bodies and Na’vi bodies. Something that can kill Na’vi in seconds, took much longer to affect the body of an avatar. Makes me wonder how else their differences come into play.
There were also hints foreshadowing Fire & Ash. The Mangkwan(?) clan, a clan of exiles and outlaws, were mentioned. I wonder if we’ll see Tsu’tey’s family in F&A? I hope so!
5. The High Ground
I know this comic is controversial among the fanbase because the Na’vi are in space and it feels weird, but I actually thought it was fine.
This is set during the one year timeskip in TWOW when Jake & Neytiri see that light in the sky, it being the return of the RDA.
I liked seeing the moments with the kids, between the kids, etc.
Kiri considers Spider more of an actual sibling to her than the other Sully kids because they’re both war orphans (this is not to say she doesn’t view the Sullys as family.)
Neteyam can be a little snot just like the younger kids, except instead of sneaking off, he has a tendency to sneak in to whatever problem their parents are facing. Because he wants to fight alongside them.
Plus Lo’ak’s insecurity over his extra appendages. Whenever Jake brings up the differences in their bodies (extra fingers & toes), Lo’ak clings to every word. It makes me wish Jake saw his son’s insecurity about being mixed, because Lo’ak needs to talk about how their differences make him feel. (He does with Tsireya in TWOW, but I do wish he and Jake had a talk too.)
Also I, objectively, liked getting to know more about Ardmore since we see so little of her in TWOW. And my god this woman is racist as hell! I was taken aback by how much she wanted to kill “every man, woman, child, elderly, etc.” Na’vi in Pandora. Like that was so crazy. She’s going to be absolutely terrifying in the future films.
There were more tidbits about Na’vi cultures, mainly about the clans in the East (I’m assuming the Omatikaya are in the East??) Whenever making decisions that affect several clans, they hold a war council where all of the olo’eyktans & tsahìks come together to discuss what should be done. That was super interesting to see!
And one of my favorite parts is how much nuance is given to things that seemed very simple in the movie(s). Some Na’vi don’t really hold “Jake as Toruk Makto” in that high of regard. They acknowledge that Jake didn’t actually win against the Sky People during the Battle of Ayram Alusing/the Hallelujah Mountains, Eywa did when all the other creatures came to offer support. Additionally, many Na’vi don’t like his affinity for metal RDA weapons and think he’s leading them astray everytime he encourages them.
Overall, I liked the story! It was compelling material that did well on expanding on the timeskip.
6. Tsu’tey’s Path
I feel so bad for ranking this last! I liked the concept of the comic!! It being about the ‘09 movie but from Tsu’tey’s perspective, diving more into his grief over Sylwanin, his role as Eytukan’s successor and leader of his own hunting party, and canonizing scenes that were cut from the film. Conceptually it’s really good!!!
My biggest problem with it, is just that it felt a bit choppy and disjointed. I think the writer Sherri Smith struggled with interweaving all these new scenes in between moments in the movie. I don’t know, it just felt like we couldn’t spend too long on a new scene because we had to jump into a movie one right after. So this feeling of disconnection is why I rank it last, even though the concepts raised were quite interesting!
I liked meeting more Omatikaya, Tsu’tey is canonly a catch with several people thirsting after him, I liked seeing more of Sylwanin if only in spirit, I liked actually seeing the Omatikaya hunt game on the backs of ikrans, etc. I liked all of the added-in scenes! Just the way they were squeezed in was where I had issue.
Final Thoughts
My overall ranking would be:
So’lek’s Journey
Brothers
Adapt Or Die
The Next Shadow
The High Ground
Tsu’tey’s Path
I’m pleasantly surprised at how much I liked all of the comics. Like they were all pretty solid. The only one where I felt something could’ve been better was Tsu’tey’s Path, and that was more about the execution rather than the actual topics it covered.
Getting to know more about the characters & Pandora both before the Battle of Ayram Alusing, during it, and after it was extremely interesting. I highly recommend reading all of these if given the chance!
Also so in The next shadow Tsu'teys brother Arvok challenges Jake, so he's gotta be an adult in the clan right? but in tsu'teys path one of the hunters mentions he's a child and like not old enough to train for the hunt and they only take place 14 days apart
so is tsu'tey babying his brother or is he actually only like 15 or something?
