7 Comics To Read While Waiting For Avatar: Seven Havens

Fans of the Avatar: The Last Airbender franchise are understandably eager to experience the next Avatar’s journey, and with Avatar: Seven Havens on the horizon, the anticipation is higher than ever. With over two weeks before Pavi’s story officially begins on Paramount+, viewers may be looking for a similar story to dive into while they wait, and some of the best series to fill the time come from various comic books that offer a similar experience to the beloved franchise.

These comics are perfect stories to spend the time with until Avatar: Seven Havens comes out, and readers are sure to fall in love with the detailed worldbuilding, art, heroes, and, of course, the overarching storyline. Much like Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra, these series offer fantasy worlds and challenges that draw readers in, making the wait for Seven Havens a far more enjoyable experience.

Bone by Jeff Smith

Bone is an epic fantasy series by Jeff Smith that was published from 1991 to 2004. The story follows three Bone cousins who are driven out of their hometown, Boneville, only to find themselves in a mysterious valley with danger around every corner. While their journey is initially a comedic story as they traverse through unfamiliar lands, it soon grows into a larger, darker narrative that includes ancient forces and a war looming over the horizon.

The gradual tonal progression of the series in particular makes Bone perfect for fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra, as all three series start out as a lighthearted comedy before leaning into the detailed worldbuilding and high-stakes challenges. Beyond that, Bone gives each of its central characters meaningful personal arcs, and the story never loses its sense of humor even as it enters darker territory, making it a thrilling and worthwhile comic for fans waiting on the next chapter of the Avatar: The Last Airbender franchise.

Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi

Amulet is a middle-grade comic series by Kazu Kibuishi that centers on Emily and Navin Hayes, two young siblings who move to their great-grandfather’s home with their mother after a tragic accident. There, they come across a mysterious amulet, and by nightfall, a terrifying creature breaks into the house and kidnaps the siblings’ mother, driving Emily and Navin to chase it through a passage that leads them to the magical, dangerous world of Alledia.

Despite being classified as a middle-grade comic, the story is thrilling and absolutely worthwhile for readers of all ages. Much like Bone, Amulet has a tonal shift as the story unfolds, allowing its characters to come face to face with greater stakes and consequences. The series is especially a great choice for fans of Prince Zuko’s character arc because there is one character in Amulet who is directly inspired by him with an equally memorable character arc. Paired with the gorgeous art and cinematic storytelling, Amulet is a must-read graphic novel.

Wynd by James Tynion IV and Michael Dialynas

James Tynion IV and Michael Dialynas’ Wynd centers around the titular character, a teenage boy living in a society where magic is feared, and anyone who wields it is hunted down. Unfortunately, Wynd is unable to hide his magical heritage forever, forcing him to flee his home along with a few trusted friends. On his journey, he faces larger conflicts involving rival kingdoms and ancient magic, all while struggling to embrace his true identity and powers.

At its core, Wynd shares a story about embracing identity and the often messy and terrifying yet beautiful and worthwhile process of growing up.

Fans who loved the found family dynamics in Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra will love the tight-knit group that Wynd is part of. As the group navigates complex conflicts and the stakes around them grow, Wynd and his friends grow together as they face seemingly insurmountable challenges. At its core, Wynd shares a story about embracing identity and the often messy and terrifying yet beautiful and worthwhile process of growing up.

Wayward by Jim Zub and Steven Cummings

Wayward follows Rori Lane after she moves to Tokyo to live with her mother following her parents’ divorce. Her new life there takes an unexpected turn when she finds that she and her new friends have supernatural abilities and can see yōkai, Japanese spirits and mythical creatures. These creatures attack Rori and her allies due to their powers, forcing them to fight together and discover why they were chosen to fight against the yōkai.

Wayward was published from 2014 to 2018 and is aimed at older audiences due to its mature themes, including mental health and self-harm, and intense graphic violence. That said, the story is perfect for fans who want to enjoy a mature series with heavier themes before diving into the next chapter of the Avatar universe without losing similar elements like team dynamics, unique power systems, and stories that pay respect to Asian myths and lore.

Wingbearer by Marjorie Liu and Teny Issakhanian

Wingbearer is illustrated by Teny Issakhanian and written by Marjorie Liu, who is best known for her work on the critically acclaimed series Monstress, which earned her a historic win for the Eisner Award for Best Writer in 2018, as she became the first woman to do so. Wingbearer continues that run of excellent storytelling by delivering a vibrant and magical storyline that readers won’t want to miss.

The story centers around Zuli, a young girl raised by mystical bird spirits within the Great Tree. When a dark force disrupts the tree’s life-giving magic, Zuli has no other choice but to leave her sheltered home with her guardian owl, Frowly, to discover what’s happening and find out the truth behind her own origins. With a found family, meaningful themes, an imaginative world, and a good dose of stakes and conflict, Wingbearer stands out as a perfect complementary story to the Avatar universe.

The Legend of Korra Comics

Perhaps the most obvious choice to pass the time before Avatar: Seven Havens is the official The Legend of Korra comic series. While Seven Havens takes place hundreds of years after Korra’s time, reading the comics will give deeper background into the characters and their relationships, as well as a refresher on Korra’s Team Avatar dynamics and the state of the world by the end of the animated series.

The best place to start The Legend of Korra comics is the three-part Turf Wars series, which picks up directly after Korra and Asami enter the Spirit World in the finale. At the time of writing, The Legend of Korra graphic novels consist of two main trilogies, along with several standalones and shorter stories collected in anthologies. Altogether, these comics expand the world and characters and are arguably the best comics to read while waiting for Pavi’s journey in Seven Havens.

Avatar: The Last Airbender Comics

Lastly, another perfect comic series to read while waiting for the next chapter is the original Avatar: The Last Airbender comic series, which continues the story after the animated series ends, beginning with the three-part series, The Promise. The collection of The Last Airbender comics includes six main trilogies, alongside standalone comics and anthologies. Following The Promise, readers can jump into the next trilogy, The Search, which details the truth behind Zuko’s mother, Ursa’s, disappearance.

The comics not only answer loose threads from the animated series, but also bridge the gap between what happens in The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra, including the growing tension between benders and non-benders and the industrialization taking place around their world. Fans who want a dose of nostalgia and to enjoy time with the original Team Avatar again will find plenty to enjoy through the comics, and they’re sure to provide a perfect way to pass the time while waiting for Avatar: Seven Havens.

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  Dianne Doan

  Zi (voice)

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  Pavi

• Saheli Khan

  Pavi (voice)