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Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Search #2
Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Search, Part 2
Enter the Forgetful Valley!
As Fire Lord Zuko continues his quest to uncover his mother's fate, a shocking revelation causes him to question everything he knows. It's an opportunity that his sister, the deadly and insane Azula, will not fail to take advantage of as she joins Zuko and his friends, Aang, Katara, and Sokka on their journey into a mysterious forest from which some people never reemerge...
As Fire Lord Zuko continues his quest to uncover his mother's fate, a shocking revelation causes him to question everything he knows. It's an opportunity that his sister, the deadly and insane Azula, will not fail to take advantage of as she joins Zuko and his friends, Aang, Katara, and Sokka on their journey into a mysterious forest from which some people never reemerge...
76 pages, Paperback
First published July 10, 2013
445 people are currently reading
6,639 people want to read
About the author
Gene Luen Yang
349books3,329followersGene Luen Yang writes, and sometimes draws, comic books and graphic novels. As the Library of Congress� fifth National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, he advocates for the importance of reading, especially reading diversely. American Born Chinese, his first graphic novel from First Second Books, was a National Book Award finalist, as well as the winner of the Printz Award and an Eisner Award. His two-volume graphic novel Boxers & Saints won the L.A. Times Book Prize and was a National Book Award Finalist. His other works include Secret Coders (with Mike Holmes), The Shadow Hero (with Sonny Liew), Superman from DC Comics (with various artists), and the Avatar: The Last Airbender series from Dark Horse Comics (with Gurihiru). In 2016, he was named a MacArthur Foundation Fellow. His most recent books are Dragon Hoops from First Second Books and Superman Smashes the Klan from DC Comics.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 515 reviews
July 22, 2022
This picks up after the horrible cliffhanger we were left off at book one. In all three books, the past of Forelord Ozai and Ursa's relationship is revealed. Ozai was so controlling and came off as abusive, yikes. His behavior toward his wife and his son is just so cruel and gross and this guy needs to die in a ditch. The more we get to know about him, the more I hate him.
We also see Azula's inner struggle with herself and her mother. She's such a complex character and I'm excited to see how she develops further and NEED to know more about her struggle with her mother! What made her into such a monster?? Why is she so damn cruel and heartless??
Anyways, these books are so fun and perfect for Avatar fans. My only complaint is that there is no Toph!! Wtf!! She's part of team boomeraang and she's not even in the books!! I want the greatest earthbender back and part of the team omf.
We also see Azula's inner struggle with herself and her mother. She's such a complex character and I'm excited to see how she develops further and NEED to know more about her struggle with her mother! What made her into such a monster?? Why is she so damn cruel and heartless??
Anyways, these books are so fun and perfect for Avatar fans. My only complaint is that there is no Toph!! Wtf!! She's part of team boomeraang and she's not even in the books!! I want the greatest earthbender back and part of the team omf.
November 3, 2017
This was great.
Azula's facial expressions?? I can't even!
I can't wait to see where this goes. Ursa might be one of the most interesting side characters ever.
I only wish that Toph was in this one too. But I guess you can't have everything.
My
My
My
Azula's facial expressions?? I can't even!
I can't wait to see where this goes. Ursa might be one of the most interesting side characters ever.
I only wish that Toph was in this one too. But I guess you can't have everything.
My
My
My
January 20, 2019
"I am the mother of faces."
This was slightly creepy. What with all those faces in things and what not. Some of those faces were actually disturbing.
I love that we have these flashbacks of Zuko's parents, they make it more fun! Especially when they go back to a scene that we saw on the show, that made me go full fangirl.
As always Zuko is my favorite character ever and just seeing how much he has grown and matured over the show and now the comics is absolutely amazing. He's become such a kind person. It truly is like looking at another person.
I don't know what is gonna happen now. I don't know what's Zuko gonna do with the new information that he has now. But I do hope he doesn't do anything stupid, because it doesn't matter whatever that letter said, he's the right man for the job he's doing.
Obviously, everything is about to end -for this story- and even though I already know what's gonna happen -yes, I spoiled myself- I'm excited to actually see it happening and get more context into things.
"So,uhh... You guys aren't fighting anymore?
We've arrived at an understanding.
That's what you said when this whole thing started! Since then she's tried to kill us, like, twelve times!"
This was slightly creepy. What with all those faces in things and what not. Some of those faces were actually disturbing.
I love that we have these flashbacks of Zuko's parents, they make it more fun! Especially when they go back to a scene that we saw on the show, that made me go full fangirl.
As always Zuko is my favorite character ever and just seeing how much he has grown and matured over the show and now the comics is absolutely amazing. He's become such a kind person. It truly is like looking at another person.
I don't know what is gonna happen now. I don't know what's Zuko gonna do with the new information that he has now. But I do hope he doesn't do anything stupid, because it doesn't matter whatever that letter said, he's the right man for the job he's doing.
Obviously, everything is about to end -for this story- and even though I already know what's gonna happen -yes, I spoiled myself- I'm excited to actually see it happening and get more context into things.
"So,uhh... You guys aren't fighting anymore?
We've arrived at an understanding.
That's what you said when this whole thing started! Since then she's tried to kill us, like, twelve times!"
February 2, 2019
The gang continues the search for answers! I am loving how this mystery is slowly being told to us through the use of flashbacks. I love the dynamic between Azula and the rest of the gang; it creates tension and an interesting look at the relationship between siblings. I am so looking forward to what happens next and how the gang deals with the answers to their questions!
July 18, 2013
As with the first installment of this three-part series, I am trying to with-hold my final judgment until I see the ultimate resolution of the storyline. But it's getting harder not to just be flat-out irate over what is, from my perspective, a bastardization of beloved characters from a complex and layered story that are now being flattened into a book that appears to be aimed at seven-year-olds. There are reveals in this Part Two that I find discontinuous from the characters as portrayed in the show, such as
It felt like this book relied far too heavily on allusions to moments on the original show, instead of being well-written as a stand-alone. For instance, all of the Ursa flashbacks this time tied directly to scenes we've already seen pieces of. Also, the Yuan archer
Surprisingly, one of the character bastardizations that I'm most upset about in this book is Azula. While unarguably badass, she was never one of my favorites on the show, but her treatment here is totally unfair. Azula is portrayed as crazy, not sympathetic or understandable crazy, and not anything OTHER than crazy, at any point.
It's the same problem with Ozai in this series: he is horrible, not ever the least bit sympathetic, there-is-a-backstory-to-why-he's-so horrible, and never anything OTHER than horrible. WHICH IS NOT actually in keeping with the show; yes, Ozai was the primary villain and throughout the timeline of the original show he functioned as little else, but in the episode The Beach, Zuko's memories reveal that there was a time when his father acted lovingly towards him. (And why shouldn't he?! HE'S HIS FATHER!) And even if the show hadn't revealed these aspects of Azula and Ozai, no person is one-dimensional and no character should be, either.
This was the most frustrating of all the Avatar tie-in books yet, but it wasn't a complete bust. The art was good, Sokka had one good line that was so fitting for him I could totally hear him saying it, , and I did like that Aang Oh, and the waterbenders in the forest are interesting, mainly because they're actually an original addition. As are the mysterious spirits that have been introduced so far.
I do have a theory about what really happened to Ursa and Ikem, by the way. Guess I'll be reading Part Three to see if I'm right, and with the hope that the conclusion isn't as disappointing as it's shaping up to be.
It felt like this book relied far too heavily on allusions to moments on the original show, instead of being well-written as a stand-alone. For instance, all of the Ursa flashbacks this time tied directly to scenes we've already seen pieces of. Also, the Yuan archer
Surprisingly, one of the character bastardizations that I'm most upset about in this book is Azula. While unarguably badass, she was never one of my favorites on the show, but her treatment here is totally unfair. Azula is portrayed as crazy, not sympathetic or understandable crazy, and not anything OTHER than crazy, at any point.
It's the same problem with Ozai in this series: he is horrible, not ever the least bit sympathetic, there-is-a-backstory-to-why-he's-so horrible, and never anything OTHER than horrible. WHICH IS NOT actually in keeping with the show; yes, Ozai was the primary villain and throughout the timeline of the original show he functioned as little else, but in the episode The Beach, Zuko's memories reveal that there was a time when his father acted lovingly towards him. (And why shouldn't he?! HE'S HIS FATHER!) And even if the show hadn't revealed these aspects of Azula and Ozai, no person is one-dimensional and no character should be, either.
This was the most frustrating of all the Avatar tie-in books yet, but it wasn't a complete bust. The art was good, Sokka had one good line that was so fitting for him I could totally hear him saying it, , and I did like that Aang Oh, and the waterbenders in the forest are interesting, mainly because they're actually an original addition. As are the mysterious spirits that have been introduced so far.
I do have a theory about what really happened to Ursa and Ikem, by the way. Guess I'll be reading Part Three to see if I'm right, and with the hope that the conclusion isn't as disappointing as it's shaping up to be.
November 18, 2020
*3.5
Well, this was better than the first volume.
I love Avatar very, very much. But this series is a bit strange - it's pulling some weird retcons. I do like the focus on Azula and Zuko's relationship, though, and the sibling parallels. It's really cute. And the flashbacks about Ursa were neat here. Ooh, and "Your sister was born lucky. You were lucky to be born." Ooooh. I think I'm going to read the next volume today because I'm intrigued. 3.5/5 stars.
Well, this was better than the first volume.
I love Avatar very, very much. But this series is a bit strange - it's pulling some weird retcons. I do like the focus on Azula and Zuko's relationship, though, and the sibling parallels. It's really cute. And the flashbacks about Ursa were neat here. Ooh, and "Your sister was born lucky. You were lucky to be born." Ooooh. I think I'm going to read the next volume today because I'm intrigued. 3.5/5 stars.
April 8, 2018
4.5 stars!
Great volume! I love the illustrations, their consistency especially. I like the coloring, the way to show past events, present day and night was stellar. The characters' designs are so cool!
It is great storytelling, I'm feeling all the emotions I felt while watch the original series, the comics are just as good!
I love the focus on sibling relationship, I love seeing Ursa in flashbacks, also damn that plottwist! I didn't see it coming.
Great volume! I love the illustrations, their consistency especially. I like the coloring, the way to show past events, present day and night was stellar. The characters' designs are so cool!
It is great storytelling, I'm feeling all the emotions I felt while watch the original series, the comics are just as good!
I love the focus on sibling relationship, I love seeing Ursa in flashbacks, also damn that plottwist! I didn't see it coming.
June 24, 2020
"from the day you were born, you've put me through so much! why, azula?! why'd our relationship have to be like this?!"
actual rating: 3.75
it was fine the pace was a little too slow for my liking
anyway
"she was born lucky. you were lucky to be born."
actual rating: 3.75
it was fine the pace was a little too slow for my liking
anyway
"she was born lucky. you were lucky to be born."
July 27, 2020
I’ve got a bad feeling about where this is going.... hope I’m wrong!
October 10, 2020
Azula de verdad esta loca.
March 11, 2020
Azula nervt mich tierisch momentan, ich kann nur hoffen, dass sie nach dem Ende der Trilogie etwas klarer sieht. Ansonsten aber pure Liebe für diese Serie <3
July 2, 2020
She was born lucky. You were lucky to be born.
Un clásico.
Un clásico.
June 25, 2023
Wow! That was a ride! I never thought I'd say this but I feel bad for Azula. She's really going through it right now. Someone needs to give her a hug. Also I would pay good money to watch these episodes rather than just reading them. I wish there were more episodes of ATLA because these stories are amazing and deserve to adapted to the screen. The Search Part 3, here I come!!!
October 7, 2019
We finally find out what the "treasonous things" are Ursa did the night she disappeared!
February 14, 2021
OOH!!!
December 29, 2015
Review for all three parts under the cut.
July 11, 2013
A bit more interesting than the first book in this series, but I was left wanting more. While fans who have obsessed over Zuko and the fate of his mom (ie not something I ever cared that much about) will probably enjoy some extra details, I found the cut-and-paste nature of some of the flashbacks to be wasted space in what is a very precious limited resource of pages.
Introducing new characters when the ones currently taking the journey are being narratively ignored (see: Sokka & Katara) is also a bit disheartening. I really like the little touches of symbolism and theming in regards to the sibling relationships, but where this could be a story arc showing just how close Katara and Sokka are as family and foiling it against Zuko and Azula, it instead is just wandering around, somewhat in circles, introducing new minor characters with no sign of what the payoff will be.
The art and framing of the pages is once again fantastic, and the script itself, in terms of character voice, is quite sound, as well. It just doesn't strike nearly as strong a chord for me as it could. Here's hoping Book 3 can tie this all together into something more meaningful.
A must-read for hardcore Avatar fans, but keep your expectations in check. This story arc seems to be less about the classic 'Gaang' and more about some world-building and background information on the Fire Nation Royal Family.
Introducing new characters when the ones currently taking the journey are being narratively ignored (see: Sokka & Katara) is also a bit disheartening. I really like the little touches of symbolism and theming in regards to the sibling relationships, but where this could be a story arc showing just how close Katara and Sokka are as family and foiling it against Zuko and Azula, it instead is just wandering around, somewhat in circles, introducing new minor characters with no sign of what the payoff will be.
The art and framing of the pages is once again fantastic, and the script itself, in terms of character voice, is quite sound, as well. It just doesn't strike nearly as strong a chord for me as it could. Here's hoping Book 3 can tie this all together into something more meaningful.
A must-read for hardcore Avatar fans, but keep your expectations in check. This story arc seems to be less about the classic 'Gaang' and more about some world-building and background information on the Fire Nation Royal Family.
August 22, 2019
SPOILERS FOR THE AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER TV SHOW!
Well a character in this has well and truly lost her mind. I am loving reading these graphic novels. It's like watching an episode of Avatar all over again. They manage to capture the charm and the fun of Avatar while also putting life lessons into the graphic novels. I love the art as it is so perfect for Avatar and it is so distinct.
This particular graphic novel is about Zuko trying to find his mom again with Aang and the rest of the gang. The story flashes between Zuko's current quest and his mother's past. Zuko's mother, Ursa, is a woman who had a troubled past. Seeing her backstory has been so heartbreaking. In Ursa I can see Zuko as well. He has a lot of her nature and I love seeing that.
I can't wait to continue on with this graphic novel series. It's really interesting to me to explore the characters not only a little bit older but to also tie up loose ends.
Well a character in this has well and truly lost her mind. I am loving reading these graphic novels. It's like watching an episode of Avatar all over again. They manage to capture the charm and the fun of Avatar while also putting life lessons into the graphic novels. I love the art as it is so perfect for Avatar and it is so distinct.
This particular graphic novel is about Zuko trying to find his mom again with Aang and the rest of the gang. The story flashes between Zuko's current quest and his mother's past. Zuko's mother, Ursa, is a woman who had a troubled past. Seeing her backstory has been so heartbreaking. In Ursa I can see Zuko as well. He has a lot of her nature and I love seeing that.
I can't wait to continue on with this graphic novel series. It's really interesting to me to explore the characters not only a little bit older but to also tie up loose ends.
January 25, 2016
4/5 stars
This one was way better than Part 1. Azula didn't annoyed me as much...but now and again she has moments.
*sigh* That panel where Katara was waterbending the vines made me want to weep, it was so beautiful.
This one was way better than Part 1. Azula didn't annoyed me as much...but now and again she has moments.
*sigh* That panel where Katara was waterbending the vines made me want to weep, it was so beautiful.
July 21, 2017
OMG el plot twist.
January 1, 2021
Re read on november thanks to believathon!
October 17, 2019
Now that was an amazing volume! I can't believe how much we're learning about certain people. Onto volume 3
November 27, 2020
aang's face kept making me laugh SO HARD. I love these comics
January 13, 2021
nothing compares to the actual series but, I cite Holt: Hot Damn
March 22, 2024
why r there like 10199182 versions of the same issue but whatever AZULA REDEMPTION ARC⁉️⁉️⁉️⁉️ i love her
July 10, 2024
Yessss so gooddd
October 27, 2024
See part three for my thoughts.
June 9, 2021
Meh is lightly put and disappointing is rather what I truly feel about this second volume within the series. What is beginning to frustrate me with this, is the belied promise of answering the long-held question within Avatar in such a haphazard fashion with almost no time spent on characterisation. It better pick up in the final volume!
My rating - 2/5
My rating - 2/5
July 15, 2013
The first part of this trilogy introduced some background on Ursa, Zuko's mother. We learned where she grew up, and a little of what life was like before she was forced to marry Prince Ozai. It was revealed that she tried to maintain contact with her boyfriend (fiancee? I've forgotten) Ikem by way of letters that were intercepted by Ozai's subjects, thereby never reaching their destination. Finally, it is hinted that Zuko may not even be the legitimate heir to the throne; he could be Ursa and Ikem's lovechild.
Though I still maintain that the possibly of Zuko not being Ozai's son negates his character progression in the television series, I have to say, regrettably, that after reading the second installment, I prefer the first book much better.
While it had its flaws, the first book at least tried to give us a glimpse into things we had never seen before regarding Ursa's life. However, the Search Part 2 seems to be trying too hard to weave elements of the original series into this storyline, and this causes it to stumble on its own explanations and fall flat on its missing face.*
*You'll know what this means when you read it.
[SPOILERS AHEAD]
The most notable example of story-weaving gone wrong is the incorporation of the infamous "She was born lucky. You were lucky to be born," line as it appears in page 21. To quote directly from Ozai's speech, he mentions the previous line after saying the following: "When you were born, we weren't sure if you were a bender at all. You didn't have that /spark/ in your eyes. I planned to cast you from the palace. How embarrassing for a Prince of the Fire Nation to have a /nonbender/ as his firstborn! Lucky for you, your mother and the Fire Sages pleaded with me to give you a chance. Azula, on the other hand, never needed that kind of luck. She was born /lucky./ You were lucky to be /born./"
Now, it's been a while since I heard this quote in the series and so my memory of it may be a bit fuzzy, but when I first heard Zuko mention what his father had said, I was under the impression that Zuko had perhaps always been the "weak" one, that perhaps Ursa's pregnancy had been a difficult one, signaling further "disappointing" behavior once he was born, and that he had not been expected to survive the birth at all, whereas with Azula there was no doubt in anyone's mind that the baby would be a strong Fire Nation citizen once she grew up.
But the quote, as it is thrown here, does not make much sense given Ozai's explanation. Luck had absolutely nothing to do with either of them being born, particularly in Zuko's case because it is only after he is born, obviously, that Ozai is able to look into his eyes and pass a judgment that he may be a nonbender. To me, it's really not a case of whether Zuko was lucky to be born, but rather that he was lucky to be /alive/, which carries a much heavier connotation.
Similarly, we are given a glimpse of Ursa's departure, much like how we see it through Zuko's memories in the series. But again here, the explanation we are given for her departure does not make much sense and still leaves me puzzled as to why it was necessary.
If Ursa knows how to make an undetectable poison, why did she not slip it into Ozai's drink to escape her abusive lifestyle? My only assumption would be that her conscience would have gotten in the way, but it certainly had no effect on her helping to kill the current Fire Lord in exchange for Zuko's life. Could she not have applied the same logic to herself? Could she not have poisoned Ozai, and saved herself and Zuko and Azula in the process? That would have been a much better protection, I think, than allowing Ozai to emotionally scar both children in exchange for their "protection."
I understand that some elements from the original series will inevitably have to be explained if we're delving into the great mystery that is Ursa, but so far the explanations to her mystery seem a bit lackluster and I think I preferred it when I didn't know anything about her. Being a completionist, I will still read Part 3 when it's released in November, if only for the hope that I see some progression to the bland, caricature-like versions of the Gaang.
Though I still maintain that the possibly of Zuko not being Ozai's son negates his character progression in the television series, I have to say, regrettably, that after reading the second installment, I prefer the first book much better.
While it had its flaws, the first book at least tried to give us a glimpse into things we had never seen before regarding Ursa's life. However, the Search Part 2 seems to be trying too hard to weave elements of the original series into this storyline, and this causes it to stumble on its own explanations and fall flat on its missing face.*
*You'll know what this means when you read it.
[SPOILERS AHEAD]
The most notable example of story-weaving gone wrong is the incorporation of the infamous "She was born lucky. You were lucky to be born," line as it appears in page 21. To quote directly from Ozai's speech, he mentions the previous line after saying the following: "When you were born, we weren't sure if you were a bender at all. You didn't have that /spark/ in your eyes. I planned to cast you from the palace. How embarrassing for a Prince of the Fire Nation to have a /nonbender/ as his firstborn! Lucky for you, your mother and the Fire Sages pleaded with me to give you a chance. Azula, on the other hand, never needed that kind of luck. She was born /lucky./ You were lucky to be /born./"
Now, it's been a while since I heard this quote in the series and so my memory of it may be a bit fuzzy, but when I first heard Zuko mention what his father had said, I was under the impression that Zuko had perhaps always been the "weak" one, that perhaps Ursa's pregnancy had been a difficult one, signaling further "disappointing" behavior once he was born, and that he had not been expected to survive the birth at all, whereas with Azula there was no doubt in anyone's mind that the baby would be a strong Fire Nation citizen once she grew up.
But the quote, as it is thrown here, does not make much sense given Ozai's explanation. Luck had absolutely nothing to do with either of them being born, particularly in Zuko's case because it is only after he is born, obviously, that Ozai is able to look into his eyes and pass a judgment that he may be a nonbender. To me, it's really not a case of whether Zuko was lucky to be born, but rather that he was lucky to be /alive/, which carries a much heavier connotation.
Similarly, we are given a glimpse of Ursa's departure, much like how we see it through Zuko's memories in the series. But again here, the explanation we are given for her departure does not make much sense and still leaves me puzzled as to why it was necessary.
If Ursa knows how to make an undetectable poison, why did she not slip it into Ozai's drink to escape her abusive lifestyle? My only assumption would be that her conscience would have gotten in the way, but it certainly had no effect on her helping to kill the current Fire Lord in exchange for Zuko's life. Could she not have applied the same logic to herself? Could she not have poisoned Ozai, and saved herself and Zuko and Azula in the process? That would have been a much better protection, I think, than allowing Ozai to emotionally scar both children in exchange for their "protection."
I understand that some elements from the original series will inevitably have to be explained if we're delving into the great mystery that is Ursa, but so far the explanations to her mystery seem a bit lackluster and I think I preferred it when I didn't know anything about her. Being a completionist, I will still read Part 3 when it's released in November, if only for the hope that I see some progression to the bland, caricature-like versions of the Gaang.
June 1, 2020
really trying to pace myself with these comics but i CAN’T STOP READING THEM
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