Legend of Korra: Ruins of the Empire, Part Two was fantastic.

As Guan ramps up efforts to take over the Earth Kingdom, it becomes obvious that he’s outright brainwashing people. Korra heads in one direction looking for a solution and the rest of the gang heads in another trying to get a bead on what’s going on. In the process, they get captured. Now Korra has to face down her own friends and her lover as well as an implacable enemy. She needs an ally and the only one available is…Kuvira.

Kuvira was one of the best characters in the Korra anime. Nuanced, human and both sympathetic and unsympathetic simultaneously. Here in Ruins of the Empire, we’re getting another look at Kuvira, as a leader, as an enemy, as a resource and as a human.

I wasn’t sure in Part One if this story was going to grab my attention, but by about halfway through this book, I was well and truly grabbed.

Even aside from the strong (and timely, as persistent election interference is our current reality in the USA) plot, there’s something I want to note. As Korra is taking her leave, she and Asami kiss each other goodbye. Does that sound boring and every day? It is! Isn’t that exciting! Korra and Asami kiss goodbye just like couples do and it’s not a thing. It’s so absolutely delightful that they are just…together. Happy sigh.

Michelle Wong’s art is solid and Killian Ng’s color palette is excellent. The cover of this volume makes my heart pound a little faster. Kuvira, Toph, Su and Korra, wow. 4 generations of strong, interesting, three-dimensional women in a comic for tweens. And it’s #2 on Amazon in LGBTQ Graphic Novels, which makes me so happy.

I’m really looking forward to Part Three which hit shelves in February 2020, and here’s hoping for more time with the depth Kuvira brings to the story.

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 9
Characters – 9
Service – 0
Yuri – 10 Once again because Asami and Korra just are, together, not because of any grand coming out.

Overall – A very solid 9

Thanks to Okazu Patron and Superhero Eric P for today’s review copy!