Archive for the Legend of Korra Category


The Legend of Korra: Ruins of the Empire, Part Three

March 6th, 2020

Imagine my surprise this morning when I settled in to work and found that Nickelodeon was running a Legend of Korra marathon. So as I worked, I watched the story of Avatar Korra and her friends and allies work to stop Kuvira and the Earth Empire from invading Republic City. Imagine my annoyance when the Nick marathon cut off four episodes from the end of the arc. Who does that?! So I pulled up LoK on Prime, because duh.

All of this is to say, I felt that this was a sign, that the time was perfect to review The Legend of Korra: Ruins of the Empire, Part Three.  You may recall, from Part One and Part Two that the Earth Empire is once again at the center of chaos, as General Guan has brainwashed pretty much everyone to vote for him in what was to have been the first open democratic election after King Wu stepped down.  To stop Guan, Korra enlists the help of Kuvira herself.

In Part Three, Kuvira is on our side. She has a short, bitter reunion with Baatar who, ultimately, also offers his assistance. Together they figure out how to break Asami free from Guan’s brainwashing. But Kuvira escapes and head off to face down Guan herself. When the Avatar catches up, Kuvira surrenders and she and Guan are put on trial. Kuvira pleads guilty and is miraculously remanded to the custody of her family. (I wish this arc had been animated, because Kuvira looks throughout as if she would sound…younger, I guess, less burdened, maybe…and I’d like the opportunity to hear Zelda Williams voice her again.)

My only complaint with this book is the same as all the others in this series – everything feels very rushed, with any given “episode” handled in about 4 pages. It makes for a fast read, but a thin one. Someone please write this as a Sayaka-style 3-part novel series, so we get all of Asami’s, Korra’s and Kuvira’s perspectives and internal dialogue. ^_^ On the other hand, the pace means we’re not dragging through expository scenes.

Michelle Wong’s art in this final volume was very good. There’s a moment at the very end where Asami takes the opportunity to address Kuvira about her father’s death (a half chapter in my internal novel…2 panels here) that were worth the price of admission for me, as Asami lets her residual anger and resentment go.

As for Korra and Asami, they only get to be together for half to book, as Asami spends the first half brainwashed. But when they are reunited, they get a prelude to a romantic interlude, when they are interrupted. Nonetheless, the story is neither awkward nor coy about their relationship in that moment or any other.

This series and Turf Wars were very solid sequels to the animated series. I’m happy to have had them and certainly would be pleased if any more were announced.

Ratings:

Art – 9
Story – 9
Characters – 9
Service – 0 Well, they almost get a bed scene…
Yuri – 10 Same

Overall – 9

I am once again reminded that had I had this comic at 9 years old, my life might have been very different indeed. ^_^ Here’s to is making a difference for the 9 year olds out there who need it!

Thank you so very, very much to Okazu Superhero Eric P. for his sponsorship of today’s review and his ongoing support. If you’d like to help support Okazu, please consider subscribing on Patreon! $5/month will get you access to sneak peeks at content from the Big Book o’Yuri!

Now I’m going to go rewatch the final two episodes of the cartoon!





The Legend of Korra: Ruins of the Empire, Part Two

November 22nd, 2019

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!





The Legend of Korra: Ruins of the Empire, Part One

June 7th, 2019

Legend of Korra: Ruins of the Empire, Part One is the beginning of the new three-part comic series following Avatar Korra and her friends, allies and enemies. Many thanks to Okazu Superhero Eric P. for sponsorship of today’s review!

This time, the story begins just before the Earth Kingdom holds a democratic election, as a new general seeks to re-establish martial law and with it, the Empire. General Guan has the martial might and probably the force of personality needed to make him a real threat, but he’s also secretly brainwashing people, which will clearly give him an unfair advantage in the election.

Korra decides to vist former Earth Empire general Kuvira and gain her insight on this situation. The team is uncomfortable with this  decision, but when Korra allows Kuvira to leave her prison to help fight Guan, tensions run pretty high. Asami is not quiet about her lack of trust and unwillingness to be anywhere near the woman who killed her father.

Vivian Ng’s and Michelle Wong’s illustrations are solid, and the writing is now much like stepping into comfortable shoes. We know the people, we don’t need any of the “oh, hey, let’s deal with this thing over here” that we had to in Turf Wars. Korra and Aasmi’s relationship is stable, even if their perspectives are in opposition. That said, there is care taken to remind the reader that they are a couple. Just in case you didn’t get the memo. So while I would not say that this is a “LGBTQ” comic, it is a solid adventure comic (as well as a equally solid “Politics 101: Why People Suck” for tweens ^_^) comic that includes a stable lesbian couple.

Like the previous series, things move pretty fast in this short graphic novel. Whether, ultimately, Kuvira can be trusted is still up in the air. I’m hoping that she will be written as nuanced and complex as she was in the cartoon. For my money, one of the things LoK did best was the portrayal of the adult women as fully developed humans. I’m hoping we’ll see Kuvira in that light, once again. Some of her history is briefly surfaced, so that’s good.

If you’re looking for a YA graphic novel for a kid who likes to think, one that checks multiple boxes on diversity (although there is still room to expand in this regard), has male and female characters who are given the space they need to be seen as whole, and is an good entree into understanding politics and human society as we experience it in real-time, this is a great bet.

Ratings:

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

Overall – A very solid 9

The book itself has no ratings or age limits of any kind, which puts it by default into All-Ages. And it’s currently #1 in Amazon’s LGBT Graphic Novels category, to which I say, “Happy Pride Month, Korra and Asami, welcome to the family.”





LGBTQ Comic: Legend of Korra: Turf Wars, Part 3

September 16th, 2018

The final volume of Legend of Korra: Turf Wars has dropped! 

In Part 1 and Part 2, Korra and Asami were rudely interrupted on their vacation in the spirit world by the intrusion of a greedy real estate developer on the spirits’ domain, a humanitarian aid crisis being mishandled  by the Republic City government and a violent gang turf war. All of which had it been written in 2014, might have seemed absurd happening all at once but, in 2018, feels a bit on the nose.

Because this is a 3-part American YA comic that was meant to be a sequel to a popular cartoon, the plots and any and all emotional complications were wrapped up relatively quickly and neatly. Any discomfort family and friends had with the idea of Korra and Asami as partners is wiped away in a panel or two per complication, long traditions of homophobia are declared “need to be changed.” The greedy real estate developer – after having been saved more than once by Korra – comes around to the only actual sensible idea. Asami asserts her corporate power, Zhu Li takes over the Republic City government (and I weep with joy at the idea of a world in which police, military, corporate and political power are all held by women with a sense of responsibility, wrested from the grasping hands of selfish and greedy men.)

Art is once again handled beautifully by Irene Koh, who has reported on her Tumblr that a sequel series is in the works, although she won’t be working on it.

It would all be perfect, except for one nagging thing. Several times this volume Korra and Asami agree that they “should talk.” I understand that thin page count means that neither plot nor development get the time they deserve in this comic, but the thing that annoys me most is that they never have that talk. A panel or two where they agree that they work better as a team isn’t really the talk they need, and while I deeply appreciate that the final pages are focused on their love for one another, I really wish we had seen them have that talk. ^_^; On the one hand, I think it’s that I’m just more used to manga, where longer page counts means that talk takes two chapters, and on the other, I’m old and that talk is really an important tool in terms of healthy relationships. ^_^

On a lot of levels, though, I’m not unhappy that we get the end we wanted from the cartoon here in the comic, with Sato Asami and Avatar Korra saying “I love you” to one another, as they celebrate the victory of peace and progress in the city they love. There’s a bunch of young readers out there, for whom this will be a life-changing comic.

Ratings: 

Art – 9
Story – 8
Characters – 9
Service – 0
Yuri – 10

Overall – A very solid 9

Thank you very, very much to Okazu Superhero Eric P. for his sponsorship of this series! 

If we do indeed get a sequel, I’ll be really interested to read it. (And I look forward to whatever Koh has planned, as well. She’s definitely someone to follow.)

What did you think? Let me know in the comments!

 





LGBTQ Comic: Legend of Korra: Turf Wars, Part Two (English)

February 4th, 2018

Legend of Korra: Turf Wars, Part Two has all the strengths and weaknesses of part of 2 of a 3-part anime OVA in a 78 page comic.

This part of the story is what I call “the storm before the calm.” The team is broken up and become physically and emotionally distant from each other. They will have to pull together for them to win, but they are being assailed on too many fronts to do that right now. As if this isn’t enough, an extra piece is on the board now, making a whole ‘nother set of complications.

Korra is facing opposition from the Triads, the government and the spirits..and now another organized crime leader. As usual, she’s trying to do it all herself and her relationship with Asami is suffering because of it. Everyone is doing their best to help, but they are all isolated in their own verticals. They need coordination. And in this, this issue does two things that made it absolutely worth reading. Asami identifies the perfect coordinator, Zhu Li (although she is thinking on a larger scale than just their immediate needs, which is also a great piece of writing). Placing Zhu Li’s competence at the forefront of the story made me quite happy, and Varrick’s reaction of pure joy at the idea of Zhu Li as President put a period on it. This was a scene I would have loved to see and hear animated.

The color work in this issue is notably excellent. One of the defining characteristics of the Avatar world are the color palettes and art styles of the various kingdoms. This series has had to balance that with a palette of its own in which to tell this particular story. I really like the choices made here. Irene Koh’s work is getting better and better.

Also notable was a narrative buried in the story of President Raiko’s handling of the refugees which leads to Zhu Li considering a political campaign. There was no doubt in my mind at all  that this section contained a clear rebuke on current politics, especially in reference to Puerto Rico’s sabotaged recovery after Hurricane Maria. Over 400,000 Puerto Ricans are still without power and the emergency management there under our current administration has been openly corrupt and incompetent.

The fast pacing is not helping this comic. This arc needs time to develop and time for us to have some relief from the multiple tensions of the emotional and physical conflicts. It’s almost a shame that it’ll have to wrap up next issue and so we’ll get the cathartic ending we’ll need, without the appropriate pacing for any of it. It’s all too rushed. Every four pages is another episode of this super-dense narrative. Yes, Korra and Asami will b reunited but, will they be given time to talk about what’s happening with them? Asami is so much emotionally mature than Korra. The Avatar’s going to have to be given the chance to do the work to get to Asami’s level. I hope so, at any rate.

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 8
Characters – 9
Service – 0
Yuri – 10

Overall – A very solid 9

Michael Dante DiMartino, Bryan Konietzko and Irene Koh have a lot on their plate to make the third volume of this comic work. I have to believe they are up to the challenge. ^_^

Today’s review was once again sponsored by the kindness and generosity of Okazu Superhero Eric P.! Thank you very much for the chance to read and review this series!