If you’re trying to figure out Avatar comics in order, this guide puts the franchise’s official comics into a clear, easy-to-follow reading path—starting with the core story arcs, then the optional side stories.
These graphic novels and comic shorts expand the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender (and, where relevant, The Legend of Korra), filling in key gaps and showing what happens next for fan-favorite characters. And whether you read in print or digital, the content is widely available in both formats.
Jump to:
- Avatar: The Last Airbender Comics
- The Legend of Korra Comics in Order
- Chronicles of the Avatar Novels
- What is Avatar: The Last Airbender
- Avatar: The Last Airbender Comics FAQ
Avatar: The Last Airbender Core Comics
This section covers the core Avatar books that most fans look for—stories that expand the world beyond the shows and fill in key gaps between major events.
Quick disclaimer: “Avatar comics” gets used as a catch-all online, but the official releases are a mix of comic shorts, graphic novels, and prose novelizations. The list below keeps everything in one place while clearly labeling formats as you go, so you’re following a clear Avatar comics reading order without accidentally grabbing the wrong format.
Comics & Anthologies Set During the TV Series
- The Lost Adventures (2011)
- Team Avatar Tales (2019)
- Katara and the Pirate’s Silver (2020)
- Suki, Alone (2021)
Post-Series Graphic Novels (start here)
- The Promise (2012)
- The Search (2013)
- The Rift (2014)
- Smoke and Shadow (2015)
- North and South (2016)
- Imbalance (2018)
- Toph Beifong’s Metalbending Academy (2021)
- Azula in the Spirit Temple (2023)
- The Bounty Hunter and the Tea Brewer (2024)
- Ashes of the Academy (2025)
New Limited Series
- The Kyoshi Warriors #1 (2026)
Optional Adaptations
- Screen Comix Volume 1 (2021)
- Screen Comix Volume 2 (2021)
- Chibi Vol. 1: Aang’s Unfreezing Day (2023)
- Chibi Vol. 2: Sokka’s Boomerang Class (2026)
Avatar: The Last Airbender Tie-ins
The Lost Scrolls Series
- The Lost Scrolls: Water (2006)
- The Lost Scrolls: Earth (2006)
- The Lost Scrolls: Fire (2006)
- The Lost Scrolls: Air (2007)
The Earth Kingdom Chronicles
- The Tale of Aang (2007)
- The Tale of Azula (2007)
- The Tale of Toph (2007)
- The Tale of Sokka (2007)
- The Tale of Zuko (2008)
- The Tale of Katara (2008)
Avatar Legends
The Legend of Korra Comics in Order
The Legend of Korra Novelizations
- Legend of Korra: Revolution (2013)
- Legend of Korra: Endgame (2013)
The Legend of Korra Graphic Novels
- The Legend of Korra: Turf Wars (2017)
- The Legend of Korra: Ruins of the Empire (2019)
- The Legend of Korra: Patterns in Time (2022)
- The Legend of Korra: The Mystery of Penquan Island (2025)
- The Legend of Korra: Kya and the Secret of the Sand (2026)
Chronicles of the Avatar Novels
- The Rise of Kyoshi (2019)
- The Shadow of Kyoshi (2020)
- The Dawn of Yangchen (2022)
- The Legacy of Yangchen (2023)
- The Reckoning of Roku (2024)
- The Awakening of Roku (2025)
Official Guidebooks, Activity Books & Extras
- The Ultimate Pocket Guide (2007)
- How to Draw Avatar: The Last Airbender (2007)
- Brainbenders for the Four Nations (2008)
- Mindbenders and Brainbusters: The Ultimate Avatar Challenge (2008)
- The Legend of Korra: Enhanced Experience (2013)
What is Avatar: The Last Airbender?
Avatar: The Last Airbender is an animated fantasy series set in a world where certain people can “bend” one of four elements—water, earth, fire, or air. The one person who can master all four is the Avatar, whose role is to keep the world in balance. When the Avatar (Aang) vanishes for 100 years, the Fire Nation’s war spreads unchecked—until Aang is found and has to learn the elements in time to end the conflict.
The franchise has since expanded into print with graphic novels, comic shorts, and other tie-in books that continue the story and explore side characters. If you’re here to follow an Avatar comics reading order, the list above collects the major official releases in one place while noting the different formats as you go.
Avatar: The Last Airbender Comics FAQ
What order should I read the Avatar: The Last Airbender comics in?
If you want the cleanest “main story” Avatar comics reading order, start with the post-series line: The Promise → The Search → The Rift → Smoke and Shadow → North and South → Imbalance.
After that, you can read the newer standalones like Toph Beifong’s Metalbending Academy, Azula in the Spirit Temple, The Bounty Hunter and the Tea Brewer, and Ashes of the Academy in release order.
Are the Avatar comics canon?
They’re published as official continuations of Avatar: The Last Airbender through Dark Horse Comics (in partnership with Nickelodeon), and they’re treated as the “current” story continuity for the franchise. In practice, if a future screen project contradicts something, the on-screen version is usually what the fandom (and the franchise) treats as the new reference point.
Do I need to read The Lost Adventures or Team Avatar Tales?
Not to understand the main post-series graphic novel line. The Lost Adventures and Team Avatar Tales are short-story collections—fun extra character moments and side missions—but they’re optional and can be read anytime.
Where do the comics fit compared to the TV show and The Legend of Korra?
The core ATLA graphic novels pick up after the animated series ends and explore the “what happens next?” era. The Legend of Korra happens later, and its comic continuations are their own lane—so you don’t need to jump back and forth unless you want the full franchise timeline.
What’s the difference between “Parts,” “Omnibus,” and “Library Edition”?
“Parts” are the original smaller releases (Part One, Part Two, Part Three). An “Omnibus” collects the full story into one volume, and a “Library Edition” is typically a larger hardcover collection that may include extra art/bonus material—story-wise, you’re not missing anything by choosing the format you like best.
Looking for more books in order?
If you want more fantasy authors and reading-order guides like this one, start with my Fantasy Books in Order index.