Exploring the 8 Recognized Avatars in the Last Airbender Universe: A Historical Perspective on Aang and Beyond

Summary

The narrative of Avatar: The Last Airbender revolves around the cyclical reemergence of the immensely powerful Avatar, capable of manipulating the four fundamental elements, and their tireless quest to preserve equilibrium within the world.

The series delves into the history of the Avatar through the lens of various incarnations. One notable figure is Avatar Wan, who achieved the distinction of being the first Avatar by mastering all four elements.

Additionally, Avatars like Szeto, Yangchen, Kuruk, Kyoshi, Roku, Aang, and Korra have individually made significant contributions to cultivating peace and harmony in the world. They have accomplished this through their distinctive journeys and by overcoming formidable challenges.

The lore of Avatar: The Last Airbender is vast, particularly the cycle of reincarnation of the Avatar that spans generations prior to Aang and persists after him. The focus of Avatar: The Last Airbender is solely on Aang, an Airbender who awakens from his icy slumber to discover that he is the last surviving Airbender and also happens to be the Avatar. The Avatar is a supremely powerful being with the ability to manipulate all four elements in the universe of the Last Airbender, and his purpose is to maintain balance among the Earth's inhabitants, as well as other mythical elements such as the Spirit World.

As more Avatar: The Last Airbender movies and shows are in the works, the series will delve even deeper into its lore. This will primarily be accomplished by exploring different embodiments of the Avatar. The Avatar follows a cycle of reincarnation, meaning that upon the death of one Avatar, their spirit is reborn to continue upholding balance in the world. Consequently, there have been numerous known Avatars - and even more unknown ones - that have served as guardians of peace and harmony, specifically within the animated universe. Please note that this does not include the live-action Netflix version of Avatar: The Last Airbender.

8 Avatar Wan

The origins of the Avatar remained mysterious throughout Avatar: The Last Airbender and were only revealed in The Legend of Korra. The reincarnation cycle began 10,000 years before Aang and Korra, when humans resided on Lion Turtles, spiritual protectors of great size. Wan, a resident of the Fire Lion Turtle, embarked on a journey.

When the city's inhabitants needed to venture into the Spirit Wilds beyond the Lion Turtle's protection for hunting or travel, the Lion Turtle granted them the power of Firebending. Despite being banished for bringing fire into the city, Wan was permitted by the Lion Turtle to retain the power. Over time, Wan formed friendships with the spirits of the wilds and realized that the conflicts between humans and spirits were rooted in misunderstandings.

Wan embarked on his Avatar journey when he crossed paths with Raava, the embodiment of light and peace. After mediating a conflict between Raava and Vaatu, the embodiment of darkness, Wan embarked on a global quest to find other Lion Turtles. Raava aided Wan by swapping the elements for him, as he could only hold one at a time. Through this, Wan acquired mastery over each of the four elements individually, enabling him and Raava to confront Vaatu and thwart his plan to engulf the world in darkness during Harmonic Convergence, an intensely spiritual phenomenon.

During Harmonic Convergence, Wan utilized the spiritual energy of the Spirit World's portals to merge Raava's essence with his own. This newfound fusion empowered Wan to simultaneously wield all four elements, thus becoming the inaugural Avatar. From that moment onward, Raava's spirit has been passed down through generations, selecting individuals deserving of defending light and peace in the world, thereby establishing the Avatar cycle.

7 Avatar Szeto

Not much information is available about the Avatars who came after Wan. Some have been mentioned in Avatar: The Last Airbender, but their stories have not been sufficiently explored. The fifth Avatar before Aang, known as Avatar Szeto, is the next incarnation we have details about. Szeto made his first appearance in Avatar: The Last Airbender during a spirit vision in season 2, episode 1, "The Avatar State." In this vision, Szeto demonstrated his ability to manipulate lava within four volcanoes using the Avatar State.

Most of what we know about Szeto's life is from The Shadow of Kyoshi, a graphic novel that focuses on this particular Avatar. Szeto was born in the Fire Nation during a tumultuous time characterized by natural disasters, plagues, and potential war among the nation's noble clans. Instead of using his Avatar powers to address these problems, Szeto chose to become involved in the Fire Nation's government.

Through the labyrinth of the Fire Nation's bureaucracy, Szeto gradually but steadily initiated positive changes in his nation. Ultimately, Szeto ascended to the position of Grand Advisor to Fire Lord Yosor, a testament to his remarkable ascent to power. Leveraging his status as both the Avatar and Grand Advisor of the Fire Nation, Szeto diligently worked to enhance his country before ultimately departing, only to have his spirit reincarnated within the Air Nomads.

6 Avatar Yangchen

Avatar Yangchen, the predecessor of Aang, played a significant role in both Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra series. However, a more profound understanding of Yangchen's character is presented in the novels, The Dawn of Yangchen and The Legacy of Yangchen. These books delve into Yangchen's upbringing at the Western Air Temple, where she grew up in seclusion and mastered the four elements at a tender age. Motivated by a strong sense of duty, Yangchen devoted herself to rectifying the governance issues prevalent in the world during her time and embarked on a mission to bring about positive change.

Through unorthodox means of intelligence gathering, manipulation, and even subterfuge, Yangchen successfully rectified numerous inherent flaws within the global political frameworks. By bridging the gap between the affluent and underprivileged populations in Bin-Er city, and dismantling the dominance of the Shangs, opportunistic individuals who had seized power during the Nations' period of isolation, Yangchen significantly impacted the world for the better. Ultimately, she passed away as a revered and adored Avatar, whose unwavering dedication resulted in an entire generation of harmony following her leadership.

5 Avatar Kuruk

Kuruk, hailing from the Northern Water Tribe, succeeded Avatar Yangchen. With the prolonged period of peace established by his predecessor, Kuruk's early life was relatively carefree. Consequently, he achieved mastery over the four elements with minimal external hinderance. However, when malevolent spirits began to assault the world, Kuruk made it his mission to hunt them down discreetly, inadvertently neglecting his duties as the Avatar. Regrettably, his sacrifices remained unknown to many, leading them to deem him a failed Avatar. In truth, Kuruk's relentless battle against dark spirits took a toll on him, causing him to embrace a hedonistic demeanor in an attempt to experience a semblance of humanity and normalcy.

Kuruk descended deeper into indulgence and despair, hiding his inner turmoil behind a facade of carefree nonchalance. From excessive drinking, engaging in fights to display his bending prowess, to seeking the company of women, Kuruk's life spiraled out of control. However, his reckless journey took a turn when he identified Father Glowworm as the mastermind behind the malevolent spirit attacks. In a protracted battle, Kuruk defied Glowworm's formidable power, managing to inflict enough wounds for the spirit to vanish for an entire generation. Nevertheless, this victory came with a heavy price: Kuruk incurred a curse and suffered severe injuries.

Eventually, Kuruk found solace in marriage to a woman named Ummi, leading to a period of stability. However, their happiness was short-lived when Koh the Face Stealer abducted Ummi and transported her to the treacherous Spirit World. This unfortunate event served as both a consequence for Kuruk's past arrogance and an outcome of his curse. Determined to rescue his beloved, Kuruk dedicated the remainder of his life to attempting an annual rescue during the brief window when the path to Koh's lair opened. Tragically, each rescue attempt ended in failure, and Kuruk's life came to an untimely end at the tender age of 33.

4 Avatar Kyoshi

Kyoshi, the Avatar of the Earth Kingdom who followed Kuruk, is a character featured in both Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra. The novels The Rise of Kyoshi and The Shadow of Kyoshi revealed much about Kyoshi's backstory. Interestingly, Kyoshi endured a childhood as a homeless orphan until a man named Kelsang took her in. As a result, Kyoshi's identity as the Avatar remained unknown until she reached the age of 16. Tragically, Kyoshi's life took a dark turn when Jianzhu, the Earth Kingdom's de facto leader, murdered her guardian Kelsang. This event propelled Kyoshi on a mission for vengeance.

By joining forces with the Flying Opera Company, a criminal organization connected to her parents, Kyoshi ultimately managed to defeat Jianzhu. However, she soon found herself grappling with the challenge of unifying the Earth Kingdom, which had been thrown into disarray following the power vacuum. Throughout her lifetime, Kyoshi successfully addressed these challenges. From quelling numerous uprisings and defeating the ambitious conqueror Chin, who sought to claim the Earth Kingdom for himself, to assisting the Fire Nation in preventing a civil war and establishing a constitutional monarchy within the Earth Kingdom, Kyoshi proved to be an effective and influential Avatar. Remarkably, she lived to the age of 230, maintaining peace for two centuries before her passing and subsequent reincarnation.

3 Avatar Roku

Roku, the Fire Nation Avatar, succeeded Kyoshi and came before Aang. He played a significant role in Avatar: The Last Airbender, where his background story was explained. Born into a noble Fire Nation family, Roku grew up as a close friend of the royal family, especially Fire Prince Sozin. Once revealed as the Avatar, Roku left the Fire Nation for many years to master all four elements and maintain peace internationally during a time of technological advancements, cultural changes, and the rise of nationalist expansionist movements. Eventually, he returned to the Fire Nation to reunite with Sozin, who had become the Fire Lord, and marry his childhood crush, Ta Min.

Later on, Sozin revealed his true intentions as a world leader favoring nationalist expansionism. He expressed his desire to share the Fire Nation's prosperity with the rest of the world. Roku strongly disagreed and emphasized the need for the Four Nations to remain separate. He sternly advised his best friend never to bring up this idea again. However, years passed and Roku discovered that Sozin had proceeded with his plan and established Fire Nation colonies in the Earth Kingdom. Filled with anger, Roku destroyed Sozin's palace and warned him to step back. He spared Sozin only out of respect for their past friendship.

25 years later, Roku's island was struck by a devastating natural disaster when two volcanoes erupted. Initially, Sozin came to Roku's aid, but he soon realized that if Roku perished, it would pave the way for his own ambitious plans. Thus, Sozin abandoned Roku to his fate and commenced his quest for global domination, coinciding with the birth of the next Avatar.

2 Avatar Aang

Following Roku, the next Avatar is Aang, who serves as the main character in Avatar: The Last Airbender. Aang's birth coincides with the growing threat of war initiated by Sozin, which eventually spreads worldwide. Initially, Aang enjoys a relatively peaceful childhood until he turns twelve and becomes aware of his destiny as the Avatar due to the increasing global unrest caused by Sozin's conquest. Fearing the loss of his way of life, Aang escapes from the Southern Air Temple. However, during his escape, he becomes caught in a fierce storm, ultimately utilizing the Avatar State to encase himself in an iceberg for a century. Meanwhile, Sozin exploits the power of a comet to strengthen his dominion and initiates his conquest by exterminating the entire Air Nomad population.

After a century of slumber, Aang awoke to the grim reality of the 100-year war and the annihilation of the Air Nation. He diligently acquired mastery over the four elements and vanquished the formidable Fire Lord Ozai, effectively bringing an end to the century-long conflict among the Fire Nation, Earth Kingdom, and Water Tribes. Collaborating with Fire Lord Zuko, Aang ambitiously sought to establish global harmony by establishing the United Republic of Nations, a haven where denizens from all four Nations could coexist peacefully. Tragically, Aang's frozen slumber for a century took a toll on his lifespan, and he passed away at 66, relatively young, owing to the consequences of his icy confinement.

1 Avatar Korra

Avatar Korra, the most recent and successor to Aang, was introduced in The Legend of Korra. A spirited and determined young girl from the Southern Water Tribe, Korra grew up in seclusion and underwent training to master the elements of water, earth, and fire. However, it wasn't until she turned 17 that Korra discovered her inability to Airbend and struggled to connect with her spiritual self. Eventually, she overcame these obstacles by learning the art of Airbending and establishing a connection with her predecessors as she relocated to Republic City, the capital of the United Republic of Nations.

Korra, as the Avatar, achieved remarkable feats. She overcame an anti-bending organization, vanquished the dark spirit Vaatu that had plagued the era of Wan, thwarted an anarchist group determined to assassinate world leaders, and toppled a tyrannical dictator. Additionally, she successfully reopened the long-sealed spirit portals, ushering in a new era where humans and spirits coexist harmoniously. As for the identity of the next Avatar, it remains uncertain. However, with the creators of Avatar: The Last Airbender at the helm of Avatar Studios, we can expect a promising future with more captivating stories to come.