Wind. Earth. Fire. Air. Only the Avatar was the master of all four elements. Only he could stop the ruthless Fire Nation from conquering the world. But when the world needed him most, he disappeared. Until now... On the South Pole, a lone Water Tribe village struggles to survive. It's here that a young Waterbender Katara and her warrior brother Sokka rescue a strange boy named Aang from a cavernous iceberg. Not only is Aang an Airbender - a race of people no one has seen in a century - but, they soon discover, Aang is the long lost Avatar. Now it's up to Katara and Sokka to make sure Aang faces his destiny to save the tribe - and himself.

Aang      
A 12-year-old hero who likes to stir up trouble. As the last airbender and the only known survivor of the Air Nomads, Aang's destiny as the Avatar is to master all four elements—Air, Water, Earth and Fire. But he'd rather search for adventure than save the world. Though he's very spiritual, Aang doesn't like being known as the mythical Avatar or being the center of attention, he just wants to be a normal kid. Aang loves animals, especially his giant flying bison, Appa, and his pet winged-lemur, Momo. He's quick to take detours along his journey, much to the dismay of Katara and Sokka, and he's a master of getting himself into sticky situations. Luckily for all three of them—and the rest of the world—he's pretty good at getting out of them too.
   
Katara      
Katara is a 14-year-old girl with a big heart who's determined to save the world—or at least never stop trying. Katara wants to live up to her potential and become a Waterbender in order to save her tribe, but she's still learning to control her powers. Focused and determined, Katara practices the art of waterbending every day in order to be prepared the moment she meets a master Waterbender. Katara wears her mother's necklace which gives her strength and courage when she needs it the most. Mature beyond her years, Katara is the glue that holds the group together. And she does her best to keep Aang out of harm's way...which makes waterbending look like a piece of cake.

Sokka     
Katara's brother Sokka is a typical teenager who believes his way is the only way. While he shows the strength and determination of a warrior, Sokka lacks the experience to use them effectively. Sokka doesn't let his lack of bending abilities bother him, though. He thinks Benders are what got the world in trouble in the first place. Unlike Aang, Sokka doesn't go for the spiritual stuff and doesn't trust anything he can't see or touch. He prefers tools and weapons to bending and his most prized possession is a boomerang given to him by his father. Sokka is loyal, courageous and protective of his sister (ok, maybe overprotective sometimes). Sokka always feels like he gets the short end of the stick, and because of this he carries a huge chip on his shoulder. But when push comes to shove Sokka always comes up with an ingenious way out of trouble.
   
Momo      
Momo is Aang's pet winged-lemur. He's super smart and totally trainable, and is able to perform many human tasks. Momo has a very enhanced ability to hear and smell, allowing him to sense danger from miles away. But he's also a bit of a troublemaker. To Aang, Momo is a symbol that his people are still alive, as winged-lemurs were once a favorite pet of Air Nomad kids. Aang devotes much of his time and energy training and playing with Momo, and Katara often joins in. Sokka, on the other hand, thinks the flying creature is kind of creepy.
   
Zuko      
The focused, driven teenage Firebender whose sights are trained on only one thing: capturing the Avatar. This mission was given to him by his father, Lord Ozai, the ruler of the Fire Nation, and its success will guarantee him his former place in the kingdom. As a result, Zuko is determined to capture Aang—which is easier said than done, even for a Firebender.
   
Lord Ozai      
The ruler of the Fire Nation. Father of Zuko.

The hit Nickelodeon cartoon craze goes TOKYOPOP, as you relive every exciting episode...now in the easy-to-follow cine-manga form!

In a timeless quest that brings all elements (pun!) of Asian history and culture together, Avatar: the Last Airbender has the perfect blend of action, comedy, and adventure! And where martial arts translates to "levitate-rocks-and-chuck-them-at-your-enemy's-face," you just want to jump right up and join the local karate school!

There's no doubt Avatar: the Last Airbender has struck it rich with fans across the board, and this editor is just one of them! ATLA quenches my thirst for Asian cultures not usually seen in the world of animation, while drawing me in further with magic and action! And with a fresh blend of characters, anywhere from a sarcastic older brother to a legion of butt-kicking girls, I keep coming back! At only two seasons completed, and a full four to be expected, ATLA will be sure to have much more to offer its loyal fans!

Check out our new Official Avatar Profile page, too!

~ Kathy Schilling, Editor

...and to show you how seriously our editor takes her job, here's Kathy as Aang at Anime Expo 2006