Muhammad Awwal AbubakarThere is an unearthed element in Avatar: The Last Airbender lore that fans don’t talk about enough: shadowbending. As illustrated in the original show’s opening credits, the series centers around four elements—Water, Earth, Fire, and Air.
While these are the primary types of bending, it has been established that they are not the only forms that exist in Avatar canon.
The art of shadowbending was first canonized in Avatar: The Last Airbender lore in “New Recruits”—written by Dave Roman, with art by Justin Ridge—a comic first published in Nickelodeon Magazine as part of its December/January 2007 issue. It was later re-released by Dark Horse Comics in the “Bonus Stories” section of Avatar: The Lost Adventures.
Old Man Yashi introduces Aang, Toph, and Sokka to new benders with unique bending styles, including Analay the shadowbender. Avatar comics have added many exciting aspects to the franchise that show-only fans might miss—shadowbending being one especially prominent example.
Shadowbending, Explained: How the Comics Added an Exciting New Variation on Avatar Lore
Avatar: The Last Airbender, story “New Recruits” – Written by Dave Roman; art by Justin Ridge, Hye-Jung Kim, Sno Cone Studios, and Comicraft.
In Avatar: The Lost Adventures, Analay the shadowbender even uses her abilities to tickle Aang, while Old Man Yashi introduces Hiroshi the earthbender.
The idea of shadowbending adds a thrilling dimension to Avatar lore, expanding the complexity of the art of bending.
With the recent announcement of a new sequel series—set after The Legend of Korra—fans of the franchise should dive into the expanded universe beyond the animated shows.
Shadowbending builds on the original series’ lore, suggesting that each elemental nation is capable of developing a variant bending style that evolves its primary element.
For example, the show establishes bloodbending as a variation of waterbending, while some firebenders have been shown to bend electricity and lava.
“Sleepbending” by Joshua Hamilton, Joaquim Dos Santos, Hye-Jung Kim, and Clem Robins can also be found in Avatar: The Lost Adventures.
In “New Recruits,” Aang and his friends meet Old Man Yashi, who introduces a crop of new benders as potential allies against the Fire Nation. Yashi presents Aang with the following benders:
Hiroshi, an Earthbender who conjures a pet rock dragon named Genshi
Visola, who taught herself how to waterbend and customize her weapons
Riley, who has mastered the art of bending cookie dough
Analay, the shadowbender, who wields her shadow like a whip—and even tickles Aang with it
With a Sequel Series on the Horizon, Avatar Comics’ Contributions to Canon Are More Important Than Ever
A New Series Can Incorporate Comic Material
Some readers may view alternative forms of bending as complicating the understanding of bending and the four elements, but in reality, they add complex new layers to bending’s capabilities.
The concept of shadowbending—and previously established forms like lavabending and energybending—highlights the next evolution in bending the four elements. It is an especially exciting concept to keep in mind as the franchise embarks on its next series of sequels.
Hopefully, the next stage of Avatar: The Last Airbender will take inspiration from the comics to reintroduce alternative bending styles like shadowbending.
