Comic Review: Avatar: Tsu’Tey’s Path #1

Avatar: Tsu’Tey’s Path #1

Dark Horse Comics

Writer: Sherri L. Smith

Artists: Jan Duursema and Dan Parsons

Despite being one of the highest grossing films of all time, it’s easy to forget that James Cameron’s Avatar exists. The film ended up having little lasting cultural impact, at least in the United States. It did leave a glut of rushed 3D films in its wake. But now even that fad has died down and there’s not much left of Avatar’s legacy. Well, except for the Disney park and a staggering four sequels that are regularly discussed. But for now, fans will have to settle for Dark Horse’s new miniseries, Avatar: Tsu’Tey’s Path.

Most of Avatar’s appeal doesn’t really translate to the format of a comic book. The story lacks the emotional core and memorable characters that cemented the place of similar franchises, like Star Wars and Die Hard. Avatar’s world is wholly reliant on its spectacle. Unfortunately, the film’s particular brand of it requires an astronomical special effects budget. To the book’s credit, Jan Durrsema and Dan Parson’s art has a strong showing. It captures the essence of the dazzling world of Pandora and the fluid, strange but familiar movements of its Na’vi inhabitants. Tsu’Tey’s Path at least feels congruent with the film even if it can’t fully reproduce its visuals.

Unfortunately, the writing doesn’t offer much. The story focuses on Na’vi warrior Tsu’Tey, film protagonist Jake Sully’s largely undefined rival. The opening text also says that the series depicts events that happen alongside the movie. Unfortunately, this first issue doesn’t do much to engage either of those premises. The characters aren’t any more compelling than they were in the film. The dialogue is mostly expositional and the personalities indistinguishable. Admittedly that’s another thing the comic inherited from its silver screen counterpart. Less excusable is the absence of the strange environs and creatures that made Avatar interesting. Overall, there’s little draw offered in this first issue.

The timing of Tsu’Tey’s Path is a little confusing. It’s been a decade since the release of the first film and the comic will wrap up well before the actual anniversary. The long-discussed sequel, Avatar 2, is still nearly two years away with its December 2020 release date. And unlike Dark Horse’s spectacular Star Wars comic line, this isn’t doing much to expand the setting or the reader’s understanding of it. Avatar: Tsu’Tey’s Path is close to its source material but falls victim to its biggest problems.