Forget the Four Element, Avatar: The Last Airbender Has Another Bending Style We All Forgot

There 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 show centers around four elements represented by its four tribes: Water. Earth. Fire. Air. While these are the four primary types of bending, it has been established that these are not the only types of bending that exist in Avatar canon.

The art of shadowbendingwas first canonized in Avatar: The Last Airbender lore in "New Recruits" – written by Dave Roman, with art by Justin Ridge – a comic book first published in Nickelodeon Magazine as part of its December/January 2007 issue. It was later re-released by Dark Horse Comics for the "Bonus Stories" section of Avatar: The Lost Adventures.

Avatar comics have added many exciting aspects to the franchise, which show-only fans are missing out on, with shadowbending being just 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 & Comicraft

The idea of shadowbending adds a thrilling dimension to Avatar lore, expanding the complexity of the art of bending. Especially with the fresh announcement of a new sequel series, set after Legend of Korra, fans of the franchise should dive into the expanded universe beyond the animated shows. Shadowbending builds on lore established in the original Last Airbender series that each elemental nation is capable of crafting a variant bending style, which evolves their primary element. For example, the show establishes bloodbending as a variation of waterbending, while some firebenders have been shown to bend electricity and lava.

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 introduces Aang to the following benders: an Earthbender named Hiroshi who bends into existence 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, and finally, Analay the shadowbender, who weaponizes 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 look at alternative means of bending and worry about how it complicates their understanding of both bending itself and the four elements, but really, it adds new complexlayers to the capabilities of bending. The idea of shadowbending and even previously established forms like lavabending and energybending highlights the next evolution of bending the four elements. It's an especially exciting concept to keep in mind as the franchise embarks on its next crop of sequels. Hopefully, the next stage ofAvatar: The Last Airbender takes inspiration from the comics to reintroduce alternative bending styles like shadowbending.

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"The Promise" is a graphic novel sequel to Avatar: The Last Airbender, which does a fantastic job of progressing the TV show's story & themes.

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Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Lost Adventures is available now from Dark Horse Comics.

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