Earlier this year, Nickelodeon announced Avatar is coming back with a new animated series called Avatar: Seven Havens, and there’s a new Avatar: The Last Airbender live-action movie on the way, too, making now a good time to brush up on the lore and rich worldbuilding the franchise is known for. One way to do that is with the upcoming Beasts of the Four Nations, a 128-page hardcover bestiary offering in-universe lore and behind-the-scenes details on the wildlife and mythical creatures of both animated series. You can preorder the standard edition for $37.19 (down from $40) or secure a copy of the $80 Deluxe Edition that includes exclusive cover art and a lithograph print. Preorders for both editions are available at Amazon, and both ship September 23.
$37.19 (was $40) | Releases September 23
Written by John O’Bryan, Beasts of the Four Nations includes illustrations and information on the many fantastical beasts of The Last Airbender’s world. Everything from the Air Nomads’ flying bison to Kyoshi Island’s elephant koi and the Earth Kingdom’s singing groundhogs are detailed in the book, along with commentary by Avatar and Legend of Korra creators Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino. The standard edition launches September 23 and is available to preorder for $37.19 (down from $40) at Amazon. A Deluxe Edition will also launch on the same day that includes a few extras, which we’ve detailed below.
$80 | Releases September 23
The Beasts of the Four Nations Deluxe Edition contains all the contents of the standard edition, but features a few notable upgrades like foil highlights on the cover art and a protective slipcase. The book also comes with an exclusive lithograph print depicting Cai, the cabbage merchant who appears throughout the Avatar series, and his cart pulled by two ostrich horses. You can preorder the Beasts of the Four Nations Deluxe Edition for $80 at Amazon.
If you want to explore more of the Avatar franchise’s visual history, you’re in luck, as several more official Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra art books are available, and some are even discounted. There’s a giant Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Art of the Animated Series art book that covers all four seasons of the show. It’s packed with concept art, design, and production materials, ranging from the very first sketch through to the series finale.
The Legend of Korra has a multi-volume art book series available as well Each volume focuses on a specific season of the show and features creator commentaries and exclusive artwork. Standard and Deluxe Editions are available for each volume. The Deluxe Editions include slipcases, lithographs, new covers, and bonus sketches by the show’s creators.
The Last Airbender and Legend of Korra art books
If you’ve already seen the original animated series and want more stories from that universe, Dark Horse’s official Avatar graphic novels continue the adventures of Aang and his friends. The books are set after The Last Airbender’s final season and address several lingering plot threads the TV shows left unresolved. The easiest way to grab these is with the Avatar: The Last Airbender graphical novel omnibus editions that collect specific story arcs, and include exclusive notes from the show creators and a sketchbook section.
The Last Airbender omnibus graphic novels
Of course, the best way to revisit the series is by picking up Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legned of Korra on Blu-ray. If you’re looking for the complete story, the Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra Ultimate Collection compiles both shows into an 18-disc collection. The Ultimate Collection also includes 80 minutes of bonus materials and a set of eight collectible art cards. The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra are also available as individual Blu-ray box sets, in case the Ultimate Collection sells out or you just want to grab a specific series.
