AVATAR: FRONTIERS OF PANDORA–SO’LEK’S JOURNEY #1 / Script by RAY FAWKES / Art by GABRIEL GUZMAN / Colors by MICHAEL ATIYEH / Letters by MICHAEL HEISLER / Published by DARK HORSE COMICS
I have not seen the original Avatar movie or its sequel. Blasphemous as it may be, I’ve never been a big fan of James Cameron and the whole thing sounded like Dances With Wolves in space to me. As such, I went into Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora — So’lek’s Journey #1 with no expectations or knowledge of the franchise. I also knew nothing about the upcoming UbiSoft game set in the world of Pandora, to which this comic is a prequel. So I can only judge this comic as a comic and not as part of the larger setting.
The story centers around So’lek – a Na’vi warrior who fought against the “Sky People” invading his world. The sole survivor of his clan, So’lek longs for death. Yet he is guided by mystic visions to embark on a journey, which guides him to a new destiny.
Though the plot is clearly based on the same played-out tropes as the original films (Can you say The Last of the Mohicans kids?), Ray Fawkes makes the tale of So’lek engaging. He is an immediately sympathetic character, and Fawkes makes the unique language of the Na’vi easily accessible. That is no small feat for most science-fiction writers.
The artwork of Gabriel Guzman is more openly engaging. Guzman captures the general aesthetic of the films, with deeply detailed designs in both the creatures and the backgrounds. The vivid colors of Michael Atiyeh are also praiseworthy and Michael Heisler delivers quality lettering.
I still don’t feel any need to get invested in the world of Pandora. However, the creative team behind So’lek’s Journey have managed the neat trick of telling a tale that requires no previous experience with the setting. It is an enjoyable comic that stands apart from its source material.
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora — So’lek’s Journey #1 arrives in comic shops on February 28, 2024.
