Avatarfans are still basking in the excitement of the news that the franchise will continue with an all-new animated series, set afterThe Legend of Korra– but thankfully, they don’t have to wait to enjoy morethrilling adventures set in the expanding universe ofAvatar, as a new spin-off graphic novel spotlights two fan-favoriteKorracharacters.
As revealed by Dark Horse Comics,The Legend of Korra: The Mystery of Penquan Island– written by Kiku Hugues, with art by Alex Monik – stars Mako and Bolin, the brothers who playedpivotal roles in the animated series as members of Team Avatar.
The new graphic novel,Mystery of Penquan Island, finds Mako back in his role as a detective, dealing with “a strange missing persons case"that soon forces him into a difficult ethical position. The story promises to further the character arcs of both stand-out characters, while keeping alive theKorraportion of the franchise’s timeline.
Brothers Make & Bolin Star In The Latest “Legend Of Korra” Spin-Off Comic
The Legend of Korra: The Mystery of Penquan Island– Written By Kiku Hugues; Art By Alex Monik; Color By Diana Sousa; Lettering By Comicraft
According to publisher Dark Horse Comics,The Mystery of Penquan Islandwill not only serve as the next installment in Mako and Bolin’s character arc, it will also shed more light on their shared backstory, as the crime at the heart of the story will prompt them to go on a journey that will reveal personal secrets about their own family. The synopsis for the graphic novel reads, in full:
When a strange missing persons case falls into his lap, Mako is forced to choose between his job and doing what he feels is right! An upturned room and an unhelpful witness aren’t promising starts to the investigation, but when his brother Bolin comes across a surprising clue that ties their own mother to the case, the pair embark on a journey to the small, rustic island of Penquan. The island’s inhabitants seem to have things to hide, and the brothers are determined to get to the bottom of it—even if it means uncovering uncomfortable parts of their family’s past.
From the sound of it,The Mystery of Penquanisland will be more than a suspense story set in theAvataruniverse – it will also further two key heroes' lore.
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The upcoming graphic novel, The Legend of Korra: The Mystery of Penquan Island, promises to give fans more action and adventure - and Bolin and Mako.
TheAvatarfranchise has thrived in comic book form, with multiple great story arcs serving to supplement the action of bothThe Last AirbenderandThe Legend of Korra. Comic book continuations of the story have proved valuable in connecting thetime periods of the original show and its sequel,and will presumably continue to play this crucial role as theKorrasequel enters production and eventually hits the screen.The Mystery of Penquanisland is part of that overall project, in addition to sounding like a highly engaging read in its own right.
The Latest Avatar Comic Story Shows The Franchise Is Flourishing In Multiple Mediums
The Story OfThe Legend Of KorraContinues
Aside from the largely tepid reaction to the 2010 live-actionLast Airbenderfilm, theAvatarfranchise has largely found success with its expansion beyond the animated medium – including with a subsequent live-action adaptation, Netflix’s 2024 series, which was renewed for two additional seasons beyond its first. That said, that success has been most noticable inAvatar’scontinually-expanding list of graphic novels, which manage to capture the spirit and the energy of the franchise in a way that has not yet been fully achieved in live-action.
The Mystery of Pequan Island, this story starring Mako and Bolin, is a must-read, given how it will further their development while also offering new insight into their origin story.
The Legend of Korra: The Mystery of Penquanisland is a great jumping-on-point for fans who are looking to dabble in the comics; the virtue of this story is that it largely serves as a standalone, while not lacking in importance to the overall history of the franchise.There are manyAvatarcomics to discover, but especially forLegend of Korradiehards,The Mystery of Pequan Island, this story starring Mako and Bolin, is a must-read, given how it will further their development while also offering new insight into their origin story.
Source:Dark Horse Comics announcement
The Legend of Korra: The Mystery of Penquan Islandwill be available June 14, 2025 from Dark Horse Comics.
