James Cameron's Avatar Comics: A Ranked Reading Guide

The Avatar comic series, published by Dark Horse Comics, expands the narrative of James Cameron's Avatar universe beyond the events of the films. These works explore new characters, political developments on Pandora, and the ongoing conflict between the Na'vi and human interests. This guide provides an overview and ranking of the major comic storylines released to date. Coincidentally, the recommended reading order aligns with their ranking. The only partial exception is The Gap Year, which remains ongoing; however, it is considered essential reading because it chronicles events that directly precede Avatar: The Way of Water. Overall there are 7 different Avatar comic series (including the short Brothers which was released together with Tsu'tey's Path), all considered canon within the Avatar universe.

6. Adapt Or Die

Avatar: Adapt or Die follows Dr Grace Augustine, who works through her Avatar body to form early cooperation between the humans at Hell's Gate and the Omatikaya people. She introduces the idea of a school where Na'vi children and human researchers can share knowledge, teaching basic English and science in exchange for learning Na'vi customs. Mo'at and Eytukan remain wary of human influence, especially after witnessing past failures and cultural misunderstandings, but agree to observe Grace's efforts as long as ancient traditions are respected. The comic also introduces Captain Mercenaries and administrators at Hell's Gate who undermine Grace's attempts by prioritising mining logistics over cultural exchange.

The situation collapses when several Na'vi children fall gravely ill shortly after visiting the human facility, causing widespread fear among the clan. Panic spreads through the Omatikaya homeland as families believe the sickness came from contact with humans, and some hunter groups consider cutting ties completely. Grace and Na'vi healers combine medical knowledge to investigate possible toxins, pathogens, or contaminated water sources, ultimately discovering that human waste contamination near the river contributed to the illness. This is perhaps the Avatar comic with the least amount of action nor plot developments, and sits in the bottom of the list (also being the first in the timeline).

5. Tsu'tey's Path

Tsu'tey's Path retells key events of the first film through the perspective of Tsu'tey, the skilled Omatikaya warrior (of Tsamsiyu rank) who was once expected to become olo'eyktan and to mate with Neytiris' late sister Sylwanin. The comic expands on his duties training young hunters, his loyalty to his clan, and the emotional strain of losing Sylwanin during human confrontations. It also shows his reaction to the arrival of the Avatar Program, which he views as a disruptive unknown that threatens cultural order. The series further depicts pre-war clan routines, including hunting parties and ceremonial gatherings, giving deeper insight into Omatikaya life before conflict escalated.

When Jake Sully is captured and brought before the clan, Tsu'tey distrusts him immediately and objects to teaching a Dreamwalker the ways of the Na'vi. His resentment deepens as Jake begins to pass trials, bond with an ikran, and gain respect from the People, especially when clan youth begin admiring Jake's accomplishments. Tsu'teys' internal conflict is portrayed in detail, including his jealousy for Neytiri. The comic expands his role in the final battle, showing that he fought fiercely to repel the RDA forces before his fatal fall from the Valkyrie shuttle. However, it treads a lot of the same ground already seen in the movie's expanded edition. The comic is bundled together with a short comic named "Brothers", detailing Jake Sully's bond with the Great Leonopteryx, while also remembering his own twin brother (who seems to be mostly forgotten in Avatar lore).

4. The Next Shadow

The Next Shadow is set immediately after the human withdrawal from Pandora at the end of the first film. Jake Sully has only recently become olo'eyktan and must guide the Omatikaya through a rare moment without an external enemy. Without the threat of the RDA holding the clan together, suppressed tensions emerge, including rival bloodlines asserting old claims to leadership. Some Na'vi question whether someone born human should lead, arguing that ancestry and clan lineage should matter more than wartime heroism, and these factions begin quietly organizing dissent.

The comic follows Jake as he attempts to heal divisions and restore balance through rituals, council meetings, and guidance from spiritual leaders. He visits the grave of his former human body, cutting his palm in an act of reflection and guilt. Rival claimants challenge his authority, and an assassination attempt driven by Tsu'tey's surviving relatives forces Jake to confront political fractures. Where the Battle of the Hallelujah Mountains was epic, this story that follows turns unexpectedly sad and somewhat underwhelming. The end of the story already hints at the Ash Clan from Avatar: Fire And Ash, the first reference to it in Avatar lore.

3. So'lek's Journey

So'lek's Journey follows one of the central Na'vi characters from the Frontiers of Pandora game, a warrior renowned as one of the strongest Na'vi. So'lek's Journey begins with the near-total destruction of the Trrong clan by human forces during the early conflicts on Pandora. The story opens with So'lek returning to his burned homeland, where he finds his fellow warrior Txuratrri mortally wounded. She asks to be brought to the Tree of Voices so she can speak with Eywa before dying. So'lek fulfills her request, buries her remains, and wanders the ruins in grief as one of the last surviving members of his people. His early journey shows the isolated remnants of other clans affected by RDA activity.

Driven by loss, So'lek begins a long journey across Pandora that spans years rather than months. He climbs the Hallelujah Mountains, braves storms, hunts for survival, and confronts haunting visions of the destruction he witnessed, including echoes of Txurattris' final words. Over four years, he encounters other clans, including the Anurai, who are known for their spiritual connection to great predators such as the thanator. Under the guidance of Anurai elders Tiali and Entok, he undergoes rituals using a thanator-tooth flute carved by traditional Anurai methods, learning to let go of blind vengeance. So'lek is also the main character in the From the Ashes DLC expansion for the game, tied with the events of Avatar: Fire And Ash.

2. The High Ground

The High Ground is set in the year 2168, fourteen years after the first film and portrays the Sully family during an extended period of calm. It was based on a script treatment by James Cameron for a possible movie set between the first Avatar and Way Of The Water, which never materialized. The treatment was given to Dark Horse with the blessing of James Cameron. Jake and Neytiri's children Neteyam, Loak, Kiri and Tuk are shown in daily life as they learn Na'vi customs, explore the forest, and grow into their roles within the Omatikaya clan. The comic brings out the siblings' differing personalities, such as Neteyam's responsibility, Loak's impulsiveness, and Kiri's curiosity about her mysterious origins.

Despite the appearance of peace, signs of danger emerge when unexplained aircraft and new forms of equipment are spotted along coastal regions and old RDA pathways. The Omatikaya scouts begin reporting unusual signal patterns and metallic debris linked to human expeditions. Jake becomes increasingly unsettled as these sightings mirror early signs from the first invasion, and he prepares the clan for the possibility of renewed conflict. Debate spreads among Na'vi about whether to defend, relocate, or attempt diplomacy once more. The comic is the most epic out of all the Avatar comics, even taking the Na'vi briefly to space.

1. The Gap Year - Tipping Point

The Gap Year Tipping Point continues directly toward the opening of Avatar: The Way of Water. The RDA initiates stealth operations that target Na'vi infrastructure, scout clan lands, and establish forward bases using new military technologies. Some of the attacks happen at night, involving mechanized landing parties and remotely operated drones that map Na'vi territories in preparation for larger assaults. The Sully family witnesses the beginning of these incursions as patrols disappear, communications fail, and clan scouts report signs of troop buildup near ancient forest boundaries.

As threats worsen, Jake and Neytiri face mounting pressure from both the clan and their children, who sense that their parents are concealing the scale of danger. The Omatikaya debate whether to stand and fight or retreat into deeper forest regions to avoid devastating losses, recalling the destruction that befell other clans such as the Trrong. Major Bukowski and other RDA officers strike tactically and without hesitation, demonstrating the organisation's intent to retake Pandora at any cost. These circumstances force the Sullys to confront the reality that remaining in their homeland would expose their children and the clan to overwhelming danger, explaining why they choose to flee at the start of the second film.

Conclusion

The Avatar comic series expands the canon by revealing what happens before and between the two first Avatar movies. The reading order above follows both chronological flow and order of quality, culminating in The Gap Year Tipping Point. This directly sets up the emotional and strategic stakes for Avatar: The Way of Water. However, there seems to be no comic as of yet set between Avatar: Way Of The Water and Avatar: Fire And Ash, as the third Avatar movie picks up immediately after the second.