Avatar:Smoke and Shadow

<infobox theme-source="nation"> <image source="image" /> <title source="name"><default>Smoke and Shadow</default></title> <group> <header>Creative</header> <label>Story by</label> <label>Art by</label> <label>Coloring by</label> <label>Lettering by</label> </group> <group> <header>Publication</header> <label>Issue</label> <label>Publisher</label> <label>Date of publication</label> <label>ISBN</label> <label>Series</label> <label>Pages</label> <label>Last comic</label> <label>Next comic</label> </group> <navigation></navigation> <header>Image gallery (8)</header> </infobox> Smoke and Shadow is a trilogy of comic books set in the Avatar universe, following on from the events of The Rift. Like its predecessors, Smoke and Shadow is written by award-winning comic author Gene Luen Yang, illustrated by Gurihiru, and published by Dark Horse Comics. The first book was released on October 6, 2015, the second followed on December 29, and the third and last was released on April 12, 2016. The release dates of the first and second comics were changed, as the first book was originally destined to be released on September 23, 2015, and the second on December 16. The hardcover edition was released on October 4, 2016.

The Smoke and Shadow trilogy includes:

• Smoke and Shadow Part One
• Smoke and Shadow Part Two
• Smoke and Shadow Part Three

Plot

The Fire Nation is threatened by a prophecy told by the Kemurikage, mysterious figures thought only to exist in legend: remove Zuko from the throne, or the country will perish!

Avatar Aang and his friends escort Zuko and his family back to the capital, completely unaware of the looming threat growing in the city. Unrest is brewing as the New Ozai Society prepares to make its move against the crown, and children begin to go missing from their homes under mysterious circumstances.

Library Edition

A compilation of the three novels, Avatar: The Last Airbender—Smoke and Shadow Library Edition HC, was released on September 21, 2016. It features annotations by writer Gene Luen Yang and artists Gurihiru and a sketchbook section with new behind-the-scenes material. Notable trivia from Smoke and Shadow Library Edition that pertains in particular to the production of each respective novel can be found at:

• Library Edition reveals (Part 1)
• Library Edition reveals (Part 2)
• Library Edition reveals (Part 3)

Trivia

• The title of the comic series is a direct reference to the Kemurikage, whose name is formed by the contraction of the Japanese words "kemuri" (煙
  (kemuri)), meaning "smoke", and "kage" (影
  (kage)), meaning "shadow".
• The storyline of the Kemurikage kidnapping children was originally intended to be incorporated in the TV series but did not make the final cut.
• A paperback omnibus edition of Smoke and Shadow was released on October 5, 2021.

See also

• List of Avatar: The Last Airbender comics
• The Promise
• The Search
• The Rift
• North and South
• Imbalance