The Legend of Korra: Turf Wars Part Ones: 10/11/18

The Legend of Korra: Turf Wars Part One by Michael Dante DiMartino and Irene Koh is the first of a new series of comics that take place after the end of the Legend of Korra television series.

This first volume opens with Korra and Asami on a romantic vacation together in the Spirit Realm. When they return home they find the city up in arms over a land development project that overlaps the newly created portal to the Spirit Realm. Korra with help from the Air Benders wants a peaceful end to this development idea to appease the spirits. That, though, isn't going to happen.

Republic City is a corrupt city with a too small and underfunded government. The local gangs have divided up the town and have too much control. Korra despite her power is only one person and can't make up for the shortfall of the the city government (although it's implied that the city got into this pickle because Aang had been taking so much of the responsibility).

I heard about this series through Irene Koh on Twitter who was getting slammed by bigots for the diversity of her background characters. The to-do was over a few women in hijabs. The panel that caused the most uproar is actually in part three, which I will be reading and reviewing soon.

Koh's artwork compliments DiMartino's writing. Together they present a messier, more realistic view of Republic City. Korra and Asami's relationship is out in the open (for better or worse, as it's just one more thing that sets her apart from Aang). Personally I prefer comic book Korra to who she was presented in the series. But there is more freedom to explore her full character in print than there is on a series that is "family oriented."

Five stars

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