Avatar: The Last Airbender’s Zuko Prequel Is Only 3 Months Away, Here’s Who’s Returning

Published Nov 10, 2026, 5:13 PM EST TJ Mills is an editor on ScreenRant's Comic team, where she combines her lifelong passion for DC with her analytical background as a former Intelligence Analyst. Since joining ScreenRant in 2023, she has specialized in covering major DC storylines, character evolutions, and industry developments. 2026 has been an epic year for Avatar: The Last Airbender fans, with recent releases such as Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender and Avatar: Seven Havens. However, the year has also had its fair share of disappointments, most notably the cancellation of Avatar Studios' animated movie starring an adult Fire Lord Zuko. The project was reportedly in development before Paramount ultimately scrapped it in 2026. However, fans are now just three months away from the release of a Zuko-starring prequel, and he isn't returning alone. We may not be getting the adult Zuko film that OG fans were frothing at the mouth for, but the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender will officially be taking fans back to Zuko's early days in exile with Avatar: The Last Airbender – Enter the Blue Spirit. This upcoming graphic novel from Dark Horse Comics will tell the story of Zuko adopting the Blue Spirit persona for the first time to save a remote Fire Nation colony. Brought to life by the creative talents of writer Faith Erin Hicks, artist Peter Wartman, and colorist Adele Matera, this 80-page story will be available for $13.99 on February 23, 2027. It will deliver a missing chapter from Zuko's story, set before Nickelodeon's original TV series. While the story will obviously see the return of the Fire Nation prince, we also have confirmation of two other characters who will appear, along with some speculation about who else we might see. All Confirmed Returning Characters In 2027’s Zuko Prequel (And Who Else Could Appear) Main Cover by Peter Wartman for Avatar: The Last Airbender – Enter the Blue Spirit TP (2027) As a quick recap, Zuko first appears as the Blue Spirit in the original show during Season 1 of Avatar: The Last Airbender, specifically in Book One: Water, Episode 13, "The Blue Spirit." Zuko disguises himself as a masked swordsman to infiltrate Admiral Zhao's fortress and rescue Aang after his capture, giving himself another chance to receive credit for capturing the Avatar and, in turn, restoring his honor. Now, AtLA is taking fans back in time with Enter the Blue Spirit, revisiting the early days of Zuko's exile and lifting the veil on the origins of his Blue Spirit persona. Below, readers can find the full synopsis for the upcoming graphic novel: In the early months of Prince Zuko's exile, he and Iroh discover a long-forgotten Fire Nation colony along the coast of the Earth Kingdom. But when the Fire Nation demands larger quantities of the valuable ore the village produces for the war effort, the colonists' lives are suddenly at risk. Desperate to defend his people, even against his own homeland, Zuko becomes the Blue Spirit for the very first time. But if he's discovered thwarting the will of the Fire Lord, he'll lose any chance at regaining his honor and returning home. Thanks to this synopsis, we have confirmation that fan-favorite Uncle Iroh will be returning in this prequel. This is both unsurprising and reassuring. AtLA fans know that Uncle Iroh was with Zuko from the very beginning of his banishment. The fact that Enter the Blue Spirit respects this piece of canon bodes well for the graphic novel staying true to the series' continuity and respecting the original source material, something longtime fans will undoubtedly expect from such a project. Given that the premise of this prequel revolves around Zuko's banishment, and the fact that synopsis also makes direct reference to Fire Lord Ozai, we can all but guarantee that the Fire Lord will make an appearance as well, even if it's just through a flashback or in the opening pages of the graphic novel. While these are the only original series characters confirmed to return, we wouldn't be surprised if Azula also appears. While she obviously wouldn't be accompanying Zuko on his exile, AtLA is no stranger to jumping between characters. We may even see flashbacks featuring Zuko's mother, Ursa, since this was common throughout the series whenever Zuko's story was explored. Other notable characters we might get a glimpse of include Mai and Ty Lee. Of course, this is all just speculation at this point, but we'd love to hear which side character you'd most like to see return in this next Avatar: The Last Airbender project. Avatar: The Last Airbender – Enter the Blue Spirit TP from Dark Horse Comics will be available on February 23, 2027! TV Show(s) Avatar: The Last Airbender, Legend of Korra (TV Series), Avatar: The Last Airbender Video Game(s) Avatar: The Last Airbender, Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Burning Earth, Avatar: The Last Airbender – Into the Inferno, Avatar: Generations, Avatar: The Last Airbender: Quest for Balance, Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Path of Zuko, Avatar: The Last Airbender – Bobble Battles