The newest entry into the Legend of Korra comics library delivers bite-sized stories that further explore a great mix of characters from the animated series in a mostly light-hearted manner.
The Legend of Korra: Patterns in Time
Jayd Aït-Kaci, Sam Beck, Heather Campbell, Delilah Dawson, Michael Dante DiMartino, Blue Delliquanti, Jen Zu, K. Rhodes, Kiku Hughes, Alexandria Monik, Killian Ng, Rachel Silverstein, Lynette Wong, Michelle Wong, Victoria Ying, Sachin Teng
Dark Horse
November 30, 2022
A few minor spoilers for one story are discussed in this review.
The Legend of Korra: Patterns in Time is a delightful anthology that pulls together several short comics, both previously released and brand new – including a 2016 Free Comic Book Day comic. Characters making a return include not only the main character of the series, Korra, but also Asami Sato, Jinora, Tenzin, and others. With eight stories total and a pretty varied group of creators behind them, including Avatar: The Last Airbender creator Michael Dante DiMartino, this anthology had a little bit of everything that I might have been looking for in new Legend of Korra stories.
The standout element in this anthology is that it wasn’t entirely focused around one or two characters. Of course, Korra has a lot of time in the spotlight or even background appearances in comics that center around others. Patterns of Time had a nice balance of stories focused on the extended cast – from a Jinora-centered story where she spends time with Asami and Korra to a surprisingly wholesome comic that follows Bumi and Meelo.
The stories feel very rooted in the energy I associate with Legend of Korra, which tends to be fun adventures and humor mixed with moments that reflect character growth or introspection. And while those elements are definitely on full display in the show itself and other comics like Legend of Korra: Turf Wars, it’s nice to see the elements I enjoy so much as a fan and reader in stories that have a shorter length. There’s a general slice-of-life feeling to most of the comics here, even when there’s more action than you might expect that works for the different stories being told.
And while the anthology features several different writers, there was a nice consistency to the characters’ voices. Even for a few characters that make surprise appearances (who doesn’t love a good flashback?), there weren’t many moments where the dialogue felt too off or clunky. I genuinely laughed at a few moments, which is always a good sign for stories set in the Avatar: The Last Airbender universe.
In a similar vein to the writing, several different creators worked on the art and coloring which gave each comic its own unique look. I loved how distinct each art style was, with some having more of a sketchy look and feel while others felt extremely reminiscent of the aesthetic from the show. A particular favorite was A Change in the Wind by Jen Xu and K. Rhodes. Jinora, Asami, and Korra are having a bit of a run-in with some puffball spirits, and the art and color palette runs very soft and warm. It ties into the story and interactions happening nicely and reminded me a lot of the backgrounds from the show, especially with the pinks and blues.
Overall, Patterns of Time is a very fun addition to the Legend of Korra universe – especially for fans already familiar with the entire series. It’s not something I would pick up if you’re getting into the series, since the stories here are mostly set after the 4th season, unless you’re open to dipping your toes into something new with little to no context. But it’s a great read for Legend of Korra fans looking for a few new comics to dig into that take the story past the show’s finale and the sequel comics.
