Avatar Rewrites A Major Piece of Lore, That Should've Been In The Movies

The first Avatar movie got fans cheering in their seats when Jake Sully claimed the role of 'Toruk Makto,' bonding with and riding the mightiest predator in Pandora's skies. And they cheered again in Avatar: Fire and Ash when Jake returned to the skies for another Toruk battle. But there is key one scene left out of the Avatar movies that not only improves the journey Jake takes to the role of Toruk Makto, but plays on the single most powerful theme that the movies seem to have dropped entirely.

Jake Claimed Toruk As A Brother, After Losing His Twin

The Secret Connection is Revealed in "Brothers" Expansion Story

We've already discussed the mystery surrounding why Jake Sully stopped being Toruk Makto, and how this complicated storyline is thankfully fleshed out in the accompanying Avatar comics from Dark Horse. But the first offering was also one of the most important for fans of the first movie, who remember why Jake ended up on Pandora at all. When his twin brother Tommy was murdered, Jake was able to take his place as a genetic match for his Avatar. But beyond that, Jake losing a brother (and an identical twin, at that) was never explored.

Thankfully, it was in the short comic Avatar: Brothers, by Sherri L. Smith, Doug Wheatley, and Wes Dzioba, which offered fans a "comic exclusive scene" focused on the moments following Jake's bond with the Great Leonopteryx. While the film cuts to Jake's arrival as Toruk Makto, Brothers emphasizes the process of establishing the bond itself.

The readers is treated to Jake's narration, much like the film, recounting memories he shared with his brother during their childhood. Recalling their share love of mythology, specifically stories involving great heroes partnering with mystical steeds, or winged horses, a deeper understanding is driven home between Jake and Toruk. The choice to place the words "I had a brother" across their shared link does the 'showing, not telling,' leaving readers with a clear sense of a brotherly partnership at work.

The story ends by reiterating this idea, as Jake extends an offer of alliance to Toruk, surrounded by talk of the brother he no longer has, making it clear he is not a simple "rider" of the creature. And while that is true of all bonds in the Avatar films in spirit, his formal request that they attack invading forcers as "Partners?" offers valuable backstory to their reunion in Fire and Ash.

How Has Avatar Dropped The "Lost Sibling" Story Completely?

What Should Be The Core Theme is Never Mentioned At All

Perhaps the power of Avatar: Brothers has grown more pronounced, as the films themselves have chosen to steer clear of emphasizing the loss of a sibling. After all, Jake lost his brother to wrongful death... so one might think that would be raised in dialogue with his son Lo'ak, who is experiencing the exact same thing. Or from Neytiri, whose older sister was also murdered by Sec-Ops forces prior to the first film. And yet, viewers could be forgiven for forgetting Jake had an identical twin at all.

There is always the chance for this storyline to be picked up in future Avatar films, but for the time being, interested readers can seek out the Brothers story included in copies of Avatar: Tsu'tey's Path available from Dark Horse wherever graphic novels are sold.