Combustion Man

History


The Combustion Man (so named by Sokka in "The Runaway", previously referred to by the more comical "Sparky Sparky Boom Man") is a silent Fire Nation assassin with a unique Firebending talent to trigger huge explosions at will.

According to the shows creators, he discovered this ability when he was a young child, but initially could not control it, which lead to him accidentally blowing off his right arm and leg. He has since replaced these with his trade-mark metal prosthetics. He then went on to aquire a formidable reputation in a series of very quick Agni Kais. Huge, silent, willing to do any dirty job with no questions asked, and driven to complete his assignments, the Combustion Man is a formidable opponent with a reputation for being "good at what [he] does" and "even better at keeping secrets".

For this reason, the Combustion Man was hired by Zuko to kill Aang, knowing he was alive and could destroy his father's new respect for him. Professional and diligent, the assassin eliminates or intercepts any evidence that could compromise his secrecy. When Aang is spotted by two Fire Nation soldiers, the Combustion Man's Ravenhawk intercepts their Messenger Hawk to Fire Lord and he destroys the message. That night he stealthily approaches Aang and his friends campsite, but his metallic footsteps are detected by Toph. Eschewing stealth the Combustion Man attacks, his powerful bolts countering anything the group throws at him, forcing them take cover. Aang tells his friends to flee while he himself tries to lead the enemy away. Following a running battle, in which Aang uses both Airbending and Earthbending to fend off Combustion Man's attacks to no effect, Aang eventually retreats onto Appa and the group fly away.



In "The Runaway," Combustion Man operates more subtly setting up a trap via a wanted poster and captures Katara and Toph, locking them in a wooden cell deprived of both earth and water to bend. The two are nothing more than bait to lure in Aang, which proves successful. After Katara uses her sweat to Waterbend and escape, they help Aang and Sokka, who had only avoided the ambush because Aang heard the assassin inhaling. Toph accidentally hits Combustion Man's tattoo with a stone, which knocks him back. He gets up and attempts to shoot another explosion in the group's direction, only to find his chi blocked. The air around him detonates and the group escapes leaving him visibly angered.

In "The Western Air Temple" he somehow locates the group in the temple. Zuko, having come undergone a change of heart, deflects his opening attack and tells him to stop. However the assassin is now attacking out of hurt pride, not for money and Zuko's threats to both cancel his payment and double it, both fail. Zuko's antics prove to be a useful distraction for the group who use the time to take cover. When Combustion Man resorts to blowing up pylons supporting the temple, Sokka takes aim and uses his trademark boomerang to strike the Combustion Man square on the forehead, briefly stunning him and blocking his chi. A repetition of the events of "The Runaway" occur and this time destroys the entire tower he was standing on. His metal arm is seen among the debris and it was later confirmed by Mike and Bryan at New York Comic Con 2008 that he is dead.

Combustion Man is mentioned by Sokka but not seen in the play in "Ember Island Players." Sokka is one of the characters who sees this portion of the play, and mentions to the others that "I think Combustion Man died." He seems to have no problem with the fact that he technically killed him with his boomerang, and even seems happy that he is dead.

Powers and Abilities
The Combustion Man's abilities reflect his namesake, and he is able to trigger explosive detonations through his unique style of firebending. According to creator commentary on "The Western Air Temple", his unique abilities are due to an extremely overdeveloped third eye. He channels chi energy from his stomach, and then focuses and fires it from his third eye, through a tattoo on his forehead. This energy created thin transparent energy bolts which detonates the surrounding area on contact. This ability is mentally driven, requiring only inhalation and focus on his part (making his fighting style much less dynamic than standard firebending) and can be used at great ranges with considerable accuracy. A single energy bolt is very powerful and can disintegrate large boulders or evaporate entire bodies of water with ease. The true degree of his power and skill is considerable and in almost all encounters he overpowered everything Aang's group attacked him with.

In addition to his unique talents he possesses considerable physical strength, easily overpowered Zuko with only one hand even when looking the other way, and his metal prosthetics make dangerous weapons. Despite his huge frame and two metal limbs he is surprisingly agile using his clawed metal hand and foot as a grapple or break the force of a fall.

His amazing durability enabled him to charge through Aang's tornadoes and block Katara's "icicle-striking" technique unfazed. It also enabled him to fire prolonged blasts, as seen when he fires a more timely blast at Zuko's fire shield to push him backwards.

Trivia

 * In a way, hiring Combustion Man is Zuko's last act as an enemy of the Avatar. When he goes to join the gang, one of his first acts of redemption to them is helping to defeat him.
 * Combustion Man is never seen or heard speaking save growls of pain and annoyance, and his name is never revealed (although Zuko appears to know his identity he never states it).