"We pride ourselves on authenticity! Our members devote as many hours to studying Air Nomad philosophy as you did when you were training!" |
— Xing Ying explaining to Aang the foundation of their club.[1] |
The Official Avatar Aang Fan Club was an organization consisting primarily of young women who adored Avatar Aang and, subsequently, the Air Nomads.[2] The members of the group were later taught the ways of the Air Nomads by Aang himself and became the Air Acolytes.[1]
History[]
After visiting Yu Dao, Katara and Avatar Aang returned to Ba Sing Se to negotiate changes regarding the Harmony Restoration Movement with Earth King Kuei. The couple encountered two of the club's co-founders, Hei-Won and Won-Yee, while in search of the Jasmine Dragon. The girls offered Aang and Katara lodging in the organization's clubhouse. It was modeled after the Western Air Temple to pay homage to the Air Nomads and because most of the club's members were female.
The next morning, Aang demonstrated some airbending moves to the members of the club, prompting the girls to fawn over him even more, much to Katara's dismay. Another of the club's co-founders, Yee-Li, presented Aang with an airbender's flute that she purchased from a traveling merchant. Aang proceeded to play the instrument, causing the girls to shower him with adoration yet again. Katara reminded Aang that their main objective was to find the Earth King, and the two left.[2]
After Aang and Katara's meeting with the Earth King, they quickly planned to return to Yu Dao in order to get as many people as possible to evacuate. Overhearing their "mission", Yee-Li immediately sent a messenger hawk to her "sisters of the Yu Dao Chapter" to request assistance for the Avatar.[2]
Aang later met the Yu Dao chapter of his fan club, which was more concerned about upholding Air Nomad traditions than the Ba Sing Se chapter. When the Avatar first met them, he commented on how their tattoos looked so realistic, but the members told him that they were real. Aang got frustrated and thought that their tattoos were a disgrace to the culture of airbending mastery. However, as time moved along, Aang saw that they truly strove to live by Air Nomad traditions, and decided that he would teach them more about the cultures of his people. He eventually decided that from that point on, the fan club would be no more, and would be known as the Air Acolytes.[1]
Headquarters[]
The Official Avatar Aang Fan Club's Ba Sing Se chapter operated within a clubhouse located in the Earth Kingdom capital. Won-Yee designed the exterior to resemble the layout of the Western Air Temple, albeit loosely, with literally inverted structures and decor.
The interior of the clubhouse was decorated with several nomadic furnishings, including Air Nomad and airbending emblems, flying bison paintings, and posters of Avatar Aang.[2]
Known members[]
Trivia[]
- All the members of the Official Avatar Aang Fan Club Ba Sing Se Chapter were co-founders and co-presidents of the club.
- Each member wore a uniform sporting traditional Earth Kingdom colors with an image of Avatar Aang plastered on the chest.
- When Aang expressed his gratitude to Katara for allowing him to stay with the fan club overnight, he told her that they reminded him of his home and his people.[2]
- Though the members of the Official Avatar Aang Fan Club Yu Dao Chapter had arrows tattooed on their heads like the airbending masters, they did not have arrows on their hands.
- Gurihiru was confused as to what sort of uniforms the fan club members should wear, so Gene Luen Yang lent a hand by providing a rough sketch for artistic reference.[3]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 DiMartino, Michael Dante; Konietzko, Bryan; Yang, Gene Luen (writer), Sasaki of Gurihiru (penciling, inking), Kawano of Gurihiru (colorist), Heisler, Michael; Comicraft (letterer). The Promise Part Three (September 26, 2012), Dark Horse Comics.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 DiMartino, Michael Dante; Konietzko, Bryan; Yang, Gene Luen (writer), Sasaki of Gurihiru (penciling, inking), Kawano of Gurihiru (colorist), Heisler, Michael; Comicraft (letterer). The Promise Part Two (May 30, 2012), Dark Horse Comics.
- ↑ DiMartino, Michael Dante; Konietzko, Bryan; Yang, Gene Luen (writer), Sasaki of Gurihiru (penciling, inking), Kawano of Gurihiru (colorist), Heisler, Michael; Comicraft (letterer). The Promise Library Edition (February 20, 2013), Dark Horse Comics.