Start with the original Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008), move to The Legend of Korra (2012-2014), then slot in Dark Horse's graphic novel continuity between and after them. From there, the new streaming film Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender and the upcoming series Avatar: Seven Havens extend the story forward, per Paramount+'s own franchise pages (SRC-01, SRC-02).
What's the Simplest Way to Watch the Whole Franchise?
Watch Avatar: The Last Airbender first, then The Legend of Korra, then the new film Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender, then Avatar: Seven Havens once it premieres. Paramount+'s official rundown places the new film chronologically between the original series and Korra, even though it was produced after both shows (SRC-01).
Where Do the Dark Horse Comics Fit In?
Dark Horse Comics has published dozens of Avatar graphic novels and omnibus collections that sit directly between the animated shows, continuing the story of Aang and his friends in the years after the original series ends. Dark Horse's own catalog lists trade paperbacks and treasury editions still in print, including the Team Avatar Treasury Omnibus, the Lost Adventures and Team Avatar Tales Omnibus, the Fire and Family Treasury Library Edition, and a full Omnibus Boxed Set that collects the line's major arcs, alongside newer single-character spinoffs such as a Jet-focused volume arriving in February 2026 (SRC-03). Readers who want the fullest version of the timeline generally read the comics after finishing the original series and before starting Korra, since the graphic novels bridge that specific gap, following the Fire Nation's political fallout and Team Avatar's early adult years in more detail than either show has room for.
For anyone building a shelf rather than just a watch list, the omnibus and treasury editions are the more practical entry point than chasing individual single issues — they collect complete story arcs in one binding, and Dark Horse's catalog page shows several of them still listed as active, in-print products rather than out-of-stock back catalog (SRC-03). That matters for collectors specifically, since older single-issue printings of franchise tie-in comics tend to go out of print and climb in secondary-market price faster than the collected editions do.
What Is Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender, and When Should You Watch It?
It's a new animated film that premiered as a Paramount+ streaming exclusive on July 25, 2026, following an adult Aang as he learns of an ancient power that could save his culture, according to Paramount+'s official page for the project (SRC-01). The film was directed by Lauren Montgomery with Steve Ahn and William Mata co-directing, and it's produced by original series creators Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino alongside Latifa Ouaou and Maryann Garger, with a screenplay by Tim Hedrick and Christopher Yost (SRC-01). Because Paramount+ places its story after the original series, it plays best once you've finished the 2005-2008 show, and before jumping into Korra territory.
What Is Avatar: Seven Havens, and How Does It Connect?
Avatar: Seven Havens is the next animated series in the franchise, premiering October 9, 2026 on Paramount+, and it picks up after the events of The Legend of Korra in a world reshaped by portals between the human and spirit realms, per Paramount+'s official series overview (SRC-02). The show runs 26 half-hour episodes split into two 13-episode books, and centers on a new Avatar who's initially seen as a threat rather than a savior in a cataclysm-ravaged world (SRC-02). Original creators DiMartino and Konietzko return as co-creators and executive producers, working under the Avatar Studios banner with Nickelodeon (SRC-02). Because it's built explicitly as a follow-up to Korra, it's the last stop on the watch order — save it until after both prior shows and the new film.
Do I Need to Watch Netflix's Live-Action Series Too?
No — the Netflix live-action adaptation is a separate retelling of the original animated series rather than a continuation, so it doesn't affect where you place the newer animated titles. It's a fine entry point if you'd rather start with live action, but it isn't required viewing before the film or Seven Havens, both of which build on the animated continuity instead.
What's the Full Recommended Order, Start to Finish?
Putting it all together: begin with Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008), then read the Dark Horse graphic novels that pick up right after the finale, then watch The Legend of Korra (2012-2014), then the new film Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender, and finish with Avatar: Seven Havens once it premieres October 9, 2026. That order keeps the political and character threads the comics set up intact before Korra pays them off, and it saves the newest, still-unfolding chapter of the franchise for last.
Spoilers below this line
Readers who've finished the original series already know Fire Lord Ozai's defeat sets up the political vacuum the Dark Horse comics spend their run resolving — which is exactly why those graphic novels work best read in sequence rather than picked up at random.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do I have to read the Dark Horse comics to understand Korra or the new film? No. Both are built to stand alone, but the comics fill in character and political details that make certain Korra-era references land harder.
- Is Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender connected to Avatar: Seven Havens? They're both part of the same expanding Avatar Studios continuity, but Paramount+ places the film's story before Korra and Seven Havens' story after it, so they don't overlap directly (SRC-01, SRC-02).
- Where can I actually watch the new titles? Both Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender and Avatar: Seven Havens are Paramount+ exclusives, per the platform's own project pages (SRC-01, SRC-02).
- Are the Dark Horse graphic novels still in print? Many are, including omnibus and treasury editions, and Dark Horse continues expanding the line with new single-character volumes (SRC-03).
For a related business news perspective, read How Comic Book Distribution Works, Per Diamond's Bankruptcy.