Nickelodeon introduced us to a new fantasy world in the Asian-inspired world of Avatar: the Last Airbender. In it, the Fire Nation waged war against the three other nations of earth, water, and air, and only avatar Aang could set things right. Fast forward 70 years to the sequel series, and avatar Korra faced many new villains, from the anti-bender revolutionary Amon to evil spirits, and even an airbender anarchist and the militaristic Earth Empire.
A world like this is perfect for some stunning cosplay, and today, we're going to check out ten wonderful cosplayers who dress up as some of our favorite firebender heroes and villains. Korra, Prince Zuko, Princess Azula, Iroh, Mako, and other characters are among the top fire-slingers around, and these cosplayers know how to bring them to life.
10 Prince of Redemption
It's not a firebender party without prince Zuko on hand! He is one of the most dynamic and fascinating characters of the Avatar world, transforming from a bitter and lonely exile to a teenager who struggles with the good and evil swirling inside him, to bravely turning on his cruel father and helping Aang restore world peace.
Now we get a proper, real-life prince Zuko with this cosplay. His robes really pop with those red and yellow hues, and those boots look fit to trek all across the Avatar world. And of course, he's in a grassy field and showing off some dazzling fire bending skills! What an excellent effect. We can feel the heat from here.
9 Princess of flame
If Zuko is a VP to the fire bender party, then so is his prodigy sister, princess Azula! She is a firebender 100%, being ruthless, passionate, and quite showy and emotional. Her firebending powers are peerless in the original series, and she's a crafty bender and politician alike.
Look at the realistic detail of this cosplay! Azula's armor and boots look real enough for a new live-action series for this franchise, and her expression and hair are right on point, too. While Azula didn't wield these particular weapons in the show, it's a creative twist on the character, and we love those flames.
8 Girl Zuko
Some cosplayers like to put a twist on original characters by creating a "gender bender" cosplay, one that reimagines someone as the opposite sex. Most often, cosplay-loving girls like to make femme versions of their favorite male characters, like this Zuko cosplayer here.
If Zuko were a "she," we bet we would get this result. The burn scar on her left eye is just right, and that crafty expression is quite appropriate for princess Zuko here. Don't forget that soft evening light, either, and the dazzling firebending that's glowing on her palms.
7 Peace at last
Aang and Zuko learned to set aside their differences and unite to help dispose of Fire Lord Ozai and restore world peace, completing Zuko's redemption arc. Azula never had such a transformation, but in the world of cosplay, anything can happen.
How about this triple threat of fire benders, all in immaculate costumes in a rustic garden setting? Aang would rather bend air and keep the peace, but as the avatar, he did learn to bend fire, and he can do it with the best of them. It helped that he and Zuko both learned the art from the last two dragons in the world (in total secret, of course).
6 Masked ninja
In season one, Admiral Zhao actually did capture avatar Aang, chaining him up in a fortress surrounded by fire benders and Fire Nation soldiers. Was this the end of Aang's quest?! Not quite. A warrior in a blue mask, and carrying two curved swords, arrived to bail out the avatar.
The mask later came off to reveal prince Zuko, and he operated a few more times with the Blue Spirit persona before abandoning it in Ba Sing Se. Just look at this cosplayer, with a ninja pose, ready to strike at any moment. We couldn't ask for a better action stance, and even that sunny pier doesn't diminish the Blue Spirit's menace.
5 Combustion Woman P'Li
Do you recall that hulking, muscular fire bender in Avatar: the Last Airbender who could fire explosive shots from a strange eye tattoo on his forehead? Dubbed Combustion Man, he was a real menace, and we haven't seen the end of that firebending skill just yet.
Much later on, P'Li is a tall woman with the same talent, and she's a vital member of the Red Lotus anarchist/terrorist cell (and Zaheer's lover). We couldn't ask for a finer cosplay of this fearsome bender, from her sturdy pose to her stern expression and that detailed forehead tattoo. Not to mention the totally authentic details of her outfit.
4 Grown-up Zuko
When the original Avatar: the Last Airbender concluded, fans must have eagerly wondered what the teenaged members of the main cast would look like when they are older. Now that the war is over, they have their entire lives to grow up and become fine leaders, parents, and more.
This cosplayer decided to fill the gap between Aang's and Korra's time to imagine a prince Zuko in his early 30s or so, and he's looking good. This cosplayer's outfit is realistic enough for some real firebending, and the fire effects themselves look real enough to toast marshmallows with. Not to mention that elegant and fierce firebender pose!
3 Everyday Life in the Fire Nation
Okay, Katara is a water bender and Sokka doesn't bend at all. But in season 3, Aang's team ends up in the Fire Nation, and they all dress up as natives.
Zuko comes face to face with the group, and it looks like they're getting along just fine. Katara is a little standoffish, but Sokka is having a grand old time, and we like seeing a cosplay of Aang with his hair grown out (to hide his arrow tattoo).
2 Top Gear Azula
Let's visit another cosplay for the one and only princess Azula! She has the talent to conjure blue flames, and with them, Azula can make herself into a human rocket.
We get that here with this cosplay, and it's terrific. That road (hallway?) is just the right place for Azula to take flight, and the flame effects and Azula's pose are perfect for top speed fire bending. Get out of the way, everyone!
1 New Team Avatar
Azula and Zuko have dominated this list, and not without reason. But in The Legend of Korra, Mako is an orphaned firebender roaming the streets of Republic City, and he and his brother Bolin become Korra's first major allies. Asami Sato soon follows.
Here they are, ready to take on the forces of evil with firebending. We like the modern architecture of the building behind them, and Mako's typical look of serious concentration. And it looks like Korra isn't here to play games, either.