Line #12 ComicBook/AvatarTheLastAirbenderRebound


1	[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/last_airbender_rebound.jpg]]
2	Another installment in the {{Interquel}} comics set between the series ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' and ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'' and part of the overall ''[[Franchise/AvatarTheLastAirbender Avatar]]'' universe. Written by Creator/GeneLuenYang, it was released on May 4, 2013 (Free Comic Book Day) and takes place either in-between or alongside the plots of ''[[ComicBook/AvatarTheLastAirbenderThePromise The Promise]]'' and ''[[ComicBook/AvatarTheLastAirbenderTheSearch The Search]]''. It was later reprinted alongside the other Avatar Free Comic Book Day specials and several new stories as part of the anthology ''Team Avatar Tales.''
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4	The story follows Mai after she left her boyfriend Fire Lord Zuko in ''[[ComicBook/AvatarTheLastAirbenderThePromise The Promise]]'' when she grew fed up with him continuing to keep her in the dark about things, especially his secret meetings with his imprisoned father. She's gotten a job in her aunt's flower shop but still misses Zuko. When a customer asks her out on a date, she accepts, hoping the change of pace will cheer her up.
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6	Mai's date takes her to what turns out be an underground meeting of the New Ozai Society, a faction of Ozai loyalists led by Mai's father, the former Governor of Omashu/New Ozai, plotting to overthrow "the usurper" Zuko and restore the proper Fire Lord to the throne. Her father wants Mai to join them and tell them anything she can about Zuko that might help them overthrow him.
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8	Mai, however, is not pleased with her father's schemes and even less pleased that he's brought her baby brother Tom-Tom to this place to be properly taught his duty to his nation. Mai declines her father's invitation and fights her way out past the other members, taking her brother with her.
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10	''ComicBook/AvatarTheLastAirbenderSmokeAndShadow'' continues both Mai and the New Ozai Society's story.
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13	!!''Rebound'' provides examples of:
14	* BelievingTheirOwnLies[=/=]TwistingTheWords: Mai's father tries to claim Zuko threw her out. Mai tells him he knows it wasn't like that.
15	* [[BigBrotherInstinct Big Sister Instinct]]: It's revealed for the first time how close Mai and Tom-Tom actually are when her little brother runs right into her arms the first time he sees her in who-knows-how-long. Mai picks her little brother up, gets a good look at the cult he was going to be raised into, tells Tom-Tom to hang onto her; and cue the following trope.
16	* CurbStompBattle: That fight was so unfair... the entire New Ozai Society didn't stand a chance against Mai.
17	* DartboardOfHate: The New Ozai Society's meeting place features a straw dummy adorned with a headshot of Zuko; the dummy has several swords stuck in it.
18	* ADayInTheLimelight: For Mai.
19	* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: When Mai rejects her fathers offer and decides to leave, he makes it clear that he doesn't want either of his children harmed in the ensuing [[CurbStompBattle fight]].
20	* EvilCannotComprehendGood: This seems to be a running theme for Mai, as her father felt confident enough that she would join his side to lead her right to their secret meeting place and tell her everything about their intentions. Clearly, it never crossed his mind that she would turn him down. He miscalculated her about as badly as Azula did.
21	* EvilPowerVacuum: Just because the EvilOverlord was defeated doesn't mean his empire fell with him. While TheEmpire is fractured, a new order of Ozai's loyalists (dubbed the New Ozai Society) is on resurgence with the Imperialist ideals still alive.
22	* {{Foreshadowing}}: [[spoiler:The New Ozai Society threatens Zuko's regime in the upcoming comic book trilogy ''Smoke and Shadow''.]]
23	* FromNobodyToNightmare: Mai's father has become this since his loss of Omashu. Now, he leads a faction of Ozai-Loyalists, becoming a potential threat for Zuko.
24	* HeroOfAnotherStory: ''Rebound'' is the Other Story to ''The Promise'' and ''The Search''.
25	* InnocentInnuendo: Mai protests when Kei Lo begins leading her down a dark alley, telling him he's crazy if he thinks she's "going down a dark, deserted stairwell with a guy I just met." Of course, he has something different in mind.
26	* {{Interquel}}: An interquel within the interquels, in fact.
27	* ItMeantSomethingToMe: Kei Lo insists to Mai that he enjoyed this assignment because he really is attracted to her. However, Mai doesn't buy it, because she feels like he set her up.
28	* PlotParallel: Mai's father tries to persuade her to join him in a move similar to Hiroshi Sato's offer to Asami in ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra''.
29	* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Mai has a blunt comeback for every complaint her father makes about Zuko.
30	* TheRemnant: The New Ozai society are loyalists to Fire Lord Ozai's regime who still believe the war was justified and do not recognize Zuko as their leader.
31	* ShutUpHannibal: When faced with a band of rebels trying to turn her against Zuko, Mai's only rebuttal is to start throwing knives.
32	* TranquilFury: When she discovers her father plans to indoctrinate Tom-Tom with pro-Ozai sentiment.
33	* {{Tykebomb}}: Mai nips her father's plan to invoke this trope with Tom-Tom in the bud.
34	* UndyingLoyalty: Zuko is a lousy boyfriend, but Mai still believes in him.
35	* UnknownRival: Mai's father is basically this to Zuko.
36	* WeCanRuleTogether: This works about as well for Mai's father as it does for most evil parents with heroic children.
37	* YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters: The New Ozai Society are LaResistance in their own eyes but terrorists in Mai's.

Context ComicBook / AvatarTheLastAirbenderRebound