King Bumi

Origin

A childhood friend of Aang, and an Earthbender who lives in the great city of Omashu. In his youth as friends with Aang the two would ride the Omashu mail delivery system granting both extreme amounts of fun. Bumi would always advocate the practice of being open minded and he was free and easy in nature. Unfortunately Aang and Bumi's friendship would have to come to a pause when Aang would get trapped in an iceberg for more than a 100 years. Bumi would go on to become the king of Omashu, and considered one of the most powerful Earthbenders and powerful Benders in general. His idiosyncrasies also widened and he is known for being a bit more than eccentric. He played many tricks on his friend Aang when he returned to Omashu a century later in order to get his friend to think a bit more outside the box. Bumi is also a member of the important Order of the White Lotus group. Despite his initial frail and thin appearance, Bumi is surprisingly ripped and chiseled and in top physical condition.    

Creation 

King Bumi is a character from the Avatar the Last Airbender franchise. He was created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko originally created for the animated television show Avatar the Last Airbender. He appears in the Tokyopop book Avatar: The Last Airbender. In the television show he is voiced by André Sogliuzzo.   

Major Story Arcs

100 Years Ago

While Aang Aang is visiting his friend Bumi in Omashu, Bumi tells Aang that he has to open his mind to the possibilities, and he shows Aang his new discovery of riding the Mail System.

Present

When Aang took Katara and Sokka to Omashu to ride the Mail System. After they are arrested for destroying the Cabbage Man's cart of cabbages, they are taken to the King of Omashu. The King decides to throw them a feast. During the feast, the King tricks Aang into Airbending. He declares that the Avatar is in their presence, and he gives the three a chamber to stay in over night. The next morning, Katara and Sokka are gone from the chamber. Aang demands to the King that he wants his friends back and they're leaving. The King says that he has three tasks for Aang, and he has put a ring of "Creeping Crystal" or "Jemmonite" on Katara and Sokka, and if he refuses, Katara and Sokka's bodies will be encased slowly in crystal, and only the King can stop it.

Aang completes the first two tasks, and when it comes to the third challange, Aang has to pick someone to fight. He picks the King. But, looks can be deceving, and the King takes off his robe to show a muscular body, and an Earthbending master, claiming to be "the most powerful Earthbender you'll ever see". The two battle, and after they finish, the King asks Aang one last thing: What is his name? Aang realises that the King is Bumi, and the two hug. Bumi releases Katara and Sokka, and gives the Gaang some money to help them on they're way.

In Book Two: Earth, Omashu has been captured and overruled by the Fire Nation. Aang is told by the rebellion that on the day the Fire Nation attacked Bumi surrendered. Aang tries to free Bumi, and rides his cage down the Mail System with Princess Azula in chase. After they lose Azula, Bumi Earthbends to stop them. Aang questions Bumi asking why he surrended, and if he can Earthbend why didn't he free himself? Bumi explains that the key to Earthbending is listening and waiting to strike, and he needs to find a teacher that's mastered neutral jing. Bumi Earthbends back up the Mail System shoot, most proberly still in Fire Nation captivity. In book three it is revealed that Bumi is part of the white lotus an age old group the is deticated to keeping the balance between the four nations. He and Iroh and Jeong Jeong, and Master Pakku and Sokka's sword master Piandao, retake omashu from the fire nation thus proveing there strength four people took down a fire nation army.

Powers and Abilities

Bumi is an extremely powerful Earthbender, claiming to be the most powerful Earthbender would ever be. It has been speculated that Bumi maybe able to Metalbend like Toph, as he was able to Earthbend through his metal cage. For more information on Earthbending or Metalbending, visit the Benders page.