Following the Hundred Year War, Toph Beifong established a small training school to teach the metalbending technique she had discovered. The academy appears in the post-war Avatar: The Last Airbender comics, where Toph selects her first students after noticing a reaction from her meteorite bracelet when they were nearby — a sign they possessed the sensitivity needed to bend metal.
Her first students were Ho Tun, Penga, and The Dark One. They trained directly under her and later assisted with instruction at the academy.
Ho Tun
Ho Tun is one of Toph’s earliest and most dependable students. He is physically large and carries himself with the grounded presence typical of traditional earthbenders. When he first began training, he relied heavily on strength and rigid technique, approaching metal the same way he approached stone. Under Toph’s instruction, he learned to abandon force and instead sense the trace earth within metal, allowing him to manipulate it with control.
He demonstrates strong emotional grounding and often emphasizes the internal balance required for bending. Within the group, he acts as a stabilizing presence and takes his role at the academy seriously, believing they must live up to Toph’s standards. He reflects openly on how training changed him and shows deep loyalty to both his teacher and fellow students.
During the events of The Rift, Ho Tun assists Team Avatar and uses metalbending in combat, helping strip away iron armor from the spirit Old Iron.
Penga
Penga is one of the first students to achieve consistent control over metalbending. Her approach differs from more forceful styles; she focuses on precision, sensitivity, and careful control. Rather than overpowering metal, she works through subtle movements and vibration sensing.
She is attentive to improvement and self-reflection, acknowledging how her discipline and mindset evolved during training. Her focus on refinement and technique shows a methodical personality and a strong commitment to mastering the skill.
Penga participates in academy instruction and later fights alongside Toph and the others during the Old Iron conflict, applying metalbending in coordinated combat.
The Dark One
The Dark One is another of Toph’s first successful students and is known primarily for his bleak outlook and dry humor. His nickname reflects his pessimistic personality rather than any literal darkness. He often expects the worst outcome in any situation and expresses a cynical view of people and events.
Despite this attitude, he remains committed to the academy and his fellow students. He admits to avoiding teaching responsibilities at times — including sending students on long hikes to delay instruction — but he continues to serve as an instructor and ally. Over time, he acknowledges personal growth, noting that training helped him tolerate people and situations he once avoided.
Like the others, he assists in defending against Old Iron and demonstrates full mastery of metalbending in combat.
Their Role at the Academy
After completing their training, Ho Tun, Penga, and The Dark One remained at the metalbending academy and helped guide new students. They assisted in teaching:
- sensing earth impurities within metal
- maintaining vibration awareness
- reshaping refined metal
- adapting earthbending techniques to metal
They were chosen because of their natural sensitivity to metal and became the first proof that metalbending could be successfully taught.
Selection and Training
Toph identified her first students when her meteorite bracelet reacted in their presence, indicating an unusual affinity for metalbending. Training focused on breaking traditional earthbending habits and developing the ability to feel structure through vibration.
Lessons were practical and repetitive, emphasizing persistence and sensory awareness rather than rigid forms.
