6 Years Later, the Only Cartoon Network Show to Rival ‘Avatar’ Teases a Comeback

Few cartoons could rival the imagination and popularity of Avatar: The Last Airbender, but Ben 10 made a strong case with a deceptively simple idea in the same year: A child has a wristwatch that enables him to transform into aliens. He goes about his summer holiday fighting monsters even as he bickers with his cousin. The transformations kept us glued to the screen. But Ben, Gwen, and Grandpa Max made the journey worthwhile. Now, 6 years after we saw the last Ben 10 media (the 2016 reboot that finished airing in 2020, though some special episodes were released until 2021), it appears there’s a possibility of a revival through a Ben 10 pilot from Warner Bros. Animation.

According to the X account @BenTenNews, a new Ben 10 pilot from Warner Bros. Animation is listed on SAG-AFTRA’s website. Now, that does not necessarily mean that a full series has been greenlit. We know, for instance, that Game of Thrones’ prequel spinoff Bloodmoon shot a pilot, but HBO did not order it into a series. And yet, we fans have something to get tentatively excited about. It also reminds us why the show deserves a place alongside Avatar: The Last Airbender.

A New Ben 10 Pilot Hints at a Possible Revival

I am curious as to which Ben we’d be getting. We don’t know whether it would follow an earlier version of the characters or reboot the continuity. In the original series, a summer vacation would go spectacularly wrong. Ben could be squabbling with Gwen one minute and facing an extraterrestrial threat the next. Grandpa Max was another fascinating character, and his knowledge of all things alien was suspiciously deep.

Alien Force elevated that formula to new heights. The now older and more mature Ben had to work with Gwen as well as his former nemesis Kevin. While having powers is all well and good, trusting someone who once tried to destroy you was something else entirely.

Both could be done successfully when reviving the series. However, I’d prefer to see a Ben who grows up, yet does not become so mature that he loses his character along the way. For example, at times he may pick an alien simply because he thinks that it looks good, only to find out he has just made his day a little more difficult. His questionable judgment is part of the fun.

But Gwen and Max deserve just as much attention. They keep Ben’s adventures entertaining between the fights. Give us exciting new aliens, but also give us a family we want to spend time with.

Why Ben 10 Deserves to Rank Alongside Avatar: The Last Airbender

A still from Ben 10 Versus the Universe: The Movie | Credits: Cartoon Network Studios

A small clarification here. In Avatar: The Last Airbender, there was a more coherent storyline where the growth of characters eventually leads to something more satisfying in the end. Ben 10 is not that consistent. For instance, different installments cannot agree on how much the hero has matured.

Nevertheless, both series knew how to make unique powers cool beyond mere spectacle. In Avatar, the ingenuity of the character might be as valuable as his or her bending ability. In Ben 10, a comparable approach was taken to the Omnitrix. Four Arms was well-suited to a physical confrontation, yet some issues had to be solved by Grey Matter.

This gave the action some fun unpredictability. Ben would know which alien he wanted. To get someone else meant he had to figure things out, and it was more fun to see him figure things out than to watch him beat up his enemy.

Would you want a Ben 10 revival to continue the original story? Let us know in the comments!