Ikki o' Moopyville

Story-wise, they're still everywhere. 2007 had probably the largest quanity of Rahi in story next to 2001 and perhaps 2005 -- Barraki armies, remember? Set-wise, we had fair number of them last year, too -- the Hydruka, Spinax, the Hahnah crab with Jaller, and of course big ol' Gadunka. This year, being the climax of the story thus far, focuses mainly on the Toa, Makuta, and Matoran, and besides, Karda Nui's not a hospitable place for Rahi. Still there are a few, like the Brickmaster Klakk. So in short, they're still there, but usually Toa and villain sets (and apparently vehicles too) sell better. Next year looks pretty wild in terms of setting though, and already there's Skirmix. So keep your hopes up. -Ikk

Actually, the leaked set list said Malum. Pretty sure that's correct. -Ikk

Aye, that's the bad side of it -- when put together, the team doesn't look coherent. *curses the Toa Mistika* It'll be interesting to see if the summer villains/heroes actually have any connection with the characters we've seen so far, or if they'll team up later... I like this whole new universe thing. It's unpredictable. -Ikk

My guess would be Gresh (Knights' Kingdom mask much?) and, hm... probably Malum. His Raanu buddy at least looks fairly benevolent. Having evil-looking heroes is always a blast. -Ikk

Omega -- Greg said the good/evil mix was done by request of the retailers. Kids want conflict immediately rather than waiting half a year for the opposing side to be released. I seriously doubt they'd change that schedule now. Besides, plenty of heroes in Bionicle look downright demonic already -- that's part of the world. Antrozek -- Aye, I think the nightmares have be revealed to be some kind of consciousness about what's happening in the universe. As for their purpose in story -- well, it shows Mata Nui what happened because of his ignorance (the Makuta striking him down, Reign of Darkness, Toa dying, etc.) Oh, and the Matoran civil war was about 80,000 years ago, so Mata Nui wouldn't be dreaming 'bout that. -Ikk

Actually, there are no Toa at all next year. ;) And it's likely the half the ones we've seen are good, and the rest are evil... hope they surprise us with who it is, though. -Ikk

Mata Nui was described in BL8: Downfall as having nightmares since his revival. And whoa, didn't think of that. You're right, we actually don't know if Makuta has already 'pushed' him out... maybe that was why the BOM needed him to die and be revived? Dunno how it'd work, but interesting. -Ikk

Good question, actually. We've never heard of Mata Nui being outside his body before, so we don't know what kind of things he could possess -- maybe we'll find out next year, as he struggles to find a way to get back in the body of the Great Spirit... -Ikk

Mata Nui can't change his shape, which must logically include his height. So there. Also, all Matoran are inside him, so... not sure what you are saying. If you're talking about the 2009 characters, what's probably gonna happen is a new body for big ol' MN. Seems simplest and most likely, all things considered. -Ikk

Only if he stays in that body... And since he's being made as a set, he pretty much HAS to have the pinholes and gaps, meaning there's no way he'll be the rock giant we've come to know and love. Ah, poor big guy. -Ikk

That's true -- but an oval planet would still be pretty random. -Ikk

No problem. That makes more sense too. XD Actually, I think it's the first time we've got confirmation on there being no more Great Spirits -- that also means the Great Beings did not create any other universes like this... EDIT: The strange thing about the map is that the dots are ovals... meaning they're not likely to be planets, suns or moons. -Ikk

Aye, it's pretty darn cool. And what you said would make sense, but alas Greg has stated that the Red Star is not on the map -- since, as I said, it came into existence after the map did. -Ikk

The BIONICLE logo, which was recently revealed to be a map stretching beyond the borders of the Matoran universe. And of course a theory can be wrong. I could theorize that Mata Nui was a penguin, but that'd be dead wrong. -Ikk

How do these things hint that Mata Nui came from that place? Besides, I just remembered a piece of info that would disprove it -- the UDD Map does not include the Red Star, because it did not exist when it was made. And that map was given to Mata Nui by the Great Beings... so I'd think that at that time, the so-called Heavens would exist. -Ikk

=O Could you show us the PM. Sounds VERY interesting. -Ikk

What evidence? -Ikk

Not that we know of -- no idea where you got that. -Ikk

Actually, I believe Greg has said there are no other Great Spirits as far as we know. You're probably thinking Great Beings -- and I doubt these sets are either. Though it's plausible that 2009 does indeed take place in the Heavens mentioned in the Legend of Mata Nui, the place from which MN was supposedly sent. After all, it'd make no sense for him to spend 100,000 on a planet with nothing but water. -Ikk

He's a friend of mine, so he trusted me with it... and I've yet to stab him in the back. And now for something completely different: I don't remember actually being this *excited* about Bionicle in over half a decade. Not just the sets, but also the start of a new story, set in a new world with new rules -- and the simply beautiful environments we see in the backgrounds on the these pics. This is everything I dreamt of... -Ikk

These things have been deleted and re-uploaded several times. They're leaked, remember? -Ikk

I am using Reya's account on BZP, since I'm banned there myself. -Ikk

Should disprove the 2009 characters = huge theory. And you're welcome, Pencoin. Though you're not the only one with that 2008 ending theory... it's pretty easy to arrive at. -ikk

Or, the more likely solution -- Makuta Teridax will replace Mata Nui's spirit, becoming the universe himself, and Mata Nui will end up in another body. Would explain how he could be in a biomechanical form and regular size. -Ikk

Why are you getting yourself banned on BZ-- Oh wait, I did that too. Anyway, I *LOVE* some of these too. Haven't been this excited about Bionicle in forever. Strakk and Vorox and Zesk are so much win... And tan is *the* perfect color for stone! -Ikk