Comic 9: Battle in the Deep!

"As he struggles, Jaller remembers how he and the other Toa Inika emerged from a long stone labyrinth of tunnels into the ice cold waters of the Pit. An instant later, they were struck by a massive wave of energy--a cry for help from the Mask of Life. The energy twisted their armor, their masks, and their very essence...Transforming them into the water-breathing warriors, the Toa Mahri!"

- Narration

Battle in the Deep! was the ninth issue of the relaunched BIONICLE: Ignition comic series and part four of the Sea of Darkness sub-series. It was originally mailed with the July/August 2007 edition of the LEGO Club Magazine, and was later collected in the graphic novel BIONICLE 6: The Underwater City. This issue saw the Toa Mahri fight the Barraki for the Mask of Life.

Plot
Jaller finds himself at the receiving end of Kalmah's tentacle, wrapped around his neck. Neck-deep in combat, some things never change for the Toa. The Toa of Fire thinks back to earlier. The Toa Inika had just emerged from the Stone Cord when the Kanohi Ignika released it's cry for help, transforming them into new water-breather forms. The local leader commissioned the heroes to protect Mahri Nui. So far it's not too good. In desperation, Jaller tells Kongu to use his new mask power. Reluctantly, the Toa of Air complies, bringing to their side an ancient subaquatic behemoth. Elsewhere, Hewkii surprises Nuparu, who accidentally annihilates a nearby boulder with his new weapon.

In yet another place, Matoro has been caught and imprisoned by a jailer named Hydraxon. Plotting his escape, the Toa of Ice is overwhelmed by a blast of pain. The Maxilos guarding the cell reveals itself to be none other than Makuta himself! Rather than kill the captured Toa, Makuta claims to be on his side. Finally, Nocturn grumbles about his lot, forced to hold onto the Mask of Life instead of fighting. Hydraxon appears and fights the escapee for the mask, only to decide that it is too dangerous and must be destroyed.

'''Next issue: Not a joke! Not an illusion! The Death of Mata Nui!'''

Credits

 * Greg Farshtey - Writer
 * Stuart Sayger - Artist
 * Alex Bleyaert - Colorist
 * Phil Balsman - Letterer
 * Jennifer Redding - Asst. art director
 * Toby Dutkiewicz - Art director/design
 * Jessica Numsuwankijkul - Asst. editor
 * Michael Wright - Editor

Characters

 * Axonn - In flashback
 * Brutaka - In flashback
 * Carapar
 * Defilak
 * Hahli - First appearance as Toa Mahri
 * Hewkii - First appearance as Toa Mahri
 * Hydraxon - First appearance
 * Jaller - First appearance as Toa Mahri
 * Kalmah
 * Kongu - First appearance as Toa Mahri
 * Makuta
 * Matoro - First appearance as Toa Mahri
 * Maxilos - First appearance
 * Nocturn
 * Nuparu - First appearance as Toa Mahri
 * Pridak
 * Takadox

Locations

 * Mahri Nui
 * The Pit
 * Voya Nui
 * Piraka Stronghold - In flashback
 * Stone Cord

Objects

 * Giant Axe
 * Kanohi
 * Great Arthron - First appearance
 * Great Calix
 * Great Elda
 * Great Faxon - First appearance
 * Great Garai - First appearance
 * Great Iden
 * Great Kadin
 * Great Rode - In flashback
 * Great Sanok
 * Great Suletu
 * Great Tryna - First appearance
 * Great Volitak - First appearance
 * Great Zatth - First appearance
 * Legendary Ignika
 * Powerless Kualsi
 * Toa Tools
 * Aqua Warblade - First appearance
 * Climbing Chain
 * Cordak Blasters - First appearance
 * Electrified Chains - First appearance
 * Energized Flame Swords
 * Energized Ice Sword
 * Great Claws
 * Laser Axe
 * Laser Crossbow
 * Laser Drill
 * Laser Harpoon
 * Power Sword - First appearance
 * Protosteel Talons - First appearance
 * Razor-Edged Protosteel Shield - First appearance
 * Twin Cutter - First appearance
 * Zamor Launchers
 * Twin-Bladed Black Fire Sword - First appearance

Organizations

 * Barraki
 * Makuta
 * Matoran
 * Leader of the Mahri Nui Council
 * Le-Matoran
 * Order of Mata Nui - In flashback
 * Rahi
 * Spinax - First appearance
 * Toa
 * Toa of Air
 * Toa of Earth
 * Toa of Fire
 * Toa of Ice
 * Toa of Stone
 * Toa of Water
 * Toa Teams
 * Toa Inika/Toa Mahri

Miscellanea

 * Antidermis - In flashback
 * Elements/Elemental Powers
 * Ice - Mentioned only
 * Life
 * Matoran Language
 * Protosteel

Quotes
"If you are heroes, then defend Mahri Nui. Perhaps then my people will believe you are who you say you are."

- Defilak

"You shouldn't sneak up on people!" "Says the Toa wearing the Mask of Stealth.""

- Nuparu and Hewkii

"We meet again, Matoro. You were always wiser than Jaller and those other spineless fools: You knew I wasn't gone for good."

- Makuta disguised as Maxilos

"Hydraxon??? But...you're dead. You died in the earthquake that set us free from our prison!" "I got better.""

- Nocturn and Hydraxon

Extra Features

 * Comic middle: Toa Mahri Rule the Sea section discusses sets 8914 Toa Mahri Hahli, 8911 Toa Mahri Jaller, 8910 Toa Mahri Kongu, 8913 Toa Mahri Nuparu, 8915 Toa Mahri Matoro, and 8912 Toa Mahri Hewkii.
 * Rear cover: A Legend Reborn: Lesovikk advertises the summer 2007 special edition Lesovikk set.

Continuity

 * This issue takes place concurrently with and partially adapts BIONICLE Legends 7: Prisoners of the Pit.
 * This issue marks the first full appearance of the Toa Mahri, the transformed forms of the Toa Inika from last year's story. This marks the first appearance of the Toa since Comic 6: Web Comic, where they first learned of Mahri Nui.
 * This issue also marks the first appearance of Hydraxon, who in reality is Dekar transformed by the Mask of Life's power.
 * Nocturn reappears, after fighting an entire tribe of Zyglak in the previous comic.
 * Makuta reappears, revealing that the green cloud of Antidermis seen in the previous year's story was actually his true form. Makuta himself has not been seen in comic form since 2004's Comic 21: Dreams of Darkness as part of a vision.