Comic 22: Monsters in the Dark

"You must master your new forms and powers if you hope to survive. But beware. If the venom is not erased from your system in time, you will remain this way forever. Worse, you will become beasts in fact as well as appearance...gibbering things that stalk the night, bringing destruction."

- Rahaga Norik

Monsters in the Dark was the twenty-second issue in the original BIONICLE comic series and the seventh issue in the BIONICLE: Metru Nui sub-series. It was mailed with the January/February 2005 edition of the LEGO Club Magazine.

Opening
''Having found a new land where they hope the Matoran will be safe from harm, the Toa Metru have returned to Metru Nui to save the rest of the population. But they have come back to a city radically changed, and for the worse--darkness and strange webs shroud the buildings, and earthquake has badly damaged large areas, and bizarre creatures are visible moving in the mist. Worse, the Archives have been shattered, freeing every Rahi inside to roam the city.''

''Despite all this, Toa Vakama remains confident that his team can rescue the the sleeping Matoran from underneath the Coliseum and get them out of the city. After all, they are Toa! They have defeated Makuta, Dark Hunters, Vahki, and the Morbuzakh. There is nothing in this city of shadows that could harm them...''

Or is there?

Plot

 * Undergoing construction. Please be patient.

Credits

 * Greg Farshtey - Writer
 * Randy Elliott - Artist
 * Pete Pantazis - Colorist
 * Ken Lopez - Letterer
 * Jaye Gardner - Editor
 * Toby Dutkiewicz - Art Director/Design

Characters

 * Bomonga - First appearance
 * Dume - Mentioned only
 * Gaaki - First appearance
 * Iruini - First appearance
 * Keelerak - First appearance
 * Kualus - First appearance
 * Makuta - Mentioned only
 * Matau - First appearance as a Toa Hordika
 * Nokama - First appearance as a Toa Hordika
 * Norik - First appearance
 * Nuju - First appearance as a Toa Hordika
 * Onewa - First appearance as a Toa Hordika
 * Pouks - First appearance
 * Roodaka - First appearance
 * Sidorak - Mentioned only
 * Vakama - First appearance as a Toa Hordika
 * Vohtarak - First appearance
 * Whenua - First appearance as a Toa Hordika

Locations

 * Metru Nui
 * Archives - Mentioned only
 * Coliseum
 * Le-Metru

Objects

 * Chute System
 * Chute
 * Catcher Claw - First appearance
 * Kanohi
 * Great Huna - Normal and mutated
 * Great Komau - Normal and mutated
 * Great Mahiki - Normal and mutated
 * Great Matatu - Normal and mutated
 * Great Rau - Normal and mutated
 * Great Ruru - Normal and mutated
 * Rahkshi Staff of Power
 * Rhotuka - First appearance
 * Toa Tools
 * Aero Slicers
 * Blazer Claws - First appearance
 * Claw Clubs - First appearance
 * Crystal Spikes
 * Disk Launcher (Vakama)
 * Earthshock Drills
 * Fang Blades - First appearance
 * Fin Barbs - First appearance
 * Hordika Teeth - First appearance
 * Hydro Blades
 * Proto Pitons
 * Thumpers - First appearance

Organizations

 * Matoran - Mentioned only
 * Rahaga - First appearance
 * Rahkshi
 * Toa
 * Toa of Air
 * Toa of Earth
 * Toa of Fire
 * Toa of Ice
 * Toa of Stone
 * Toa of Water
 * Toa Metru/Toa Hordika - First appearance as Toa Hordika
 * Toa Teams
 * Turaga - Mentioned only
 * Visorak - First appearance

Miscellanea

 * Chutespeak
 * Elements/Elemental Powers
 * Air
 * Earth
 * Fire
 * Ice
 * Stone
 * Water
 * Hordika Venom

Quotes
"A message is sent through the strands of webbings that cover the city. Short and simple, it will bring a thousand creatures of the shadows after the Toa Metru: "The hunt has begun.""

- Narration

"I assume you are here to tell me that Sidorak and the hordes have been successful, and the Toa have been recaptured? Because you know how I feel about failure. The success of my plans requires the six Toa...and by Matuka's black heart, I shall have them! This Roodaka swears!"

- Roodaka

Extra Features

 * Comic middle: Toa Hordika on the Loose section discusses the six new Toa Hordika sets.
 * Comic end: Advertisement discusses the Hordika Spinner Challenge fans can play; advertisement for BIONICLE 2: Legends of Metru Nui; section describes the various Rhotuka powers which the Rahaga and Toa Hordika possess.
 * Rear cover: Advertisement for the Toa Hordika sets.