Comic 23: Vengeance of the Visorak

"As a Toa, you always held back your power, even if you didn't know it...so as not to harm others or bring destruction. But as a Hordika, there is little to keep your power in check. Given enough time, that side of you will take over...and you will become that which you have fought against."

- Rahaga Gaaki

Vengeance of the Visorak was the twenty-third issue of the original BIONICLE comic series and the eighth issue in the Metru Nui sub-series. It was originally mailed with the March/April 2005 edition of the LEGO Club Magazine, and was later collected in BIONICLE 4: Trial by Fire. This issue saw the Toa Hordika continue to pursue a means of freeing the Matoran.

Opening
''Transformed into bestial versions of themselves by the venom of the Visorak, the Toa Hordika are now discovering the true extent of their peril. Visorak run rampant throughout the ruins of Metru Nui, hunting anything that moves and imprisoning living creatures in their web cocoons. The Coliseum has become the new headquarters for Sidorak, the Visorak king, and his sinister viceroy, Roodaka. Protected by the hordes, it has become an impregnable fortress--one that hides the sleeping Matoran.''

''Aided by the Rahaga, the Toa Hordika begin to hatch their plans to save the Matoran and escape to the island of Mata Nui. But the transformation has affected more than just their bodies, and the Rahaga can only watch fearfully as the Toa's dark sides grow in strength.''

The worst enemies of the Toa Hordika may be...themselves.

Plot
In Po-Metru, Pouks, Onewa, and Vakama watch as a group of Roporak attack and ensnare a herd of Kikanalo. Pouks mourns over the loss of the animals, lamenting how he has seen this sort of behavior time and time again. Vakama impulsively attacks the Visorak with a Fire spinner, surrounding them with flames. While the Toa Hordika is proud of his heroism, the Rahaga rebukes him, pointing out how the spiders are easily able to escape the fire. Vakama pays his ally no heed, rushing into danger to confront the Visorak head-on. In the Coliseum, Sidorak rages about how the Toa Hordika and Rahaga have run loose in the city. Roodaka placates the king's wrath, while plotting to overthrow him. Elsewhere, Iruini and Matau walk through the city looking for supplies. Matau is having second thoughts about their mission, and considers looking for Keetongu instead. Iruini dismisses the mythical Rahi as a mere legend, and comforts the mutant Toa. After all, Iruini himself was once a Toa; he knows what it's like. Somewhere else, Gaaki and Nokama swim ahead for a scouting mission. Nokama basks in her new connection to nature, able to feel every current and eddy in the water. However, because of her carelessness, the Visorak have spotted both her and Gaaki. The Rahaga receives the brunt of a spinner. Enraged, Nokama hurls a super-charged Water spinner at the sky, summoning a powerful thunderstorm.

Aghast at the damage she has conjured, Nokama grabs Gaaki and flees. The Rahaga warns the Toa Hordika of Water that if she is not careful, the beast inside her will eventually overtake her. In Ko-Metru, Kualus and Nuju travel together as well. Kualus chirps and whistles, speaking with the birds around them. Nuju is dismissive of this nonsense talk, but the white Rahaga offers a counterpoint. The bird is free, while the Toa Metru of Ice has become hideously deformed; maybe the Rahi has nothing to learn from them. Some Oohnorak trick Nuju into an ambush. In desperation, Nuju surrounds himself and Kualus with an Ice dome, and the two escape into the Archives. There they find themselves out of the frying pan and into the fire, as they come face to face with a Kahgarak.

Credits

 * Greg Farshtey - Writer
 * Randy Elliott - Artist
 * Pete Pantazis - Colorist
 * Nick J. Napolitano - Letterer
 * Jaye Gardner - Editor
 * Toby Dutkiewicz - Art Director/Design

Characters

 * Ehrye - Mentioned only
 * Gaaki
 * Iruini
 * Keetongu - In vision
 * Kualus
 * Mata Nui - Mentioned only
 * Matau
 * Nokama
 * Norik
 * Nuju
 * Onewa
 * Pouks
 * Roodaka
 * Sidorak - First appearance
 * Vakama

Locations

 * Metru Nui
 * Archives
 * Coliseum
 * Ga-Metru
 * Ko-Metru
 * Le-Metru
 * Po-Metru

Objects

 * Airship - Mentioned only
 * Catcher Claw
 * Herding Blade - First appearance
 * Kanohi
 * Great Huna - Normal and mutated
 * Great Komau - Mutated
 * Great Mahiki - Mutated
 * Great Matatu - Mutated
 * Great Rau - Mutated
 * Great Ruru - Mutated
 * Rhotuka
 * Spinning Shields
 * Toa Tools
 * Blazer Claws
 * Claw Clubs
 * Fang Blades
 * Fin Barbs
 * Hordika Teeth
 * Thumpers

Organizations

 * Matoran - Mentioned only
 * Rahi
 * Keetongu - In vision
 * Kikanalo
 * Visorak
 * Boggarak - First appearance
 * Kahgarak - First appearance
 * Oohnorak - First appearance
 * Roporak - First appearance
 * Vohtarak
 * Sidorak's Species - First appearance
 * Toa
 * Toa of Air
 * Toa of Earth
 * Toa of Fire
 * Toa of Ice
 * Toa of Stone
 * Toa of Water
 * Toa Teams
 * Toa Hagah/Rahaga
 * Toa Metru/Toa Hordika
 * Vortixx

Miscellanea

 * Elements/Elemental Powers
 * Air
 * Earth
 * Fire
 * Ice
 * Stone
 * Water
 * Hordika Venom - Mentioned only
 * Kio - Mentioned only
 * Scholar - Mentioned only

Quotes
"It is the Visorak's way. Anything that moves, anything that lives must be made silent and still. I have seen this repeated dozens of times. The Visorak come, conquer, and leave a dead land behind."

- Rahaga Norik

"I have endured your venom, creature...and your webs...but one thing I will not endure--is your breath!"

- Toa Hordika Nuju

Extra Features

 * Comic middle: Menaces to Metru Nui section discusses the Protocairn and Frostelus combination models.
 * Comic end: Advertisement for BIONICLE.com; City of Shadows map of the post-earthquake Metru Nui; advertisement for the Spinner Challenge game and BIONICLE merchandise.
 * Rear cover: Advertisement for #8715 BIONICLE Accessory Set, exclusive to Toys'R'Us.

Continuity

 * In this comic Iruini reveals the truth behind the Rahaga: they were once Toa, before being transformed into small Rahkshi-like creatures. Their origin story will be explored in Comic 25: Birth of the Rahaga.