Comic 1: Sands of Bara Magna

"He is Berix, an Agori villager in the settlement of Tajun. Berix is a collector, scouring the desert and its ruins for "treasures"--scrap metal, old armor and weapons, or whatever he might come across. There's only one problem with being a collector on Bara Magna...Sometimes you find things you don't want. And sometimes they find you."

- Opening narration

Sands of Bara Magna was the first issue of the relaunched BIONICLE: Glatorian series and the first comic of 2009. It was released with the January/February 2009 edition of the LEGO Club Magazine and was the first comic to feature Pop Mhan as the artist. The comic was later collected in BIONICLE 9: The Fall of Atero. This issue served as the introduction to the new world of Bara Magna.

Plot
Berix runs for his life. While he was out looking for buried treasure to scavenge, he was attacked by Fero and his mount Skirmix. Before the Bone Hunter can deal the final blow to the Agori, Gresh interrupts him with a well-placed shot from his Thornax weapon. Although Fero threatens the Glatorian, he finds himself out-manned and out-gunned by Strakk and Tarix as well. After the fight and on their way to the Vulcanus arena, the group is ambushed by a gang of wild Vorox from the Sand Tribe. Mid-way through the fight, the Vorox are called back by their leader, the exiled Glatorian Malum. The group continues without further incident to the Fire Tribe's village of Vulcanus.

At the arena, village leader Raanu argues with Glatorian recuiter Metus, while a Skrall bullies his way into a good seat. Raanu begins the ceremonial combat, and the fight is on! Despite Gresh's ferocity, the Skrall easily overwhelms him in a matter of minutes. Upon destroying the Jungle Tribe Glatorian's shield, the Skrall attempts a death blow, only to be stopped by Tarix. Later, the Skrall meets with a hidden figure who gives him confidential information to pass on to the Skrall leader. The Skrall returns to Roxtus, where he confers with Tuma. Tuma gloats that soon the Skrall will be able to rise up and conquer all of Bara Magna!


 * Next issue: Day of the Skrall!

Credits

 * Greg Farshtey - Writer
 * Pop Mhan - Artist
 * Ulises Arreola - Colorist
 * Sal Cipriano - Letterer
 * Toby Dutkiewicz - Art director/designer
 * Jessica Numsuwankijkul - Editor

Characters

 * Atakus - First appearance
 * Berix - First appearance
 * Fero - First appearance
 * Gresh - First appearance
 * Malum - First appearance
 * Metus - First appearance
 * Raanu - First appearance
 * Strakk - First appearance
 * Tarix - First appearance
 * Tuma - First appearance

Locations

 * Bara Magna - First appearance
 * Tajun - Mentioned only; first mentioned
 * Tesara - Mentioned only; first mentioned
 * Roxtus - First appearance
 * Vulcanus - First appearance

Objects

 * Flame Claws - First appearance
 * Ice Axe - First appearance
 * Jungle Shield - First appearance
 * Saw Blade Shield - First appearance
 * Skrall Sword - First appearance
 * Thornax - First appearance
 * Thornax Launcher - First appearance
 * Twin Swords - First appearance
 * Twin Water Blades - First appearance

Organizations

 * Agori - First appearance
 * Bone Hunters - First appearance
 * Fire Tribe - First appearance
 * Glatorian - First appearance
 * Ice Tribe - First appearance
 * Jungle Tribe - First appearance
 * Rock Steed - First appearance
 * Skirmix - First appearance
 * Rock Tribe - First appearance
 * Skrall - First appearance
 * Warrior-class Skrall - First appearance
 * Leader-class Skrall - First appearance
 * Sand Tribe - First appearance
 * Vorox - First appearance
 * Water Tribe - First appearance

Quotes
"Glatorian fight for the villages that hire us, so they don't have to fight each other. But we don't charge to save a life."

- Gresh rebuking Strakk

"You honor our arena with your combat. May your swords and shields preserve the peace."

- Raanu opening the Arena fight

"We fight. We win. We take. We are Skrall!"

- Skrall warrior

"Soon, we Skrall will shed our skins like the sand dragons and be revealed for what we are--conquerors! Rulers! We will attack...we will win...and Bara Magna will be ours!"

- Tuma schemes

Extra Features

 * Comic middle: The Glatorian Battle of the Century! section advertising sets 8980 Gresh, 8978 Skrall, 8981 Tarix, 8983 Vorox, 8982 Strakk, and 8979 Malum.
 * Rear cover: Master of the Skrall! advertisement for 8991 Tuma set.

Continuity

 * This issue is the first of a soft reboot for BIONICLE, with the story shifting away from the Matoran Universe of the last eight years and now focusing on the desert world of Bara Magna.
 * The mysterious Agori traitor is first seen in this issue. His plan would later be revealed in BIONICLE: The Legend Reborn.
 * Tuma's master plan and primary motivation for conquest would be explained in Rise and Fall of the Skrall.

Trivia

 * This is the first comic which artist Pop Mhan illustrated. He would go on to illustrate the rest of the BIONICLE: Glatorian series until its final issue in 2010.