Comic 1: The Coming of the Toa

"His tale is broken, incomplete. But it is the tale told in my dreams, or close to it. I have been summoned--I and others--to challenge a mighty evil. To defeat it, I will need great power. The Kanohi Masks will give me that power."

- Kopaka's thoughts

The Coming of the Toa was the first issue of the original BIONICLE comic series, and part one of the series' initial storyline. It originally came packaged with the May/June 2001 edition of LEGO Mania Magazine, and was later collected in BIONICLE: Volume 1, BIONICLE: The Saga of Takanuva!, and BIONICLE 1: Rise of the Toa Nuva. The comic centered on Toa Kopaka and Pohatu as they began their quest for the Masks of Power.

Opening
''The island of Mata Nui was once a paradise--until the entity known as Makuta arrived, transforming it into a land of darkness and evil. The natives, called Tohunga, and their leaders, the Turaga, have waited and hoped for heroes who would conquer Makuta and save their home.''

''Now their waiting has come to and end. Six mighty warriors, known as Toa, have arrived on Mata Nui. Each controls a force of nature--fire, air, earth, water, stone, ice. But to triumph over Makuta, they must gather the Kanohi Masks of Power. witch give them greater skills, abilities, and wisdom. The more masks they collect, the more powerful the Toa become.''

''Finding the Masks takes great courage, for Makuta controls the land, sea, and sky of Mata Nui. He also commands a host of terrible creatures known as Rahi, as well as the Manas, fierce predators with power that not single Toa can withstand...''

If the Toa hope to win, they must find the power of the Masks!

Plot
The comic begins on a beach with a canister surrounded by Ussals. The canister lid blasts off; Kopaka emerges and builds himself. Kopaka travels through Ko-Wahi, eventually meeting Matoro, who was watching him. Kopaka initially attacks Matoro, but quickly realizes that he's an ally. Matoro tells Kopaka where one of the Great Masks of Power can be found, at the Place of Far Seeing. Matoro then takes Kopaka to meet Turaga Nuju. On the way, the two are attacked by a Nui-Rama. Matoro fell off the cliff they were on, but Kopaka leapt off and saved him by using his powers to create a new bridge.

They then were met by Nuju, who told Kopaka about Teridax (known as the Makuta at the time), the history of Mata Nui, his powers and how to defeat Teridax, by collecting the Great Masks of Power. While Kopaka was walking up the mountain, Pohatu accidentally trapped him under a boulder. After Kopaka got out Pohatu insisted on coming along, Kopaka hesitatingly allowed him to come. When they reached the top Kopaka saw and claimed a Hau. Kopaka, after switching back to his Akaku, saw four beings of power, Tahu, Lewa, Onua, and Gali. He and Pohatu went down the mountain immediately to meet them.

Characters

 * Gali - First appearance
 * Kopaka - First appearance
 * Lewa - First appearance
 * Matoro - First appearance
 * Makuta - Mentioned only; first mentioned
 * Nuju - First appearance
 * Onua - First appearance
 * Pohatu - First appearance
 * Tahu - First appearance

Locations

 * Mata Nui - First appearance
 * Ko-Wahi - First appearance
 * Ko-Wahi Beach - First appearance
 * Ko-Koro - First appearance
 * Mount Ihu - First appearance

Objects

 * Badge of Office - First appearance
 * Ice Pick - First appearance
 * Kanohi - First appearance
 * Great Akaku - First appearance
 * Kanohi Hau - First appearance
 * Kanohi Kakama - First appearance
 * Kanohi Kaukau - First appearance
 * Kanohi Miru - First appearance
 * Kanohi Pakari - First appearance
 * Infected Kanohi - First appearance
 * Noble Matatu - First appearance
 * Powerless Akaku - First appearance
 * Toa Canister - First appearance
 * Toa Tools - First appearance
 * Earth Claws - First appearance
 * Ice Sword - First appearance
 * Ice Shield - First appearance
 * Feet Additions - First appearance

Organizations

 * Matoran - First appearance
 * Ko-Matoran - First appearance
 * Rahi - First appearance
 * Nui-Rama - First appearance
 * Ussal - First appearance
 * Toa - First appearance
 * Toa of Air - First appearance
 * Toa of Earth - First appearance
 * Toa of Fire - First appearance
 * Toa of Ice - First appearance
 * Toa of Stone - First appearance
 * Toa of Water - First appearance
 * Toa Teams - First appearance
 * Toa Mata/Toa Nuva - First appearance
 * Turaga - First appearance

Miscellanea

 * Elements/Elemental Powers - First appearance
 * Ice - First appearance
 * Stone - First appearance

Quotes
"I have slept for so long. My dreams have been dark ones. But now I am awakened. Now the scattered elements of my being are rejoined. Now I am whole. And the darkness cannot stand before me."

- Kopaka's first thoughts

"My mask lets me see pathways not seen before--patterns of heat--even through the rock. And I see I have a visitor. My new friend tries to flee. But a coating of ice beneath his feet will bring him back to me."

- Kopaka

"You are Kopaka, who wields the power of winter itself. You saved one of your own people, with no thought to your own safety. You are the one we have waited for."

- Turaga Nuju

Extra Features

 * Mid-comic: Advertisement for promotional BIONICLE events featuring Andy MacDonald.
 * Comic middle: Section discussing the upcoming six Toa and six Turaga sets.
 * Comic end: Advertisement for the BIONICLE.com website.
 * Rear cover: Advertisement for the trading card game BIONICLE: Quest for the Masks.