Comic 3: Showdown

"You Piraka have a choice...leave the island on your own, or we'll throw you off. Go on your own, and you can live out you long, rotten lives. Make us do it--and there won't be enough of you left to feed a Makuta Fish."

- Jaller

Showdown was the third issue in the relaunched BIONICLE: Ignition series, and was the fourth comic of 2006. It was originally released with the July/August 2006 edition of the LEGO Club Magazine, and was later collected in the graphic novel BIONICLE 5: The Battle of Voya Nui. This comic revolved around the Toa Inika battling the Piraka.

Opening
''The darkness shrouding the island of Voya Nui has been shattered by lightning. Bolts of energy from a mysterious red star have transformed six Matoran--Jaller, Kongu, Hahli, Nuparu, Matoro, and Hewkii--into the powerful Toa Inika.''

''These are Toa like none seen before. Charged with energy, equipped with powerful new weapons and incredible Kanohi masks, they must carry on where the Toa Nuva failed. The quest for the Mask of Life--and the salvation of the universe--now depends on them.''

''Meanwhile, the Piraka have forged and uneasy alliance with Brutaka as they search for the mask. Convinced that all opposition has been defeated, they have gathered at the Piraka stronghold to make their plans. They are about to find out just how wrong they are...''

Plot
The Toa Inika break into the Piraka Stronghold. Threatening the Piraka, Jaller remembers their first day on Voya Nui. After being turned into Toa by the Red Star, they made many discoveries. They found that their weapons were charged with electricity and their faces gave off a blinding glow without their Kanohi. To Nuparu's excitement, their mask powers were new and amazing. The Voya Nui Resistance Team gave them Zamor Launchers and asked one question: will you help us? As the Toa launch into battle, Nuparu uses his Mask of Flight and goes right for Zaktan, drawing up his Protodites. Zooming out of the stronghold, the Toa of Earth takes Zaktan to a body of water and dives in. Meanwhile, Hahli is in close combat with Thok. As Thok uses his eye-beams, Hahli loses her balance. As Thok taunts the Toa of Water, she fires back, aiming toward his voice. Thok uses his powers and causes two stone hands to erupt out of the ground. Matoro, seeing this, runs to Hahli's aid and deflects the Piraka's attacks while she frees herself. As Hakann attempts to escape, Jaller notices and engages him in battle. Hakann uses his heat beam to attack, but thanks to Jaller's mask, he dodges all the beams. As Hakann taunts him, Jaller fires a blast from his sword, which Hakann dodges easily. After firing his eye-beams again, Hakann fires his special Zamor. Jaller dodges it, not realizing that he is not the target. As Jaller tries to knock Brutaka out of the way, Thok reaches Hakann.

Jaller's efforts are in vain and Brutaka's power is siphoned into the two Piraka. Using their heightened powers, the two Piraka knock both their allies and enemies into submission. Brutaka, shielded by his mental barrier, feels nothing, and the two Piraka force him to reveal where the Mask of Life is hidden. As Axonn breaks into the stronghold, he warns the Toa Inika of the coming events and explains to them where to go. Down in the Chamber of Life, a being stirs. As Vezon and Fenrakk rise from the lava, they sense the coming of the Piraka and Toa and eagerly wait for them.

Credits

 * Greg Farshtey - Writer
 * Stuart Sayger - Artist
 * Alex Bleyaert - Colorist
 * Jared K. Fletcher - Letterer
 * Toby Dutkiewicz - Art director/design
 * Jaye Gardner - Editor

Characters

 * Axonn
 * Brutaka
 * Hahli - First appearance as Toa Inika
 * Hewkii - First appearance as Toa Inika
 * Jaller - First full appearance as Toa Inika
 * Kongu - First appearance as Toa Inika
 * Matoro - First full appearance as Toa Inika
 * Nuparu - First full appearance as Toa Inika
 * Vezon - First appearance

Locations

 * Mata Nui
 * Ta-Wahi
 * Ta-Koro - Mentioned only
 * Red Star - Mentioned only
 * Voya Nui
 * Chamber of Life - First appearance
 * Piraka Stronghold
 * Staircase to the Ignika - Mentioned only

Objects

 * Giant Axe
 * Kanohi
 * Great Calix - First full appearance
 * Great Elda - First appearance
 * Great Iden - First full appearance
 * Great Kadin - First full appearance
 * Great Mask of Life - Mentioned only
 * Great Olmak
 * Great Rode
 * Great Sanok - First appearance
 * Great Suletu - First appearance
 * Piraka tools
 * Buzzsaw
 * Ice Gun
 * Lava Launcher
 * Spear of Fusion - First appearance
 * Seismic Pickaxe
 * Three-Blade Scissor
 * Water Harpoon
 * Zamor Launcher
 * Rotating Blades
 * Toa Tools
 * Climbing Chain - First appearance
 * Energized Ice Sword - First full appearance
 * Energized Flame Swords - First full appearance
 * Great Claws - First full appearance
 * Laser Axe - First appearance
 * Laser Crossbow - First appearance
 * Laser Drill - First full appearance
 * Laser Harpoon - First appearance
 * Zamor Spheres

Organizations

 * Matoran - Mentioned only
 * Voya Nui Resistance Team - Mentioned only
 * Order of Mata Nui
 * Piraka
 * Rahi
 * Fenrakk - First appearance
 * Makuta Fish - Mentioned only
 * Skakdi
 * 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 - First full appearance

Miscellanea

 * Antidermis
 * Energized Protodermis
 * Elements/Elemental Powers
 * Air
 * Earth
 * Fire
 * Ice
 * Stone
 * Water
 * Matoran Language
 * Protosteel

Quotes
"You could use some fresh air, Zaktan, you're looking kind of...green. So tell me--do you swim?"

- Nuparu

"Sneaky! You would make a wonderful Piraka. Ever think of changing sides?" "If you think I'd even consider it...you're in for a shock."

- Thok and Hahli

"Leaving so soon?" "I don't like crowds...especially armed ones that are after me." "Should have picked a different line of work, then."

- Jaller and Hakann

Extra Features

 * Comic middle: Advertisement for the Free the Band promotion.
 * Comic end: Ancient Power Unleashed! section discusses sets 8734 Brutaka and 8733 Axonn; Toa Inika Strike Like Lightning! section discusses the masks and powers of the new Toa.
 * Rear cover: Advertisement for the Axonn and Brutaka sets, as well as their combiner model, Botar.

Continuity

 * This issue and the next both adapt the book BIONICLE Legends 3: Power Play.
 * This issue also sees the introduction of the Toa Inika, who would go on to become the main storyline's protagonists for two years.
 * This comic marks Jaller's first appearance since Comic 15: Secrets and Shadows in the original BIONICLE comic series. Matoro hasn't been seen in even longer, since 2003's Comic 9: Divided We Fall. And Hewkii and Kongu haven't appeared in comic form since Challenge of the Rahi, a promotional mini-comic released waaaay back in 2001. Nuparu and Hahli, on the other hand, while they've been part of side-stories and other media, are finally making their comic debut after almost six years.

Errors

 * On page 12, Reidak is accidentally given one of either Hakann or Thok's dialogue bubbles.