Comic 13: Rise of the Rahkshi!

"I am Makuta, Master of Shadows. For years, the Toa have believed me defeated, banished from this island I once ruled. Now I have returned--and my sons are about to teach the Toa the error of their ways."

- Makuta

Rise of the Rahkshi was the thirteenth issue in the original BIONICLE comic series, and was mailed together with the July/August 2003 edition of the LEGO Magazine. It introduced the Rahkshi as new opponents for the Toa Nuva.

Opening
The Mask of Light has been discovered!

''This new rocks all of Mata Nui, for it means the legendary Seventh Toa is coming to save the island. While two brave Matoran seek out the new hero, the Toa Nuva discover that not everyone is happy about the legend coming true. Makuta, master of shadows, will stop at nothing to banish the light from the Mata Nui forever.''

''Now the Toa Nuva find themselves challenged by the "sons" of their greatest foe--creatures no powerful that no Toa, no koro, can stand against them. The stage is set for the final confrontation between light and darkness!''

Note: This story takes place during the events of BIONICLE: Mask of Light.

Plot
Makuta has unleashed his sons upon the island of Mata Nui: Panrahk, Rahkshi of Fragmentation; Lerahk, Rahkshi of Poison, and Guurahk, Rahkshi of Disintegration. These powerful creatures seek the Mask of Light, the only obstacle to Makuta's domination. Tahu and Gali race to confront the monsters, only to be ambushed by Lerahk and Guurahk. Lewa rescues Gali from Guurahk's attacks, but the Toa Nuva's defense is uncoordinated. The Rahkshi use this to their advantage, cornering the heroes against a cliff and causing a poisonous landslide to crush them. Satisfied with this efforts, Makuta releases more Rahkshi from his lair: Kurahk, Rahkshi of Anger; Vorahk, Rahkshi of Hunger; and Turahk, Rahkshi of Fear. With these three, Makuta hopes to demoralize the Matoran's Unity, Duty, and Destiny.

Elsewhere in Po-Wahi, Turaga Whenua meets with Onua and Pohatu. While the Toa are eager to help search for the Seventh Toa, Whenua has summoned them for a different purpose. He and the other Turaga have been hunting and trapping Kraata for centuries, keeping them safely stored in the cave. With the Rahkshi on the loose, Whenua fears that they may seek out and free the Kraata. Pohatu is infuriated that the Turaga kept something as powerful and dangerous as this a secret from him, but Onua interrupts: the Rahkshi are here! They create a landslide and trap the heroes in the cavern. Worse, the shockwave from the avalanche has opened the Kraata tubes. Meanwhile, Kopaka arrives at the spot where the Toa planned to meet, only to discover the six assembled Rahkshi waiting for him!

Credits

 * Greg Farshtey - Writer
 * Randy Elliot - Artist
 * Ken Lopez - Letterer
 * Peter Pantazis - Colorist & Separator
 * Jaye Gardner - Editor
 * Toby Dutkiewicz - Layout and Design

Characters

 * Gali
 * Guurahk
 * Jaller - Mentioned only
 * Kopaka
 * Kurahk
 * Lerahk
 * Lewa
 * Makuta
 * Onua
 * Panrahk
 * Pohatu
 * The Seventh Toa - Mentioned only
 * Tahu
 * Takua - Mentioned only
 * Turahk
 * Vorahk
 * Whenua

Locations

 * Mata Nui
 * Kraata Cave
 * Mangaia
 * Po-Koro
 * Po-Wahi

Objects

 * Badge of Office
 * Drill of Onua
 * Kanohi
 * Great Kraahkan
 * Great Mask of Light - Mentioned only
 * Great Hau - Infected
 * Infected Kanohi
 * Noble Ruru
 * Kanohi Nuva
 * Akaku Nuva
 * Hau Nuva
 * Kakama Nuva
 * Kaukau Nuva
 * Miru Nuva
 * Pakari Nuva
 * Kraata - First appearance
 * Rahkshi Staffs of Power
 * Staff of Absorption - First appearance
 * Staff of Anger - First appearance
 * Staff of Disintegration
 * Staff of Fear - First appearance
 * Staff of Fragmentation
 * Staff of Poison
 * Stasis Tubes
 * Toa Tools
 * Air Katana
 * Aqua Axes
 * Climbing Claws
 * Feet Additions
 * Ice Blade
 * Ice Shield
 * Magma Swords
 * Mizuni Rotors
 * Quake Breakers

Organizations

 * Chronicler - Mentioned only
 * Matoran - Mentioned only
 * Rahkshi
 * Toa
 * Toa of Air
 * Toa of Earth
 * Toa of Fire
 * Toa of Ice
 * Toa of Light - Mentioned only
 * Toa of Stone
 * Toa of Water
 * Toa Nuva
 * Toa Teams
 * Turaga

Miscellaneous

 * Elements/Elemental Powers
 * Air
 * Earth
 * Fire
 * Ice
 * Light - Mentioned only
 * Shadow
 * Stone
 * Water
 * Rahkshi Powers
 * Protodermis
 * Three Virtues
 * Unity
 * Duty
 * Destiny
 * Treespeak

Extra Features

 * Comic middle: Unleash the Rahkshi sections discusses the six Rahkshi, their personalities, and their powers.
 * Comic end: Search for the 7th Toa Sweepstakes section describes the contest rules and prizes; BIONICLE: Mask of Light--The Movie advertisement; New at BIONICLE.com and BIONICLE Unleashed Tour information.
 * Rear cover: Advertisement for various Scholastic BIONICLE books.