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The BIONICLE Universe Comes to Papercutz!
Publisher of Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Classics Illustrated, and Tales from the Crypt presents LEGO characters", origin
The BIONICLE toy line, one of the most popular game and action-figure lines for boys, is coming to comic-book shops in May 2008 (and bookstores in June) as a quarterly graphic novel series from Papercutz. BIONICLE #1 -- which features the origin story, "SRise of the Toa Nuva"-- is written by Greg Farshtey, the main creator of the BIONICLE world and storyline.
In novels, video games, and of course the original LEGO toys, the BIONICLE universe tells the adventures of the Toa, six heroes who are part machine and part living creatures. In BIONICLE #1, the series", all-important origin, the Toa arrive on the tropical island guarded by the Great Spirit Mata Nui only to find it under siege. The powerful and evil being Makuta has cast the Mata Nui into an unending sleep and is attacking the island's villagers, the Matoran. The armed and armored Toa, who wear Masks of Power and can control the elements, leap into the fight against Makuta. But Makuta has unleashed mechanical insects called Bohrok to destroy everything in their path. During the fight, the Toa transform into the Toa Nuva, with new armor, weapons, and Masks of Power. But will all of that be enough to defeat Makuta? The artists of Papercutz's BIONICLE #1 are Carlos D' Anda (known for DC Comics, Outsiders), Aliens vs. Predator storyboard artist Richard Bennett (Marvel's X-Men), and Randy Elliott (Marvel's Spider-Woman). The series reprints stories created for the BIONICLE club, which has over a million members. The stories have not appeared in print for several years.
In general, each Papercutz volume -- 112 pages in full color with a trim size of 5" x 7 1/2" -- will present a year"s worth of stories. The books will appear in two formats: hardcover for $12.95 and paperback for $7.95. The release of BIONICLE #1 dovetails with LEGO plans to release all-new Toa Nuva figures; LEGO is planning a huge promotional effort, including a partnership with McDonald's.
The BIONICLE toy line, launched in 2001, is the LEGO group's hottest toy line since the original LEGO bricks.
It's a favorite among boys age 7 through 12, earning more than $150 million in annual revenue.
The website BIONICLE.com attracts two million unique visitors per month.
BIONICLE characters appear on apparel, bedding, stationery, board games, and other products.
Scholastic has sold more than 1.5 million copies of BIONICLE chapter books.
Universal Studios is planning a direct-to-DVD release of a BIONICLE movie for the end of 2009.
See the Bionicle graphic novels
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