Two pieces of news today:

LEGO Systems Inc. and DC Comics have announced that Leigh Gallagher has been named the new artist for the popular BIONICLE comic series, beginning with the March 2008 issue.

Gallagher's previous work includes Justice League Unlimited, 2000AD and The Witching. He succeeds Stuart Sayger, whose well-received run on the book lasted from 2006-2007.

ALSO --

The last chapters of Dreams of Destruction and the biocast are done and in -- Chapter 9 of the biocast reveals hitherto unknown info on the Ignika, and why it is silver instead of gold in 2008 (yes, there is a better story reason than just "because" )

Greg

A few notes:

* Due to the fact that it looks like we changing comic artists in 2008, there will be no comic in January. The current plan is for the number of actual comic pages per issue to go up to 16 next year, although I have not heard yet if we are doing a total of five issues, four issues, four issues plus one online, or what. I do know first issue of the year will be in March 2008.

The reason for the change is basically Stuart having other projects to focus on and our wanting to get back to more of a 2001-2002 style with the book. I believe they are close to deciding on the new artist, but I have not heard a name yet. Will let you know when I do.

* We WILL be holding the line on prices in 2008, to the best of my knowledge, meaning the "canister" sets will still be at $9.99 as they have been in 2006-2007. This is frankly in the face of mounting and extreme pressures on us and the entire industry to raise prices. The rising cost of oil means the cost to produce plastic is way up (as well as to transport goods) -- plus a weak dollar means that the company does not make as much profit off sales in the US as it did in the past. We are staying where we are in 2008 and hoping that increased volume will make up for this, but I have a feeling you are going to see other toy companies raising prices in the coming months.

* Script for the new movie is supposed to be coming to me today for review. Once I have seen it and okayed it, it will get passed on to the rest of the team for review and approval.

Greg

Since I am getting a LOT of questions this week, and since evidently nobody is reading the answers I am giving anyone else , I thought it would be a good idea to just put some FAQ answers here to save me some typing. Here we go:

1) What does Phantoka mean?
A: Phantoka is our winter 2008 sub-brand for the Toa Nuva and Makuta sets. It is a Matoran term meaning "spirits of the air." It will not be applied to the summer '08 sets.

2) Are all six small sets in January Av-Matoran?
A: Yes.

3) Are more Matoran sets coming out in summer '08?
A: Not as individual sets. However, there will be two more Matoran out in summer, packed with other models.

4) Do the Matoran masks have names/powers?
A: Not at this point. Since the masks will not be used as powered masks, I have not bothered to assign what powers they would have in Great or Noble form or give them names at this point.

5) Do the Makuta wear masks?
A: Yes, and they have different mask powers which will be revealed in 2008.

6) Do the Toa Nuva still have the same mask powers?
A: Yes.

7) Are Tahu, Gali, and Onua coming out as sets?
A: Yes, in summer '08.

8) Will Icarax be a set?
A. Yes, in first half of the year

9) Are there any first half sets we have not seen pics of yet?
A: Yes.

I will not, at this time, be answering questions about 2008 story, setting, or characters -- it's too early. If I answer them now, it leaves us with nothing to talk about in January. The fact that the set images are out does not mean we are suddenly in the midst of the 2008 story -- we still have 2007 to finish, and much of '08 won't make sense until you know how '07 ends.

Greg

There are lots of rumors flying around BZP, and the word "reboot" is being used a lot (often by people who don't know what the word means) ... so I thought I would address them here.

-- The plan for 2009 is to take the story in a new direction. That does NOT mean:

* Killing all the old characters
* Pretending all the old story never happened
* Starting over again with the Toa Mata on Mata Nui
* Telling a story that has nothing to do with anything that happened before.

It DOES mean:

* Telling a story that an old fan can appreciate and get something out of, and that a new fan can follow without having to know everything that happened before.
* Restoring that sense of "exploring a new place" that we had in 2001.
* Trying some new things with sets, story, setting, etc., while still keeping it BIONICLE.

So for those people who have been sending me panicky PMs, stop -- outside of what I just listed, NO ONE on BZP knows ANYTHING about 2009. So if you hear someone saying something you do not see on the list above, then it is just speculation on their part and you need to take it as such. (It's great that people want to speculate, but some members take their guesses as fact and get nervous. )

Greg

For those of you who are interested, the qualifying round has begun for the "Master of BIONICLE 2" Contest in the General Discussion forum on BZP.

Grand prize is two original Carlos D'Anda art boards from BIONICLE #6, back in 2002! So go check it out -- qualifying round ends Tuesday, 10/16, at 9 AM EST.

Greg

Just this and that today --

1) Work on the new movie is proceeding apace. Had another conference call between the story team and the movie folks yesterday and another one is scheduled for the movie "core team" (myself, the screenwriter, and the Tinseltown Toons VP) on Friday. Story-wise, this is the best movie we have ever set out to do.

2) Surprise hit for BIONICLE this year is Karzahni, who is a top 20 item at Toys R Us.

3) DC sent me something nice the other day -- original art boards from some of the 2001-2002 comics. And one lucky BZPer is going to get the chance to win a couple! So keep an eye out in the forums for a new contest, coming soon!

Greg

It's been brought to my attention that one of the BZP members has posted an image in his blog of what he claims to be a 2008 Matoran that he bought. Just for the record, and to cut down on confusion, let me explain why this pic is a fake:

The pic shows a blue Matoran wearing a Mask of Summoning and carrying a squid launcher (which he claims comes with a different kind of projectile).

I have a picture in front of me the 2008 blue Matoran -- she is not wearing a Mask of Summoning and none of the '08 Matoran carry launchers. The image is a fake.

If the member made an honest mistake, then he is maybe being reckless and should be a bit more careful in future. If he is deliberately lying to BZP membership, then other adjectives can be applied to him. If it turns out to be the latter, I will be blocking him from future PMs, and I have no time for that sort of nonsense.

Greg

Just some news and notes:

-- Got a chance to see the villain sets for 2008 up close -- man, they're nice, particularly the January ones. Definitely buying those -- very BIONICLE, but very creepy.

-- Look for more substantial Matoran sets in 2008 than we have done before, and for them to play a more significant role in story.

-- Book sales have evidently stabilized. While they are still well below where we were in 2004, the cutback schedule means stores are selling through the new books before they get the next new one, which means few to no returns (always a good thing). No word yet on a schedule for 2009.

-- I have a phone conference today to discuss the shooting outline for the BIONICLE movie, which I have to say is just great. (I did the story, but am not doing the script itself, but the person who is doing it is so far doing a very good job.) Wish I could share more about it, but as you can imagine, it is still very hush-hush.

-- Also had another meeting this week in New York which I hopefully can share with you soon regarding the comics and some changes and exciting new things planned in that area.

-- January BrickMaster is currently scheduled to have a four-page feature on the history of the Brotherhood of Makuta (or it will when I finish writing it! )

-- Big meeting going on in Denmark this week to discuss 2008 and marketing plans for it. Then in October, they start focus group testing 2009 sets in New York.

Greg

Just wanted to share something I ran across this week.

As some of you know, I have a huge comic collection, most of which is "reader's copies" -- not mint, not even near mint, just stuff I have read and enjoyed over the past couple decades. Anyway, with things like entire comic series coming out on DVD-ROM and the various collections Marvel and DC keep putting out, I've been able to replace entire boxes of comics (which saves a lot of space). But what to do with them then?

I could, and have, eBayed them, but that takes work and a lot of times they don't sell. And I don't want to throw them out, because that is a terrible waste. So I have just held on to them.

But this week I ran across a website, www.Comics4Kids.org -- it's a not-for-profit organization in Washington state that collects comics to give to hospitals, libraries, schools, etc. to help promote literacy in kids. As a writer for kids and young adults, promoting reading is of course an issue close to my heart. So I swapped some emails with the organizers and I am going to start sending stuff their way.

I don't know that any of you have comics you are looking to give away, but if you do, or know someone who does, you might want to check out this site. Not only do the comics entertain and maybe even comfort a kid someplace, but they might lead him to buy his own someday and help out the industry as a whole.

Greg

Sneak preview of BIONICLE Legends #8 in my Amazon.com blog today -- intro to a battle that won't be in the comics, just the book.

Greg