March 2001 AU issue of LEGO World Club Magazine
LEGO World Club Magazine (AU) – March 2001 : LEGO World Club : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
On pages 12-13 we get images and descriptions of the new Bionicle Toa, as well as some information on collectible masks.
Notice the masks that are included here. Each of the Toa's respective masks are shown, as well as a ghostly Matatu and Ruru. It's strange that these specifically are included here, and not depictions of the other 4 noble masks. Both the Matatu and Ruru were found to have "misprint" colors in EU mask packs. They were the only noble masks to also have Toa colors, rather than just Turaga colors, in the mask packs. Was the magazine publisher aware of this, and is this the reason these 2 masks are included in the line-up?
It's also important to note the information at the bottom of page 12.
While there was some debate across multiple Bionicle media as to whether or not the Toa had to collect 6 noble masks, we know that they collected the 6 great masks. There were indeed 72 masks available in the mask packs: 36 great masks (six masks in six colors) and 36 noble masks (six other masks in six other colors). However, the writer then states there are 12 masks in 6 colors. This could be an oversight/typo, but it seems to imply that the 72 masks were initially both the noble and great masks in only 6 colors, presumably the Toa's colors.
However, the last line:
This could refer to a number of things. It could reference the ultra rare gold contest masks, the rare promo masks, the infected Hau (which, despite not being counted among the 72 masks in the mask packs, was indeed included), or the EU misprints (Matatu, Ruru, and possibly the Kaukau).
What do you think?