The placement of the late 2003 comics and Mask of Light movie.

[Lenny7092]

Hi, guys. I have been thinking about the late 2003 story arc and Mask of Light movie in 2003, with the Rahkshi attacking the island of Mata Nui. 

In the comics, Tahu, Gali, Lewa, and Kopaka fought the first three Rahkshi, and right after that fight, the second three Rahkshi appeared and started fighting the Toa. Meanwhile Pohatu, Onua, and Whenua were looking at a cave filled with imprisoned Kraata. The six Toa know what the Rahkshi are. Whenua was telling the Pohatu and Onua about his encounter with the Kraata while Pohatu and Onua did not know what a Kraata is. A Guurahk imprisoned Pohatu, Onua, and Whenua, but the four Toa freed them. The two groups noticed each other. Then, Tahu, Lewa, and Kopaka fought a Shadow Kraata and two Rahkshi Kaita. Tahu told Kopaka to go find Pohatu and Onua. 

In the movie, Tahu and Gali met the first three Rahkshi for the first time in Ta-Koro. A Lerahk poisoned Tahu and gave him a green poisoned scratch. Then, Lewa and Kopaka became aware of the Rahkshi before Kopaka froze the three Rahkshi. After Takua left Jaller, he went to Onu-Koro to warn Pohatu and Onua about the Rahkshi. Pohatu and Onua did not know what Rahkshi were. The second three Rahkshi attacked Onu-Koro. A Kurahk used its anger power to curse Tahu into being angry. After Kopaka stopped Tahu, Gali believed that the poison is destroying Tahu. She, Lewa, and Kopaka cured Tahu, changing him back to normal completely. His scratch is gone somehow because of the healing. Gali was talking to Kopaka about the Toa losing their unity, but Kopaka disappeared. When all six Toa were gathered at Kini-Nui to fight the Rahkshi, Gali said that they thought they lost Pohatu and Onua. Onua said that Kopaka saved him and Pohatu. Then, the Toa started fighting the Rahkshi. 

In the novelization of the movie, after Takua told Pohatu and Onua that he got separated from Jaller and mentioned the Rahkshi, Pohatu and Onua did not ask Takua what are Rahkshi before the second three Rahkshi appeared in Onu-Koro. 

In the comics, Tahu’s mask is perfectly fine. No scratches or green poison on it. 

So, there. It’s confusing when you put the comics and movie together. I mean, what’s the chronological order of these events? Plus, Tahu’s Nuva mask is no longer damaged, right?

Edited August 31, 2023 by Lenny7092
Forgot a detail and made some edits.

[Nato G]

Having multiple different mediums all depicting slightly different versions of the story is one of the biggest problems Bionicle had. Having to catch up the movies, animations, comics, novels, guides, blogs, story serials, and podcasts in order to get the full understanding of the franchise was a massive barrier to entry. 

Given their limited nature, the movies and comics had to cut or condense a lot of things. So generally speaking, the novels are considered the main version of canon, as they contained the most detail. In the example you give, Tahu's mask being poisoned appears in both the movie and the novel, so the comics are the outlier and should be disregarded (at least as they relate to that specific detail). 

The clever folks at BS01 have spent a lot of time creating Saga Guides and Timelines that try to organise and unify all of the slightly different versions of events into a clear order, while also weeding out contradictory details.