Random set of the day: Gadunka
Posted by Huwbot,
Today's random set is 8922 Gadunka, released during 2007. It's one of 31 Bionicle sets produced that year. It contains 176 pieces, and its retail price was US$19.99/£14.99.
It's owned by 1,773 Brickset members. If you want to add it to your collection you should find it for sale at BrickLink, where new ones sell for around $193.20, or eBay.
45 likes
30 comments on this article
HOLY GADUNKA!!
HOLY GADUNKA!
So awesome. I'm surprised I've never seen it before.
SO EXCITED FOR THE LORE POST. this guy is so funny lore wise
A face only an orthodontist could love.
HOLY GADUNKA!
HOLY GADUNKA!!
WATCH OUT, HE'S ARMED
One of the most fun Bionicle names to say.
Darn everyone beat me to it.
'holy gadunka' (resigned mood)
Disappointing for the fact that it includes _ONE_ GitD part, and not more.
AND I CRASHHHHHED INTO YOUUUUU!!!
Those were the days! But even to me in 2007, Gadunka the set was a joke. It was a mouth with random parts, the detritus of the hard work put into designing Maxilos and Spinax and Hydraxon. I feel like Gadunka would've been more of an amazing set (ridiculous name and backstory notwithstanding) had it been released during BIONICLE's Technic era. I can just see it being at home alongside Muaka, Kane Ra, and the Tarakava, especially if it had a neat jaw-snapping action. But Gadunka as it exists is just a toothy, glowy freak. A hilarious one, but not worth it to actually buy and display for long. I do not regret skipping this one back then.
@PurpleDave said:
"Disappointing for the fact that it includes _ONE_ GitD part, and not more."
Seconded, but at least it's one of the biggest GitD pieces Lego's ever done, if not *the* biggest.
Don't know why, but I like him (it? her?).
The set came out long after I lost interest in Bionicle, but somehow this stood out amongst the other sets of the era, which all began to look the same to me.
The absurd teeth combined with the oddly colored head were definitely a unique look.
@Lego_Lord_Mayorca said:
"AND I CRASHHHHHED INTO YOUUUUU!!!
Those were the days! But even to me in 2007, Gadunka the set was a joke. It was a mouth with random parts, the detritus of the hard work put into designing Maxilos and Spinax and Hydraxon. I feel like Gadunka would've been more of an amazing set (ridiculous name and backstory notwithstanding) had it been released during BIONICLE's Technic era. I can just see it being at home alongside Muaka, Kane Ra, and the Tarakava, especially if it had a neat jaw-snapping action. But Gadunka as it exists is just a toothy, glowy freak. A hilarious one, but not worth it to actually buy and display for long. I do not regret skipping this one back then."
2007 was the year I felt as a kid Bionicle finally jumped the shark (and Cafe Corner was the coolest looking thing in the catalog that year so who wanted Bionicle anymore after seeing the first modular?). In retrospect, Bionicle 2007 wasn't that bad... but it's stuff like Gadunka being as you described that do remind me why that year lost me despite some strengths I like more in hindsight.
This is the one Titan, or Warrior, or whatever that I never picked up from 2007.
ahem
HOLY GADUNKA!
A giant mouth with limbs.
Holy Gadunka!
GADÖNK
A reminder that this is what tardigrades apparently look like in Bionicle, even the microscopic beasties are terrifying badasses
Grrrr
Angry Bionicle!
...from what I read in the comments, please confirm my suspicions that this is one of those cutting room floor discards not even -worthy- of Bionicle background lore.
@LEGOFanInPJ said:
"...from what I read in the comments, please confirm my suspicions that this is one of those cutting room floor discards not even -worthy- of Bionicle background lore."
Actually, this guy has a decently prominent role in the story of 2007. Okay, from what I remember it barely showed up, but at least it had a proper backstory and a part to play. Basically the mask of life transformed (or mutated) several sea creatures living in the ocean that this year’s story played out in to function as its ‘guardians’, or something along those lines. Or maybe it was just leaking life energy, I honestly don’t recall exactly. Gadunka here is actually one example of a species of microscopic creatures who happened to be among the ‘lucky’ few, getting a ridiculous size boost.
If I’m not mistaken, another upscaled creature actually appeared way more frequently in the story despite not getting a set, namely a 300-foot venom eel that ate all the sharks (yes, bionicle has sharks) and other aquatic apex predators. Bionicle was wild.
And yes, HOLY GADUNKA!
(That’s a line from a commercial which, unsurprisingly, is now one of many iconic bionicle memes)
@Samuel4El said:
"(yes, bionicle has sharks)"
The more important question is, did those sharks have laser beams attached to their friggin heads?
:-)
There is a clearer picture at https://rebrickable.com/sets/8922-1/gadunka/parts which includes two flying squids. But did it include a squid launcher or is this just cover art?
@ambr said:
"There is a clearer picture at https://rebrickable.com/sets/8922-1/gadunka/parts which includes two flying squids. But did it include a squid launcher or is this just cover art?"
there is a crossbow attached to his left hand, though it blends rather cleverly with the claws.
Oh, Gadunka! I got this one this october from a bulk lot. It was quite cool to finally experience in the flesh because this set is WEIRD. It has the biggest thigh gap ever with the width of the entire head between it. It has a neck from two connector limb pieces and it even has a movable TONGUE! Its body is three upper torsos placed in a triangle!
Not the best titan, but it's weird as it gets in the later years of bionicle. My main gripe is that its width and the placement of its joints means not many poses are effective.
Here you see how the torso is built:
https://www.gebruikershandleiding.com/bestanden1/308331/bg4.png
https://www.gebruikershandleiding.com/bestanden1/308331/bg6.png
He legs use the balljoints on the bottom and the one on the top in the middle are used for the neck.
@ambr said:
"There is a clearer picture at https://rebrickable.com/sets/8922-1/gadunka/ parts which includes two flying squids. But did it include a squid launcher or is this just cover art?"
It has a launcher
@yellost said:
" @ambr said:
"There is a clearer picture at https://rebrickable.com/sets/8922-1/gadunka/parts which includes two flying squids. But did it include a squid launcher or is this just cover art?"
there is a crossbow attached to his left hand, though it blends rather cleverly with the claws."
The launcher sucked, though. Worst launcher "function" (yes, the quotation marks are necessary, because it mostly *didn't* function) Bionicle ever had.
Gadunka is think is one of those sleeper sets from Bionicle that people like, but doesn't get as much appreciation and it might deserve because man, this is a WEIRD set. The build is so out there and it's clear they set out from the start to make something a bit more unusual. Love it for that, and we're lucky to have this adorable abomination.
Shame his head piece is so expensive nowadays, but I'm glad I've got a few to toss around on MOCs here and there.
This set has memories. I got this set from a girlfriend when living in Japan. She always complained about my Lego collection and never tried to know about it, then bought this set for me (and I'm not into bionicle at all). It was surprising she didn't try to find one I liked but also nice she still got me legos. I ended up liking the GitD piece alot but it's not so easy to use due to it's very unique shape.
scary bonkle goes chomp
Also, insert obligatory 'HOLY GADUNKA!' here.