The Fall 2003 Bionicle storyline brought us what was supposed to be the final confrontation with the main villain, Makuta (Greg Farshtey negating that after he hijacked the story is one of the reasons I despise the man... but I digress). As part of that, Makuta was finally granted a set of his own and a true form to go with it. It was a Titan set for the year, and decently big and imposing and evil-looking.

Box

As a larger set, Makuta came in a cardboard box rather than a canister. The front features a large view of Makuta himself, on a rocky surface, in front of the Fall 2003 Bionicle background: The Kanohi Avohkii (Mask of Light) and Kanohi Kraahkan (Mask of Shadows) back to back, separated by a glowing white silhouette of the island of Mata Nui. And, behind this, The Matrix-esque random strings of Matoran numerals and script; these are more visible on the boxes. There's also a smaller cutaway pane of Makuta in a head-on view with somewhat less digital embellishment.

The back of the box features a view of the Makuta set being played with, cutaway panes showing the two-faced nature of the Kanohi Kraahkan, and cross-sells for the other larger sets from Fall 2003: 8594 Jaller and Gukko Bird, 8595 Takua and Pewku, and 8596 Takanuva; the cross-sells are accompanied by a picture of a here-unnamed combiner model that can be built with this set, 8594, and 8595. The combiner model was named "Makuta Nui" by a catalog, but other sources like the 2005 Maze of Shadows game - and I want to say a magazine or website from the same year as the sets - instead identify it as Graalok, the Ash Bear Takua and Jaller encounter in Le-Wahi in the Mask of Light movie. I favor the latter, since it gives an official form for Graalok and was never used by Makuta (and in general it feels more Rahi-like).

The top features a promotion for the second Mata Nui Online Game, one side features the same cross-sells as the back, one side just has a small picture of the set within, and the bottom merely features the barcode.

Instructions

The instuction booklet, as per the norm, features a cut-down version of the main front image on the cover, and the standard late-2003 Bionicle back cover: a panel on the upper left advertising the website, a panel on the upper right advertising the Mask of Light movie, and a full-width panel advertising the 2003 Bionicle game (sadly a different game than the one advertised in 2001). The game being given more prominent billing than the movie seems an odd choice given the movie's greater importance. Inside are cross-sells for the other large sets, the Rahkshi (Makuta's self-spawned elite minions), and a chart of the Kraata (the slug/worm creatures that animate the Rahkshi).

As Makuta is a large Bionicle set, the instructions depict the parts with regular computer drawings (as standard Lego sets do) instead of the realistic renders used by the instructions for smaller Bionicle sets like Toa and Matoran at this time. The background of choice is a faint version of the back-to-back Avohkii and Kraahkan image. The instructions are fairly clear, it's easy to tell the difference between dark gray parts and black parts. However, they do unfortunately feature one of my pet peeves: Not telling you you're supposed to build 2 of an assembly (the legs, in this case) until the last step of the assembly, despite the instructions for that assembly spanning multiple pages. It's nowhere near as bad as the instances of that in 4483 AT-AT, but it's still a little irritating. No faults other than that, however.

There are also instructions for the first third of the Graalok/"Makuta Nui" combiner build, covering the

Parts

As far as special/Bionicle-speciific parts go, there are three Rahkshi back cores, three Rahkshi backplates in red, three Rahkshi backs in metallic charcoal (officially called Pearl Dark Gray), one Rahkshi pelvis, one red Kolhii Matoran torso, four Bohrok head liftarms, four silver Bohrok eyes (AKA Technic teeth), two Rahkshi forelegs, two Rahkshi four Toa Nuva breastplates and two Toa Nuva paldrons in metallic charcoal, one Toa Mata/Turaga head in red, one transparent blue Toa/Turaga eyepiece, two flat silver Kanohi Avohkii pieces (to represnt clawed hands), two of the "unfolded Chronicler's tool" piece also used for Takanuva's Staff of Light blade in flat silver, three Pohatu Nuva climbing claws, and Makuta's own mask: Kanohi Kraahkan, the Mask of Shadows. Many have remarked on this mask not looking like the movie version. This is because Makuta's movie apperance is based on an early prototype of the set, with a mockup mask kitbashed from a Pakari Nuva and a Vahi. The Kraahkan seen in this set is the correct, finalized design. It's a unique mask with two different faces; the main one is demonic and somewhat bestial, and relies on the head being angled with the eyestalk parallel to the ground. In this configuration, the red of the head fills out the irises (althoug the effectiveness of this is partial). But there's also a second face of more ambiguous (in my opinion, at least) nature designed to make use of the traditional head orientation and the blue eyes. The Kraahkan comes in a few different batch variations, and there's also a so-called "movie edition" Kraahkan in the Takutanuva giftset that attempts to make the secondary face look like the beta Kraahkan seen in the movie (with perforce limited success, so it's fairly pointless in my opinion). Final notes on the Kraahkan: It's made of the same semi-soft plastic as Toa Nuva armor and weapons, and the Kanohi Avohkii. And just like the Avohkii, it attaches via an axle rather than a mere stud, firmly anchoring it; this signifies a shift away from the "knock the mask off" gimmick.

As for more general Technic parts, there are plenty of Technic liftarms (most of them dark gray, but there are a few black and a few red), some red and dark gray Technic beams, two Technic ratcheted universal joints, assorted connectors, some red "horseshoe" balljoint sockets, cowl/snout pieces in metallic charcoal, one ribbed Technic hose, and of course several Technic axles and pins and bushings. Fall 2003 marks the point where Lego had begun to color-code Technic pins and axles (and changed some of the already-extant coding): odd-length axles are new light gray, axle-pins without friction ridges are now tan instead of light gray, and axle-pins with friction ridges are now blue. Even-length axles remain black; half-pins, 3/4 pins, ridgeles pins, and studded axles (none of which Makuta has) are similarly unchanged.
I've noticed that the light gray axles seem to have less friction than the black ones, despite seemingly being the same mold as when all regular axles were black. Not sure why. But this can cause issues as age wears on parts (if an axlehole has become loose over time, it could end up completely loose on a likewise-worn gray axle).

The Build

The build of Makuta is satisfiyingly complex, as one would hope for from a Technic set of this size. There's nothing to the build that's mind-bogglingly impressive, but there's also nothing particularly tedious, confusing, or painful; the only headache is the one mentioned in the instructions section. Perhaps the most innovative element is the way the head is set up to make use of the mask's two faces. There are a few cases where axles are left protruding by a half-width at points, an obvious sign of them being selected for double-duty in alternate builds.
You start by building up the pelvis, which is based around the Rahkshi pelvis piece with the Matoran torso and the sockets for the ratchet joints mounted to it. From there, you progress to building up the middle of the upper torso onto the Matoran torso. After that, you build and attach the legs (which are identical). Then, you build up the shoulders and complete the back. With the shoulders complete, you can build the arms (which are identical at their core). With the body almost entirely complete, you then build up the massive two-bladed staff. After connecting the staff to his hands, you complete the hands by attaching the two silver Avohkii and popping the Kraahkan onto his head.

The build of the first third of the Graalok/"Makuta Nui" combiner model is similarly satisfying and complex, perhaps a bit more complex than the main Makuta build. It begins with what will become the creature's waist, built up using Technic beams. You immediately have to use parts from both this set and 8595 Takua and Pewku, and you'll be using parts from 8594 Jaller and Gukko Bird by step three. The shoulders are built around aRahkshi pelvis and back core and the red Matoran torso, and attached using perpendicular axle-and-pin connectors and the Bohrok head liftarms. After this torso is mostly finished, you shift to building most of one leg. This is somewhat similar to building one of Makuta's legs, but it makes use of regular beams and liftarms.
Notably, this build does not require any parts from Takua and Jaller themselves.

The Completed Model

Completed, Makuta cuts an imposing figure (as well he should). He stands at around ten inches tall,.and wields a long, hefty twin-bladed staff. The staff is swung by turning the connector on his back that acts as a handle, making him pivot at the waist. As an additional play feature, he has three Kraata compartments - fitting, since he spawns Kraata from his own substance. He has elbow, shoulder (somewhat limited by the armor, but not horribly so), and wrist articulation, making him one of the most articulated Bionicle figures of the time as far as arms are concerned. His legs have ratcheted rotation and bending at the hip. It's not super-great, but it isn't useless either.
In the primary orientation, the Mask of Shadows looks suitably menacing and malicious; when oriented like a normal mask it gives him a more ambiguous look. The mainly black, gray, and metallic charcoal color scheme is quite suitable for a shadow-themed character, far better than the "tainted red" the movie changed it to.

Overall, Makuta is a very satisfying package. Later Titan sets may have been more articulated, but his own articulation was hardly horrible especially by the standards of the first three years. A waist swivel may be a simple gear gimmick for such a large figure, but it's a very effective one when taken in conjunction with his massive Staff of Shadows. The Kraata play feature is cool, and integrates perfectly with the lore. And he definitely delivers on aesthetics, bulk, and presence. Plus there's all the fun of alternate builds. About the only knock is that the neck axle can slip out of the rock

I'd say he's still very much worth getting even today, at least if you can find him for a good price.

A word of warning, however: Don't leave him assembled for overly-long periods of time. It can cause stress on some of the parts, especially the straight axle connectors and the #7-08 perpendicular axle-and-pin connectors; some of the latter on mine are actually cracked from the stress caused by my making that very mistake, and I had to reinforce them with super glue.

Makuta Teridax (only known as "Makuta" then) was a great set.  I was real young when I got this set, but I knew how to appreciate villans! His build took me awhile (even the rebuild, cause I have so many Legos!) but when I was finished, I took a step back, caught my breath, and there was my very first Bionicle Villan! He is very poseable, and the gear on the back makes him playable. I played with my Takanuva for awhile (I don't know how long, I just know it was awhile) and Makuta emerged victorious! The new piece, (at the time) the Kanohi Kraahkan, the Mask of Shadows, was a nice addition, though in Mata Nui Online Game, he was a grey and green Matoran with a Hau. Overall though, they sorted it out in the storyline (the Brotherhood of Makuta can shapeshift) so overall I like the set very much.

As if my Onua didn't have enough to handle with (the two Bohroki and three Rahkshii), I decided that there must be an ultimate villain. I received this on my birthday, and I was the happiest person in the world when I got it.

Pros

• This is a larger-than-normal Bionicle, and thus creative uses of silver Masks of Light can be used for hands. Very creative.
  
• The staff-swinging function also is quite fun, although that is the only real function.
  
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Cons

• The legs do seem a bit incomplete, due to the fact that they are impossible to move because of the way they're built.
  
• I know that TLG made Takutanuva later on, but the top of the mask semi-annoys me.
  
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Overall, this set really has some fine points, especially in terms of storyline. Yes, every set has its flaws, but this set really just works.

It was so much fun to build and when it is done it looks awesome.
The weapon is huge and cool
It awesome

It rocks out loud and his face is so cool! Just buy it off the internet while you can! His weapon can easily fight the toa of light!

Makuta is one of my personal favorites because his design gives him a realistic evil look.He has three rakshi holders and the legs provide excellent support although sometimes they come off.You can also move him from side to side so he looks like he's fighting toa.The only problem with this set is his face underneath his mask doesn't give him much of an evil look so I replaced it with a different one.Also, the little pieces that keep his shoulder armor often fall off. The rest of his body is very stable and is in perfect condidtion as of today.