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"You four have merely scratched the surface of your full potential."
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The Lair of Tanabrax is one of the two canon Spinjitzu Brothers books that were released in 2021, focusing on Garmadon and Wu's formative years.[1]
Official description
The action-packed world of LEGO® NINJAGO®: Spinjitzu comes to life in this illustrated chapter book featuring Wu and Garmadon in their early adventures on the road to becoming Spinjitzu Masters!
Wu and Garmadon both want to become Spinjitzu Masters—but a strange puppet master may pull the strings that will pull them apart before their training can truly begin. Do they have what it takes to help each other and work as a team to become true legends of Spinjitzu? Find out in this all-new illustrated chapter book series featuring the LEGO NINJAGO’s Spinjitzu Brothers![2]
Plot
Prologue
Master Wu and the ninja head to a village outside of Ninjago City to stop a couple of chicken thieves. But they soon figured out that the thieves were actually foxes. Although he was disappointed that chicken thieves were just foxes, Jay replied that he doesn't mind coming here, as he thought it would be nice to take a break from training. Wu and the ninja soon learned that the villagers are celebrating a Turnip Festival.
But right when Jay mentioned that they should see traveling puppet show at the festival, Master Wu outbursts, saying that the they could do something else other than watching the puppet show. When Kai asked Wu what he has against puppets, Wu mentioned that it's a long story, and explained that it's part of his and Garmadon's journey to the northern ocean. Wu then sat near a tree with the ninja and proceeded to tell them what happened in the journey and his reason for hating puppets.
Chapter 1: The Village
Wu and Garmadon were playing "I Spy" after running out of things to talk and sing about. Garmadon soon spotted a village and the boys raced there. But when they arrived, they noticed villagers staring sadly at them and get rejected by another villager who refused to answer their questions and insisted they move on. Garmadon then caught a scent and they followed it to the marketplace, where they find a dumpling stand. They soon realize they only had money for one dumpling but decided to order anyways. However, Garmadon gets into a squabble with the dumpling seller over which one is the biggest.
Just then, a girl called to the seller to give them a plate of dumplings. She introduces herself to them as Hana and her grandmother, Obachan. Wu explained to them they had been traveling and asked if they knew anyone who wanted an extra hand. But when he mentioned staying the night, Obachan immediately told him otherwise. The brothers get suspicious so Hana eventually told them their village was in danger with people disappearing, including her own brother. But Obachan cut her off and suggested they leave before the night falls. Hana then asked where they could go as the next village was a day's journey away. Garmadon assured them they would be safe as they were ninja so Obachan finally agreed and let Hana lead them to her brother's room.
Up in his room, Wu asked Garmadon what he thought about the conversation, but he shrugged it off, unworried. They soon fell asleep after that.
Chapter 2: A Creepy Secret
Chapter 3: Bunch and Moody
Chapter 4: The Shadow Man
Chapter 5: A Puppet Problem
Chapter 6: Time to Train
Chapter 7: Into the Lair
Chapter 8: Brother vs. Puppet
Chapter 9: The Medallion
Chapter 10: Hearts of Gold
Epilogue
Appearances
Characters
Mentioned
Miscellaneous
- Bunch (flashback)
- Garmadon (flashback)
- Hana (flashback)
- Moody (flashback)
- Mrs. Uchida (flashback)
- Old Man Jiro (flashback)
- Kenji (flashback)
- Obachan (flashback)
- Shin (flashback)
- Tanabrax (flashback)
- Uchida (flashback)
Items
- Bo staff
- Mooncakes (mentioned)
- Turnips
- Turnip donuts
- Tanabrax's medallion (flashback)
Locations
- Ninjago
- Temple of Felis (mentioned)
- Monastery of Spinjitzu (mentioned)
- Village (flashback)
- Tanabrax's lair (flashback)
- Northern ocean (mentioned)
Species
- Djinns (mentioned)
- Dragons (pictured)
- Foxes (mentioned)
- Humans
- Nindroids
- Oni/Dragon/Human hybrids
- Puppets
Trivia
- The book's title is "Lair of the Dark Master" on the preliminary cover but "Lair of Tanabrax" on Amazon.
- The overall plot of the book that people disappear from the village and the villagers are afraid, only for the main characters to help them, and the puppets are somehow incorporated into the whole story seems to be inspired by "The Puppetmaster," the episode from Avatar: The Last Airbender.
- In the book it was mentioned that the djinns have their own language, as Nadakhan grew up in the home realm of the djinns, Djinjago, it's likely he knew this language.
Errors
- Although the description in the book says that Garmadon is also wearing "a lightweight shirt on top tied in front," in fact he is only wearing a tank top.
- When Wu and Garmadon sleep in Shin's bed, at least Wu is wearing a night-shirt. However, when they run out to save Kenji, they are already wearing their normal clothes.
Gallery
Hana shrugged. "You look hungry. And Grandma and I like to feed people."
"But I stopped her. I do not need to lose both of my grandchildren."
Translations
Foreign language | Translation |
---|---|
German | Die Höhle des Seelendiebs |