Previously, on My Little Pony...
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...Man, I'm going to be REALLY embarrassed if this doesn't turn out to be the final issue and IDW announces another 12 issue series next week or something.
Saddle up! We've got one last rodeo ahead of us!
So...(*SIGH*...I'm going to miss saying that...) how was it?
Well...IDW MLP dies as it lived. Being kind of mixed bag. It's as touching as it is unfortunate, really.
I think we have to talk about the art. It's...interesting. These ponies have smiles and mouths that are almost larger than their own heads. It's...a style, that's for sure. I will say though, I think I like the colors. It's SUPER saturated and colorful. The colors kind of give the book a retro-futuristic vibe that I kind of find charming. The result is something that I don't dislike. And you do kind of get used to it as the book goes on. But, overall, this is not ideal artwork to end IDW's run on the book on, if that is actually the case.
Writing-wise...this really does feel like just another adventure in this world. Everyone's in character. At least, they're in character enough to be recognizable. This feels like it could have been a half-hour special of Tell Your Tale or something. Not one of the important ones. Just one of the fun ones. It's nicely enough written. It's pleasant. It doesn't really do anything special, or all that memorable. But, it's also nice to just spend some more time with these characters. I've read better MLP comics, and I've also read worse. This is somewhere firmly in the middle.
So, do I actually recommend picking this up? Well...you might want to pick it up for reasons that have nothing to do with the story within. This might just be the last IDW MLP comic. Or it might not. But, it's almost certainly the last piece of G5 media.
The comic itself is...just fine. It's acceptable. You COULD skip it, and not miss much. But, this might also be a pretty decent way to say "goodbye" to this particular generation. It's not really a satisfying ending...but there is a...."sense" of ending, to this story. In a way.
So, I'd say, pick this up if you want to say goodbye to G5. More on that below the issue spoilers.
But, I think I have to do something a little special for this issue. Because...there's every possibility that this is the last issue of IDW's run on My Little Pony.
This isn't really written as a "ending" for IDW's 13 year run on this book. There's...actually nothing here saying this is the last issue. And no one's announced anything of the sort.
And maybe it isn't. But, there are no new Pony comics solicited up until July at the present. So, at the very least, IDW MLP is taking a break. Maybe until Hasbro figures out what they're going to do with the franchise as a whole, going forward.
At the very least, this is probably going to be the last official piece of purely G5 material that we get. G5...has been over for a while, really. It just took a while for the comics to catch up and finish off. This is probably our "farewell" to these characters. Unless Hasbro decides to make a crossover show happen.
And I just want to say...you did good, G5!
G5 really had a uphill battle. They were following a legendary show that got WAY more popular than anyone ever expected. It would have been almost impossible for anything to come after that. But, a lot of people put in a lot of effort into G5. Hasbro really tried to make G5 as big as G4 was. Now, that didn't work out. But, they tried they're hardest. They gave us a movie, two shows running at the same time, a ongoing comic series, and video games. No one can say they didn't try to make G5 work. And I really appreciate all the effort they put in. And I honestly think fans will end up looking back on G5 as a under-appreciated gem of a generation.
And IDW....you did GREAT!
There's definitely been ups and downs. But, when IDW was good, they were GOOD! The first G4 MLP comic from IDW came out in November 28 2012. And we've been given an almost constant stream of comics, ever since. When one season of G4 ended, we still got IDW comics to help us wait for the next one. When G4 ended, we still got Season 10 via the comics. When G5 premiered, IDW was right there alongside all the bigger shows, with comics directly tying into the deeper lore of the world. When G5 was wrapping up, IDW was STILL there for us, with new comics to fill in that void. We've gotten some all time classic MLP stories via the comics. And some GREAT art. I'd even say some of the best arcs are from the comics! IDW's comics were always there for us. And if their time with the license is sunsetting, then that's a bit of a shame. I'll miss these comics. IDW should be proud of the hundreds of MLP comics that they've managed to make in the last 13 years. This is one of the most impressive runs in all of comics, and it deserves to be remembered!
I don't know what the future has in store for My Little Pony. It's kind of a quiet time, right now. But, if Hasbro can give us something that's even as close to being good as what IDW and G5 gave us, I think this fandom will be okay.
MLP All Comics | MLP Merch
An overview of all My Little Pony Comics with images and all info.
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Saddle up! We've got one last rodeo ahead of us!
So...(*SIGH*...I'm going to miss saying that...) how was it?
Well...IDW MLP dies as it lived. Being kind of mixed bag. It's as touching as it is unfortunate, really.
I think we have to talk about the art. It's...interesting. These ponies have smiles and mouths that are almost larger than their own heads. It's...a style, that's for sure. I will say though, I think I like the colors. It's SUPER saturated and colorful. The colors kind of give the book a retro-futuristic vibe that I kind of find charming. The result is something that I don't dislike. And you do kind of get used to it as the book goes on. But, overall, this is not ideal artwork to end IDW's run on the book on, if that is actually the case.
Writing-wise...this really does feel like just another adventure in this world. Everyone's in character. At least, they're in character enough to be recognizable. This feels like it could have been a half-hour special of Tell Your Tale or something. Not one of the important ones. Just one of the fun ones. It's nicely enough written. It's pleasant. It doesn't really do anything special, or all that memorable. But, it's also nice to just spend some more time with these characters. I've read better MLP comics, and I've also read worse. This is somewhere firmly in the middle.
So, do I actually recommend picking this up? Well...you might want to pick it up for reasons that have nothing to do with the story within. This might just be the last IDW MLP comic. Or it might not. But, it's almost certainly the last piece of G5 media.
The comic itself is...just fine. It's acceptable. You COULD skip it, and not miss much. But, this might also be a pretty decent way to say "goodbye" to this particular generation. It's not really a satisfying ending...but there is a...."sense" of ending, to this story. In a way.
So, I'd say, pick this up if you want to say goodbye to G5. More on that below the issue spoilers.
Everyone's so excited to see Airen, the big stunt-pony star! I appreciate keeping up the tradition of punny names.
And all the Manes have a comment that reflect their personality. Almost obnoxiously so. It's all a little on the nose.
Izzy painted her face, because of course she did. She would be one of THOSE kind of fans.
He blinded them..with SCIENCE! Or magic, it really could be either in this world. Someone really should call whoever sells him that wing-wax.
I'm calling it right now...he's faked his own disappearance to live a quiet life in the country. He just wants to be a simple rock farmer.
I would think all the Airen merchandise would actually SKYROCKET in price, instead of going on sale. I mean, if he's really gone, that stuff's going to go up in value quick. They'd be better selling it online.
Airen is bascially The Rock. (Which would fit perfectly with my whole "rock farmer" theory, just sayin'.)
Airen the Skybound Stallion...that DOES sound like it would make for a catchy song.
Oh, those celebrities and they're crazy demands like meditation time. I'm sure there's nothing suspicious going on here at all!
These ponies got some THICK legs in this artstyle. Hitch has NOT been skipping leg day!
Yes this pony's access badge is innocently lodged in the tire of this golf cart...that's not suspicious at all!
This newspony knows who the main characters of this story are, and she won't stop until she's interviewed all of them!
"Airen Zephyr Blast Smoothie". I do wonder what that would taste like. It's....blue!
WHOA, Sunny, that was quite the sneeze there! Maybe you should be wearing a mask. And also, maybe you should re-wash all your smoothie fruit.
Izzy got a used soda can stuck to her horn. I'm glad we got one last usage out of that gag before the end.
Huh, Izzy didn't do her own facepaint. She got someone else to do it at the stadium. I honestly expected that she just did it herself in the mirror.
Oh, Izzy...you're so easily distractable. You could get her off the scent of a mystery by literally jingling some keys around.
This news pony knows everyone's names already. I know this is a small world. And these ARE world-saving heroes. But, it still feels weird.
Misty's new to this whole "missing person mystery" thing.
Misty's eye will stare directly into your soul!
So, yeah, Misty doesn't even realize that she ran into Airen in disguise at a parade beforehand. A hat and glasses can hide MANY things. And it kind of sounds like he was meeting a girl. OOOH! It's getting spicier.
And Pipp even asked Airen about his "secret girlfriend", so yeah, this is definitely a thing.
The weird perspective made me think Airen had tiny ponies putting earphones in for him, but no, that's just the giant Airen balloon for the parade they're working on in the background. It would be neat to have a giant balloon of yourself, I think.
D'awww...Zipp looks so shy in this scene. It's cute! Maybe a bit out of character, but it's cute, so I'll allow it.
Oooh, the secret tunnels underneath Zephyr Heights! What a romantic rendezvous spot!
So...Airen wanted to go on a around-the-world flight with his girlfriend? Okay...I'll admit I didn't think that's where this was going. Weird twist.
I do wonder how they plan on exploring the world without any sort of map of the world. I mean, the world's got to have changed since G4. And even back in G4, I don't think the ponies had a map of the whole WORLD!
So, they planned to secretly disappear to they wouldn't be followed by the media and fans...by making the biggest, most flashy exit they could have possibly thought of? Great plan. No notes.
So, uh...they have a SECOND "goodbye" presentation for their fans, to make up for making them all think Airen was kidnapped or something. Sure, yeah. Why not? These ponies love any excuse for a event, anyway.
"Sometimes the greatest adventures aren't about escaping your old life..." "...But about finding the courage to start a new one." "Especially when you find someone to share it with!" D'aww...that's kind of a sweet message to end on. And it's JUST meta enough that you COULD read this as a ending for the comic run, too. This...is a acceptable ending. Not great, but it's fine.
And all the Manes have a comment that reflect their personality. Almost obnoxiously so. It's all a little on the nose.
Izzy painted her face, because of course she did. She would be one of THOSE kind of fans.
He blinded them..with SCIENCE! Or magic, it really could be either in this world. Someone really should call whoever sells him that wing-wax.
I'm calling it right now...he's faked his own disappearance to live a quiet life in the country. He just wants to be a simple rock farmer.
I would think all the Airen merchandise would actually SKYROCKET in price, instead of going on sale. I mean, if he's really gone, that stuff's going to go up in value quick. They'd be better selling it online.
Airen is bascially The Rock. (Which would fit perfectly with my whole "rock farmer" theory, just sayin'.)
Airen the Skybound Stallion...that DOES sound like it would make for a catchy song.
Oh, those celebrities and they're crazy demands like meditation time. I'm sure there's nothing suspicious going on here at all!
These ponies got some THICK legs in this artstyle. Hitch has NOT been skipping leg day!
Yes this pony's access badge is innocently lodged in the tire of this golf cart...that's not suspicious at all!
This newspony knows who the main characters of this story are, and she won't stop until she's interviewed all of them!
"Airen Zephyr Blast Smoothie". I do wonder what that would taste like. It's....blue!
WHOA, Sunny, that was quite the sneeze there! Maybe you should be wearing a mask. And also, maybe you should re-wash all your smoothie fruit.
Izzy got a used soda can stuck to her horn. I'm glad we got one last usage out of that gag before the end.
Huh, Izzy didn't do her own facepaint. She got someone else to do it at the stadium. I honestly expected that she just did it herself in the mirror.
Oh, Izzy...you're so easily distractable. You could get her off the scent of a mystery by literally jingling some keys around.
This news pony knows everyone's names already. I know this is a small world. And these ARE world-saving heroes. But, it still feels weird.
Misty's new to this whole "missing person mystery" thing.
Misty's eye will stare directly into your soul!
So, yeah, Misty doesn't even realize that she ran into Airen in disguise at a parade beforehand. A hat and glasses can hide MANY things. And it kind of sounds like he was meeting a girl. OOOH! It's getting spicier.
And Pipp even asked Airen about his "secret girlfriend", so yeah, this is definitely a thing.
The weird perspective made me think Airen had tiny ponies putting earphones in for him, but no, that's just the giant Airen balloon for the parade they're working on in the background. It would be neat to have a giant balloon of yourself, I think.
D'awww...Zipp looks so shy in this scene. It's cute! Maybe a bit out of character, but it's cute, so I'll allow it.
Oooh, the secret tunnels underneath Zephyr Heights! What a romantic rendezvous spot!
So...Airen wanted to go on a around-the-world flight with his girlfriend? Okay...I'll admit I didn't think that's where this was going. Weird twist.
I do wonder how they plan on exploring the world without any sort of map of the world. I mean, the world's got to have changed since G4. And even back in G4, I don't think the ponies had a map of the whole WORLD!
So, they planned to secretly disappear to they wouldn't be followed by the media and fans...by making the biggest, most flashy exit they could have possibly thought of? Great plan. No notes.
So, uh...they have a SECOND "goodbye" presentation for their fans, to make up for making them all think Airen was kidnapped or something. Sure, yeah. Why not? These ponies love any excuse for a event, anyway.
"Sometimes the greatest adventures aren't about escaping your old life..." "...But about finding the courage to start a new one." "Especially when you find someone to share it with!" D'aww...that's kind of a sweet message to end on. And it's JUST meta enough that you COULD read this as a ending for the comic run, too. This...is a acceptable ending. Not great, but it's fine.
But, I think I have to do something a little special for this issue. Because...there's every possibility that this is the last issue of IDW's run on My Little Pony.
This isn't really written as a "ending" for IDW's 13 year run on this book. There's...actually nothing here saying this is the last issue. And no one's announced anything of the sort.
And maybe it isn't. But, there are no new Pony comics solicited up until July at the present. So, at the very least, IDW MLP is taking a break. Maybe until Hasbro figures out what they're going to do with the franchise as a whole, going forward.
At the very least, this is probably going to be the last official piece of purely G5 material that we get. G5...has been over for a while, really. It just took a while for the comics to catch up and finish off. This is probably our "farewell" to these characters. Unless Hasbro decides to make a crossover show happen.
And I just want to say...you did good, G5!
G5 really had a uphill battle. They were following a legendary show that got WAY more popular than anyone ever expected. It would have been almost impossible for anything to come after that. But, a lot of people put in a lot of effort into G5. Hasbro really tried to make G5 as big as G4 was. Now, that didn't work out. But, they tried they're hardest. They gave us a movie, two shows running at the same time, a ongoing comic series, and video games. No one can say they didn't try to make G5 work. And I really appreciate all the effort they put in. And I honestly think fans will end up looking back on G5 as a under-appreciated gem of a generation.
And IDW....you did GREAT!
There's definitely been ups and downs. But, when IDW was good, they were GOOD! The first G4 MLP comic from IDW came out in November 28 2012. And we've been given an almost constant stream of comics, ever since. When one season of G4 ended, we still got IDW comics to help us wait for the next one. When G4 ended, we still got Season 10 via the comics. When G5 premiered, IDW was right there alongside all the bigger shows, with comics directly tying into the deeper lore of the world. When G5 was wrapping up, IDW was STILL there for us, with new comics to fill in that void. We've gotten some all time classic MLP stories via the comics. And some GREAT art. I'd even say some of the best arcs are from the comics! IDW's comics were always there for us. And if their time with the license is sunsetting, then that's a bit of a shame. I'll miss these comics. IDW should be proud of the hundreds of MLP comics that they've managed to make in the last 13 years. This is one of the most impressive runs in all of comics, and it deserves to be remembered!
I don't know what the future has in store for My Little Pony. It's kind of a quiet time, right now. But, if Hasbro can give us something that's even as close to being good as what IDW and G5 gave us, I think this fandom will be okay.