Pony Comic Book Thread-IDW is Party Canon

[ZakuConvoy]

And now we have this.

#3481067 - safe, artist:brianna garcia, idw, official comic, hitch trailblazer, izzy moonbow, misty brightdawn, pipp petals, steven, sunny starscout, zipp storm, alicorn, bird, earth pony, pegasus, pony, seagull, unicorn, g4, g5, my little pony: lost

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derpibooru.org

My Little Pony: Lost Stories of Equestria | Penguin Random House Comics Retail

Get lost in these four stories of action, mystery, and friendship featuring Princess Cadance, Violette Rainbow and Skye, Zipp and Pipp, and the Mane 5!

prhcomics.com

Which seems to imply the existence of 4 one-shots throughout 2025.

Spoiler

We have the Cadence story, which we knew about. But, it also sounds like there's a Violette Rainbow story, a New Years story, and a missing persons detective story.

The thing is the Cadence one shot is extra-sized. So if the entire collection is only 136 pages, then that would imply every story averages out to about 34 pages. Which is more than a normal issue, but kind of small for individual one-shots. So, I'm not sure if they're all going to be 4 individual one-shots or if 2 specials will have 2 stories within them. I'm personally leaning towards there being 4 one-shots, because that's probably the way to get the most money. *shrug*

Either way, this means we are still getting a little G5 content! It's not just going to be G4! G5 lives! Sorta!

 

[CoffeeHorse]

We are so back.

 

[ZakuConvoy]

Well, for a limited definition of "back", anyway. Probably for 4 comics at $6 a piece. One special per quarter or so. Maybe we'll get another mini to go alongside them or maybe not. But, it's SOMETHING, which is better than nothing.

 

[CoffeeHorse]

It's no longer than the wait between Make Your Mark chapters. I'll take it.

 

[ZakuConvoy]

So, the four one shots for 2025 all have connecting cover variants...ending with Sunny literally flying off into the sunset.

https://www.equestriadaily.com/2024/12/comics-my-little-pony-case-of-missing.html#more

#3511001 - safe, artist:sophie scruggs, idw, official comic, sunny starscout, alicorn, pony, g5, my little pony: tournament of mysteries, official, artificial horn, artificial wings, augmented, beautiful, butt, cloud, comic cover, cover, cover art, f

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derpibooru.org

...This sure FEELS final.

But, it's not done by Justasuta, so...maybe it's not?

IDW...please stop doing these connecting covers! I'm starting to develop a Pavlovian Response to them! Every time I see them, I think you're losing the license! You gotta stop doing this to me!

Okay, so we don't know IDW is losing the license. Probably not. But, with G5 ending the way it is, I guess maybe these specials might be the last G5 comics? Maybe? I don't know. They keep giving me mixed signals. I've predicted that IDW would lose the license SO many times, and I've never been right. But, IDW HAS always scaled back after each time they do this. From a ongoing, to series of miniseries, to a series of one shots. How could they POSSIBLY scale back any farther?!

Chances are, we'll probably get another series of one shots after this. If only because it seems weird for IDW to lose the license in the middle of the year. But, I don't know what's going on. And neither does IDW or Hasbro, probably. Stop messing with my HEART, IDW!

 

[CoffeeHorse]

I believe everything is on autopilot until Discovery Family's remaining rights to G4 expire. Then Hasbro can renegotiate their deal with IDW or shop the brand around. They won't change a thing until then.

 

[ZakuConvoy]

There's going to be a signing with a few MLP comic creators at this year's SDCC on Sunday July 27.

SDCC'25: IDW Publishing schedule for Comic-Con — Major Spoilers — Comic Book Reviews, News, Previews, and Podcasts

From celebrating the launch of GODZILLA #1 to a giant selection of exclusives, signing events, and panels, IDW Publishing has kaiju-sized plans for San Diego Comic-Con 2025.

majorspoilers.com

https://www.equestriadaily.com/2025/07/idw-holding-pony-signing-at-sdcc.html

This isn't a full panel or anything. But, maybe we'll hear a bit of news from IDW about the state of their MLP license. And them having ANY representation for MLP at all is actually kind of a good sign that IDW is planning on doing something with MLP in the future...eventually. Maybe. We'll see.

 

[CoffeeHorse]

Here's hoping. If they're done, they could just skip the show entirely. Not having a panel but still having some presence could mean "We have nothing to announce at the moment, but don't forget about us. WINK."

 

[ZakuConvoy]

The comics...WILL RETURN!

https://www.equestriadaily.com/2025/10/boom-studios-picks-up-g4-my-little-pony.html

Licensing Hotline: October 2025

Read on for news about Penguin's tie-in books for a new animated film based on Roald Dahl's 'The Twits,' Boom! Studios’ licenses with Hasbro for Jem and the Holograms and My Little Pony, PI Kids’ acquisition of books in the Richard Scarry license, Red Racer adding the NASCAR license to its...

www.publishersweekly.com

Specifically, G4 comics. In 2026 from Boom! (*Looks at the thread title*....Well, guess I'm either going to have to rename this, or just start a new thread when the time comes.)

I'll admit, I'm a little surprised. For a few reasons. I really was expecting Hasbro to push for G6 to be a big thing next year. But, the nostalgia for G4 is only growing, it seems. We will see how this goes. Hopefully, they have a good team in mind.

But, I guess this could mean a Jem/MLP crossover could be coming. Which would be outrageous. Truly, truly outrageous.

 

[CoffeeHorse]

Poor IDW. They gave us some good stuff. But Hasbro cannot be blamed at all for getting off an obviously sinking ship.

I also don't blame them for going straight back to G4. As much as I want to see a G6, G4 is absolutely printing money in China right now. It's significant enough for Hasbro's top executives to take notice. They'd be crazy if they didn't try to strike while the iron is apparently hot again.

 

[ZakuConvoy]

I honestly don't know if IDW is still a sinking ship or not? That's one of the parts that's a little surprising about the switch. At least at the moment, IDW seems to be on a bit of a upswing. At least creatively. They're just ending a really well received run on TMNT, the Kai-Sei Godzilla books seem to critical darlings, Sonic is chugging along to the 100th issue, Star Trek just started a big multi-book relaunch, even some of the IDW Dark stuff seem to be at least critically well received. The serial-killer bear-girl from "Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees" is even getting a cameo alongside Sub-Zero, Red Sonja, and Vampirella in the DC KO event. Everthing's coming up Milhouse IDW! IDW may have patched the leak in their ship, time will tell.

Homelander, Sub-Zero, Vampirella & Red Sonja To Appear In DC’s K.O.

NYCC: Homelander, Sub-Zero, Vampirella, Red Sonja, Annabelle, and Sam from Beneath The Trees appear in DC’s K.O

bleedingcool.com

But, honestly, if you read the Publisher's Weekly article, the actual reason becomes a bit more clear. The person who used to work with Hasbro at IDW is now at Boom. So, I think Hasbro just decided to just work through them, rather than IDW. I think that could be the reason for the change moreso than IDW's stability or lack thereof.

As for the G4 of it all...I guess I'm really not sure what else I want them to do? I mean, I personally wouldn't mind if Boom gave us endings for G5 and Equestria Girls, like they're talking about doing for 80s Jem. But, what do you do with G4, specifically? Just...Season 11? Do you go to the VERY end, and tell stories about the "Golden Girl" Manes and Twilight's new student I forget the name of? Do you still try to have it lead into G5? Or do you change the timeline so G5 is no longer is guaranteed? Or do you just ignore that elephant in the room entirely and just tell generic stories that could basically happen anywhere in the timeline?

I just don't know what you do with a return to G4, since it really hasn't been that long. I am interested to see what they come up with, though.

 

[CoffeeHorse]

The person who used to work with Hasbro at IDW is now at Boom. So, I think Hasbro just decided to just work through them, rather than IDW.

That sounds like how Goldner would have handled it. It's good to know Hasbro is still Hasbro.