Comics and Canon

[LeeroyBlu 16]

Are the MLP comic's actually canon, or are they just side stuff not connected with the TV show world?

And if they are canon, what does this mean for the MLP universe, headcanons and theories?  

 

Like, high school is apparently part of Equestria ("Neigh Anything") which pretty much brings some headcanons and theories about Equestrian school system, basic society, and even the Mane 6 ages into question.

 

Do you include the comics in your theories/headcanons? 

 

 

So much to think about....What do you think Twilight?

[ManaMinori 4,145]

I think they're canon. Why shouldn't they be? If it's about different writers, then do we say an episode in the series isn't canon, when a new/ different writer does an episode?

[FlitterFlutter 1,583]

Apparently, according to the people who write them they say. The comics are canon till the show contradicts it. So in other words YES!!!! the comics are canon!

[LeeroyBlu 16]

I think they're canon. Why shouldn't they be? If it's about different writers, then do we say an episode in the series isn't canon, when a new/ different writer does an episode?

No it's not about the writers,

it more that some have pointed out the logic in the comic Equestria seems to be different to the logic in the TV Equestria.

 

For example, Sunny Fox, brought up a scene in "Neigh Anything", where Cheerilee and Mayor Mare laugh at the thought of becoming a teacher and mayor, even though they have their cutie marks already. Aren't cutie marks supposed to appear when you found out what you want to be already?

 

Sunny Fox's thread

http://mlpforums.com/blog/1083/entry-12738-are-the-friendship-is-magic-comics-canon/

[Banul 3,831]

Refer to: https://twitter.com/andypriceart/status/461550768492150784

(Andy Price works on the comics)

 

Like someone above said, the comics are canon unless contradicted by the show. The show canon takes priority.

[Ashen Pathfinder 16,161]

Considering that the comic staff do have contact with the show staff, I think it's safe to say that they are canon.

[Pinkie-Guy 563]

Does the show have to respect canon established in the comics?  If the show can just ignore the comics, then I would say they aren't truly canon.

[Ashen Pathfinder 16,161]

Does the show have to respect canon established in the comics?  If the show can just ignore the comics, then I would say they aren't truly canon.

 

It's similar to how Star Wars canon worked before the Disney sequel. There is this whole library of books, video games, and the like that was considered canon in the Star Wars universe unless the movies themselves contradicted it. If one thing or what not would be considered non-canon, that doesn't make the whole body of fiction irrelevant to the movies

 

The same works with MLP. The comics and Equestria Girls are considered canon unless the show contradicts it. That doesn't make the whole series of comics non-canon; though.

[Pinkie-Guy 563]

The comics and Equestria Girls are considered canon unless the show contradicts it.

I just don't like the idea that it's canon until it isn't. I think being canon should be immutable, but what you say seems to be the accepted norm.

[Ashen Pathfinder 16,161]

I just don't like the idea that it's canon until it isn't. I think being canon should be immutable, but what you say seems to be the accepted norm.

 

I think that's understandable, but as you say, that's seem to generally be the norm in various forms of media. For me though, I can take it. I mean I'd rather have most of the comics be canon rather than none, if you will. I mean I've come to really love the Reflections and Chrysalis arcs, so I can take maybe some things being non-canon, but that's me.

[Pinkie-Guy 563]

I'm still slowly working my way through the comics.  I'm only finished with the first 2 compiled volumes of the FiM comics, but I only became a brony in December.  I got lots to catch up on.

[Megas 27,567]

The show has yet to acknowledge the comic's canon, if anything, I consider the comics a secondary canon(and canon depending on the reader's mood), as long as the show ignore's the comics, I think it can be ignored by those who don't read/like the comics

[Dulset Tarn 441]

Hasbro says they're totally canon, but I honestly don't think they know what they mean or how it affects anything.

 

The fact that they're written by a completely separate team with no input from the real writers, they contradict every important detail from the show all the time, they make no sense at all, and they're more often than not equivalent to shitty fanfiction tells me that they're not canon.

[NavelColt 22,879]

Can't for the life of me find where the hell I found it, but there was a quote somewhere from one of the comic writers that outlined the relationship the comics have with Hasbro and the show run through DHX, and how it's akin to a sandbox. The comics have Hasbro's permission for a lot of creative freedom in where and what to do they'd like to do with this universe Hasbro owns, which the comics have seemed to have done great with, including darker themes and humor that would never make it into the TV-Y show.

• As many have said, what the show establishes outranks anything the comics do; if there are contradictions, the show wins.
• I'm not sure how much Hasbro keeps tabs on the comics first-hand, but I assume the comics talk with Hasbro execs at some points about the comics and the directions they're going in, what themes they'll be using or have been using, etc, just as DHX does with the show. Hasbro is pretty hands-off, they're not a micro-managing company; they give DHX a ton of room to do what they like, and only really pop in when they want to insert toy promotion stuff and give overall input on show direction. I assume the comics have that same mellow, 'Eh, do whatever you want you crazy kids, just don't do anything that'd hurt the company's reputation' approach.

I'm fairly behind on the comics, but from what I've read, they like to expand on the show's lore, showing us locations and things that probably wouldn't make it into the show, anyway. So the chances of the show treading on the comic's toes is going to be largely minimal, I would imagine. In that regard, they're 'canon enough' for all intents and purposes.

[Tetrakemy 221]

I am on number 15 right now and they are hilarious! The humor and 4th wall breaking pop culture is off the wall. However, I ran into a small problem. It is the story of Shinning Armor and Cadence. 

 

How cannon is that story? If it is cannon, it is very inconsistent with the cartoon and how it was presented. 

 

It just seems to me that the past they all shared would not leave Twilight to be quite as surprised that Shinning Armor and he would get married eventually. She should had known that they were still dating etc.

 

I dunno, it just seems to leave the connection between how they interact with each other a bit weak if all what happened in the comic actually did.

 

 

Also, It is VERY Hilariours *Spoilers* that Shinning Armors Cutie mark is a Dungeons and Dragons Cutie mark LULZ!

 

I mean REALLY! He is a freaking dork?!  

 

...like...ME?!  

 

He just earned himself a million experience points! If you don't believe me he is a dungeons and dragons cutie mark!

 

1. He was never in the Royal guard or the guard...still in school!

2. He was not a fighter...obvious from being harassed from bullies. If his cutie mark was that sheild thing like what I thought it was, He would had used it to block the bully guy!

3. His friends all played d&d with him and one even had a d&d mark as well!

5. He was a level 9 paladin, whats a paladin without his shield? What is his cutie mark? A shield? eh?. ....EH?!  

6. Do not pay attention to the missing number behind the screen. The number 4 does not concern you!

 

Basically, shinning armor showed zero interest in protecting or fighting. He had no magical shield in the comic and only played d&d and was a giant nerd. The only reason he is in the RG now is because he was that giant nerdy kid who got...really...REALLY lucky! The kid me and millions of others wish for lol!

 

So, I think he got his cutie mark in being the best paladin a gamer group could ever ask for like what his friends said lol. 

[KatonRyu 1,033]

Personally I take the comics as canon because the established canon is rather loose to begin with. I'm referring here to Cutie Marks, which of course represent one's special talent, but according to Magical Mystery Cure they are also a reflection of 'true destiny'. (In my headcanon those things mesh well, but taken at face value they seem contradictory; why would your special talent be your destiny?)

 

I like certain comic arcs so much that I really do consider them just as canon as the show. Especially Reflections is an arc that for me explains a lot about Celestia and her past. I'm taking up the same stance as many others: it's canon until the show says otherwise.

[Tinkerbox 6]

I think the comic is canon and treat it as such. Though like the show its hard to place a real timeline. I mean when you get to it most episodes can be aired in any order save a few. I mean certain things say one must happen before the other. This also comes in to question about when something happens in the comic compared to the show. obviously like 1-12? or whatever before twilight alicorns happens before the end of season 3....but I think with continuity theres a sense of looseness but Man I would love to see some more exposition on the alternate world arc.

[Sipenda 66]

Im in concurance with most of the above posts, the books are canon untill the show overrides it.   But then again there are places where the show has issues also. Ponyville's age

[Koukatsu 5,899]

I don't recall the thread, but this was brought up in the thread about the scandal where one of the writer/artist stuck in a couple of controversial OC's, because one complaint is that "they're canon now", and it launched a similar discussion to this, at the time. So, answer:

• As many have said, what the show establishes outranks anything the comics do; if there are contradictions, the show wins.

This. The comics are canon until they contradict the show. In this moment, the show wins canonity (I'm making it a word) over the comics, but any moment where they don't clash, they're canon.

To force it all to be cannon, they'd have to take all the writers for the comics, and keep them on the same hours and payroll, in which case you would just be doubling your staff on the show, because the comic writers would have to run everything by the show writers, which would then increase the show writers workload, and either slow the production of the show, or worse yet, overwork the writers. D:

[Commissar Alexer 763]

It's simple: canon until the show or hasbro says otherwise.

[OtakuBrony 349]

Howdy all!

 

Big Jim Miller (Series Director fer MLP) Mentioned on Twitter (Via EQD) the show & the comics are seperate canon.

 

See link

 

http://www.equestriadaily.com/2015/02/comics-and-show-to-remain-separate-canon.html

[LeeroyBlu 16]

Well I guess that's that mystery solved. Thanks OtakuBrony!

[MysticShine 529]

I don't consider them canon. They conflict far too much with the show.

[Pinkie-Guy 563]

I've been taking them as headcannon suggestions.

[cuteycindyhoney 13,306]

This one little image made my day when I saw it. I have it saved on my desktop so I knew right where it was.

Sam's string theory of time is canon!

 

I LOVED Quantum Leap!