MLP:FiM Comic Book Series Discussion

[PoisonClaw 8,164]

Oh boy...that was a doozy of an arc, both for better and for worse. I'm actually tempted to write a blog post about it just to air some of my grievances. Speaking of grievances...do not get me started on that kick in teeth that was that final page at the very end of the book. Whoever insisted that very last page be included needs a swift whack to the back of the head.  

[Metemponychosis 1,261]

The whole arc was not as good as I hoped and in the end it was not as bad as I feared, but this last issue felt specially like that.

I'm glad it's over.

 

EDIT: And here is why...

 

First, I agree with the other members that say that Celestia is not supposed to be seen as "normal" or "relatable". She is not. Nor is Luna. And ultimately, Twilight and Cadance. They are guardians and we already knew that they are not perfect. So, I felt like this argument from the comic is just pointless.

 

The romance was okay, but it was made to the detriment of Celestia's character. And I'm pretty sure that it's implied in the beginning that Luna was still around when she began her travels to the other dimension, though I could be wrong. She knew she was doing something she should not but she threw aside the safety of her subjects and Star Swirl's trust because she had the hots for Good Sombra.

 

Finally, this issue reduced the Mane Six into nothing more than vessels for carrying the Elements there so Sombra could sacrifice his... Goodness... By eating up the evil sisters magic. Uh... Okay... I don't like it, and I think it's a cop-out but what really hurts for me is that the Mane Six did absolutely nothing. I hate when this happens. They are good girls. They are supposed to be the heroes. And aren't the Elements supposed to be theirs? As in they manifested because of them? How is it that it seems that just about anyone can just snatch them and use them?

 

And what was that about leaving Equestria to Twilight? What about Luna? Is Luna incapable of ruling without Celestia? Cadance?

 

It was rushed. It was poorly written and that is my opinion.

Edited June 25, 2014 by moonlightavenger

[Rarity Paige Belle 1,854]

I LOVED the comic arc! Reflections is the best in the series!

[Nuke87654 1,849]

The whole arc was not as good as I hoped and in the end it was not as bad as I feared, but this last issue felt specially like that.

I'm glad it's over.

 

EDIT: And here is why...

 

First, I agree with the other members that say that Celestia is not supposed to be seen as "normal" or "relatable". She is not. Nor is Luna. And ultimately, Twilight and Cadance. They are guardians and we already knew that they are not perfect. So, I felt like this argument from the comic is just pointless.

 

The romance was okay, but it was made to the detriment of Celestia's character. And I'm pretty sure that it's implied in the beginning that Luna was still around when she began her travels to the other dimension, though I could be wrong. She knew she was doing something she should not but she threw aside the safety of her subjects and Star Swirl's trust because she had the hots for Good Sombra.

 

Finally, this issue reduced the Mane Six into nothing more than vessels for carrying the Elements there so Sombra could sacrifice his... Goodness... By eating up the evil sisters magic. Uh... Okay... I don't like it, and I think it's a cop-out but what really hurts for me is that the Mane Six did absolutely nothing. I hate when this happens. They are good girls. They are supposed to be the heroes. And aren't the Elements supposed to be theirs? As in they manifested because of them? How is it that it seems that just about anyone can just snatch them and use them?

 

And what was that about leaving Equestria to Twilight? What about Luna? Is Luna incapable of ruling without Celestia? Cadance?

 

It was rushed. It was poorly written and that is my opinion.

Nice thoughts, moonlightavenger.

 

To add, the fact AU Sombra turned bad and the AU royal sisters good in the end pretty much rendered the whole AU verse pointless.

 

They should've scrapped the AU verse idea and just have the events between Celestia, Luna, Starswirl, and Original Sombra done in the past showing of what caused Sombra to fall and even a glimpse of Luna turning bad. That would've been a better storyline I think.

 

Also, the fact they admitted at the end in the bonus story that the arc's story was convoluted leaves me wondering about the state at IDW's MLP staff.

Edited June 25, 2014 by Nuke87654

[Rarity Paige Belle 1,854]

Nice thoughts, moonlightavenger.

To add, the fact AU Sombra turned bad and the AU royal sisters good in the end pretty much rendered the whole AU verse pointless.

They should've scrapped the AU verse idea and just have the events between Celestia, Luna, Starswirl, and Original Sombra done in the past showing of what caused Sombra to fall and even a glimpse of Luna turning bad. That would've been a better storyline I think.

Also, the fact they admitted at the end in the bonus story that the arc's story was convoluted leaves me wondering about the state at IDW's MLP staff.

Even though I enjoyed the arc, I agree that it was a little convoluted! Also does this mean that the TV universe Sombra will now turn good? (If he's still alive?)

[Nuke87654 1,849]

Even though I enjoyed the arc, I agree that it was a little convoluted! Also does this mean that the TV universe Sombra will now turn good? (If he's still alive?)

That's another thing, if Meghan said he's dead, then how is AU sombra still alive? The AU verse's rule seemed nothing more than a plot device in my opinion.

Edited June 25, 2014 by Nuke87654

[Castle Bleck 19,366]

The whole arc was not as good as I hoped and in the end it was not as bad as I feared, but this last issue felt specially like that.

I'm glad it's over.

 

EDIT: And here is why...

 

First, I agree with the other members that say that Celestia is not supposed to be seen as "normal" or "relatable". She is not. Nor is Luna. And ultimately, Twilight and Cadance. They are guardians and we already knew that they are not perfect. So, I felt like this argument from the comic is just pointless.

 

The romance was okay, but it was made to the detriment of Celestia's character. And I'm pretty sure that it's implied in the beginning that Luna was still around when she began her travels to the other dimension, though I could be wrong. She knew she was doing something she should not but she threw aside the safety of her subjects and Star Swirl's trust because she had the hots for Good Sombra.

 

Finally, this issue reduced the Mane Six into nothing more than vessels for carrying the Elements there so Sombra could sacrifice his... Goodness... By eating up the evil sisters magic. Uh... Okay... I don't like it, and I think it's a cop-out but what really hurts for me is that the Mane Six did absolutely nothing. I hate when this happens. They are good girls. They are supposed to be the heroes. And aren't the Elements supposed to be theirs? As in they manifested because of them? How is it that it seems that just about anyone can just snatch them and use them?

 

And what was that about leaving Equestria to Twilight? What about Luna? Is Luna incapable of ruling without Celestia? Cadance?

 

It was rushed. It was poorly written and that is my opinion.

Nice thoughts, moonlightavenger.

 

To add, the fact AU Sombra turned bad and the AU royal sisters good in the end pretty much rendered the whole AU verse pointless.

 

They should've scrapped the AU verse idea and just have the events between Celestia, Luna, Starswirl, and Original Sombra done in the past showing of what caused Sombra to fall and even a glimpse of Luna turning bad. That would've been a better storyline I think.

 

Also, the fact they admitted at the end in the bonus story that the arc's story was convoluted leaves me wondering about the state at IDW's MLP staff.

Even though I enjoyed the arc, I agree that it was a little convoluted! Also does this mean that the TV universe Sombra will now turn good? (If he's still alive?)

That's another thing, if Meghan said he's dead, then how is AU sombra still alive? The AU verse's rule seemed nothing more than a plot device in my opinion.

 

Dear Katie Cook,

 

 

Love,

Your Readers

 

P.S.:

Edited June 25, 2014 by A.V.

[Metemponychosis 1,261]

That's another thing, if Meghan said he's dead, then how is AU sombra still alive? The AU verse's rule seemed nothing more than a plot device in my opinion.

It was a “safe” ground on which to develop the story.

Maybe they didn't want to mess with the canon of the show... Even though they did... And would have been better as a origin story for Sombra.

Nice thoughts, moonlightavenger.

To add, the fact AU Sombra turned bad and the AU royal sisters good in the end pretty much rendered the whole AU verse pointless.

 

I don't know if you know the reference, but this is the first that came to me: this is the "Synthesis Ending" in Mass Effect 3.

 

[panic mode]

We need a good ending!

[/panic mode]

Oh... And Sombra sacrificed himself.

[Castle Bleck 19,366]

And would have been better as a origin story for Sombra.

 

The whole "heart as black as night" deal means he was unlikely anything but a selfish sociopath all along, unlike Mirror!Sombra.

Edited June 25, 2014 by A.V.

[Banul 3,831]

I don't know if you know the reference, but this is the first that came to me: this is the "Synthesis Ending" in Mass Effect 3.

 

Oh god, you're giving me PTST with that

[Metemponychosis 1,261]

Even though I enjoyed the arc, I agree that it was a little convoluted! Also does this mean that the TV universe Sombra will now turn good? (If he's still alive?)

Meghan said that he is dead. But she said that Flash Sentry wouldn't appear in the show too...

I wouldn't dismiss the possibility that he is alive, and maybe good. I wouldn't mind it too much now that they would act as adults.

The whole "heart as black as night" deal means he was unlikely anything but a selfish sociopath all along, unlike Mirror!Sombra.

True. But people tend to like villains that have reasons to be "evil". For me, saying that the dude is a selfish monster, is usually enough, but this "alternative story" would give some development that the original Sombra could use.

[PoisonClaw 8,164]

Now that I think about it, this arc can largely be defined with the trope "They Wasted a Perfectly Good Plot", the biggest of which still pisses me off: no inclusion of the alternate Mane 6. I can't be the only person who would have loved to see each pony square off with their alternate counterpart, not to mention the ramifications when Evil Unicorn Twilight encounters Good Alicorn Princess Twilight.

 

Actually, if they weren't going to make even a token cameo in the story, why include them at all? Issue 2 had them on a wanted poster (why were they wanted in the first place?) as a cheap reason the guards can arrest them, Issue 3 not only prominently featured them on one of the main covers (along with a nice Chrysalis who I would have killed to see and Evil Cadance which is it's own plot hole now that she's the only evil princess left in that reality) but also in a mini comic in the same issue. And then, as I already said, that final page where alt Pinkie goes "I really hope nopony wanted us to appear in some epic story" comes off as one big middle finger to everyone who wanted the evil mane 6 to make an appearance. There's humorous additions and then there's straight up insulting you readers! 

Edited June 25, 2014 by PoisonClaw

[Rarity Paige Belle 1,854]

Now that I think about it, this arc can largely be defined with the trope "They Wasted a Perfectly Good Plot", the biggest of which still pisses me off: no inclusion of the alternate Mane 6. I can't be the only person who would have loved to see each pony square off with their alternate counterpart, not to mention the ramifications when Evil Unicorn Twilight encounters Good Alicorn Princess Twilight.

 

Actually, if they weren't going to make even a token cameo in the story, why include them at all? Issue 2 had them on a wanted poster (why were they wanted in the first place?) as a cheap reason the guards can arrest them, Issue 3 not only prominently featured them on one of the main covers (along with a nice Chrysalis who I would have killed to see and Evil Cadance which is it's own plot hole now that she's the only evil princess left in that reality) but also in a mini comic in the same issue. And then, as I already said, that final page where alt Pinkie goes "I really hope nopony wanted us to appear in some epic story" comes off as one big "F*** You" to everyone who wanted the evil mane 6 to make an appearance. There's humorous additions and then there's straight up insulting you readers!

 

You gotta remember though that they only had 4 issues to get that story in! Maybe for big story arcs they should lengthen the story to 6 issues?

[Banul 3,831]

Now that I think about it, this arc can largely be defined with the trope "They Wasted a Perfectly Good Plot", the biggest of which still pisses me off: no inclusion of the alternate Mane 6. I can't be the only person who would have loved to see each pony square off with their alternate counterpart, not to mention the ramifications when Evil Unicorn Twilight encounters Good Alicorn Princess Twilight.

 

Actually, if they weren't going to make even a token cameo in the story, why include them at all? Issue 2 had them on a wanted poster (why were they wanted in the first place?) as a cheap reason the guards can arrest them, Issue 3 not only prominently featured them on one of the main covers (along with a nice Chrysalis who I would have killed to see and Evil Cadance which is it's own plot hole now that she's the only evil princess left in that reality) but also in a mini comic in the same issue. And then, as I already said, that final page where alt Pinkie goes "I really hope nopony wanted us to appear in some epic story" comes off as one big middle finger to everyone who wanted the evil mane 6 to make an appearance. There's humorous additions and then there's straight up insulting you readers! 

This was my biggest dissapointment as well. I don't know why they would even bother with an alternate evil reality without putting the main characters in there. Thats like, step 1 for this kind of thing.

[Ashen Pathfinder 16,161]

Color me completely satisfied.
 

Celestia was easily the star of this arc, and my heart broke for her & Sombra.

 

I may elaborate on my thoughts later, but BRAVO to you Ms. Cook! Thank you!

[M'aiq the Liar 5,804]

So how did altworld Sombra going bad restore balance if the prime world sombra is dead? Unless he suddenly exploded right after the comic was done, then he really didn't restore balance. Because primeSombra would have to be alive and turn good in order for him sucking out the evil (and again, why is evil this tangible venom like substance? For someone who references Star Trek a lot, they could really learn a lot from that show about how evil is handled in alternate worlds). So unless primeSombra poofs back to life, then they didn't really solve anything.

Also, if you cover teases alternate mane 6, and alternate villains and background ponies, don't give us the bird at the end of the arc. All it does it make you look like a pretentious ass.

 

And again, meta jokes DO NOT ABSOLVE YOU OF WRITING A CONVOLUTED STORY THAT BREAKS ITS OWN CONTINUITY. Just because you point out your story is trite, does not mean that I cannot call it trite.

[Nuke87654 1,849]

It was a “safe” ground on which to develop the story.

Maybe they didn't want to mess with the canon of the show... Even though they did... And would have been better as a origin story for Sombra.

I don't know if you know the reference, but this is the first that came to me: this is the "Synthesis Ending" in Mass Effect 3.

 

[panic mode]

We need a good ending!

[/panic mode]

Oh... And Sombra sacrificed himself.

 

Lol so true, that synthesis ending was one big middle finger to fans too.

[ghostfacekiller39 23,860]

Well...glad to hear that the latest arc has been well-received  

 

I generally shy away from the main series because of how the Nightmare Rarity arc ended up being, which was so shitty that I lost all interest in the comics until the other day when I decided to give them another shot...

 

The next issue, though, scheduled for release on July 16th, really caught my eye  

 

 

It features my 3 favorite ponies on the cover, which are Rarity, AJ, and Trixie I can't say I'm for sure going to pick it up, since the last time I read outside of the Friends Forever series made me want to go postal on the people who thought up that shitstain of an arc, but I'm definitely intrigued and going to look into it

Alright, just had that on my mind for a while now. Just wanted to share that somewhere
 

[Zekromic 1,054]

Color me completely satisfied.

 

Celestia was easily the star of this arc, and my heart broke for her & Sombra.

 

I may elaborate on my thoughts later, but BRAVO to you Ms. Cook! Thank you!

I dunno, but watching Sombra with that sad state was more heartbreaking. Maybe it's because it's far more unexpected to see male characters, specially if they're evil, crying, I felt worse for Sombra than Celestia. It reminds me of the ending of Castlevania Mirror of Fate where Gabriel Belmont, now Dracula, is reduced to a wrecking sob once he finds out the man he just killed was his son

 

Well, can't say I gained a bad taste in my mouth, but I can't say I was overly satisfied with it.

the plot It started good, but ended kinda bland, and the pacing was the most notable flaw of it. About the characters, I liked that Sunnybutt gained more spotlight in this arc, but in turn, the mane6 felt unnecessary in the end, and Spike didn't contributed at all, despite all the buttmonkey jokes at him

 

 

EXTRA, EXTRA, MANE-IAC WILL TRAVEL TO THE HUMAN WORLD IN THE 8 PAGE PREVIEW OF THE SECOND ANNUAL COMIC, AND IT WILL BE SOLD SEPARATELY AND EXCLUSIVELY NEXT SAN DIEGO COMIC CON, JUST LIKE THE FALL OF SUNNY SHIMMER LAST YEAR 

 

That explain why she got a SDCC exclusive human doll

I've never into dolls, but I'd wish to get that just to sell it at ridiculous prices years later 

http://www.equestriadaily.com/2014/06/40-page-power-ponies-comic-included.html

http://www.equestriadaily.com/2014/06/sdcc-exclusive-revealed-mane-iac-and.html

Edited June 26, 2014 by Zekromic

[Ashen Pathfinder 16,161]

I dunno, but watching Sombra with that sad state was more heartbreaking. Maybe it's because it's far more unexpected to see male characters, specially if they're evil, crying, I felt worse for Sombra than Celestia. It reminds me of the ending of Castlevania Mirror of Fate where Gabriel Belmont, now Dracula, is reduced to a wrecking sob once he finds out the man he just killed was his son

 

Well, can't say I gained a bad taste in my mouth, but I can't say I was overly satisfied with it.

the plot It started good, but ended kinda bland, and the pacing was the most notable flaw of it. About the characters, I liked that Sunnybutt gained more spotlight in this arc, but in turn, the mane6 felt unnecessary in the end, and Spike didn't contributed at all, despite all the buttmonkey jokes at him

 

 

Admittedly, you have a point, and now that I have had a few hours for the comic to sink in I generally have to agree with you at Sombra.

 

Thinking of it, it is very heartbreaking. As much as Celestia's stock rose for me in this comic (I prefer the imperfect Celestia that can be relatable), Sombra is equally, if not more so important, and I admittedly let a tear fall at that last page.

 

I hope Cook & the gang touch up on this issue again in the future. It'd be kinda cruel to no revisit Sombra again, IMO.

 

Now, I will admit that I did have some issues here and there. The AU angle didn't exactly make sense in the end, though I'm sure there is some head canon to spin to make it work. However, I prefer story-telling over some of these details, and the main point of this was Celestia & AU Sombra.

 

I might be in the minority, but I am glad that the AU Mane 6 didn't play a part in the story as they might have distracted from the main characters of interest.

 

Not perfect, but still solid for me, and it seems that a lot more people are liking it; judging by some comments I've seen on EQD.

[MadPointer 75]

MLP:FiM Comic sales

 

The first issue must be very popular among collectors due to all the covers.

[OtakuBrony 349]

Howdy all!

 

One word to describe the conclusion to the Reflections arc: WOW

 

It was pretty darned good.

 

Poor Princess Celestia

 

Cant wait for volume 21 as The Great & Powerful Trixie is back in the main comic in a new story.

 

See ya!

[Ashen Pathfinder 16,161]

I'm really curious as to what ideas they have for the next adventure/epic arc. Between the Chryslis, Nightmare Rarity, and AU Sombra story lines, I have been stunned by what I read.

 

Not everything has been perfect though, but I'm excited to see what they have coming up after these next few issues.

[Zekromic 1,054]

I'm really curious as to what ideas they have for the next adventure/epic arc. Between the Chryslis, Nightmare Rarity, and AU Sombra story lines, I have been stunned by what I read.

 

Not everything has been perfect though, but I'm excited to see what they have coming up after these next few issues.

Well, if there's something that we learned about the comics, next big adventure will involve Tirek

[Ashen Pathfinder 16,161]

Well, if there's something that we learned about the comics, next big adventure will involve Tirek

 

How do you figure that out of curiosity?