Friday 24 July 2015

Comic mini-review: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic #32

MLP:FiM #32 convention cover
The wear and tear is printed on. Even I don't treat comics that badly!
First things first: I paid a little more than usual to import the SDCC cover of this (above), and I don't regret it at all. However, I might well if I'd paid out for the story alone. The concept – evil apples take over Ponyville – is potentially awesome in a B-movie kind of way, but the execution is lacking. Thom Zahler's writing isn't that great, though Pinkie in particular has her moments, and on one or two occasions it doesn't really match the art. (Also, "remnants ... it returned" – grr.) Tony Fleecs' artwork is fine, on a par with his other recent stuff, and colourist Heather Breckel is reliable as always. The wait for a really good main-series story goes on, though. ★★

19 comments:

  1. I received my copy yesterday and... well. I was, once again, very much underwhelmed. (And I notice that Nightmare Moon was also seemingly *on* the moon rather than in it.) The artwork was quite nicely done, for the most part, but I just couldn't really find anything much to like about the main storyline. Frankly, I'm no longer going to be buying them in advance - this was the last chance and I'd rather wait for your review and then see what I can find on eBay from now on.

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    1. The Nightmare Moon thing seems to be vague even in canon these days, so I'll let them off that one. The rest I agree with, though. I'll keep on buying them, if only for the reviews, but I certainly look forward more to the FF comics these days. (Discord/Luna, in two issues' time, should be fun!)

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    2. Discord and Luna? Eeeeeee! Right, I'm certainly ordering *that* one!

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    3. "The Nightmare Moon thing seems to be vague even in canon these days [...]"

      In this instance, canon itself is inherently wrong. This is not an interpretation that should ever be acceptable, so help me RainbowBob.

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    1. I almost want that to be the new standard design.

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  3. Once again Friends Forever is the far superior pony comic at the moment.

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    1. Can't argue with that. It's strange looking back to the earlier days of the main series (eg the Big Mac arc) and wondering where that spark has gone.

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    2. I've just read the Chrysalis arc and enjoyed it (certain problems did pop up, I think I'll explain on the other ones), so kinda sad to see this.
      Sadly it seems, the comic series is going downhill...:'(

      I haven't found any 1 stars yet though...what if there is one that gets that rating?

      I read about the synopsis for this one and I was like, meh. Not too impressed; why would Twilight suddenly just change Fluttershy back into Flutterbat like that? I hope it's not making her out like she was in #25-26, THAT, to quote a song, was a recipe for disaster, a tablespoon of one big mess...

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    3. The closest to a one-star rating was Friends Forever #1. That just scraped to a two (converted to my current system) but I was probably too generous. It's a pretty bad comic, and it would probably get a one if I were reviewing it today.

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    4. I see; lemme guess, 4/10 or lower would = 1 star.

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    5. No, actually 4/10 was a two-star rating at the time. I think it should have been 3/10, though, hence one star.

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    6. I see now.

      Honestly, I dunno what they were thinking with that Marine Sandwich character (I was also the anon saying how I do NOT like "Cupcakes", though I haven't read it)...

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    7. It was very odd, because Alex De Campi and Carla Speed McNeil are very good at what they do. They just had a real off day when it came to writing My Little Pony tales. (Not to be confused with the My Little Pony Tales cartoon, of course! :D )

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    8. I guess...

      Surprisingly, there's been no comments on your "Return of Chrysalis" reviews. Soon however, I'll be writing ones on them, and include my thoughts of the story ^____^;

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    9. There's not a lot of predictability about what gets comments here and what doesn't. Still, new comments are always welcome! :)

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  4. That's good :D

    Just wondering, did you hear that G.M. Berrow wrote a book about Celestia herself?

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    1. Yep. I've got it. And all the Mane Six books, and the Discord book. :)

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    2. Are you planning to review them all (saw your Pinkie and Twilight ones)? I think the Celestia one would definitely be the most appropriate one to review this time, it is summer :D

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