Friends Forever #4 review! · 8:07pm Jun 3rd, 2014
So, we have a Shining Armor story. Well, let's get this over with.
Okay, in fairness, this is addressing one of my beefs with Shining Armor, namely that they portray him as a cool big brother, but we hardly see that. Will this fix anything? Let's take a look.
We open to Twilight packing for her trip to the Crystal Empire, including a Monster Encyclopedia that the two used to play with as kids. Also, she exposits that Cadance will be out of town. Hey, remember when those two used to appear on screen together?
When she arrives at the Empire Twilight is disappointed that Shiny can't greet her personally, instead sending two escorts. It seems Shiny's miserable thanks to an unexpected influx of work. There's a really awkward scene here and I don't like it. It's like Twilight has no clue how to act in high society despite being a Princess... ugh.
Twilight goes to bed upset that her BBBFF has no time for her, and has a nice dream about their early days that actually fits. But while she sleeps the Monster Encyclopedia is stolen by an incredibly large creature.
Twilight is awoken by several ponies who saw it, and she concludes it must be a Crystal Ghost. Shining Armor hears about it soon after and decides to help his little sister.
In the library, Twilight and one of Shiny's staff, Lexicon, set up a rope trap. It snags something, but it's something powerful enough to resist. Shiny shows up to throw a net around it, but it gets away behind a bookcase, which opens to reveal a secret cavern.
There is a nice bit where they talk about how they wish they lived closer and could spend more time together, but mostly it's them overcoming a bunch of monster traps they find down there. They eventually find the crystal ghost... crying his eyes out.
The crystal ghost is actually a Crystal Bard that Sombra captured and kept as a slave, forcing him to perform for him nightly. He eventually escaped into the caverns and Sombra went crazy trying to catch him again. Overjoyed that Sombra is gone, he decides to become the castle's librarian.
So, the comic ends with Twilight and Shining Armor promising not to let growing up stop them from forgetting what's important.
I'm sorry if this is a bland review, but I really don't have a whole lot to say about it. It's good when it focuses on Twilight and Shiny, and I think it was good to get a little bit more of a look at Sombra. Lexicon was a try at a humorous character that just kind of fell flat to me. This might be the second best issue in the series, but with only four to choose from, that's not saying much.
Well, that's that. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic #18 next. Hopefully I can get the rest of the comics reviewed by the end of the week.
What I'd like to see is an issue devoted to all the prominent male characters (not a whole lot, I know). I wouldn't care what the plot is, either, so long as it's written and drawn well.
~The lizardman isn't asking for much
You missed the incredibly obvious reference to Mario and Luigi as Crystal Ponies. Crystal Pony Mario even had a mushroom cutie mark, worked as a plumber, and said a line about rescuing Twilight if she got captured.
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Everyone always harps on about those two, but everyone always forgets about these guys.
i.imgur.com/XQ1wjyY.png
I actually enjoyed the comic, though not as much as some of the other installments. It certainly had it all over the Applejack/Pinkie Pie one.
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Didn't they do that with the Big Mac story in the main series? Zen and the art of gazebo repair?
2172693 Somewhat, and it was very well done. It's exactly what you could've asked for out of a story focused on Big Macintosh. It even relied on some clever fan headcanons.
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I am trying to think who else they could focus on, really. Outside of Big Mac and Filthy Rich (giving a hearty 'Eeyup') I don't think we see many of the males interacting with each other on the show. Not sure who else really has enough of a personality to really play with.
Though a Big Mac/Filthy Rich buddy cop comic, I'd read that.
"Oh, look, Filthy Rich has pasted our heads into a buddy cop movie shot: 'Big Mac and Filthy Rich, Fuck Yeah!'"
2172728 The only question is, who would play good cop? And would play bad cop?
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Big Mac's got that silent intimidating thing happening, so maybe him?
2172829 For good cop, or bad cop?
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[mutterstohimself]Use your words, Anonymoose, use your words…[/mutterstohimself]
I meant for bad cop.
And I think this conversation has been sufficiently derailed
Ir was pretty bland, yes. The two are so alien to each other that trying to make them "hang out" only made it all the more clear.