Friends Forever #8 review! · 11:21pm Sep 24th, 2014
Well, in order to wash the bad taste of My Little Phony out, let us read one of the better Friends Forever issues, shall we?
This issue works on the time honored principle that, if your characters are good enough, you only have to put them in a situation and watch the story write itself. A lot of this story’s charm won’t come out in my synopsis, because it’s all Applejack and Rarity’s chemistry. Well, let’s get to it.
Our story opens with _____ delivering a letter to the Apples. It’s from the West Coast Oranges, saying they’re interested in selling their apples closer to their home. This leads to a good gag of the barn getting destroyed... again.
Anyway, since the juvenile delinquents Cutie Mark Crusaders wrecked Applejack's saddlebag, she goes to borrow one from Rarity. However, upon hearing Applewood, Rarity insists on coming along, wanting to see the sights, despite Applejack insisting that it’s only a short business trip.
On the train, Applejack announces a stopover in Salt Lick City, and Rarity insists on seeing the Largest Ball of Cashmere Yarn. Applejack foreshadows that what I’ve been doing with her in Direction is accurate by announcing she’ll be working on her business plan. Once they get to the ball, there’s a gag with a goat eating a season five script, but mostly Applejack gets bored and falls asleep.
Naturally, she woken by Rarity saying the train is leaving soon. They race back and jump on the train that’s leaving. They then find out their train was delayed, and this one is heading to Seaddle. Rarity is unconcerned and offers to help Applejack with her business plan, but she refuses and storms out.
The next morning they apparently have time to see a show, even though their train leaves in the morning. The show ends up destroying their cab, and since it’s apparently the only one in the city, they are forced to walk. They get caught up in the rain, and decide that breaking and entering is the best solution.
After the rain stops, Rarity suggests that, instead of walking, that they commit a felony and steal a biplane. As they fly, Rarity asks when the meeting is. When Applejack says it’s whenever they show up, Rarity chews her out for being so irresponsible, and being in a hurry when there’s no deadline. This leads to her, of course, crashing into the most easily avoidable obstacle: Mount Monument, a mountain with the four princesses’s faces carved in. BTW, notice there’s a petition to add Chrysalis to it, with only Chrysalis’s signature?
Applejack gets mad that they were going the wrong way. Despite losing all their bits, they manage to hitch a ride on a carriage... one that gets hijacked by bull bandits.
This leads to a great two page scene where the two fight them off while arguing. Applejack calls Rarity a poor business planner, but when Rarity finally sees Applejack’s business plan, it’s simply “sell apples” and blows up on her for having poor business sense. Even so, she still wants to help fix it, because even with the little tiff the two are still friends.
Also, Rarity mentions social media. What does that entail in Equestria?
Later, after the two work out a real business plan and somehow get money from nowhere, it’s Applejack who suggests a detour... to a Disneyland rip-off. One made by someone who actually went to Disneyland.
By the way, Applejack and Rarity getting excited about it is too funny.
Afterward, they head to the Orange house. They’re surprised to see Applejack, since they never sent a letter. Back home, Granny Smith notices that she might have meant East Coast. Ha! She’s suffering the depressing ravages of old age!
There’s a “Where Are they Now?” Epilogue. Applejack, Big Mac, and the Stranger have the best.
A sub comic shows that Winona is every bit as evil as Angel Bunny.
Well, there you go. Rainbow Rocks is out Saturday, expect some initial thoughts on that, then My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic #23.
This has to be my favorite friends forever issue.
Something tells me that's more accurate than they're letting on . . .
Consider mine added!
Sounds more like they were desperate for another real world reference and got sloppy as a result.
This is a good friends forever issue, but it suffers from using a pairing we've seen a lot of in the show already. It's not bad, but when they can tackle pairings like DiscordxCMC and Rainbow DashxTrixie, they really lose all excuse for showcasing pairings that interact significantly on the show. IDW is not bound by the same limitations as DHX, so they can afford to be more creative.
Still, it's leagues above the previous entry which was a blantat rip-off of "Luna Eclipsed".
I really like this one myself. At the time I first read it I thought it had some issues, but with the passage of time I only remember the good and not really any bad.
Also, "sell apples" is the best business plan ever.
I can't wait for you to review today's annual release, it was all sorts of fun.
Maybe movie theaters are powered by the magic of friendship?