Power Spoilers · 9:02pm Dec 21st, 2013
What an ingenious title, eh? So, new episode:
So, we see Spike has picked up on Twilight's reading habits. Also, I love how he used his foot claws here. Again, Spike's movements are becoming a bit more dragon-like.
Once more in the castle. This time we're cleaning it up. I forget, was that established before? Did Tia and Luna want them to? My prediction is that this is going to be Twilight's castle.
See, this is how you have Pinkie be Pinkie. She's zany, off the wall, does her own thing, but she's being helpful instead of psychotic.
Never stop being adorable, Pinkie.
Wow, I was surprised when they actually leapt into the comic book. I would have thought it'd have been a dream on the part of Spike. Presentperfect did a great blog explaining how this mechanic—comic books that can suck you in, literally—is a really nifty bit of world-building. Go check it.
Well, we meet the new "villain" the Mane-iac. I love how they wrote her origin. It felt very Silver-Age to me.
Shampoo powers. Meh, I'll allow it!
You know, I'm gonna start a new thing in these blogs. I'm gonna count how many things I think will produce clopfics.
Clop count: 1.
Now, the ponies themselves:
Twilight's power is... the same as she always has, beams of magic. How original.
Pinkie's is super speed. Love it.
Rainbow Dash is the God of Thunder.
Lovely Applejack is Bat-Wonder Woman. you can tie me up any day, honey.
Rarity is the Green Lantern.
Never stop being fabulous Rarity.
And then we have...
Clop count: 2.
You know, this was what I was most hyped about for this episode, but... iunno, I was a bit underwhelmed by it. I mean, in the comics, or at least the cartoons, whenever the Hulk hulks out, there's widespread destruction. Here, she just smacked the villain and crushed the laser. I wanted to see more, I wanted to see her wreck shop! Meh, oh well.
All in all, a great Spike episode. So many people have always talked about how he is underplayed, and under appreciated by the girls. This episode did a great job of boosting his confidence a bit, and letting him, and us, know that while he may be the comic relief or the but of jokes:
The girls still appreciate him,a nd he's STILL part of the "Mane Seven." 
At least I know my fellow bronies always respect h—
I fucking hate you people...
Actually, Applejack is closer to being Gambit. You know, being able to control thrown objects and have them work almost exactly the way she wants?
This episode was kinda 'meh' for me overall. Though. there is now a confirmed shop in Canterlot which sells magic comics which will suck the reader into it's world with no safety net, AND they sell these comics to unsuspecting children.
Sweet.
That clip of Rarity prancing down the stairs is one of the best visual gags I have ever seen.
And yeah, this almost does for Spike what Sleepless in Ponyville did for Scootaloo. Or maybe it's just that I read more than one fic yesterday that featured Twilight obviously disregarding Spike for comedic purposes.
I loved all of the ways they had Spike moving around in this episode. When he was in the old castle library, looking for the magnifying glass, he also behaved very "dragony", and stood on all fours. (Or, all threes, since one hand was being used to lift something.) I really hope this trend continues. Love seeing him actually behave as a dragon rather than as a person-in-a-dragon-suit.
As a comic book nerd myself I LOVED THIS episode!!!
I do agree with you on how Spike was played against type. I mean half the time it seems like most writers don't know what to do with him, so it's kinda funny to see him cast as the useless sidekick who is essentially Marvin White AKA Super Marv from the old Super Friends cartoon
static4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120821182403/marvel_dc/images/6/65/Marvin_White_Super_Friends_001.jpg
However unlike Marvin, they actually prove why sidekicks are useful and why that Spike himself isn't JUST a sidekick.
I DO have a few gripes with the episode though. Why is it the only comic book geek in the group ends up as the powerless comic relief sidekick? First Spike was a DOG in Equestria Girls and now this? I mean yeah he played more of a part in this than in that movie, but I think a brief minute long scene of Spike actually SHOWING the girls how to use their powers would have gone a long way. I mean, I can buy Rarity and Pinkie Pie figuring it out pretty quick, since their powers are essentially imagination and running fast, but everyone else?
Well I don't think Rainbow would get the hang of full on weather control that fast and Twilight CLEARLY needed help with her powers since she could only use them properly toward the end. Also didn't Spike say she could use different types of energy blasts? Why did Twilight only use the ice one? I guess I can chalk it up to her being a perfectionist, but when it's clearly not working then try something else!!!
However despite those gripes, I did enjoy the episode. Hope to see more of the Power Ponies in later episodes
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Yeah, there are a bunch. Which ones, might I ask?
The only bit I absolutely loved was with the magic comic book shop. I could practically hear the clacking of a thousand keyboards as this community sprang into action with individuals trying to be the first to write about it. Other than that, I liked it all and it was definitely B+ material to me. Maybe my standards were just a little high since myself and my friends have a tabletop RPG superhero universe that at this point has reached your average comic book universe in density, so anything involving superheroes inevitably gets compared against the various fictional shenanigans I've done.
That's probably because the Joker's backstory is almost identical. Speaking of which, they missed an opportunity to make the villain male and get him voiced by Mark Hamill. I would have been so happy if they had managed to pull that off.
1632692 Yeah I noticed that too. Darn it! That would have been so awesome! I think The Mane-iac being female has more to do with her being reminiscent of Sedusa, a similarly hair-powered villain from The Powerpuff Girls.
I noticed much of superhero parallels as well. Though I thought of Storm rather than Thor when it came to Rainbow Dash. I also agree this does address Spike still being appreciated even though he at times is comic relief and the butt of jokes.
I go more in depth in my review on my own blog.
I go in depth as to why Applejack being tied up is actually incredibly funny. 
It was a fun episode. Completely pointless though, as the main storyline with the villain and the six keys goes.
Although we did get an interesting tidbit of information - that they're renovating the old castle, which is really nice, since it was just standing there for the last thousand years and 3 seasons.
i.imgur.com/rQZlSTm.jpg
Seriously though that last part of the blog post had me actually laughing, it was hilarious!
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Peachfics
So so so so so happy someone else is using "Mane Seven" in their blogs. You probably have before, but I forget. Anyway, as a bit of a comic nerd when he can be, I loved this episode. Powers were well varied, Rarity continues to be here, love how all of them eventually learned how to use their powers instead of suddenly knowing how in the final battle, and the best part for me, the girls probably dished out one of the most powerful Spike acknowledgements yet. Their little shout out to him was all to precious, and hopefully proved to all that he IS a member of the group.
And yeah, dog, super suit, cute as it is (I'm a dog person) c'mon people.
>Bronies
>Respect
Ya had me going for a second, battle.
Solid episode overall. Still can't wait for an episode where Spike has to interact with dragon society.
Also congrats on 500 followers!
Loved this one! The visual gags were great and I really think Spike got a good episode this time 'round. Would have liked to see a better reason for Fluttershy turning Hulk than a firefly being hit, but you know. Still awesome.
Also, having the Maneiac basically be Luna with an insane mane (and all of her cronies clones, similar to batponies) was a nice touch.
Woot, congrats on 500, Jake!
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I just noticed that. I... I don't even know what to... like, really?! 500 people care about what I have to say?
1634840 Yep. Now blog about it!
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Tamarraw.
With that supervillain name, I can't believe no one has done this earlier.
Don't forget to send those clop counts to RainbowBob!
Also that last picture...
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