Comic Review: Friends Forever #11 (Rainbow Dash and Spitfire) · 2:56pm Nov 14th, 2014
Rainbow Dash is the fastest flier in Equestria. Spitfire is the leader of the Wonderbolts, the most elite pegasi of them all and whose ranks Dash wishes to one day join. The two have worked together numerous times, but today, they shall face their greatest challenge. For they have been called upon to perform one of the most difficult, thankless, and terrifying jobs known to pony kind...
Teaching foals!
Our issue opens with Rainbow Dash serving as the temporary mailpony. (No reason is given for her taking the role, so I'll just assume that Derpy's busy fighting a kaiju-sized muffin monster and leave it at that.) After flying through a suburb that looks nothing like Ponyville, she receives a letter from Spitfire requesting her presence and immediately abandons her sacred duty to go join the Captain of the Wonderbolts. Their mission? Serve as guest teachers at a flight camp for very young fillies. Easy enough, right?
There's only one problem: Spitfire is terrible with kids. Can Rainbow Dash help her idol get over her issues?
The first thing that stands out in this issue is the art, done by newcomer Jay Fosgitt. It's a decidedly mixed bag. On the one hand, the shape of the ponies feels very Calvin & Hobbes-esque, which is perfect for a story focusing on little foals. It just looks incredibly cute, which makes it even weirder when they keep making faces that wouldn't look out of place in a...less-than-seedy bit of fan art. Where the problems lie is the backgrounds, as nothing looks like it fits the aesthetics of the show. While living conditions have bounced all over the place in Equestria, Ponyville has always been shown to have a lower-tech, more medieval level of architecture, so having the story start in what looks like a modern suburb is really off-putting.
The highlight of the issue is the interplay between Rainbow Dash, Spitfire, and the foals. Rainbow actually takes to teaching pretty well, although since it's another opportunity to have everypony pay attention to her and say how wonderful she is, that is to be expected. Spitfire's issues with kids, on the other hand, are portrayed in a realistic fashion. She's not some raving child-hater; she'd probably enjoy at least speaking with her class in any other circumstance. Instead, her problem is that she doesn't know how to teach foals, which is something that makes a great deal of sense. As the comic points out, you can't be patronizing or condescending, but you also can't be overly tough on ponies that look to be about preschool age. (One of the best moments in the issue is when Spitfire tries to use her “Wonderbolt Academy” drill instructor voice and behavior; she reduces the entire class to tears in about two minutes.)
The story is ultimately about Rainbow Dash helping her mentor overcome her flaw, which is sadly something the show has done to death by now, but works much better here because they don't have to turn Spitfire into an oblivious jerk or manipulative sack of crap to pull it off. It's a realistic flaw, and I could tilt my head and see Rainbow Dash being able to help, which is furthered by the issue showing her first attempt at advice leading to the above-mentioned tears of the innocent.
The foals are mostly nondescript, but are also a lot of fun and feel like actual kids. The first day of class is just them goofing around, including one lying on another foal's head like a hat, several of them doing stretches incorrectly, Peppermint Patty showing up as a pony for some reason, and one of the kids asking Spitfire if she has a special somepony. (Trust me, that's one of the first things any group of kids you are assigned to look after will ever ask you.) The second day, they react exactly how children exposed to a screaming angry pony would: they're terrified and crying for mommy. And all it takes to win their attention back is a display of awesomeness.
The only foal to get any real attention is Loop de Loop, a shy little filly with a stated talent for flying. She's absolutely adorable.
Overall, the issue is pretty good. It's a cute little story about how even our heroes can have flaws, and how you shouldn't be afraid to ask for help when you need it. The art is a mixed bag, but otherwise, a fine issue.
Next time, Applejack must defend her extended family from robbers. And we have a full docket in December:
* Twilight must save Pinkie Pie from herself
* Applejack must continue to save the family.
* And we get a Christmas special...about cyberbullying.
Oh, and Ted Anderson is still working on the series. If you'll excuse me, I'll be looking through the latest thread comparing him to Hitler.
Thanks for the review. I was a bit worried about the art, but it looks like I'll be buying this one for the kids I tutor.
On the whole I thought this one was pretty good, though I have pretty much 100% the same concerns about the expressions.
This was probably one of my favourite, if not my favourite issue to date.
This.... this is the ultimate truth.
She's like someone took Fluttershy and concentrated all the adorable into a smaller shape. I like to think that Dash took so well to her because Loopy reminds her of her friend.
I have seen the preview, but what I have seen only made me want to read it!
Wait, cyberbullying? Not only is this even more anachronistic, it's bound to stir up shit and controversy. Merry Christmas, I guess. Enjoy the new stuff and Internet drama.
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It's an Equestria Girls comic, so it's not totally anachronistic.
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Oh. Well, I guess there's that.