Friendship is Card Games: Micro-Series and Friends Forever #1 · 12:06pm Jul 17th, 2016
Hello, all. I'm deviating from the main series this week to at least start the other comic lines; the first issues of both the single-character-focused micro-series and the two-character-focused Friends Forever line. Let's see where this takes us.
Micro-Series #1: Twilight Sparkle
That’s… quite a contrast in the art styles, accustomed as I am to Andy Price’s work, to say nothing of comparing it to the Mebberson-drawn cover. The flat colors are especially disconcerting. Ah well, I’ll get used to it.
It seems like Twilight should be a lot further in her studies than “Intermediate Level Two,” even at the beginning of the series.
Oh my goodness. I know I already said something about the art, but who broke Celestia’s neck?
Granted, her expression in panel 8 is pretty nice, though it seems better suited for plotting the downfall of a political rival than giving Twilight a knowing look… though the very next page has Spike having a dead, near-soulless stare as Celestia tells him that she needs Twilight to face the challenge on her own. Ugh.
… Why is the Royal Archive in Ponyville? Unless there’s another village full of quaint cottages that can see Canterlot on a clear day. At if that’s the case, why is the Royal Archive there instead of, say, Canterlot? Is it a real estate issue? I think they can spare the room at the castle.
Wow. Twilight outright lying to a pony and threatening that pony’s livelihood at the same time. The future Princess of Friendship, everyone.
I do like the design of the cast cart.
Wait, from the sound of it, Twilight’s expected to live at the Archive? What?
Good news: Jane Austen exists in this Equestria.
Bad news: Stephanie Meyer exists in this Equestria.
Twilight did live and work in a library at this point in her life. She could bring that up. Especially since she appears to be in Ponyville at the moment. And speaking of, she’s been here overnight. Do her friends know about this? It seems more and more likely that this takes place before the beginning of the series, but if that’s the case, I can’t see Twilight putting up with Summer Mane’s persistent bad attitude for very long. There are other libraries.
Okay, what kind of comprehensive archive of all books in the nation goes from “Mar” to “Nei” to “Off”?
You know someone’s a recluse when Twilight’s the one who looks up from her book to try to start a conversation.
Hmm. Given the historical context of “The Boogie-Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B,” I have to wonder what events inspired its equine counterpart.
Also, nice subtle touch with the sheer power of the classic smudging Summer's cutie mark.
Summer’s personality did grate on me at first, but the pacing of her growing to like Twilight is actually handled well.
There’s a pony version of I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream. That’s more than a little disturbing… though given the discussion, it has a very different ending.
Ha! I love how Twilight figured out the truth for herself… though I do have to wonder what happened to Jade Singer’s horn in that photo.
There’s a deep symbolism to Jade trying to change her cutie mark. She was hiding even from herself.
Okay, this is explicitly taking place after the start of the series. How are Twilight’s friends reacting to her disappearance? I assume Spike explained it, possibly even outlining Celestia’s whole plan, but this still feels pretty disruptive for everyone involved.
It does actually make some sense that Celestia couldn’t keep Jade from collapsing in on herself. After all, the princess had a nation to run; she can’t exactly be there for most of her friends.
Friends Forever #1: Pinkie Pie & Applejack
I appreciate the irony of Pinkie being on Team Cake on the cover.
I really like Pinkie’s typographical variety on the first page. And how she leaves Sugarcube Corner by jumping out of the panel.
Do I even want to know how that wireless headset functions? Actually, yes. Yes I do. Both the power source and the transmission medium. I’ll accept variations of “magic” as answers to both; I just want those answers.
This may be the only context where having a ham for cutie mark isn’t concerning, especially since pigs appear one of the few nonsapient meat animals in Equestria.
… Wait, did the emcee actually list off the art and writing credits? The exclamation points make it seem like he does.
I do love Marine Sandwich's interrobang cutie mark. Her special talent seems to be inspiring confused shock.
Wow. No identity confirmation whatsoever. It’s just a first come, first believed basis, even if she’s not making the claim.
I like how the buffalo judge applies the same polish to both hooves and horns. It’s a nice aesthetic.
Apparently, Applejack can’t forfeit the contest. Or maybe Marine’s reputation is such that the judges refuse to take her resignation seriously.
Okay, why did a town’s only restaurant close down when the chef retired? Was there any attempt to hire new staff whatsoever?
“Pinkie, you thinkin’ what I’m thinkin’?”
“I think so, Brain, but what if Princess Luna refuses to wear the cow suit?”
Oh my. Applejack’s applying all the wrong lessons from “Applebuck Season.” This won’t end well.
Interesting to see that Filthy Rich factors into Summer van der Hoof’s social calculations. I didn't expect the nouveau riche to be as significant.
Applejack’s favorite dessert is actually a magnificent little character moment for her. Nothing could be better than an apple she helped create.
Good move for the story in disabling Dash and Twilight during the sneak attack. It lets the stars of the comic handle the conflict while addressing why it didn’t end in a flash of fuschia or rainbow. The unfair circumstances also keep the frosted ponies from feeling nerfed for the sake of drama. Anyone can be caught flat-footed (unless they have uncanny dodge.)
Much less elegant is how Guy Fieri pony gets involved in the final confrontation. While I really like Pinkie having multiple party cannons stored in her mane, I’m less fond of her being unable to actually fire it without outside assistance.
Huh. So that’s the plot of Hamster Huey and the Gooey Kablooey.
Ah. Good to see that the fondant appears to be air-permeable, given how Applejack can speak through it.
Also, making a business deal within moments of Toffee Truffle getting the award. That’s AJ alright.
The first Friends Forever comic is enjoyably silly, even as it rewards a deserving, humble mare. A very appropriate story for a Pinkie/Applejack team-up. The first entry in the character-focused mini-series… Well, it is appropriate to have Twilight help of bibliomaniacal shut-in afraid of her own success, but the execution of the first part leaves me wanting. Still, like Twilight, it does improve with time.
Now, on to the cards:
Lost in a Good Book 2W
Enchantment
Spells each player casts cost 1 more to cast for each card that player has drawn this turn.
”Once Twilight’s muzzle is in a book, it can be impossible to get her to focus on anything else.”
—Spike
Security Detail 2W
Creature — Pony Soldier
Players can’t cast spells that have the same name as a permanent.
”You may be on the list, ma’am, but you’re also already here.”
2/2
Frozen in Fondant 3W
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature can’t attack or block and its activated abilities can’t be activated.
When Frozen in Fondant is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, you gain 5 life.
Regimental Band 3W
Creature — Pony Soldier
Whenever Regimental Band attacks, put a verse counter on target Song you control.
Some especially talented Equestrian reveille squads are encouraged to express themselves more creatively.
3/2
Griffin Gourmand 3W
Creature — Griffin Advisor
Flying
Whenever a player gains life, put a +1/+1 counter on Griffin Gourmand.
She’ll try anything once, if only to tell you how it can be improved.
2/2
Personal Chef 3W
Creature — Pony Citizen
Whenever you cast a spell with converted mana cost 6 or greater, you gain 6 life.
”If you can afford me, you can afford anything."
2/3
Custard Barrage XWW
Instant
Custard Barrage deals 4 damage to each of X target attacking and/or blocking creatures.
Pinkie Pie’s favorite dessert and favorite defense are one and the same.
Crippling Indecision 1U
Instant
Counter target spell unless its controller pays 1 for each card in his or her hand.
”It’s not enough to have all the answers. You also need to be able to pick one before it’s too late.”
—Twilight Sparkle, Bearer of Magic.
Groupthink 1U
Sorcery
Look at the top three cards of each library, then put them back in any order. You may have any number of players shuffle their libraries.
Draw a card.
”Are you pondering what I’m pondering?”
Test Anxiety 2U
Enchantment
At the beginning of each player’s upkeep, that player clashes with one of his or her opponents. The loser of the clash puts the top X cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard, where X is the margin of victory. (Each clashing player reveals the top card of his or her library, then puts that card on the top or bottom. A player wins if his or her card had a higher converted mana cost. The margin of victory is the winning cost minus the losing one.)
Intellectual Discussion 3U
Sorcery
Draw a card for each Unicorn you control.
”It’s not that my friends are stupid. They know a lot of things that go over my head. But there are some topics that they just can’t comprehend.”
—Twilight Sparkle, Bearer of Magic
Through the Gutter 3U
Sorcery
Silver-bordered creatures you control can’t be blocked this turn. Other creatures you control gain skulk until end of turn. (They can’t be blocked by creatures with greater power.)
“Not the one full of leaves, silly!”
—Pinkie Pie, Bearer of Laughter
Bookish Loner 2B
Creature — Unicorn Wizard
At the beginning of your upkeep, if you control no other creatures, you draw a card and lose 1 life.
”Go away. I’m just getting to the good part.”
1/3
Endless Hatred 2B
Sorcery
Each opponent loses 2 life.
Metalcraft — At the beginning of your upkeep, if you control three or more artifacts, return Endless Hatred from your graveyard to your hand.
Any mind can hate, but only one built for the task can reach the highest peaks of loathing.
Desperate Punctuality R
Sorcery
Exile the top card of your library. You may play that card this turn. If you cast a creature spell this way, it gains haste until end of turn.
Twilight will go to any lengths to arrive on time.
Increasing Conflagration 1RR
Sorcery
Increasing Conflagration deals 4 damage to target creature or player. If Increasing Conflagration was cast from a graveyard, it deals 8 damage to that creature or player instead.
Flashback 5RR (You may cast this spell from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
Pyro-Gastronomist 2R
Creature — Unicorn Shaman
T: Pyro-Gastronomist deals 1 damage to target creature or player.
Whenever an opponent gains life, untap Pyro-Gastronomist.
”With fire, ponies told the world we would not be content to eat grass.”
0/1
Caramel Clog 1G
Instant
Destroy target artifact. You gain 2 life.
”I lose more party cannons that way.”
—Pinkie Pie, Bearer of Laughter
Strange Criteria 1G
Instant
This turn, each creature assigns combat damage equal to its toughness rather than its power.
”After all these years, I’ve found that my favorite flavor is novelty.”
—Vermouth Roux, griffin gourmand
Reclusive Gourmet BG
Creature — Pony
Hexproof, lifelink
Long periods of isolation can drive a pony mad, especially one already consumed by pride and eccentric tastes.
2/2
Restore Purpose XGW
Instant
Exile target creature. At the beginning of the next end step, return that card to the battlefield under its owner’s control with X +1/+1 counters on it.
”Take a step outside yourself. See what you’ve become. Then we can work together to fix it.”
—Twilight Sparkle, Bearer of Magic
Royal Archives
Land
T: Add C to your mana pool.
1, T: Put target card in a graveyard on the bottom of its owner’s library.
Within lies a copy of every book ever written in Equestria.
The Royal Archives being in Ponyville suggests there was some powerful parliamentarian from Ponyville securing pork for his riding, kind of like all those institutions in West Virginia with Robert Byrd's name on them.
I've always thought of magic as a Force-like energy field that exists all over Equestria, and the ponies draw its power out to cast spells and such. Perhaps they have machines that can also draw out this power?
Unlike with the main series, I'm in the camp that micros and Friends Forever started with their worst feet forwards and then got better. I found both these stories extremely boring, but Luna's and Rarity's issues unquestionably redeemed the micro-series (and most of the others weren't that bad either), while Friends Forever would later give us some of my all-time favourites, starting straight from issue two with the first comic appearance of Discord.
Just wait until your first Fosgitt comic. I'm still not used to his style now.
Evidently the micro series was a lab for various experiments with the art before they'd settled on a stable of artists. I didn't even realize the Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy issues were both drawn and colored by Tony Fleecs. Later on and in the main series most of the issues are colored by Heather Breckel, and it makes a massive difference. So yeah, there's some art weirdness early on that doesn't repeat later on... except for Jay Fosgitt, whose art is a reliable outlier that has to be accepted on its own terms.
I imagine there are probably several quaint villages that can see Canterlot, and that this is one of the others, since Twilight is apparently staying there rather than sleeping in her own home right down the street. As for why the archives are there, perhaps because after doing all the work, Celestia can't stand the sight of them anymore and wants them far away but still accessible
Restore Purpose is actually pretty cool. Buffs up one of your own creatures, or it takes one of your opponent's creatures out for the turn (just make X=0).
On Test Anxiety; "margin of victory" is a really good idea and it'd be neat that if they ever brought clash back if they used something like this.
Pinkie should be a bit more definitive in her flavor text for Through the Gutter, because there are THREE "gutters" that come to mind right away to me when you exclude the fourth which is normally "full of leaves". And one of those gutters is not very nice at all... .
Strange Criteria would go well in a Green-Blue deck with a bunch of the 'turtle' and 'crab' cards that have large second numbers and low first numbers. Most green cards tend to be either evenly stated or slightly larger on the front end, unless you have spiders and various plant walls. So i guess it goes just fine in a mono-green deck after all.
OK, Royal Archives, are we using "Equrestia" to mean the whole world or just the pony controlled portion of it? Because this is always been a bit ambiguous in the show and most of the official sources. I'd think Celestia would branch out more than just the stuff from her own nation.
The first micro series was ruined by the colorist. The sketches were uploaded and they look really good. Something went wrong in the translation there.
I agree with vladspellbinder in 4098164 that Margin of Victory would be a great addition to Clash (which needs to come back, dang it!). Also, I want a full playset of Griffin Gourmand, it's an absolutely beautiful card.