IDW Friends Forever #3 Review

Despite Friends Forever #2 proving to be a big success, it was still unknown if the series truly had what it takes to replace the micro series or if #2 had been a stroke of luck. So already the third issue had a lot to prove, especially since the main series of comics was only just starting to rebound with #17 (the start of the critically acclaimed "Reflections" arc that would span four issues). And when it was announced that Princess Celestia and Spike would be teaming up for it, the stakes were raised even higher. These two characters had been among the most neglected and under utilized in the show up to that point, so a story centered on them in the comics was taking a huge gamble, one that if it failed could easily damage the still somewhat shaky reputation of the Friends Forever series.

Fortunately, that gamble is said to have paid off big time, and in the time since we've gotten a lot of Friends Forever issues that have been considered good, but general conseus is still that none of them can hold a candle to this issue and the previous issue for Friends Forever, and are they right? Or is it somehow possible that this issue is overrated? Well, let's find out.

We begin with Princess Celestia recieving a visit from the Appleloosa delegate to drop off a census. With that out of the way, it seems Celestia's schedule is surprisingly clear, but just then Spike appears before her. He tells Celestia that Twilight's birthday is coming up and he has the perfect idea in mind for a gift, her old telescope isn't working so well, so he's wondering if it might be possible to make a new one for Twilight? Celestia agrees and summons her best telescope maker, Starry Skies, who quickly reveals that while he can make a new telescope of the highest quality, he'll need a set of good lenses to do it. The best ones can be found at the top of Crystal Mountain, and when Spike seems uncertain about embarking on the adventure alone, Celestia agrees to go with him.

Spike at first struggles with how to address Princess Celestia, before she tells him that since he's not a pony he doesn't have to address her by her title, he can just call her Celestia. With that out of the way, Spike quickly confides in Celestia about how important it is he gets that telescope, and Celestia mentions how Spike has been by Twilight's side since she hatched him. They then share stories about a few of Twilight's more humorous blunders for a bit, before they are approached by a bunch of rock crabs and imprisoned. Spike grumbles about being captured, commenting that he's never really done any sort of adventuring on his own before (aside from maybe "Dragon Quest" but even then he was secretly followed by Twilight, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash), always having tagged along on Twilight and her friends adventures. This gets Celestia to briefly talk about how the roles they seem to play, before Spike gets the idea to break free by pretending that dragons can eat rocks, and frighten the crabs into releasing them.

Once free and back on the road, Spike points out that Celestia could've gotten them out of their prison at anytime, and this leads directly into addressing of a criticism that many people lodge at Princess Celestia's character. With all the threats that Equestria has faced over the course of the series, Celestia seems to have constantly delegated authority to Twilight instead of solving the problem herself. Celestia explains that she could solve any problem that her subjects face, but doing so would prevent them from learning, for as she puts it she is a teacher, and sometimes the best way for a teacher to help a student is to make them do. This explanation appears to satisfy Spike, and soon the duo reach the top of Crystal Mountain. Spike retrieves the lenses, and the two set off for home, but at that moment the volcano roars to life (yes, this does come a bit out of nowhere as there was never anything to imply it was volcanic before)! Celestia instructs Spike to hop on, and as soon as he does she is off, dodging the lava flow that starts to rise! But near a lava river, the lenses slip out of Spike's grasp and he dives in to retrieve them (reminding the readers that he is immune to lava since he's a dragon), much to Celestia's shock!

Spike recovers the lenses, only to swept off the side of the mountain by a lava waterfall that Celestia rescues him from. She flies down to a cave to escape the rushing lava, only for a boulder to trap the two. Spike attempts to move the boulder all on his own, but Celestia uses her magic to effortlessly push it aside. She explains that there was no way Spike could've gotten that boulder to move, and she realizes that there are times when a teacher must step in and help the student. With the lenses in tow, Spike and Celestia return to Canterlot and the telescope is made.

We then get a bit of an epilogue showing Spike giving Twilight the telescope on her birthday, and recieving a letter from Princess Celestia telling him that she considers him a friend forever. And as he's reading this, Twilight is enjoying her new telescope, and Spike is quite happy, so it's all's well that ends well. And on the subject of the artwork, this issue features arguably some of the best the Friends Forever series has to offer, it's quite glossy and highly stylized, but there are times when it seems a little too clean and polished. That being said, it's definitely an upgrade from the previous issue who's artwork was good but not really outstanding, and the first issue who's artwork was just plain medicore.

And that's the story, so what do I think of the issue? Well, it definitely lives up to the hype about it! Prior to Season 6 this was Spike at perhaps his best, he wasn't useless or stuck in the sidekick role, he got a chance to truly shine and do some impressive things on his own. He also played off of Princess Celestia pretty well when the situation called for it, they're not butting heads but you can get a clear understanding of their different viewpoints. On the subject of Princess Celestia, disregard what Silver Quill mentioned when he reviewed this issue on Equestria Daily, it's easily one of her best potrayals even after six seasons of the show have passed. It's not quite the "World of Cardboard Speech" that some fans probably would've wanted to see, but it does a lot to explain Celestia's methods and actions, and dispell her two most distinctive extreme interpretations, Tyrantlestia and Trollestia (the former of which has largely died down but the latter of which still does pop up a little these days). I say that Friends Forever #2 slightly edges this one out for the best overall issue as Discord and the CMC was a much more unique and interesting combination that we'd never seen before, whereas with Spike and Celestia you can make the arguement that Celestia is his true motherly figure (she may have helped to raise and train him, especially since he could send letters to her and receive letters from her), but from a critical standpoint this is where the series began to pick up steam and it's definitely worth reading and re-reading. So if you can, pick up a copy of this issue, you won't be disappointed. But good luck, chances are what few brick and mortor comic book stores that sell multiple IDW comics have long sold out of them, and even the used ones on Amazon go over for $25, probably because it is THAT good, easily a top five pick for the series!

I've got two more comics that I obtained for Christmas, and I've got a few more on the way, so come back tomorrow when we take a look at Friends Forever #4, featuring Twilight and Shining Armor.