FIENDship is Card Games: Sombra (Also Friends Forever #11) · 1:02pm Feb 12th, 2017
Depending on who you ask, two of the people we’re looking at today could be seen as the worst thing to ever happen to Equestria: King Sombra and Jay Fosgitt. 
FIENDship is Magic: Sombra
Opening a villain-focused miniseries with a slit-pupiled alicorn Twilight using dark magic. Now that’s a striking visual. Also nice continuity; haven’t seen her use it since the flashback potion. Heck, the story even gives an entirely reasonable explanation for why we haven’t seen it again. Twilight’s seen the dangers of dark magic abuse firsthoof. And hand, for that matter.
Furthermore, interesting to see that Cadence flat out can’t make dark magic work. Seems like a conceptual incompatibility between her domain and the mindset needed to make it work.
Heh. Of course Twilight would like the office. It’s so well organized! I’ve always believed Sombra to be one of her counterparts. Just not one of the more commonly recognized ones.
Ah. Sombra is actually a Pokémon. He just learned how to say things other than his name.
“King of All Monsters”? I’m sorry, Sombra, but Godzilla you aren’t. You’re clearly Hedorah, given how you’ve all but literally taken the form of a smog monster.
Nice touch with the language feeling wrong in Sombra’s mouth. When your species naturally speaks Aklo, something more sane is going to feel off.
Aww, he spoke in the third person because he hadn’t quite figured out pronouns yet. I don’t know why I find that cute, but I do.
Ah yes. I fondly remember playing with one friend and our imaginations. Pretty sure my friend didn’t turn into an eldritch dictator though. I’m pretty sure that would’ve come up in the news.
I also remember occasionally Calvinballing my way through recess. I was not expecting this much nostalgia from this comic.
I love the design for the dragon bank, but it needs TARDIS technology to hold that many gems of that size.
I have no idea why they’re spelling it “Crystal Faire.” I suppose to make it sound more old-timey?
Also, that Einstein-esque Starswirl poster raises all kinds of continuity questions with regards to both time and the Empire’s relationship with Equestria.
Hmm. I’m withholding judgement on Princess Amore for now. Though the odds of her somehow being Cadence’s mother seem pretty decent.
… Huh. You know, I only just noticed that Sombra, Radiant Hope, and Amore appear to be the only unicorns in the Empire. A coincidence, I’m sure.
The page where Hope wakes up Sombra is so cute for the first four panels. A shame about what happens next.
Excellent work in progressively aging both ponies. Heck of a lot better than the show, but then, the comics aren’t constrained by Flash models.
Incredible art in Sombra’s near-dissolution.
Seeing this happy, friendly, loving Sombra is honestly heartbreaking. To truly appreciate how far someone falls, you must see them at their peak.
Wait. Wait. Okay, first of all, apparently the ties between the Empire and Equestria were quite strong, given how the diarchs heard about Radiant Hope somehow. Secondly, Sombra’s start of darkness was triggered by his one and only friend being invited to Celestia’s (and Luna’s) school.
You guys. Sombra has the same origin as Starlight Glimmer. You know, plus or minus some unholy origins and crystalline prophecies.
On a less personally mind-blowing note, given Amore, I don’t think “princess” is meant to be synonymous with “alicorn” here. Probably not, anyway.
Heh. Because Sombra wasn’t edgy enough. He had to be part of a hated, feared original species to really be the ultimate bad OC.
I kid, I kid. Though this does come out of nowhere. That being said, Sombra’s lack of a cutie mark in the Season 5 finale is a lot more interesting now, though we’ll be looking at that more closely when we get to the Siege of the Crystal Empire arc.
Wait. Sombra’s magic made him vulnerable to the Crystal Heart, so the Umbrum locked it away… just not well enough to keep him from slowly dissolving over a few Crystal Fairs. Do I have that right?
Hmm. An eldritch army lurking beneath the polar ice. I’m not saying they’re shoggoths, but…
Wow, Amore. Wow. Wow. You had all those years to explain Sombra’s nature, get him on your side, see things from your point of view, ease him through the revelation… and you squandered them. Let him writhe in agony every year without ever understanding what was going on or why.
I’m not saying she got what she deserved, but that it is a truly epic level of stupidity. I can understand her belief in free will, but that doesn’t mean completely abandoning any and all opportunities to nudge the outcome to a more favorable possibility.
Also, Amore apparently created the Crystal Heart somehow? Not sure if I buy that. Especially if it implies that she’s immortal.
I do love how Sombra crows about the triumph of fear over love… then tries to sway the one he so obviously loves to his side rather than simply eliminate her. Amore may have wasted her chance to sway him, but Hope didn’t.
… Oh. He acknowledges that. Go figure.
Also, Sombra dramatically taking off a cape causes a crown and armor to appear out of nowhere. Go figure.
Why exactly is Luna in her “just harmonized” form? Also, if the royal sisters haven’t arrived yet, how does Sombra know they’re en route, much less that Hope was the one who told them?
The ending is nicely creepy… except for one thing. Given the way the scene is shot, Cadence and Twilight would’ve had to have passed Sombra’s horn on the staircase. Yes, the horn is small and the chamber is dark… but it’s very audibly bouncing down the stairs. And that’s putting aside the question of how the horn got up stairs in the first place. Remember, it was blasted outside of the Empire entirely. That thing would’ve had to roll its way through the whole city and palace to get where it is. There’s the One Ring finding its way back to Sauron, and then there’s outright bullhonkery.
Still, if the biggest complaint I have about a book is questioning the logistics of the final panel, that’s definitely a good sign.
Friends Forever #11: Rainbow Dash and Spitfire
Okay, I can kind of see the complaints about this art style. It is a stark departure from the norm, and a degree of pony bipedalism usually seen in late G1 on the very first panel doesn’t help that first impression. Still, it’s really not so bad once you get used to it, and I’ve had years of Derpibooru images to acclimate me to Mr. Fosgitt’s style. Moving on.
Wow. When even Scootaloo is calling Dash out on her bullcrap, you know she’s talking out her rear.
Given the content of the mailbag and how Dash tells Scootaloo to take over for her, that clearly isn’t the last letter.
How can Dash be late? She read the entire letter and the only designated time was “immediately.”
Oh my God. Left page, second panel. What in the name of sanity is going on with that poor mare’s body? I know she must be flustered, but it looks like one of her hind legs is trying to escape from the rest of her body and take her cutie mark with it!
Honestly, I can believe that Spitfire has pediaphobia. You can’t shout at them. How is she supposed to deal with that?
Aww, it’s a little Fluttershy. Dash’s biggest weakness.
Heh. Called it. Drill sergeants and children rarely mix. (If Jake the Army Guy or someone who knows him is reading this, feel free to correct me.)
Oh dear. Rainbow Dash is giving someone advice. This probably won’t end well.
Yup. At least Dash acknowledged her mistake.
So… Spitfire likes everything about leading; she just assumed a leadership position would be boring based on possibly nothing. Okay then.
Yeah, those tornadoes just sneak up on you. Absolutely no warning whatsoever; they just spring up out of a clear day like mushrooms in a damp forest. Especially in a setting where the weather is explicitly manufactured. This is a completely unsuspicious turn of events.
So. Lightning Dust makes a tornado in controlled military airspace and gets drummed out of the ‘Bolts. Rainbow Dash makes one on the outskirts of Cloudsdale and everything’s hunky dory. Well then.
Wow. This is the most vocal, least blindly adoring Scootaloo I think I’ve ever seen outside of grimdark alternate futures. I’m not sure if I like it.
Appropriately enough for a pegasus-focused comic, this one feels lightweight, especially when paired with Sombra’s illustrated autobiography. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it does pale in comparison to its companion. Still, a believable and enjoyable story, just not one with a lot to it.
Promising Filly W
Creature — Pegasus Child
Hoofcraft — Promising Filly gets +1/+1 and has flying as long as you control three or more Ponies, Pegasi, and/or Unicorns.
”Once her confidence matches her potential, she’ll be flying circles around the rest.”
—Rainbow Dash, Bearer of Loyalty
1/1
Crystal Radiance 1W
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant creature
Whenever enchanted creature attacks or blocks, if it’s white, it gets +3/+0 until end of turn. If it’s black or red, Crystal Radiance deals 3 damage to it.
The Crystal Heart is first and foremost a weapon.
Complacency UU
Enchantment
At the beginning of each upkeep, if no spells were cast last turn, each player draws a card.
”The crystal ponies sat idle for years, carelessly cavorting as I lay in agony. I intend to balance the scales.”
—King Sombra
Hope’s Faeries 1U
Creature — Faerie Illusion
Flying
Cast Hope’s Faeries only if you’ve cast another spell this turn.
A unicorn’s imagination is a truly wondrous thing.
3/2
Substitute Mailpony 3U
Creature — Pegasus Citizen
Flying
Whenever an opponent draws a card, that player puts the top card of his or her library into his or her graveyard.
”Not so easy, is it?”
—Ditzy Doo
2/2
Lost to Time 3U
Sorcery
Choose one —
• Put target nonland permanent on top of its owner’s library.
• Target player puts the top eight cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard.
Entwine 1B (Choose both if you pay the entwine cost.)
Obsidian Transmutation 3U
Enchantent — Aura
Enchant artifact, creature, or planeswalker
Enchanted permanent is a colorless artifact and loses all other card types and abilities.
To Sombra, it was justice; Amore was now cold and dark without as within.
Rapid Response 3UU
Instant
Split second (As long as this spell is on the stack, players can't cast spells or activate abilities that aren't mana abilities.)
Counter target spell.
”Not on my watch.”
—Spitfire, Wonderbolt captain
Draconic Figment 4U
Creature — Dragon Illusion
Flying, hexproof
Whenever you cast a spell, Draconic Figment loses hexproof until your next turn.
When Draconic Figment becomes the target of a spell or ability, sacrifice it.
4/4
Live Demonstration 4UU
Instant
Draw cards equal to target attacking creature’s power.
Every experience can be a learning experience.
Mysterious Foal B
Creature — Unicorn Child
When your devotion to black is five or greater, transform Mysterious Foal. (Each B in the mana costs of permanents you control counts toward your devotion to black.)
Only a monster could leave a colt alone in the Frozen North.
1/1
Sombra Awakened
(B) Legendary Creature — Horror
Menace
Sombra Awakened’s power and toughness are each equal to your devotion to black. (This creature’s mana cost is B unless it’s a copy.)
Only a monster could repay that kindness as he did.
*/*
Umbrum Extrusion 2B
Creature — Elemental
Defender
Whenever another black permanent enters the battlefield under your control, each opponent loses 1 life and you gain 1 life.
Crystallized dark magic with roots among the imprisoned Umbra.
1/3
Wary Instructor 2B
Creature — Pegasus Soldier
Flying
Wary Instructor can’t block creatures with power 1 or less.
”H-hey there, kiddos. Who wants to learn how to, uh… Who wants to learn?”
2/3
Dark Awakening 2BB
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gets +2/+2 and has “1B: This creature gets +2/+2 until end of turn.”
”In one fateful moment, I was reborn, and my purpose became clear.”
—King Sombra
Vestige of Sombra 3B
Creature — Shade
Skulk (This creature can’t be blocked by creatures with greater power.)
B: Vestige of Sombra gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
As long as there is light, the shadows live on.
0/2
Sombra’s Sanctum 3BB
Enchantment
If you would draw a card, you may pay 1 life. If you do, draw two cards instead.
Twilight was torn. Sombra had done such horrible things, yet his shelving system made so much sense.
Explode R
Sorcery
Exile target artifact.
”Restore that.”
—King Sombra
Synthetic Vortex R
Enchantment
1R: Put a velocity counter on Synthetic Vortex.
Sacrifice Synthetic Vortex: Create an X/1 red Elemental creature token with trample and haste, where X is the number of velocity counters on Synthetic Vortex. Exile that token at the beginning of the next end step.
Toughen Up 1G
Instant
Whenever a creature you control is dealt damage this turn, put a +1/+1 counter on it. (The damage is dealt before the counter is put on.)
“Rub some cloud in it. You’ll be fine.”
—Spitfire, Wonderbolt captain
Enslaved Excavators UB
Creature — Pony Serf
T: Target opponent puts the top card of his or her library into his or her graveyard. Then, if that player has ten or more cards in his or her graveyard, transform Enslaved Excavators.
”Start digging. Release my family.”
—King Sombra
1/3
Unleashed Umbra
(UB) Creature — Horror
Flying
Unleashed Umbra’s power and toughness are each equal to the number of cards in your opponents’ graveyards.
As the creatures escaped, even Sombra felt a fleeting sense of dread.
*/*
Soul Fracture 3WB
Sorcery
Exile target creature. That creature’s controller loses 3 life.
”There are no words for what the Crystal Heart did to me. There is no imagining what it tried to do.”
—King Sombra
Tyrant’s Citadel
Land
As Tyrant’s Citadel enters the battlefield, you may reveal a Plains or Swamp card from your hand. If you don’t, Tyrant’s Citadel enters the battlefield tapped.
T: Add W or B to your mana pool.
Of the FIENDship is Magic comics, Sombra's I find the most satisfying. I feared going into these that we'd get the Anikin Skywalker treatment of learning more than we really needed about these characters. Not so and especially not with Sombra. The tale is tragic enough to be believable and sets up nicely the siege of the Crystal Empire arc.
Too bad that arc doesn't do this one justice, but you'll get to it in time.
Also, I like how the comic comes as close as they can get with the concept of death. Amore's fate is about as graphic as we'll probably get.
Oh man, Fiendship is Magic #1. I love this comic.
I still think this comic is actually more interesting seen by itself than as the prequel to the horribly disappointing "Siege of the Crystal Empire" arc. Read on its own, this issue is not just a story about a villain, but a villainous story, a story that challenges the themes and the morality that is at the heart of the entire franchise. Sombra's story says that you can be born damned and have no chance to change yourself. For Sombra, kindness and friendship didn't save the day. He had those things, and he wanted to be good, but they couldn't save him from his own destiny. The comic doesn't say so, but for Twilight to read that would probably have disturbed her to her core.
Unfortunately, as we know, this comic would then lead into a storyline that lost all the most interesting things about it. Sigh.
FF#11 is also a good issue, though not as epic.
Definitely the best of the fiendship comics. Of the others, the changeling comic was controversial, the Tirek comic was okay, whereas the Siren and Nightmare moon comics were just shit.
I believe you transform card needs an end step trigger to check for devotion. I dont think I've ever seen a static transform card, but the devotion aspect is cool.
Multi color entwine costs seem tricky. Getting both effects works with the cost works with the second mode of lost to time. But I feel that this sort of card needs to be designed sort of like the flashback two color spells of Innistrad. Mode 2 works well with the UB flavor of milling. UB is pretty tricky for overlap design.
Ah, the untimely end of Amore, I was plenty surprised at her "removal". Very interesting way you put it into cards. It wasn't an outright B spell like Guild that offed her, no you took a very two step approach. Some magical expertise to transmute her, and some rage to annihilate her.
I've got very mixed feelings about this comic. I think it's pretty good; it's just so very much not how I would have approached Sombra's history and origins.
Princess Amore comes off to me as an Equestrian Kingpriest-equivalent: someone so blinded by their high ideals that they don't realize what kind of a jerk they are or how evil their actions are becoming. I could see her attitude as an overreaction to Celestia's style of gently manipulating ponies into achieving their destinies... or, actually, the other way around: Celestia doesn't hesitate to stack the deck and move ponies around like pawns to achieve greater ends, because she's seen all too personally what such coldly noble attitude can do.
Also: "Twilight was torn. Sombra had done such horrible things, yet his shelving system made so much sense."
This is just pure brilliance.
One of the few comics I've read, and it's one that I've thoroughly enjoyed. The way it just sets up a cute and innocent colt who just wanted to see the Crystal Faire, and was afraid of the vision the Crystal Heart gave him, was both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Ouch...
Ah, yes. Sombra's FIENDship issue was truly brilliant, one of my personal favourite stories of IDW MLP. Though, like 4419135 says, I enjoyed it way more when it existed in a vacuum, because Siege was... definitely not as good, to put it charitably. Looking forward to your coverage of the rest of these, both good and bad.
The FF issue, I still can't enjoy today. I just can't. I'm glad that you can get used to Fosgitt's style and enjoy the issues in spite of him, but I never could. His style still bothers me incredibly even now, and broken leg mare is a prime example of why.
Of the Fiendship is Magic comics, Sombra's was my favorite. They did a surprisingly good job (compared to so many of the other comics) with this story. Dark and tragic, the unavoidable destiny. Princess Amore's fate was just wow. But I always wondered based on the wording. If you found all the shards could she be restored. Having not read the Siege story arc, what happened to Hope.
As for the others, Tirek's sucked, Nightmare Moon's sucked. Chrysalis's was interesting and has some interesting implications.
I feel like Lost to Time's base cost is overcosted, but that it plus the entwine cost is about right for the combined effect. Perhaps if it were rebalanced to have a base cost of 2U and an entwine of 2B? Apart from that, I love the card. A very UB way to remove the otherwise irremovable.
Even if the name reminds me of a joke from TFS's adaptation of the Broly movie.
You know I think that was technically a fate worse than death deal. She was tone, she was shattered into a thousand pieces, she isn't dead. And if I were Sombra at that point, she ain't unconscious either.