IDW Main Series #67 Review

The IDW Comics were puttering along as 2018 progressed and the leaks for Season 8 kept on coming. It seemed like nothing could revive the floundering main series, not even a concept of a disguised Princess Celestia. And meanwhile Legends of Magic wrapped up (complete with a disappointing annual) and then the beginnings of the Ponyville Mysteries comics that had nothing to do with the chapter books (which coincidentally wrapped up by the middle of the comics run) was rushed in as its replacement. After a disappointing filler issue of the mane six making a movie, the comics finally seemed ready to rebound with a two parter focused on Tempest Shadow ("The Return of Tempest Shadow" in fact), and considering Tempest's redemption was quit the polarizing issue for the fandom was this issue able to make her look good? Or was it just another case of IDW squandering a great concept with lackluster writing? Well, let's find out.

The issue and the two parter begins with Tempest leaving Ponyville (seemingly contradicting what was shown in "School Daze" but then again we have no idea how much time passed between Twilight's idea for the school and the school being set up so maybe Tempest came back to Ponyville after spreading the news of the Storm King's defeat). She insists that she doesn't really belong in Ponyville and needs to find her own place. Kind of reminds me of young Hercules in Disney's adaptation of the Greek legend.

So Tempest sets out after promising to write to Twilight, and she reveals in her inner monologue that Ponyville was too friendly for her. So she tries to find other places to fit in, but with no clue as to where she really belongs that's hard to do. Most ponies (and non-ponies) only know her as the Storm King's second in command who helped him invade Equestria. It isn't until she helps two unicorns lift one of the Storm King's downed airships from a swamp that she learns of the Crystal Empire and decides that's where she needs to go.

Unfortunately, it seems Tempest never bothered to do her research, because when she arrives at the Crystal Empire she discovers that it's headed by Princess Cadence. And here we start to run into a major problem that's going to plague this two parter, Tempest is pretty much a jerk. She finds Cadence too flowery and pretty, calls her useless as a princess because she represents love, expresses her belief that things were better under the Storm King and that Equestria let itself be conquered, and basically insults Cadence to her face. Maybe these critiques would make more sense if the movie hadn't suspiciously had no trace of royal guards or any kind of military presence. And once again, these just feel like projections from the writers, trying to take out their frustrations about how hard it is to market Cadence in the toy line (but as someone who doesn't buy the toys this argument is moot and irrelevant for me). If not for Cadence laughing off Tempest's comments, suggesting that Princess of Explosions would be a good title for her daughter, and then encouraging Tempest to go help an outpost ranger, this entire scene would've been a colossal waste that does nothing but make Tempest unsympathetic.

We do get a few insights into Tempest's personal thoughts the next day, namely that she's used to operating on military time and that she can already tell how someone handles their job by whether or not they're there before she is. She also brings up a not entirely unjustified concern about the dangers of living in an empire protected only by a magical artifact and that if it fails the empire will be abandoned to the cold. She arrives at the outpost and meets Glitter Drops, who it turns out is one of her old friends. However, she isn't particularly interested in catching up even though Glitter hasn't seen her in years. At first this seems harmless enough, but as time goes by it's going to get worse.

Tempest and Glitter set out to investigate broken fences and downed trees, and come across a stallion mending his fence. He snaps at Tempest, saying that she has a broken horn and a bad attitude. And Tempest basically growls and snaps back. Thankfully, Glitter manages to push Tempest aside and get the stallion to calm down, even apologizing for Tempest's behavior. Yet somehow Tempest gets mad at the mere notion of them talking about her, thinking that they think she's helpless and don't know a thing about her. It's revealed that Glitter Drops was one of the ponies we saw in her flashback, but already we have a problem. Tempest only things about how when she into the cave to get the ball back, she lost everything. So in her mind it's all about her, it doesn't matter that she volunteered to go in and get the ball, or that her friends were probably worried about her. All that matters is that she lost her horn and she thinks that entitles her to act all grumpy and grouchy. But having a disability is no excuse to force others to pity you, disability is no excuse for being a horrible individual.

What's even worse is that Glitter is getting mad because she has no idea why Tempest is so upset with her, she's legitimately trying to reconnect with her old friend and keeps getting shoved away. I know Tempest wasn't expecting to rekindle an old friendship and is trying to avoid the issue, but her behavior and thoughts make her come across as spiteful rather than fearful.

Things start to pick up when Tempest and Glitter find a trail of fish and Tempest races ahead to prove she doesn't need help. She wants to prove she's not that weak little filly anymore, and I honestly wish that this is where her thoughts were focused on in this issue instead of clearly showing she's only upset that others are legitimately trying to reach out to her and snaps whenever she thinks they're trying to send her on a friendship assignment. It's not doing anything to make her redemption look good, because it makes it seem like she hasn't learned a thing.

Anyway, Tempest locates some tracks when the trail of fish stops. But then a roar causes her to freeze. She turns around and tries to back up, only to trip over her hooves and freeze in fright. For she's now staring down an Ursa Minor. And the issue ends there.

And that's the story, so what do I think of the edge? Honestly, it's really hard to enjoy the character of focus here, because Tempest just looks selfish and spiteful. All she ever thinks about is herself, about how she lost her horn, and whenever anyone tries to befriend her she snaps as if that's somehow the worst thing they could ever do. Only a few moments give us a chance to see a sign of something else, a desire to prove that she's not weak. Everyone else looks good though, Twilight and Cadence both go out of their way to help Tempest even though she never really tries to return the favor. And Glitter Drops legitimately wants to befriend Tempest again and doesn't understand why her friend is so hostile to her for seemingly no good reason. This issue is still worth picking up, but if you're expecting Tempest's redemption to be justified as a result of this then you're going to be sorely disappointed. Everyone except Tempest looks good here. She does kind of improve in the next issue, but even then it's hard to really put her in a positive light when this issue and the next seem intent on having her pull this "I'm too edgy for friendship" routine.

And there you have it. Expect a review on #68, part two of this story, sometime tomorrow.