Sunday, October 13, 2013

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Pony Tales Vol. 1 - Ashley's Review

*I received this comic as an eARC from IDW Publishing on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Pony Tales Vol. 1
Contributors: Thom Zahler, Ryan Lindsay, Katie Cook, Barbara Kesel, Ted Anderson, Bobby Curnow, Amy Mebberson (Illustrations), Tony Fleecs (Illustrations) , Andy Price (Illustrations), Ben Bates (Illustrations), Brenda Hickley (Illustrations)
Publication Date: November 5, 2013

Synopsis: Six spotlights focusing on everyone's favorite Ponies! Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack each get a whole issue devoted to them.

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Review: Every time I see a new My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic comic is released, I get way more excited than I probably should. I'm pretty sure these are targeted for a (much) younger audience, but I don't care. I really enjoy seeing the Mane Six in fun new adventures! 

This comic does not disappoint. It collects six short stories, each featuring one of the Mane Six. We get to see each pony tackle issues specific to them, and it's actually kind of neat. Usually we see them all together, using the Elements of Harmony to defeat some Big Bad. There are no real Big Bads here, just some situations that are not so pleasant. 

It was fun to learn more about the ponies without having them relying on their friends, and I enjoyed seeing them get out of sticky situations or help others entirely on their own. Twilight, who at one point needed to learn about friendship, is able to teach other ponies about how important it is. Rainbow Dash is forced to believe in herself when things don't go her way. Fluttershy is nervous about revealing a secret to the world, but learns to have a little self-confidence. Rarity needs some time away to relax, but is able to help out some unlikely friends. Pinkie Pie comes up with a solution for a problem her idol is having. And Applejack is taught that sometimes family needs to come before work and it doesn't hurt to ask for help. All of these are important lessons, and I think they work better as these short stories than they would have in a full issue. 

Also, there are so many subtle jokes spread throughout these stories that I was laughing when I wasn't appreciating the lessons. The pony names are, as always, plays on real people and places and internet memes. One of the want-to-be clowns, for example, is named Trollo Lollo. Applejack also learns about the Sass Squash (a sassy squash-throwing creature). I think it's awesome how pop culture is embedded in these comics, which are huge in pop culture themselves. 

I definitely recommend this for fans of MLP:FIM. You don't need to have read the other comics to enjoy these stories. I think these comics would be a great way to introduce the younger generation to comic books, so buy them for your children/younger siblings/nieces/nephews/etc. and enjoy the comics with them! 3/5


--Ashley

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