Friendship is Card Games: Friends Forever #30 & #31 · 11:30am Jul 1st, 2018
This week, we return to the Friends Forever comics, with two kinds of old relationship, one in-universe and the other from back in Season 1.
Friends Forever #30: Twilight Sparkle & Princess Cadence
Yes, I’m still spelling that way, even if the comic doesn’t. Also, let’s take a moment to appreciate one of the covers to this one and regret the sad reality that the issue isn’t about ROM the Spaceknight purging the Umbra from the Crystal Empire like so many Dire Wraiths.
At this point, I’m. starting to think the “Sunshine, sunshine” dance has become a Pavlovian reaction for these two. Of course, for proper testing, we’ll need to expose them to life-sized images of the other and see how they react.
The Crystal Court, eh? You’d think it’d be dedicated before Twilight got her wings, but I suppose getting the Empire caught up after more than a millennium of being phased out from reality put a lot of things on the backlog.
Rather bizarre expression on Cadence in panel 4 of the first page. Doesn’t connect with her dialogue at all. Maybe after foalsitting Twilight, Cadence has some traumatic memories associated with checklists.
I do love the disguises. Though Twilight might want to look into illusions or other less conspicious form of looking inconspicuous for next time. Also, nice placement of the foal in the Twilight ponysuit to hint at what’s to come. (Also also, is Pinkie getting royalties on those? Is Twilight? Though the princess’s images might be considered part of the public domain…)
Twilight being terrible at sticking to her disguise is adorable. She’s not used to this! She never read anything about it! All of her espionage training was in never being seen!
Speaking of, given “It’s About Time” and Friendship Games, Twilight’s statement is entirely accurate: She has met Twilight Sparkle only once or twice.
Meanwhile, great expression work with Cadence, between eagerness at Twilight getting showered with praise only to walk away disappointed when the only adjective the fabric salesman uses for her is “lovely.” (Twilight’s own unease at getting that praise is also pretty darn great.)
This is starting to look less like a town market and more like the vendor hall of a pony convention. Also, the “‘unofficial” bit answers my question about royalties.
Heh. No one wants the Star Swirl plushies. Given the Empire, even the children may remember what he was actually like. (Maybe. “Shadow Play” played merry havoc with when Star Swirl might have existed, especially in relation with comic continuity. Still, that issue’s beyond the scope of this issue.
Unlike her aunts, Cadence has not yet mastered the art of saving on animation sleeping in her regalia.
Wow. That guard is lucky his atoms are still arranged the way they were this morning. I know I wouldn’t dare try to wake up Twilight that way.
It is nice to see something official confront the question of what Cadence actually does, though I’d expect Celestia taught her at least some degree of statecraft while she was in Canterlot.
Ah, self-fulfilling prophecy. Doubt leads to a lack of confidence, which leads to passing the buck. Not that Shining’s helping any. (Also, crystal unicorns. Don’t think we’ve ever seen those before.)
So the Crystal Court is actually the area around the Crystal Heart? Not what I was expecting.
The Crystal Heart fading isn’t made especially clear. Relative luminosity isn’t exactly the easiest thing to indicate in sequential art, but it still looks like the things becoming progressively more greenish-grey.
(Also, interesting case of the king princess and the land being one if Cadence can drag the Heart down single-hoofedly. That or seeing their ruler falling into despair was triggering a cascade crisis of confidence among the populace, which would certainly work.)
And so Twilight fixes Cadence feeling like she can’t fix problems like the other princesses.
Wait…
In all seriousness, while this was a deep topic to look into, the way the story was paced, it could only skim over that topic. Granted, this is Equestria, where one good pep talk can sometimes be enough to save the day, especially when Twilight’s giving it. Still, it’s a shame that this leaves so much narrative potential on the table.
Friends Forever #31: Rainbow Dash & Little Strongheart
Wow. Talk about dusting off a character. This is the first time a buffalo’s had a chance to do anything significant since they were introduced.
Huh. Rainbow Dash showing Fluttershy the joys of the upper atmosphere. I’ve seen this several times in fanfics, but it’s quite nice to see it in something official.
Ha! Great aside panel. Not like they’re going to hear Dash say her name if she waits until after she goes supersonic.
“Are you challenging me to a race?”
“Not this time, sadly.”
“So you’re forfeiting the race?”
I’m sorry, that’s funny. Dash being completely oblivious to snow in the desert feels off, but the dialogue in this page is amusing enough for me to… well not overlook it, but at least laugh more than facepalm.
That said, I didn’t think the buffalo were an agrarian society. Given the ritual stampeding grounds, nomadism is pretty deeply entrenched in their culture.
Wait, the buffalo tried to clear out the clouds? How exactly did that work? Anti-rain dances? Buffalo wings?
Sara Richard’s work in the pages of the legend makes it look especially awesome.
Hmm. Bovines in a land of eternal cold, stubbornly insisting on remaining there regardless of the prevailing conditions. Are we sure this is a buffalo story? It might have come over from the yaks.
The legend itself is adapted from an existing one from the Lenape, the same people who gave us pukwudgies (though theirs were malicious fey archers rather than off-brand Krites.)
Oh, Dash. “The rainbow crow was scorched black, her beautiful voice ruined.” “So you want me to go do that, right?”
I have to wonder what’s in the tribute.
… Did Little Strongheart just break the sound barrier on hoof? Rainbooms mean something, Tony.
Okay, it was endearing at first, but Dash insistently treating this like a race when dozens of lives are on the line makes her behavior go back to irritatingly dumb.
I feel like I’m missing a reference with that inexplicably blond elephant.
… Holy crap, I am, and it is a remarkably obscure one.
Rainbow Dash, ladies and gentlemen. The very model of cultural sensitivity. Get flapping, Soggy Shrub.
The snow right freaking next to Coyote/Roadrunner-grade desert bothers me to no end.
So, if the spire is too steep for buffalo to climb, how did they restock in the past?
Yet another rainboom. Seriously, enough already.
Add the formerly-rainbow crow to the roster of Equestrian immortals. A lot of very interesting questions there.
Huh. I guess Dash’s six-colored mane hairs were established by the comic long before “The Mean 6” made use of them.
Also, it makes sense that the crow whispered to Dash. After all, that smoke inhalation could’ve caused some long-term damage to her throat.
Celestia would probably like to hear that there’s at least one pony out there who thinks of her on such familiar terms. Though I’m not sure where the “all-powerful harvest spirit” thing came from. That never came up before, and even Strongheart dismisses it out of hoof. Maybe a reference to ancient earth pony traditions?
And one last beautiful panel.
A fun adventure, though Dash’s ditziness and the mini-conflicts that rage for all of a panel or two make this feel unfocused. The script probably could’ve used another editing pass.
Now, let’s see what I can make from these variably ancient moments:
Plushiemonger 3W
Creature — Pony Monger
2: Create a 1/1 colorless Construct artifact creature token. Any player may activate this ability.
”Any resemblance to ponies living or dead is purely coincidental.”
3/3
Unwavering Spaceknight 4W
Artifact Creature — Knight
First strike, vigilance
Hexproof from black (This creature can’t be the target of black spells or abilities your opponents control.)
Unwavering Spaceknight can block black creatures as though it had reach.
3/3
Rebrand U
Instant
Change the text of target spell or permanent by replacing all instances of one color word with another, one basic land type with another, or one creature type with another.
Adaptability is key in any enviornment, including economic ones.
Unofficial Knockoff 2U
Enchantment
You may have Unofficial Knockoff enter the battlefield as a copy of any noncreature permanent on the battlefield.
Imitation is the sincerest form of profitability.
Sunsoot Crow 5U
Creature — Bird Spirit
Flying
When Sunsoot Crow enters the battlefield, if R was spent to cast it, add RRR.
“Crow flew to the sun to gather its fire. Though she returned blackened and hoarse, she still returned.”
—Buffalo legend
3/3
Gremlin Trailblazer 2B
Creature — Gremlin Scout
Intimidate (This creature can’t be blocked except by artifact creatures and/or creatures that share a color with it.)
When Gremlin Trailblazer enters the battlefield, it explores. (Reveal the top card of your library. Put that card into your hand if it's a land. Otherwise, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature, then put the card back or put it into your graveyard.)
1/1
Undisciplined Forces 2B
Creature — Unicorn Soldier
When Undisciplined Forces dies, each opponent creates a 1/1 blue Unicorn creature token.
”Some days it feels like I’m the only professional here.”
—Shining Armor
3/3
Burning Feather Ritual R
Sorcery
Add X mana in any combination of colors, where X is one plus the number of cards named Burning Feather Ritual in your graveyard.
The smoke rises to meet the sun and herald the beginning of spring.
Portable Sunfire 1R
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gets +4/-1.
”The sun’s power is terrible to behold and nearly impossible to control. Even I took years to master it.”
—Princess Celestia
Spire Coyote 2R
Creature — Hound
Flash
When Spire Coyote enters the battlefield, it deals 3 damage to each player who cast a blue spell this turn.
They pride themselves on what little intellect they have, pouncing on anything that considers itself more clever.
2/1
Supersonic Ascension 2R
Enchantment
Whenever you attack with three or more creatures, put a quest counter on Supersonic Ascension.
As long as Supersonic Ascension has three or more quest counters on it, creatures you control get have double strike and menace.
Capuchin Snatchers 1G
Creature — Monkey
Reach
Whenever Capuchin Snatchers blocks or becomes blocked by a creature, unattach target permanent attached to that creature.
They can pull off mystical wards and elaborate armor as easily as plucking an ant from their fur.
2/1
Harvest Princess 2G
Creature — Spirit
Whenever you cast a Spirit or Arcane spell, untap up to two target lands you control.
Ditzy Doo had more of an impact on the kami than she ever realized.
2/2
Buffalo Tradition 3G
Enchantment
Whenever you play a card, you may pay 2. If you do, return a card that shares a card type with that card at random from your graveyard to your hand.
”Our ancestors’ wisdom still holds true to this day.”
—Chief Thunderhooves
Ancient Armodon 4G
Creature — Elder Elephant
Trample
Ferocious — You may cast Ancient Armodon from your graveyard as long as you control a creature with power 4 or greater.
These are its last days. It will make the most of them.
3/4
Crystal Heart Pendant 2
Artifact
T: Add C.
T: You gain 1 life.
Even imitations of the Heart reflect some of its power.
Princess Costume 3
Artifact — Equipment
Equipped creature gets +2/+2 and is a Pony Pegasus Unicorn in addition to its other types.
Equip 2
”It is good to see foals think of me without fear. I am less comfortable with them wearing my skin.”
—Princess Luna
Suppressed Anguish BG
Enchantment
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a despair counter on Suppressed Anguish.
(bg), Pay 2 life: Put a despair counter on Suppressed Anguish.
BG, Sacrifice Suppressed Anguish: Destroy all nonland permanents with converted mana cost X or less, where X is the number of despair counters on Suppressed Anguish.
Mephitic Fumes 1WB
Instant
Choose one —
• Attacking creatures get -2/-2 until end of turn.
• Blocking creatures get -2/-2 until end of turn.
The best way to cross the swamp is to be born on the other side.
Crow’s Spire
Land — Lair
When Crow’s Spire enters the battlefield, sacrifice it unless you return a non-Lair land you control to its owner’s hand.
T: Add R, W, or U.
The only roost for one who touched the stars.
Heh...I remember ROM the Spaceknight. I think I may have one of the original comics still. Probably not in great shape, but maybe.
Dash/Stongheart is one of my favourite issues of the Friends Forever series. It has a few eyebrow-raising moments, true, but I really appreciate whenever this series brings back really underutilised characters like that, because not only does it flesh out a corner of the world that the show otherwise doesn't touch, but it often comes with a really unique story premise, too. This journey to visit the Rainbow Crow, and everything that it revealed about buffalo mythology (and buffalo known fact), were fascinating to me. This issue was pretty much everything I liked to see in the comics.
Twilight/Cadance was alright. I don't have any particular complaints about it, but neither do I care for it all that much.
I wanted so badly for the Twi/Cady one to pull off a really solid resolution, but, yeah, it concluded in a rather bland pep talk, the end. Shame, because people keep trying to add issues and complexity to Cady and there's never much meat to it. This is the closest we come to a real psychological complex for Pinkest Princess, and it's too bad it just becomes a "Yay, I'm psychologically healthy now!" moment. Something about me doesn't buy it.
Admittedly I identify with Cady more than a little, and I also struggle a lot with self-worth issues, so having them just evaporate in one page bothers me more than it should. The panel where she blithely says something along the lines of "Gosh, it feels great to not have all that self-doubt anymore!" makes me want to scream and hit something.
So is it a coincidence you landed on the issue that roasts Cadance the same week the comic where Tempest internally roasts Cadance is released?