Friendship is Card Games: Legends of Magic #1 & #2 · 1:47pm Jan 13th, 2019
This week, we begin our look at the most notable example of integration between the comics and the show, so much so that those who actually read the former were astonished to see some focus characters mentioned in “Campfire Tales.” Of course, that doesn’t mean there’s a one-to-one correspondence. Let’s begin at the beginning.
Issue #1: The Great Star Swirl the Bearded, the Two Sisters, and the Magical Vortex
Before we start in earnest, I want to highlight one of the alternate covers, both because it’s fantastic and because I want to see a dig at Dream Valley.
Huh. Between the study in this tower and the Batcave in the basement, it seems like Castle Canterlot began life as Star Swirl’s personal book repository. Of course, the canon version of him doesn’t exactly mesh with the goofier figure from Reflections. (Or the mustache-less fellow from the sirens’ Fiendship issue, for that matter.) Still, it’d be like Star Swirl to experience temporal shifts in his personal history. Just look at what’s been happening to Clover the Clever! 
I’d wonder what spurred Sunburst’s research into Equestrian history… but, well, it’s Sunburst. Bookhorse 3: Horse Books with a Goatee* doesn’t need an excuse to research much of anything. Though I suppose looking into the princesses’ own origins to better understand Flurry Heart might have contributed to this particular investigation.
*Bookhorse 2: Book Horsier is, of course, Moondancer.
You know, for a room that presumably hasn’t been opened for over a millennium, even by the maintenance staff, this looks very good. Preservation spells, I suppose. It’d certainly explain how those mice haven’t eaten the place bare. (Or the maids do have a key, though it can’t be on the schedule very often given the cobwebs.)
Huh. From the sound of it, the Nightmare Moon incident was only a few months after the conflict between the Pillars and the Pony of Shadows. That or the years blended together and looking at Star Swirl’s things became one of those perennial items on the list of things the sisters kept meaning to get around to. (Or it’s a clumsy attempt to splice old and new canon together, but the comic hasn’t given me any reason to chastise it for that sort of thing. Yet.)
“Usually they were nothing more than tall tales.” Ah, irony.
Star Swirl writing about himself like an ancient mythic hero is honestly kind of hilarious, and entirely fitting. He is the sort of person who’d write self-insert fan fiction. Or, in this case, self-insert history.
Young Celestia is a fascinating sight, and not least because of her multicolored but material mane. It’s easy to see how Luna went Nightmarish given her sister’s arrogance.
Yeah, Star Swirl isn’t exactly the best teacher in the world. “You’re not learning fast enough. Rather than finding a way to help you better understand the material, I’m going to burden you with the knowledge that your difficulties here could doom the world later on. Also, I could die at any time, just in case you weren’t feeling enough pressure as it was.”
Oh my. Impressive gate, but make sure you actually have a destination in mind next time.
Nice touch with the dark energies curdling the borders of the panels.
Say what you will about Celestia’s attitude, but she does still love Luna.
“Was any of that actually words?” 
Yeah, seems like the appropriate reaction to the zero-punctuation wall of text Celestia threw at him. It didn't even have any helpful, imp-filled illustrations on a yellow background.
Further credit to Celestia for accepting the blame… though, as noted, Star Swirl carries his share as well. This stallion was not meant to work with children.
Canon parallel universe transit. I know, I know, Reflections established that in the comics, and Equestria Girls is even firmer ground than that when it comes to canon, but still, this is my jam.
… Well. There goes Star Swirl, providing a valuable lesson after I put him down. Though it’s one he doesn’t put into practice himself. “You must find a new best” isn’t exactly compassionate encouragement.
Young Luna in Nightmare Moon’s helmet is strangely adorable.
“Only I get to pick on my sister.” Heh. Reminds me of my sister.
“Well, if they think you’re so powerful, they’ll let you go, right?” … No. No, the reason why they wanted her in the first place is not why they’ll let her leave. What even is this backwards sun logic? 
I do wonder how much impact exposure to this universe had on Luna’s ultimate fate. It might have planted the seeds for her eventual fall… or it may have actually delayed matters, in part because of Celestia receiving a wake-up call about her responsibilities as an older sibling.
“The sisters are reconciled, and I am confident that nothing will ever drive them apart again.” That irony’s a lot less amusing. Still, wonderful to see the sisters laugh over this old dispute. And it’s kind of fitting to see Star Swirl write about principles of harmony and compassion that he himself never really mastered.
Issue #2: Rockhoof and the Mighty Helm
More credit to the “Star Swirl wrote fan fiction” interpretation, even if it’s not the case. Still, Luna’s very excited to get more Rockhoof-fic in her life, enough to deploy the Royal Canterlot Voice. Poor Sunburst was not prepared for that.
Ooh. Steela Oresdotter has a triskelion cutie mark. A nice match with Rockhoof’s valknut in terms of ancient symbols with uncertain meanings.
“Battler of lava and opponent of mountains” is a pretty darn epic epithet.
That is indeed a mighty helm. Also, if it weren't obvious enough, I think we found a suitable steed for Shovel Knight.
Nice touch with Rockhoof being far, far too large for his bed. After all, he wasn’t before he dug the lava trench.
Part of me wants to question the rubber tires in the obstacle course. The rest is willing to chalk it up as flotsam in Equestria’s eddy-filled timestream (or just silliness on Brenda Hickey's part.)
“Neigh, friends.” This makes me unreasonably happy.
I am tremendously glad that this panel exists on Derpibooru, because it is the kind of thing that everyone should see. Also, Lucina has found a very strange timeline.
Ah, the perils of peer pressure. Though Captain Oresdotter probably should’ve put her hoof down a few binges ago.
Credit to Rockhoof, even when he’s at less than peak condition, he’s still dedicated to serving his people.
Huh. First I’m hearing of a baron. I wonder how that works. Going by the postman, I have to think there’s a wise princess involved somewhere in that hierarchy. Or a wicked camel sorcerer with a bad habit of turning into a giant pig demon.
Fascinating design on the cherufe. Coming from indigenous Chilean mythology, it’s described as an evil humanoid magma elemental that could only be sated through volcano sacrifices, preferably virginal maidens. Going from “humanoid” to “cyclopean lobster that speaks Q*bert” is an unexpected turn, but still a neat one.
Nice touch with the cherufe wrecking Rockhoof’s iconic item when he isn’t exactly living up to the whole “Pillar of Strength” thing.
Good thing the volcano situation permitted a lengthy training montage.
Heh. Echo of the Ursa Minor. If you think the monster’s bad now, wait until you see a fully grown one.
And the lesson at the end is indeed important: A healthy work-life balance is a must. Still, I dread to see what might have happened if Luna found that moral wanting… 
In all, a great beginning to the mini-series. Good stories, good lessons, good pacing, and great visuals. I’m looking forward to the rest. For now, though, it’s time to look at some modern reinterpretations of these legends:
Reforge 2WW
Sorcery
Return target artifact card from your graveyard to the battlefield. If it’s an Equipment, you may attach it to a creature you control.
With every swing of the hammer, Rockhoof repaired both his shovel and his honor.
Tremendous Feast 3W
Sorcery
Double your life total. Lands you control don’t untap during your next untap step.
Rockhoof dedicated his life to being worthy of the Mighty Hoof. When he joined, he celebrated with equal fervor.
Open the Archives 1U
Sorcery
This turn, you may cast instant and sorcery cards you own in exile as though they were in your graveyard. If a card cast this way would leave the stack, put it on the bottom of your library instead of putting it anywhere else.
Breach the Planes 3UU
Sorcery
Each player may put a permanent card they own from outside the game onto the battlefield.
“My sister mastered simple spells with ease. I, in my arrogance, sought the most complex magics and performed them all too well.”
—Princess Luna
Fate Slicer 5UU
Creature — Pony Soldier
Flash
When Fate Slicer enters the battlefield, end the turn. (Exile all spells and abilities on the stack, including this card. The player whose turn it is discards down to their maximum hand size. Damage wears off, and "this turn" and "until end of turn" effects end.)
3/3
Cinder Bats 2B
Creature — Bat
Flying
When Cinder Bats enters the battlefield, if R was spent to cast it, it gains haste until end of turn.
Every volcano sends out black clouds on occasion. Not all of them are soot.
2/1
Drag into Shadow 2B
Instant
Choose one —
• When target creature dies this turn, return it to the battlefield under your control.
• Target creature gets -3/-3 until end of turn.
Entwine BB (Choose both if you pay the entwine cost.)
Heralds of Eternal Night 3B
Creature — Bat
Flying
Whenever Heralds of Eternal Night deals combat damage to a player, you draw a card and lose 1 life.
Every form of life on the twisted plane whispered to Luna with the same poisoned tongue.
2/1
Servants of Darkness 3B
Creature — Minion
When Servants of Darkness enters the battlefield, target creature gains menace and deathtouch until end of turn.
”They are not alive. They are a mockery of life, made to defile and twist it according to a darker will.”
—Star Swirl the Bearded
2/3
Molten Grip 1R
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gets +2/+0.
Whenever enchanted creature blocks or becomes blocked by an equipped creature, destroy all Equipment attached to that creature.
Cherufe Lava Bomber 2RR
Creature — Elemental Lobster
1R, T: Cherufe Lava Bomber deals damage to target player or planeswalker equal to the number of Elementals you control.
Trapped on the cold surface, it tries to recreate the warmth of its home.
3/3
Redoubled Training 1G
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant creature
When Redoubled Training enters the battlefield, put a +1/+1 counter on enchanted creature.
3GG: Double the number of +1/+1 counters on enchanted creature.
More than magic made Rockhoof the Pillar of Strength.
Storied Hydra 3GG
Creature — Hydra
Whenever an opponent casts a noncreature spell, put a +1/+1 counter on Storied Hydra.
”As with any threat, the more ponies fear it, the more powerful it becomes.”
—Star Swirl the Bearded
4/4
Physical Dominance 4G
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gets +3/+3 and has trample and vigilance.
“I don’t worry about Rockhoof making the cut. I worry what I’m going to do with the rest of these slackers.”
—Steela Oresdotter, Mighty Helm captain
Nightmare Helm 3
Artifact — Equipment
Equipped creature gets +2/+1 and has menace.
Whenever equipped creature deals combat damage, you lose half that much life, rounded down.
Equip 1
All power has its price.
Grove Golem 5
Artifact Creature — Golem
Sacrifice a land: Grove Golem gains indestructible until end of turn. Tap it.
The ground itself twisted, reshaped by an unseen hoof into something that would ensure the young princesses never left.
4/3
Mighty Helm Washout (rw)
Creature — Pony Soldier
Mighty Helm Washout can’t attack or block alone.
”Training? Today? Sorry, my grandmother’s sick again. You know how it is.”
2/2
Archive Rats UB
Creature — Rat
When Archive Rats enters the battlefield, exile target card from a graveyard.
3UB: You may cast a card exiled with Archive Rats without paying its mana cost.
Eating spellbooks can be even more effective than reading them.
2/1
Dark Whispers UBB
Sorcery
Target player draws four cards, discards two cards, and loses 3 life.
“You are destined for greatness. Let us guide you to it.”
Solarshot 1RW
Sorcery
Solarshot deals 3 damage divided as you choose among any number of targets. You gain 3 life.
“Back then, I could get properly angry without making a glassy crater. These days… I suppose I have ponies for that.”
—Princess Celestia
Steela Oresdotter 1RGW
Legendary Creature — Pony Soldier
Steela Oresdotter enters the battlefield with three +1/+1 counters on it.
(rw)G, Remove a +1/+1 counter from Steela Oresdotter: Put a +1/+1 counter on each other creature you control.
A good captain inspires her troops. A great one removes the need for inspiration.
2/2
Clutching Branches 2BG
Instant
Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt this turn. Put a -1/-1 counter on each attacking creature.
Every part of the dark plane hungered for the light it had long since extinguished.
Celestia, Royal Knave 3RW
Legendary Creature — Rogue
Alicorn (This card is a Pony Pegasus Unicorn.)
Flying
If a source would deal damage to Celestia, Royal Knave, prevent 1 of that damage.
If a source would deal damage to another permanent or a player, it deals that much damage plus 1 to that permanent or player instead.
3/2
So still no one's addressed the fact that mentally, Rockhoof is and always been underage? He was a colt one moment, maybe teenager, then all of a sudden fully grown stallion. He was stated to not be an adult at the time, wasn't he?
Someone needs to write this fic/episode. Unless the latest Season's caught up with that, Only up to End in Friend at the moment, or the Flim Flam school thing, whichever was later. Or unless I'm remembering it wrong.
Is it just me, or did anyone else find it weird how hard the comics are pushing Stygian to actually be the Good Guy? He openly blows up at Starswirl for legit reasons, the others respect him, especially Rockhoof... So what was the point of trying to copy their powers and become the Pony of Shadows?
Eh, at this point Reflections, thankfully, has been relegated to pure, utter, and completely non-canon in every way, even beyond the fact it never was canon in the first place since the comics (at least pre issue 51 where it did start tying in closer at least) were never meant to be canon. Reflections requires Starswirl to be around post NMM, and now we know not only was he not around then, when he disappeared, Celestia and Luna weren't even fully grown.
4996528 We don't know he was actually a teenager, or just really, really scrawny to the point he looked younger then he was.
4996536
Jealousy, also those two are not the same thing. What we are seeing here is him at the start, getting things together. But over time, as the Pillars got more and more praise, while he just got overlooked, jealousy grew. He wanted to try and give himself the power to fight beside them, Jerkswirl the Bearded was a colossal asshole who didn't even give him a chance to explain, and then the Darkness took advantage of that to convince him to give into the pain and rage and hate he was feeling at the rejection.
4996538
Well, Applejack does refer to him as young Rockhoof when telling the story, so there's that.
Oh my! Can you even play a card like this in a tournament? Sees the lobster. Or is this tall-tale comic your own version of unglued
A askprincess site when?
4996538
Yeah and Equestria Games says Equestria Girls couldn't have happened yet Shadow Play makes it irrefutable that it did. Funny, that.
"I challenge my fate!" indeed.
4996545
All that means is the 'Princess Summit' couldn't have taken place in the Crystal Empire. Which, to be fair, never made sense to begin with, let alone why the Mirror would be there.
Does that make Starlight Bookhorse 4: Bookhorse With a Vengeance?
Maybe the rats are the librarians?
Great cards! Congrats for such a long series!
... Minor Typo:
I worry what I’m going to do with the resto f these slackers.
"resto f" > "rest of"
4996528
The comic could be seen as a college freshman coming in on an athletic scholarship, partying with his team, and barely shaping up after both midterms and a big game hit him with a hard dose of reality.
4996536
Can't say for certain yet. We're several card blogs away from the Tragedy of Stygian, the Pillar of Logistics. I haven't even bought that compilation yet.
4996538
Either way, probability space is at least semi-canon and I am a happy FoME.
4996544
If I ever did imitate the Headmaster, I'd probably just provide a d20 table in the Gygaxian tradition. Or ask hawthornbunny to throw something together, computer genius hare that he is.
And no, FiCG cards are by no means tournament legal, unless you can find enough people who are willing to play a draft using PonyMTG-created booster packs. Except when I manage to predict an actual card before it's printed, which has been known to happen.
Mind you, if you're asking if this effect can be done outside of silver-bordered Magic, the answer is yes. Spawnsire of Ulamog is a fine example of bringing things in from outside the game without pausing at the hand.
As for the Lobster, I happily pull from silver-bordered creature types where appropriate. Goodness knows Equestria has plenty of Donkeys.
4996547
Thank goodness for Derpibooru. I never would've noticed the reference if someone more familiar with Fire Emblem hadn't noted it back when the comic was published. Thank goodness for Lucina's Final Smash line as well, or I wouldn't have known what to do with it.
(And on that note, I have a contest entry to work on today...)
4996545 4996549
In case of temporal discrepancy, blame one or more —
• Discord
• Star Swirl
• Starlight
4996550
Rat librarians... It's certainly a possibility. Here's hoping Mrs. Frisby knows how to navigate a card catalog.
As for Starlight, she may be a Twilight analogue, but I'm not sure if she qualifies as a bookhorse per se. She's in kind of a gray area there, along with Sunset. Trixie definitely isn't bookhorse material.
Looks like you misspelled ore...
The Starswirl issue is actually a pretty strong start to the series in my mind, mostly because it depicts the characters in a more complicated light than a lot of other MLP media has. Starswirl is indeed a wise figure, which demonstrates why ponies looked up to him to begin with, while also showing he's still not entirely cognizant of his own flaws. Similarly, Celestia's portrayal of initially being a bullying big sister was an interesting choice. I know a lot of other people didn't like that decision, but I personally thought it was a neat addition to Celestia and Luna's eventual conflict. Knowing that your sister was once an unpleasant individual and still having all the subjects (seemingly) love her more than you is just another turn of the screw.
The Rookhoof issue was a little lighter on complex characterization, but it's still a solid issue. It's actually nice to see the comics tackle health and fitness, given how much of this show consists of the character eating decidedly unhealthy foods (Pinkie's not serving spinach and kiwis at her parties, you know). I also liked how it emphasized how Rockhoof, despite getting his strength and power through his determination, still needs to maintain it to be the best possible soldier. Just because he got the power doesn't mean the power's just going to stay with him the whole time. It's a neat deconstruction of the idea that you only have to do one, great thing to get immense power (i.e. saving the town from the volcano); to be a true hero, you have to keep maintaining your abilities and state of mind that allowed you to become great in the first place.
4996552
Fixed. Thanks for the catch.
4996568
Darn it, Saffi, there aren't even any lhurgoyfs in this comic!
4996575
I think I have that card lying around somewhere, actually, got it out of a trade. The original 'ghoyf, I mean.
Someone should ponify that. Has anyone ponified that? It is a Hasbro property, after all.
... come to think of it, why did Scooby Doo get to face Vizzerdrixes, but ponies don't? Just not fair, mang
4996565
Starlight is definitely a Bookhorse. Left to her own devices she'll spend all her time researching and improving spells.
Seems that it should be Justin or Nicodemus that's the rat librarian, not Mrs Frisby. She can't read very well after all. The NIMH rats are the blue faction there...
Justin, Salvage Mechanic UUR
Legendary Creature - Rat Artificer
If an artifact would be put in the graveyard, you may draw a card.
All can see potential in resources, a rare few see resources in wreckage.
0/1
Nicodemus, Survivor of NIMH UUB
Legendary Creature - Rat Advisor
2 - Search your graveyard for a legendary, artifact, or enchantment and put it on the bottom of your library.
T - Shuffle your library
He keeps their past, hoping to forge their pain into a future.
0/1
Mrs Frisby, Determined Homesteader GW
Legendary Creature - Rat Commoner
T - Tap any number of creatures you control. Remove that number of creatures you control from the game. Return them to play at the beginning of your next turn.
The dangers of water and wood, field and farm are nothing to a mother with children to save.
0/1
Funnily enough I was actually thinking of the winged rat librarians in Digger.
They were quite good. I do wish there had been an issue actually about Star Swirl though. He is pretty much relegated to being a supporting character in other ponies' stories throughout.
*begin
4996574
As someone else once pointed out, her personality was similar to Sunset's. That in turns adds new weight to their interactions from the EQG prequel issue.
Not even an extreme a case as the books in the Princesses' old castle, which are somehow still legible (or anything more than piles of mulch, really) after sitting in a gutted wreck of a castle, completely exposed to the elements, for all the 1,000 since Celestia and Luna's... falling out.
Both of these issues were far above average for MLP comics. Of course, I might be a bit biased because I love anything to do with the Pillars.
4996528
Rockhoof seemed to be about Stygian's age when he saved his village from the volcano, but it's unclear how much time passed before Rockhoof joined the Pillars. Hopefully his brain has had a chance to catch up to his body at this point in the show.
4996619
I'm happy that I accidentally did bullying big sister Celly. I'm way way behind on comics because I don't have an easy source or reading method anymore.
I presume the Cherufe Lava Bomber is trapped on the surface, though it might very well end up tapped as well.