Friendship is Card Games: My Little Pony: The Manga, Ch. 1 & 2 · 11:36am May 10th, 2020
And so we move on to the English manga, which should provide me with a few months’ worth of content properly spaced out. Let’s see how it opens
While each page is presented as a 4koma with its own title, each chapter is still a continuous story. I’ll present them as such.
Chapter 1
I’m not sure what’s more off-putting in the very first panel, Twilight putting off sorting books or her asking Pinkie to help. It’s not that Pinkie isn’t organized in her own way, it’s just that half of Twilight’s time will be spent making sure they’re following the same sorting system.
Also, Twilight apparently just has a mirror that accesses infinite alternate Equestrias lying around. And she’s not terribly fond of herself. which raises some interesting questions about the relationship between her an Sci-Twi, actually…
And it’s a portal. Of course it is. It’s a magic mirror that accesses other timelines; why wouldn’t it be? Celestia probably gave it to Twilight so she could find a coltfriend.
That brownie sundae looks unfairly delicious. Though triple-triple chocolate brownies might be a bit much.
Oh no. Pinkie feel into the void between worlds. This can’t possibly end well… even if I do love a good multiverse story.
Speaking of, interesting to see her think of herself as Pinkamina (sic) Still, zombie apocalypses are a serious matter. (I’d say “no laughing matter,” but this is Pinkie we’re talking about.)
I’m honestly not sure which one’s scarier when zombified, Bulk Biceps or Best Pony.
Oh hey, Spike found Monochromatic's favorite universe. Also, interesting to see that Twilight and Spike don’t seem to have the same “into the infinite void” issue as Pinkie. Twilight can just stick her head through the portal!
Given the “story told = world made” multiverse model, it makes sense that Spike would run into a Gallopfreyan sooner or later.
Speaking of, “Multi-Universal Flux Field Interdimensional Nexus” might be the best backronym I’ve ever seen. Also, Best Pony broke the chameleon circuit in the best way. 
And poor Pinkie, having to run from her best friends and herself. And for added horror, there’s no sign of Rainbow Dash in that world. The prank may have backfired in the worst way possible.
“Brownie World Twilight isn’t here, Spike!” may be the best sentence I read all day.
Oh dear. You’ve got to be careful with those search terms, Twilight. It’s a big multiverse out there. She ended up getting everything from a crazy Pinkamena to a Pinkie Spy to a G3 horror to human Pinkie! (It was pretty clear this tear in spacetime doesn’t adjust anything’s shape, but it’s nice to get confirmation. Also, canon HiE! The horror!)
Heh. Leave it to Pinkie to interrupt a heartfelt dramatic moment.
Oof. Poor local Doctor. I’m sure his analogue is all too aware of the potential damage he’s capable of.
And Best Pony appreciating Best Pony. This is a very good first impression as far as I’m concerned. Between the parallel worlds, the nutty Ponkery, and the high Derp levels, it’s hitting quite a few of my biases in the best way possible.
Chapter 2
Huh. First Doctor Whooves and his assistant, and now Twilight messing up a spell. We’re hitting a lot of fanfic tropes early on.
Also, I have to wonder why Twilight was practicing petrification spells. I suppose it’s been long enough since the cockatrice that she feels more comfortable investigating that sort of magic.
That poor stallion. He just wanted to transfer to another line. He never asked to get the full Pinkie experience.
Also, it feels weird for Ceelstia arrive via train rather than air chariot. Maybe she’s trying for a lower-key entrance?
Bless you, Tia, you tried. But something as minor as reality won’t keep Pinkie from trying to wrestle the invisible banana wizard.
I do love how Celestia can sincerely say “Equestria is forever in your debt” to whatever nonsense Pinkie does. After all, it is. Just not because she thwarted the Dread Musamancer.
It’s not that Pinkie’s a bad influence on Celestia. She just gives her an excuse to indulge her sillier side.
Of course the Twicane’s in Pinkie’s box of hats. Why wouldn’t it be?
“No need to bow, I’m off the clock today.”
Well, that’s a curious thing to unpack. Is Luna handling things for the day? Cadence? Raven? The country doesn’t go on vacation just because the monarch does.
Sitting Lyra. This author knows exactly what they’re doing.
I like this silly Tia. And now I wonder what experience she’s had with extraterrestrials.
Those 3D glasses are not optimized for an equine head.
Celestia never having seen a horror movie before raises an interesting question about what she has seen. We know she loves the theater, but her relation with cinema’s uncertain. Still, her not understanding the fun of horror does raise some questions about the origin of Nightmare Night.
Speaking of, I imagine Luna would have the same reaction to a 3D horror movie, though for different reasons. And after early exposure, she’d probably find the fun in it… or at least watch them so she knew where the waves of remarkably similar nightmares were coming from.
There’s something delightful in Celestia trying to get a Luna plushie. And in her reluctantly accepting any sort of defeat. Sunset took after her mentor more than we realized, especially in “Rollercoaster of Friendship.”
As much as I enjoy the “Celestia banishes casual annoyances to the moon” gag, it’s always rubbed me the wrong way because of one specific detail: She needed the elements to banish Nightmare Moon. Logically, Luna’s the one who performs lunar banishments. Celestia should send things to the sun.
Oh dear. Even Celestia’s sweet tooth has its limits, and Pinkie managed to surpass them.
And a delightful ending, with the tour group getting one by under Twilight’s nose.
Great bit of Celestia getting to let down her hair. Possibly a bit too silly, but overall most enjoyable.
I think this is the start of a beautiful series of reviews… even if I had to get the blasted thing on Kindle. Fun stuff all around, though the format does lock it into making every fourth panel a punchline. Hopefully that won’t be a problem down the line. In any case, let’s see what I can do with it.
Pastel Nightmare 2W
Creature — Nightmare Pony
Banding (Any creatures with banding, and up to one without, can attack in a band. Bands are blocked as a group. If any creatures with banding you control are blocking or being blocked by a creature, you divide that creature’s combat damage, not its controller, among any of the creatures it’s being blocked by or is blocking.)
3/2
To the Moon! 3W
Instant
Exile target nonland permanent. That permanent’s controller creates a colorless basic land token named Wastes with “T: Add C.”
“Sister ensured I never wanted for entertainment during my banishment.”
—Princess Luna
Celestia’s Mischief 2U
Instant
Attach target Aura or Equipment to target permanent to which it can be attached.
Draw a card.
“You don’t stay sane for centuries without learning to appreciate the little things.”
Dossier Compiler 1B
Creature — Pony Rogue
Lifelink
Whenever you gain life, surveil 1. (Look at the top card of your library. You may put that card into your graveyard.)
“Somepony’s got to figure out every guild leader’s favorite cupcake.”
2/1
Unblinking Psychoponk 2B
Creature — Pony Warrior
When Unblinking Psychoponk enters the battlefield, each player sacrifices a creature or planeswalker. Each player who sacrificed a Pony or Pinkie this way draws a card.
Not all laughter is nice.
3/2
Necromancers’ Revel 3B
Sorcery
Amass Zombies X, where X is the number of Zombies you control. (Put X +1/+1 counters on an Army you control. It's also a Zombie. If you don’t control an Army, create a 0/0 black Zombie Army creature token first.)
Cycling 1BB (1BB, Discard this card: Draw a card.)
When you cycle Necromancers’ Revel, create a 2/2 black Zombie creature token.
Screeching Jester 3B
Creature — Horror
Flash
Whenever you cast a spell during an opponent’s turn, you gain 1 life and each opponent loses 1 life.
The next day, Celestia quietly outlawed greasepaint within the city of Canterlot.
3/2
Ravening Herd 4B
Creature — Zombie Pony
Whenever a permanent dealt combat damage by Ravening Herd this turn dies, amass Zombies 1.
A blend of suggestion, herd instincts, and industrial meteorology brought undeath to a plane that had never known it.
4/6
Sunfire Blast 1R
Sorcery
Hoofcraft — As long as you control three or more Ponies, Pegasi, and/or Unicorns, you may cast Sunfire Blast as though it had flash.
Sunfire Blast deals 4 damage to target creature.
Sometimes Daybreaker whispers in Celestia’s ear. Sometimes she screams.
Lashing-Tail Risusaur 2RR
Creature — Dinosaur
Enrage — Whenever Lashing-Tail Risusaur is dealt damage, it deals that much damage to target creature or planeswalker an opponent controls.
A dinosaur’s wit begins and ends with “Right back at you.”
4/4
Interplanar Whelp 3R
Creature — Dragon
Flying
Whenever you planeswalk to a plane, put a +1/+1 counter on Interplanar Whelp.
Some of the Ur-Dragon’s shed scales stay close to it, sheltered from the Blind Eternities in their progenitor’s slipstream.
2/2
Pink Without Bound 3RR
Enchantment
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a fun counter on Pink Without Bound, then create a 2/1 red Pony Reveler creature token with trample and haste for each fun counter on Pink Without Bound.
Pinkie always accepts an invitation.
Plantain Mage 2G
Creature — Pony Wizard
When Plantain Mage enters the battlefield, create a Food token. (It’s an artifact with “2, T, Sacrifice this artifact: You gain 3 life.”)
Plantain Mage has hexproof as long as you control a Food.
Banana wizards often prove slippery.
3/2
Open the Portal 4GG
Sorcery
Each player chooses a nonbasic permanent card name, then searches their library and hand for any number of cards with that name and puts them onto the battlefield. Then each player shuffles their library.
Something’s bound to jump out.
Gargantikari Courser 5GG
Creature — Pony Citizen
“From my perspective, they’re still very much my little ponies.”
—Celestia of Gargantikar
8/8
Anthropic Invader 2
Creature — Human Scout
Whenever an opponent planeswalks, you may reveal Anthropic Invader from your hand. If you do, put it onto the battlefield.
“Human. Noun. All the ubiquity and tenacity of the cockroach with slightly more brainpower.”
—Discord’s Dictionary
2/2
Gingerbronco 2
Artifact Creature — Food Pony
Trample
Gingerbronco’s power and toughness are each equal to the number of Foods you control.
2, T, Sacrifice Gingerbronco: You gain 3 life.
*/*
Derposcope 3
Artifact
T: Look at the top card of a random library. You may put that card on the bottom of that library.
“The ship lets me see what’s going to happen, but not to whom.”
—Ditzy, the Companion
Luna Doll 4
Artifact Creature — Construct
Alicorn (This card is also a Pony Pegasus Unicorn.)
Indestructible
As Luna Doll enters the battlefield, choose a player.
Whenever Luna Doll is dealt damage, the chosen player puts that many cards from the top of their library into their graveyard.
T: Luna Doll deals 2 damage to itself.
0/1
Muffin Transcendent 5
Artifact — Vehicle
Flying
Whenever Muffin Transcendent attacks, you may planeswalk.
Crew 3 (Tap any number of creatures you control with total power 3 or more: This Vehicle becomes an artifact creature until end of turn.)
5/5
Sugarcube Sucromancer GWU
Creature — Pony Wizard
Reach
Protection from artifacts (This creature can’t be blocked, targeted, dealt damage, enchanted, or equipped by anything that’s an artifact.)
2: Until end of turn, target creature becomes a Food artifact in addition to its other types and subtypes and gains “2, T, Sacrifice this artifact: You gain 3 life.”
2/4
Mana Lock 1UR
Instant
Counter target spell. Up to two target lands that spell’s controller controls don’t untap during that player’s next untap step.
Twilight Sparkle can’t slow down unless she’s immobilized.
Mirrorstitch 3(wu)
Instant
Each other creature you control becomes a copy of target nonlegendary creature you control until end of turn.
The Rarities insisted they were distinct from one another. That one’s mane was orchid, that one was indigo, that one dark plum…
Pudding Eruption XRG
Sorcery
Pudding Eruption deals X damage to each creature and planeswalker. Whenever a creature or planeswalker dies this turn, its controller creates a Food token.
Even Pinkie can have trouble telling if her dreams are good or bad.
Ruins of Ponyville
Land
T: Add B. Ruins of Ponyville deals 1 damage to you unless you control a Zombie.
1BB, T: Amass Zombies 1.
A faint memory of friendship amid decay.
Inside Baseball Alert: Banding was discontinued forever ago, and good riddance. For a G3 pony played for horror, it's appropriate.
Inside Baseball Slash Stupid Complicated Game Alert: "Reveler" is not, technically, a supported creature type. It was used in one of the Theros Challenge Decks, but it isn't a legal choice for "choose a creature type" effects unless and until something like Pink Without Bound is printed. And yes, this is both of my major alerts in one.
Stupid Complicated Game Alert: As of Ikoria, yes we can just do arbitrarily colorless creatures like Anthropic Invader now. Doesn't mean I have to like it.
Inside Baseball Alert: The Devil's Dictionary is a classic of American literature and therefore old enough to be out of copyright. You should look it up sometime.
Inside Baseball Alert: Luna would probably be offended if you called her stuffy.
Inside Baseball Alert: Mirrorstitch is Mirrorweave adjusted to be less of a bend in white. (It's still kind of a bend, but hybrid has a bit more leeway for those due to its inherently limited design space and being a deliberate throwback to a previous hybrid bend helps) (Also, Gatherer went down for maintenance in the middle of my typing this so that's why my links got mixed)
Maro Get Your Gun Alert: The "land freezing in red" experiment was considered a failure, so Mana Lock is monoblue now. You could maybe swing it as Azorius if you think it's too much upside for a Cancel.
Do I finally have an excuse to ship Celestial Pie?
Oh man, I'm excited for you to cover these, I adore them. The second volume in particular may be my favourite manga volume of all time (not that I've read that much manga)
I sometimes wonder what will happen when future archaeologists attempt to reconstruct the canon of MLP from FICG cards
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I'm probably going to start a retrospective soon
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They'll probably end up with something that makes more sense than the actual canon. Mostly because they're actually trying to have it all make sense together and Hasbro wasn't.
I'm probably not going to be reading the manga myself, but I'm glad to see you've found something new to continue making FICG blogs about.
Yay. Lovely to have an excuse to reread my copy of this. I'd forgotten how adorable Celestia looks in that artstyle. The humour is impressively often on point, and the fandom references are frequent and fun. I loved seeing EqG Pinkie cameo along with the G3 Nightmare. I confess I'm not quite sure why the Anthropic Invader is colourless, though I don't mind it as much as HoO does.
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Right, I forgot I wanted to explain the reasoning behind Anthropic Invader. Given how reviled the concept of HiE has become, the intent is a tongue-in-cheek Human are Cthulhu reference now that one actually is in Equestria in her natural form. (Kindly disregard how, according to FiCG, Cthulhu himself is actually blue-black.
In Sugarcube Sucromancer's activated ability, I believe "and subtypes" to be redundant. That is, I think "in addition to its other types" already preserves subtypes as well.