My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Issues 1-4 The Return of Queen Chrysalis

HELLOOOO ALL MY GROWING READERS! Welcome to Culture's Compendium of Reviews! As always I am Culture Shock. Your guide to all things cultural in Equestri and beyond. I have yet another riveting review for you today but first lets go over da rulez. Firstly, all content in this blog is the express opinion of its writer and no one else. It does not and should not reflect the views of the fandom in its entirety. Lastly, if any of you happen to notice any mistakes in the following review, whether it may be typoes or missing words, please do not hesitate to let me know in the comments below. With that said lets move on to the review.

My Little Pony: Friendship Issues #1-4. Unlike the wildly popular series the comics take place a while after the controversy of the Royal Canterlot Wedding. We first open up with everyone's favorite filly chapter of the main cast, the Cutie Mark Crusaders. First thing to note here is that these issues predate the big cutie mark episode so our trio have yet to obtain their joint cutie marks. Its actually fun to see what adventures the CMC got into that weren't the series. Considering the dark stylization the whole ordeal makes for an exciting read. Of course as per the usual our trios adventure is more than average as they set off to recieve a zoo related cutie mark in quite the surprising place. Fluttershy's backyard. Yeah...that one sorta shocked me too. Unfortunately this is also when we recieve our plot twist trigger as its revealed that the animals aren't as friendly as they seem. Our trio is then ambushed and captured by the fake zoo animals. Leaving us on a cliffhanger.

Shifting the story forward we now arrive in Ponyville the next morning. Setting the story aside for a moment what I most like about this page are the cameos we get. My favorite being the Blues Brothers duo and of course the Magnum PI ponies. And thats not even including a cameo from that zany princess of chaos, Screwball. Anyways, back on to the story. As we can already see and guess Fluttershy's zoo isn't the only strange thing occuring in Ponyville. Several of its citizens are also seen exhibitimg strange signs of blank stares, emotionless expressions, and odd movements. This includes the CMC, who we know from early on aren't the real deal. Stricken with worry and concern our main heroes convene in town square to discuss the strange behavior of the town. Now what irks me here as usual is Rainbow Dash's immediate attitude to the situation. Its one thing when its the show because it easily gets drown out in a lot of episodes and even adds to her cute tomboyish charm on occassion. But when you try to make yourself part of the focus of a problem like the strange behavior of Ponyville just for attention then you sorta cross the line with it.

After escaping a hoard of zombified citizens the girls barricade themselves in the library while they compile their notes. Taking the symptoms into consideration and comparing them to what the comic picks up after the answer to the strange occurences hits us harder than a manticore in diamond armor. The changelings have returned and this time they've shifted their plans from total conquest to annihilating the root of their failure. This is blatantly proven when queen swisslegs herself sends a mystical message to the heroes herself after her minions are defeated and the town is saved. Well....most of it. Chrysalis has captured the CMC and are holding them prisoner in her kingdom. Twilight and the gang are given three days to travel their to rescue the foalnapped fillies. Otherwise Aj, Rarity, and Dash will never see them again. Why three days? Well I'll explain more on that a little later. Considering the expression on Chrysalis's face she'd be happy either way as long as the CMC are gone. As the mane 6's emotions boil Twilights immediate plan is to wait and alert Princess Celestia. A plan they tried earlier with no success. Instead the gang decide to take the risk involved and head out to rescue the fillies themselves.

Now we jump ship to issue 2 in the ongoing Chrysalis adventure. We open here with our gang discussing the fastest route from Ponyville to the Changeling Kingdom. My favorite part here is the beautiful layout of the land as depicted on the map from Chrysalis as well as the names of each landmark. Though whats confusing is the map only details a small part of Equestria's landscape. Some of what is shown are locations we've never nor will we possibly ever see in the show's run. That just goes to show exactly how vast and unknown the land of Equestria really is.

After some deliberation the gang approach the first stop of their journey. The aptly named Appleloosan Mountains. Kinda makes you wonder how Aj's family is. Anyways rather than climbing them the mane 6 take advantage of what can only be an old Diamond Dog mine carved conviniently through the mountain. Just as they enter the mine however they meet their first obstacle. A being who can only be summed up in one way. Early gen bronies. Seriously though this character is either IDW trying to poke fun at us or just a bad pun. Either way it has its humor. The giant cave troll appears and rather than smash the ponies he does what any self absorbed fan does. Try to collect them all. Now stopping for just a moment we get yet another cameo. This time by a well Michael Bay product. That's right its more than meets the eye as in the background of a panel we see a rather crudely constructed Optimus Prime. Bet that cost a mint....and some toothpaste. After some clever thinking from our marshmallow fashionista the girls manage a narrow escape from our prehistoric ancestor.

After a successful escape the girls are put right back into danger by a a cave in courtesy of Queen Chrysalis and her minions. Divided the girls become easy targets of deception as the now disguised changlings pit friends against friends in an attempt to tamper with their bonds of friendship and love.

Now this next obstacle may very well be somethimg from my own nightmares. After the girls manage to escape the cave troll and the changelings sneak attack, they finally reconvene only to find themselves in a rather " sticky " situation as they walk directly into a massive den of spiders. Gah! Even saying the word makes me shiver. As our heroes nearly end up part of an arachno-buffet its the bouncing bubble gum ball to the rescue. Thinking in her usual fashion Pinkie quickly backtracks to the beginning of the mine. Leaving poor Twilight to fend off an eight armed bruiser as the rest of the mane 6 watch on from their webbed restraints. Moments later Pinkie returns with a rather chipper cave troll. Thanks to Pinkie's zany planning and wit the gang manage another daring escape from danger. Unfortunately due to the changelings mind games from early on the gang breaks apart to move on in three directions. A decision that usually spells doom for any weary travelers. The final page in this issue expands more on the maps design and gives a broader layout of what's to come.

In the next issue we're given a glimpse of just what happened after the Canterlot Wedding as introduced by an old time black and white Spike. After a brief recap so far we pick up after Chrysalis and her army are blasted out of Canterlot castle. Battered and bruised Chrysalis and her minions end up landing in an uncharted city. Miles from the sight of their defeat. The interesting part is that this is the same city which later in becomes the new Changeling Kingdom. Hard to believe something so cute and adorable could be destroyed and become such a frightening and desolate place. And I won't even go into what happen to the former townsfolk. Those poor souls... Victims of a bug infestation.... OH WELL!

One brief feeding frenzy later we finally get the villains evil scheme. To make a long story short Chrysalis plans to utilize the power of a celestial meteor to drain Twilight Sparkle of her magic. Adding it to her own. The reason being because during the event the magical power of any gifted creature is instantly turbo charged because if the comets special properties. Unfortunately Chrysalis believes that only her power will increased. Now this actually is the main reason for the whole three days ultimatum Chrysalis gave earlier on in the comic.

Picking back up with the main story we find out through Chrysalis's spying tricks how our heroes our fairing while seperated. I'd be lying if I said I didn't laugh at any of them while they succumbed to jungle madness. It these kinds of scenes that give action flicks their own brand of satire. The variation differing in each chase. Ranging from the predatorial, to the unexplained, and somewhere in between. One crash course later the gang yet again escapes danger. The odd part here of course is Fluttershy's fadcination with animal on animal brutality. After a quick exchange of apologies the gang stop for a quick r&r while having a small snack. Unaware if Chrysalis's watchful gaze.

Finally we reach our fourth issue and finale to the Return of Queen Chrysalis. Here we pick up with our heroes finally arriving at the gates to the changeling kingdom. Now for a brief second I have one thing to say about page 1 of this issue....DAT FLUTTERPLOT! Slowly the gang trudges on. Poised and ready for a fight. Surprisingly upon entering the city they find the city empty. No changeling guards. No soldiers. No nothing.

The saddest part about this is while on the precipice of the final battle Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie are way to quick to put so much faith in Twilight. Peer pressure, no matter what the reason, is never right. Being on the spot can hinder a persons performance and cause emotional scars. No one is perfect. Even ponies like Twilight Sparkle make mistakes. Trying to boost someone so highly won't always end on a positive note. Not to mention that up to this point we've seen that each individual member of the Mane 6 is powerful in their own right. The way their past accomplishments are so easily in favor of Twilights magical profficiency makes one wonder if the issues writer had a thing for the purple bookhorse.

As the gang make their way cautiously to Chrysalis's castle the venomous queen watches on with an evilly eager smirk. Once at the castles doors Twilight and her friends take a moment to mentally psyche themselves up for the coming storm. Unfortunately they easily overlook the fact that Chrysalis is already expecting them. Or to put it in Star Wars terms....IT'S A TRAP!

The interesting part about this is how how the artist took influence from the late M. C. Esher while designing the inner layout of the changeling castle. Seeing such an iconic style be reformated for a pop culture comic series is definitely a plus in my book. And the following cameos from film classics like Raiders if the Lost Arc, Phantom of the Opera, The Shining, Evil Dead, and the horror classic It( Pennywise)  just adds to the score.

After a short search through the castles labyrinth and a quick riddle the girls finally reach the villainous Queen and her minions. A battle ensues over the foalnapped fillies and both sides are on level grounds. In Chrysalis's case however its merely a ploy to stall out for the comets arrival. With its final approach Chrysalis finally shows her hand and traps Twilights friends in cocoons. Cornering the purple unicorn and making friends the unwilling audience to Twilights end. Out of options. Twilight resorts to her most powerful spell to destroy the evil queen. Unfortunately it offers little results.

Impressed by the sheer force of Twilights magic Chrysalis opts to alternate her original plan. Rather than drain Twilights magic she gives her a choice. She can either be drained if her very life or become give up her place with Celestia and become Chrysalis's pupil instead. Twilight, being the hero she is, refuses on the grounds that she'd rather become a drained husk of herself. Unphased by Twilights answer Chrysalis takes things further by raising the stakes. Now Twilight has to either teach Chrysalis what she knows or watch has the love is drained completely from her friends. Keeping up with their hope and faith Twilights friends try to convince her not to go with Chrysalis. Being the villain she is Chrysalis just uses this as an excuse to flaunt her power.

With no other option left Twilight accepts Chrysalis's proposal on one condition. Chrysalis has to free her friends. Now here is where the usual villains double-cross starts. Chrysalis agrees to the terms and taunts the poor ponies with a show of pity only to stab them in the back one last time by promising to drain Twilights love and turn her against her former friends. This of course is where the queen makes biggest blunder. Rather than frighten her. Chrysalis's threat only serves to enrage Twilight. Forcing her to call on all 100% of her magic to defeat her. Finally, after an explosive victory all is right again and the villain is put in her place. The end.

Well thats my my review of issues # 1-4 of My Little Pony: Friendship is magic. Definitely an exciting saga to start with. Had a lot of interesting shoutouts and cameos. Some of which I skipped over. I honestly reccomebd this to anyone. But if you are new to the fandom zi suggest watching up to the Canterlot Wedding episode first before you read this. I give these four exciting issues a whopping 9 / 10. Hope you enjoyed this review. Took me a whole day to do. Make sure to leave a like and comment down with any critiques or suggestions for future reviews. Also if you haven't already don't forget to sub to my blog for updates on my future reviews. As always I'm Culture Shock, your guide to all things cultural in Equestria and beyond, saying KEEP CALM AND BRONY ON! PEACE!