My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic #31
Written by Christian Rice
Art by Agnes Garbowska
Color Assist by Lauren Perry
Letters by Neil Uyetake
Published by IDW
My Little Pony Friendship is Magic #31 picks up on the chaos caused in the last issue. The ponies of Ponyville stand divided over a fight over Ponyville Day. The argument was about if the Apples’ farm or Rarity’s shop should be recognized as the place that established Ponyville. Writer Christian Rice and artist Agnes Garbowska pick up again with the return of Twilight Sparkle to the now shimming tensions of the town as visitors from Cantorlot come. The writing comes again with a mixed feeling as the plot appears repeated and worn, but the characters are more rounded and truer to their nature. Garbowska’s art is serviceable to the comic with the cute style of each pony and the soft color palette. Together the art and the writing create a simple comic, but it still leaves a reader with a warm feeling inside.
My Little Pony Friendship is Magic #31 is about Twilight Sparkle’s efforts to reunite the town for the celebration and the arrival of their guests. Twilight Sparkle meets up with Fluttershy to discuss possible solutions to the major problems of everypony fighting. The main solution from Fluttershy is everypony in town is still devoted to Twilight Sparkle. The princess with the realization of everypony’s devotion goes out her way to appeal to everypony in town. As time presses on and the ponies finally get to work to prepare the town for their coming guests, Twilight Sparkle’s leadership skills are pushed to the limit. In the end, the celebration goes through with effort from everypony in Ponyville.
Garbowska’s artwork serves to show the characters in a softer curves and black outlines, while their traditional images from the television show are sharper edges. Twilight Sparkle’s design has a more curved and rounded appears, which is highlighted by her blackout surrounding her body. Garbowska’s design does allow for the ponies to appear more childlike and innocent. In fact, Garbowska’s designs permit more expressive face such as when Twilight in the comic starts to feel stressed. The curved designs may be slightly off putting from loyal television fans due to the side images of the characters seem smashed inwards with their eyes and noses. The soft color palette accompanying the art creates a land of magic and wonder. The light tones of the background remind the reader of the happiness that does exist in Ponyville, even with the chaos in it. The colors really compliment the story when order is returned to the story and the characters are celebrating together.
The comic’s plotline is a bit of a worn concept, but Rice improves on the depiction of the characters. The plotline of Ponyville being divided and everypony refuses to work together is a timeworn concept. Older readers of the comic can easily predict the ponies will work as one to save the town’s celebration and it will go well. Still the progress of how the plot fully unfolds is still heartwarming and well thought out. Rice does not do a straightforward and boring get the town back together story. She gives spice through the characters and their interactions. Rice’s strongest character she wrote for is Twilight Sparkle. Twilight Sparkle shines as a leader as she appeals to various ponies in Ponyville. Rice goes on to show how leadership requires an effort from all parties to make it work.
If you are a loyal fan to the show or just want a nice little reader, My Little Pony Friendship is Magic # 31 and its earlier counterpart My Little Pony Friendship is Magic #30 will entertain you. It is a silly story arc about how arguments can divide towns and understanding can bring everything together. The plot may feel tired and the characters may be off a few times, but the creators put their best effort out there.