Let's Review: Friends Forever #11

It's time for a look back at Rainbow Dash's adventure with her Captain and fellow Wonderbolt, Spitfire.

How do they fare with teaching young fliers?

Check out the review after the break, but watch out for spoiler crosswinds!

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This comic was pretty innovative at its time. Rainbow Dash had only recently joined the Wonderbolt Reserve and passed the entrance exam, but the Wonderbotls themselves were still undefined. We'd seen Spitfire could be easygoing and friendly in Best Night Ever, a hard-nosed instructor in Wonderbolt Academy, and a scheming opportunist in Rainbow Falls.

So we start off with the Spitfire we know.
A nice, familiar introduction before things go south.

One element we hadn't seen was her own vulnerability. That's where this comic comes in, along with its artist. To my memory, this was Jay Fosgitt's first foray into pony art. When the previews first came out there were polar reactions. Some didn't enjoy the "hyper-cartoon" style that has become his recognized style. Others found it cute and were interested in seeing how it play out over the comic.

She's actually referring to the door.
Spitfire's lousy at push/pull doors.

Having talked a lot about Fosgitt's style, I'm going to limit this entry to a few key points. In more recent issues I've been critical of an over-reliance on gradient backgrounds or flat-out empty space. Looking back at this comic, there aren't a lot of panels that struggle with this. There are a few that are just a gradient or one that its nothing but whiteness, but these are used efficiently. The orange is used to convey a high-tension moment and the blank conveys an awkward silence.

This emptiness carries more intent than other issues.

Fosgitt also gets to play more with the panels. One page stands out for the curving paths tracing two pegasi's flight. It conveys a sense of energy to their flight. That helps because one other item of note is that Fosgitt seems better at conveying action through poses but flight is more difficult. The ponies often adopt a Superman-style pose while flying, with a color trail tracing their path. Often the wings are fixed upright across multiple panels, which gives me the impression of gliding rather than flight.

I wish I had a word bubble that acted as my GPS.

That's not to say that Fosgitt doesn't use the wings to pose the characters different while standing. And he can convey a sense of flapping, particularly as Rainbow Dash hovers while opening an emergency letter.

Just those few lines help convey motion.

That letter summons her to an emergency mission: teaching junior flyers. Though Spitfire is cool and commanding with Rainbow, she becomes a terrified mess talking to foals. Rainbow takes to it immediately, especially helping on timid filly named Loop De Loop, but has to continually rescue Spitfire.

Teacher, Dash. She just said "Teacher".

Its here the comic follows a rhythm. They try a teaching method, it fails, and the two ponies clear the air with a loop around the clouds. Spitfire is able to admit her weaknesses in that solitude. Spitfire's career forces her to be hard, to push new recruits and rookie Wonderbolts to be more because she has faith they can handle the pressure. With kids, they haven't yet made that decision and don't have the dedication. They're more vulnerable and Spitfire doesn't want to crush their enthusiasm.

I would say, "they don't bite"
but then I look at the B cover and know that's a lie.

We hadn't gotten to see Spitfire be this vulnerable before. It was a nice presentation to see her both low on confidence but also empathetic. Of course, seeking life advice from Rainbow Dash isn't the best way to go. She is a mare of action rather than words. So her advice to Spitfire to toughen up and be more her drill instructor self goes about as well as one could expect.

I actually had driving instructors who had similar results.

And here's one of my favorite parts. Rainbow apologizes for giving bad advice, but Spitfire doesn't allow herself any excuses. She followed that bad advice. We then learn that she didn't seek to be the Wonderbolts' captain. She took it out of necessity to motivate the team, but she doesn't know how to do that without being mean.

I sometimes wonder how drill instructors view the world.
In a culture emphasizing PC, do they enjoy being paid to be harsh?

This takes on special meaning after Newbie Dash, an episode that drew polar reactions. I've made friends with folks who have served and they pointed to the episode saying, "That is how it was for us". Folks who have struggled with bullying pointed to Rainbow's feelings and said, "That's how we felt." Spitfire in this comic weaves between the two reactions. She has to employ the calculated cruelty that is part of military training, but her motive is not to wound others' confidence. She has faith that they can handle it.

I foresee no problems with this!

Rainbow manages to make good as a convenient tornado allows Spitfire to show her best and opens a new teaching method. It's a combination of having an idea and putting it into action, which is something that suits Rainbow Dash more than trying to offer sage advice. She's a pony who learns through action, and by giving Spitefire a chance to show her own strength she redefines the situation rather than trying to force their way through.

C'mon, even if you're not a fan of Fosgitt's style,
can we agree this panel is pretty adorable?

The big theme in this comic is to play to one's strengths. But with that comes an additional lesson of accepting that with strengths also come weaknesses, and it's okay. Understanding one's flaws can help an individual play to their better selves and hopefully pass that strength along to others. I have criticized in the past that Rainbow Dash seems to be teaching the Wonderbolts morals that they should know, but this issue is more personal. Though Spitfire is revered for her Wonderbolt title, this has more to do with her as an individual outside her comfort zone.

Epic pouty-pondering face!

IDW's comics are a fun resource for exploring second-tier characters. There's no need to hire voice actors or animate new puppets. Issues like this make me wonder if the main line would play more to its strengths by giving the background ponies more chances to shine.

Except for that one pony we trained wrong as a joke!

As to the issue itself, I find it fun with some nice visuals and good lessons. Though not in my top choices for Friends Forever I definitely view it as a strong entry and encourage folks to go back and give it another read.

I do find Fosgitt's style cute, 
but sometimes the expressions don't work for me.

I'm Silver Quill. Thanks for reading!

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Twitter: Silver Quill
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