IDW was busy around the time of both Babscon and a friend's wedding. I've got some ground to cover. Let's get back in the game with a look at the start of an undersea adventure.
Catch the full review in both video and text format after the break!
Summary
So, remember that 40th anniversary special that featured Hitch, Sunny, and Izzy looking at entries for the G1 ponies? Well, Izzy Moonbow remembers!
Sunny needed a neck brace after this.
She is enthralled by a set of books devoted to the Galloping Ghost and its stories about sea ponies. However, a fourth volume recently washed up on shore and Izzy notes the change in the writing style and the reversed roles between heroes and antagonists. She asserts that author Creepy Jenny couldn't have written this fourth novel as it makes no sense and over-uses the term "Cerulean".
Hm. Both Sunny and Izzy have become critics in these comics.
I feel somewhat threatened.
Pipp is far less involved in stories as her mother has been leaning on her to perform more princess duties even as Pipp prepares to release a new song. A note written on flotsam changes her plans as its an invitation from one Queen Calla Lily who has learned of the Boardtrot and extended a welcoming to the Sparkling Sea, one of the seven Kingdoms of the ocean. Zipp is too engrossed in a mysterious book cover to go, and so it's up to Pipp and a very enthusiastic Izzy.
Zipp sees a mystery and she just can't kelp herself.
They manage to test out Misty's newest spell via the Boardtrot rollercoaster, which apparently submerges its rides in water... And likely courts several lawsuits.
Pipp's life is flashing before her eyes on loop.
She's so young she's on her sixth viewing.
The two are picked up by an underwater train with two suspicious porters and one oddball named Two-Eyed Gilbert. Although Izzy perks up when me mentions knowing Creeping Jenny, the sea pony protagonist of the first three novels. But before they can explore further, the porters intervene and distract them. Right up until they're about to see the undersea kingdom, at which point they abduct both ponies in potato sack bags.
Potato sacks: aiding cartoon abductions since the mid 1900's.
Art
Amy Mebberson once again demonstrates her skill in drawing our G5 ponies. I love her ability to create expressions that feel like they could work well in the show, even when showing a small fish's terror. She doesn't seem to have suffered any setbacks by converting to the "Tell Your Tale" character style. If anything, I think it gave her permission to dial everyone's reactions up higher.
That's one brown huff.
Methinks she's cursing.
She also gets to demonstrate an alternate style with Izzy's reflection being like an old black-and-white cartoon. Granted, it's not that different from what we already have but I notice the difference in the eyes and how the legs move. Just different enough to be distinct, plus the de-saturated look helps.
Watch out for Cuphead!
What's stranger is the coloring of the lines. I'm not sure if this is the work of colorist Reggie Graham, who made some very wild choices in "Camp Bighoof", or if Mebberson set up the line art to work this way. Either way, I usually dislike colored line art in these comics. It creates a softer look so that the characters don't stand out well against the setting. It's different in the G4 cartoons because the motion and sometimes bolder colors help them stand out. In a fixed medium like comics, you need some elements to pop out. Graham's color schemes seem to account for this by setting the ponies against desaturated colors like a brick wall or a high contrast like a pink and white setting against the ponies' blue tones. Or just have a background gradient.
One day, she shall rule a magical kingdom!
This technique is especially apparent in the later underwater scenes, where darker and de-saturated tones help the ponies stand out. It also conveys the sinister intentions behind Foamy Joe and... whoever this guy is.
Personal space, you!
Yet the biggest draw of all is the creation of the new. Take the Galloping Ghost ship, which features a prow and portholes designed to give it a face. Add in the bowsprit and you can conjure an angler fish. The various sea pony forms, both in Izzy's imagination and what we get in real life are wonderfully diverse and interesting. They take elements from real-life aquatic life like coral growths and narwhal horns.
Most beings only have one to two horns.
That guy in the back is greedy!
One might write off the sea pony forms for our heroines, given that we saw that in the G4 movie. Yet I appreciate how they integrate the various color changes, especially with Pipp and her wings, given added variety to the design. The only part that confuses me is the absence of a tail fin that denotes their cutie marks. Instead, said marks remain on their sides, but look strangely isolated without either a body part to denote a specific section. I don't know if this was an intentional choice to leave this element out or if the creative staff didn't have as many references as they'd like. Which leads us into one of this story's bigger issues.
This is what happens when you travel coach!
Review
Despite my earlier celebration of comic continuity, we are sadly denied a far more important connection. Throughout the first part of this story, Izzy continually states her desire to meet sea ponies and Sunny admits it would be great if they existed. I find it very difficult to envision how the comic staff can know about the Broadtrot, and capitalize on the special's airing, but not know about this important if brief encounter with Destiny.
A meeting of Destiny!
I can only assume that some creative director gave the comic team instructions on including the Boardtrot, but made no mention of an actual sea pony already being on-screen. With a rather violent farewell.
Legend has it that Destiny is still riding the shockwave.
She's on her fourth world lap.
Which once again highlights how often the comics seem to lag behind the larger franchise. There seems to be a lack of information that sabotages either the storytelling or the art. It's disappointing to see that continue. Just as it's disappointing that Sunny doesn't appear to be much involved moving forward. Once again, her focus is far too centered in Maritime Bay when I continually wish she would be the one calling for adventure.
See you back at the Roller Derby, Sunny!
Sadly, her opponent either way would have been Pipp, who is often in the unenviable role of being the one to reject the call to adventure. It was thus in the "A New Generation" movie. It was the same in the return of Discord comic. And while she's been more adventurous in Make Your Mark, she often needs to be tempted forward by the promise of new social media. Here, it's understandable that she's frustrated by having to delay a song she worked on for an unexpected event. Yet I think this could be way more beneficial as she'd be delivering some quality, exclusive content.
We'll keep this out of the tour book.
Zipp not going along is more confusing. Just as I wish Sunny could be more of the Scout, I'm interested in seeing Zipp take on those royal roles she so often sidesteps. This detective aspect isn't half as fascinating to me as the potential for growth. My biggest criticism of G5 is that, after magic returned, there doesn't appear to be a solid path lined for each character's growth. The big exception being Misty, who seems to be on track to becoming a very powerful unicorn as she's mastered a spell that puts her on part with Queen Novo's pearl. It even creates air bubbles for personal items. Not bad! Not bad at all!
Miss the tail fins, but Misty does good work!
Izzy is the most delightful part of this story as her energy is infectious and her insight into the Galloping Ghost books provides some nice foreshadowing. I thinks she's going to carry this series far more any other character. It's thanks to her that I know most of the players involved.
Keep going and those shadow clones become sentient!
As for our undersea cliffhanger... Well, congratulations, Pipp! You have joined in the proud lineage of Pony Princesses who have been abducted, imprisoned, confined, held captive, seized, de-powered, banished, kidnapped, restricted, or otherwise p'wned. Because there's something about those darn crowns that screams, "I'm a target. Come get me." Izzy, I'm sorry you're along for this part of the ride.
"I'd like to talk to you about the extended warranty on your car insurance!"
I'm Silver Quill. Thanks for reading!
