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Champions of Equestria

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Description

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic #89—Season 10 Episode 1—GEM OF THE MONTH  
Jeremy Whitley (w) • Andy Price (a & CVR A) • Brenda Hickey (CVR B) • JustaSuta (1:10 RI CVR) • Amy Mebberson (1:25 RI CVR)
 
Season 10 of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic begins! Explore new worlds and go on new adventures with your favorite fillies!
 
Twilight’s first act as Queen of Equestria is to send the Mane 6 to explore mysterious—and potentially dangerous—areas of Equestria. When Applejack, Zeocra, Rockhoof, and Tempest travel to Zecora’s home country, they meet a zebra named Marini—and learn exciting, surprising information about Zecora, the magical kelpies and abada, and the not-so-magical zebras who live there!
 
(I know the brand-less version was posted already, just adding for completion)

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Background Pony #E891
@Background Pony #E891
I didn’t read everything from both of your posts since I’m trying to empty out my notifications while seeing what was posted but I was fine with Zecora’s arc. I liked her childhood friends.
 
The Zebra act started very well in the first issue, but if it was an attempt at worldbuilding - then Andyprice and Whitney had failed very massively on it, they had chosen to Americanize everything and everyone, tore away all local lore by “equestriating” the zebras that have become too similar to the ponies - and make an equestrian a source of inspiration for Zecora. It was a huge mistake to create such a gruesome background story in which Zecora’s own background as a zebra of her homeland and culture is completely annulled. Why would she want to learn magic, since she is actually perceived as a special and skilled shaman? Her childhood experiences are as if taken straight from an American suburb. There everything went straight down.
 
Tempest Shadow and Rockhoof were very good, so much so that they straightened out some of the misery in # 90 and # 91 together with Zecoras friends who should still have a little less alone time in relation to the friendship problem around Zecora. I like them. I like how Tempest was itself. Rockhoof was masterful. Crystal was just great, Medley Brook was superb. Marini - I do not like her color scheme, thought zebras should be black and white. A little too strict in her response to Zecora and others. Dust Devil good, but would like to have his gender more clear. Cactus Rose - has Whitney thought she's going to have to feed on the plants she can talk to?!!   In issue # 92, Grootslang's fate was never explained, Whitney should have omitted the fact that there are five harmony trees, and it feels a little too abrupt at the end, as Whitney was more concerned with having his plot in place. It is Whitneys plot with multiple harmony trees, new Mane 6s and a focus on magic “to give the zebras magic” as with Zecora and the absence of worldbuilding that ruined much of the impression that would otherwise have been positive.
 
  1. Local lore and culture based on African customs - there are fan fictions in the Fim Fiction that cover this - is strictly necessary on another continent. Especially in the background story of Zecora and her friends.
     
  2. We did not see much of the Farasi coast, and learned too little about the zebras’ homeland - only one of four princes is known, only three city names, here it is very much from # 89 - but Whitney chose to go straight out into the desert shortly afterwards it was just the expedition and Zecora`s friends. Then the background story will be vital for learning. Like zero there.
     
  3. If Zecora and her friends found an abandoned temple where they learned how to defeat Grootslang without bringing in the magic from a visible harmony tree, and thus triggered an alarm without revealing anything, it could be much better. But Whitney wants a plot much larger than what followed to the great interest of the S10. Everything went wrong there, and may be why the latest stories feel a little too abruptly ended this year.
     
    Garcia and Fleecs showed how to do it, lots of clues about the diamond dogs and their “hidden” kingdom that are very different than thought, in the Diamond Dog Arc. Fleecs showcased a modern city with airship traffic, suitable terrain that revealed the topography of Abyssinia, and it was before the great revelation about the Anugyptian cats of the past Anugypt, which explained the nature behind the anthropomorphic cats. The last two arcs were very interesting and very good when it comes to worldbuilding, although the Diamond Dog Arc may seem a bit tame - while the Abyssinian Arc was a bit too action-packed. Not so bad anyway.
Background Pony #E891
Then Season 10 continues for the second month. It has improved, Garcia who had addressed the Diamond Dogs Arc of S10 in “Annual 2021” has gained self-confidence and improved as an artist - while Tony Fleecs with the Abyssinia Arc of S10 kept a high standard as usual, his pages are more packed than before with action. In contrast to the disastrous “Zebra Arc” which went terribly wrong from the second issue, there is a lot of interest in world building, new lore and several fascinating discoveries. The Diamond Dogs are more than we thought, and a mystery behind the mysterious cat people from the movie has been unlocked by collecting reminders from the past.
 
With the two stories made by Garcia and Fleecs, the train, which had been very thoroughly tracked, is back on track. The only downside is that it gets too short; 33 pages for the Diamond Dogs and 44 pages for the Abyssinian cats. So far it is not known what Whitley has invented, but there are indications that his ideas for S10 are very old, maybe seven years. The mysterious “knights of Harmony” are enigmatic, but the concept of the five harmony trees is difficult to defend. There has not even been a follow-up where Twilight and Starswirl will find out why their “own” harmony tree is not as unique as they thought. And there I think Whitley made a mistake; he revealed it too soon. The Parrots Arc of S10, which Andyprice will take care of, is next. And fortunately, Andyprice is interested in pirate culture and airships. After this I hope that Whitley will follow this up in the Everfree forest where Twilight and Starswirl will investigate the place where the tree had rested, it can give many answers.
 
Three arcs so far, 2 straight out of 3. The Zebra act needs to be rewritten, it was hopeless even though the character gallery on the Farasi coast is deeply fascinating and very interesting. The first issue was very good, but the second and third issues - # 90 and # 91 - were a real disappointment that can only be overcome by the big fight when Rockhoof and Tempest fought the Grootslang in # 92. It was very, very, very stupid to “pony up” the zebras and erase their African culture during childhood for Zecora and her friends. Even more stupid to use equestrian lore for Zecora. It was where the whole train derailed, and the revelation of an extra harmony tree was not well received. In contrast to what was seen with the DD Arc and the AC Arc, readers got almost nothing from the world-building on the Farasi coast.
 
Garcia and the Fleecs have managed to repair some of the damage from # 90 / # 91, and Pencils with his Pinkie / Cheese adventure where hearty laughter is essential, had come to the rescue of many. Though, considering the revelation of the real nature behind the abyssinian cats, many are sorry that Pencils was not put on the AC Arc! Season 10 had a BAD start - but it seems to be going better lately. So far.
Background Pony #E891
It’s been many months now, severely delayed by covid-19 and the transformer crossover, and unfortunately one has to conclude that Whitley failed as a serious writer who ended up messing it up, so that is now the background that is of greater interest than the main lines of the story. It was a big mistake to Americanize the African culture in the Farasi coast, and to have an over-focus on the “new” Mane 6 so that the background came very strongly behind.
 
Andyprice is a talented artist, but his biggest weakness lies in the scenery work of cities and cultural landscapes. (He likes funny scenes in the background, a special feature for him - but it is completely absent in Farasi) It is also noticeable that his style has become age-old. Tony Fleecs has gone in, but again it looks like he went in for a quick background creation - obviously because there was no time for him. His depiction of airships and other things like buildings was simply static. Other artists such as Brianna Garcia have been allowed to work with S10 - the free comic is good, but was characterized by low self-esteem that strengthens over time. Her work on the diamond dogs is surprisingly good, but her work has still not been published.
 
The story of how Pinkie and Chessie started their journey towards the future where they want to be a couple, came with # 94 - which together with # 95 has become a success in itself. With a good and fascinating story with logical explanation, very nice background that seemed to be very strongly inspired by Derpibooru, many “new” ponies with special looks and character on them. This is simply beautiful! Out of all the issues since S10 started with # 89, # 94 and # 95 are the ones that came closest to the ideals put forward by the TV show that ended in S9, as Pencils has won by being thoughtful in his work, on the roles, story development, background and expansion of worldview for readers. Possibly because Pencils had more time and less stress than what happened to Andyprice and Tony Fleecs, while Garcia has not completely settled down.
 
If Pencils was in charge of all the S10 adventurers - it would be great, but of course it was not possible. Many would be enthusiastic if Pencils had considered the Abyssinian part of the S10 as his design on the Abyssinians is superb, but Tony Fleecs who is almost the best, took over the work. Andyprice is hindered by the script and his own weaknesses, while Tony Fleecs can be overworked and too much of a comic artist. Garcia is too “young”, we have not yet seen much of her background work. Pencils thus came in at the top with # 94 and # 95, but the quality of his work can be very demanding in itself.
 
S10 has its challenges, it is clear that 48-page comic books are strictly necessary for the “episodes” - and these are the IDW issues not dimensional for. The decision to have a Transformers Crossover was positively received, but it happened at the expense of the S10 which IDW is now trying to speed up during the year 2021.
Background Pony #4173
If the real grogar appears in season 10 comic series, can he be the main antagonist?
WanderingPony

Given the line of deletes, the old quote about insanity being repeating yourself over and over and expecting different results might apply here.
 
Also, Season 10-ness aside, you wonder if IDW is just being allowed to run with it given an inevitable end result (the final TV episode) or any of this is scraps left over from development of the animated series that just didn’t get in before it was wrapped up in favor of Pony Life.
Background Pony #B629
If the real grogar appears in the season 10 comic, will he be the final boss of season 10? comic episode 25 and 26?
Background Pony #B629
If the real grogar appears in my little pony friendship is magic season 10 comic form, do you think he will be an ram like entity?
Background Pony #B629
Do you think the real grogar will be the main antagonist of mlp season 10 comic form?
nightshroud96
Lunar Supporter - Helped forge New Lunar Republic's freedom in the face of the Solar Empire's oppressive tyrannical regime (April Fools 2023).

@Neko Majin C  
At least it would make it easier for Luna and Celestia to try to rule as “equals”(sadly the show didn’t do a good job at that), it would make it hard if Celestia is titled queen while Luna is still titled princess.
Neko Majin C
Lunar Supporter - Helped forge New Lunar Republic's freedom in the face of the Solar Empire's oppressive tyrannical regime (April Fools 2023).
Non-Fungible Trixie -
Preenhub - We all know what you were up to this evening~
My Little Pony - 1992 Edition
Not a Llama - Happy April Fools Day!

Twilight's Westley
@WanderingPony  
Actually, it was not Lauren Faust who had the problem with Queen, she actually wanted Celestia to be a Queen, the people she pitched it to had the problem with the word Queen.
nightshroud96
Lunar Supporter - Helped forge New Lunar Republic's freedom in the face of the Solar Empire's oppressive tyrannical regime (April Fools 2023).

I hope the season 10 comics have something for the Royal Sisters.  
How things went for them in the finale(especially Luna for me..) left me feeling.. pretty bitter honestly.
 
Same for Spike, I hope they got something for him too in this.
Masem
Elements of Harmony - Had an OC in the 2022 Community Collab
Twinkling Balloon - Took part in the 2021 community collab.
Friendship, Art, and Magic (2020) - Took part in the 2020 Community Collab
Friendship, Art, and Magic (2019) - Celebrated Derpibooru's seventh year anniversary with friends
Fine Arts - Two hundred uploads with a score of over a hundred (Safe/Suggestive)
Friendship, Art, and Magic (2018) - Celebrated Derpibooru's six year anniversary with friends.
Helpful Owl - Drew someone's OC for the 2018 Community Collab
A Really Hyper Artist - 500+ images under their artist tag
A Really Classy Artist - 250+ images under their artist tag
An Artist Who Rocks - 100+ images under their artist tag

I’ll make a note here (and the other covers) that Diamond Comic Distributors just announced that due to the COVID-19 situation they will postpone shipping any comics with planned released after April 1 indefinitely, which will include MLP Issues #89 onward.