The review originally appeared on ComicBuzz.com.

Issue 24 of My Little Pony: Friends Forever can be found in two covers. The regular cover pictured above was created by Amy Mebberson, with Rarity in her element as she contemplates on the designs for Gilda Griffons outfit. The subscription cover is by this issues illustrator, Jay Fosgitt. His more chibi character designs have a gentle Rarity fixing a bonnet on a very patient Gilda, who clearly isn’t impressed with the outfit.

The Boffyball Cup is about to start! Rarity is given a chance to have her fashion designs shown to thousands of ponies around the World. When Gilda the Griffin comes to her shop, Rarity is soon packing her bags and heading towards Griffinstone to create their team uniform. While there she learns more about friendship, loyalty, courage and Sport!

This issue of MLP: Friends Forever, has included an interesting mix of characters. With Gilda the Griffin making a reappearance in Ponyville, and with a more friendlier attitude. She seeks out the fashionista Rarity for help as the Griffins are competing in the latest Sporting craze, the Boffyball Cup! An unexpected tale and pairing of characters to have come into the series yet, all leading to an interesting short story.

Gilda appears to have become a new Griffin and approaches Rarity and her fellow Griffin pals with more respect than I was expecting from her. Her temper has calmed, but her old habits do resurface for a time when her Boffyball coach gives her a promotion. Rarity is also the right pony to call on when there is a style crisis. She instantly sees the large promotional opportunity she will get from designing official team uniforms. Her element shines through in the story as she looks after the young Griffin Firegem who is being harshly treated by their Captain. The action involved is on the playing pitch during a Boffyball match and the struggle of getting team members to gather their courage and confront their coach about treating a player unfairly.

Illustrated by Jay Fosgitt, who has also worked on other comics including Adventure Time and The Amazing World of Gumball. He was also a writer and artist for the Sesame Street Comic Book. His illustrations for the MLP franchise have chibi design elements, this means the character designs resemble small children with younger facial expressions and stature, ie more innocent and cute looking. Perfect for those budding artists who love to draw their favourite characters from magazines and comics.

A good issue with a surprising cast of characters. It is a side series and it does lack the action and drama that is expected from the main series, Friendship is Magic. The Friends Forever series is better suited to perhaps the youngest readers as it is both shorter and teaches some valuable life lessons.

Tags: comics