Transformers/My Little Pony #1: Friendship in Disguise!

“I like the ponies inside it. Thank you for making it!” Artemis, age 6.

Being a somewhat older dad to a young child in 2020 has been an interesting experience. All of the properties that I grew up on are new again and back in the social consciousness of an entire new generation. Some of these properties, like My Little Pony, are better than ever while others didn’t weather the test of time quite as well. When My Little Pony/Transformers #1 came through my inbox, there was no doubt in my mind that I would be writing this review because how could I not? What is not to love about this book? The very concept of taking properties that, when I was growing up, were the very definition of “gendered” properties and putting them together because dammit, like what you like, already puts this book in a positive light. As we read the issue together, neither of us were disappointed.

What I didn’t expect, though, was how well these concepts mapped onto one another. Princess Twilight Sparkle watches as Optimus Prime valiantly offers to take bodily harm to protect Bumblebee and vocalizes a truth shared by both sets of heroes– “It is nice to hear that kind of selflessness and friendship”. In a way, both stories over these many decades are very much about those same central thematics of friendship and in a world increasingly divided, these are lessons we can ill-afford to skip giving to our kids.

Of course, as great as all of these elements are in theory, none of that matters if the execution isn’t there. Fortunately, all elements of this issue are extremely well done from top to bottom. The issue is split into two concurrent stories by two entirely seperate teams, although the transition from story to story is so seamless that I didn’t even notice at first. Asmus and Flynn match each other’s pacing and detail while Lawrence and Ponies legend Fleecs move in lockstep. Combine that with stellar coloring and letterwork and you have a high quality comic that plays to the interests of a child but holds the interests of an adult. If you have young children, this book is a 100% recommend. If you don’t, same.