On February 19, 2025, Tee Franklin (Harley and Ivy, Bingo Love, Juke Joint) enters the world of My Little Pony with the oneshot My Little Pony: Skye’s Secret from IDW Entertainment
My Little Pony: Skye’s Secret
Fan favorites Violette and Skye return in this celebration of their friendship!
It’s summer break and Skye is ready to go on adventures with her best friend, Violette Rainbow, but unfortunately, Skye’s mom, Mariama, isn’t so sure. You see, Skye’s been hiding a big secret from Vi! Sometimes Skye gets very tired from being in pain all the time, but today she decided to push through her pain as she travels to Bridlewood with her bestie. Skye isn’t letting anyone or anything interfere with their summer holidays! Even if that means—*gulp*—telling Vi the truth.
Tee sat down with Comic Watch to talk about her career and the oneshot:
Comic Watch:
Please tell me about your history as a comic book reader and creator?
Franklin:
I used to collect comics and read my grandmother’s Archie’s comics in the 70’s and 80’s. I dropped comics as I got older, but have watched the shows and movies with my children since the 90’s. As my kids got older, I got back into comics in 2014, collecting any and everything, including Nailbiter, a comic I would have a debut in two years later.
During this decade of writing comics, I’ve made tons of Black History with every publisher – Image, DC, Archie, Marvel, My Little Pony.
My debut graphic novel, Bingo Love, is currently on its fifth printing. My Harley Quinn, Spider-verse, Archie and My Little Pony stories either have another printing, sold out or out of print.
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Comic Watch:
What is your history with My Little Pony?
Franklin:
Honestly. I’ve always wanted to have the My Little Pony toys when they first came out, but myhousehold was very strict and religious, so that was that. I didn’t get into My Little Pony until
during the pandemic.
I asked my followers for a pick me up comfort show and someone recommended My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. I was apprehensive, but when I pressed play, I fell in love with those
little Ponies. I became an instant fan!
Two months later, in the middle of season 2, Riley Farmer, an IDW editor, reached out to me for a story. This story turned out to be My Little Pony #14, the debut of me and Shauna J.
Grant’s history making Pony, Violette Rainbow.
I feel that by asking that one question changed my life, allowing me to make My Little Pony history.
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Comic Watch:
Tell me about your My Little Pony story that you are doing? Who are you working with and how did you get connected and about the creative process?
Franklin:
Amazing editor, Bixie Mathieu, reached out asking me for a Violette Rainbow pitch, so I gaveher a Skye thee Zebra pitch with Violette Rainbow playing the supporting role. In this one-
shot, we find out Skye’s been hiding a secret from her bestie due to her past.
Since this issue was coming out during Black History Month, I asked Bixie for an all Black creative team and reached out to Yancey Labat, DC Superhero Girls. Yancey and I had done a
Vixen and the SuperPets story for DC Comics in 2021. While Bixie reached out to the talented colorist, Céli Godfried (Monster High) and Skye’s Secret was born!
I wanted to take advantage of this issue coming out in Black History Month, so I put tons of Black History Easter eggs in these pages.
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Comic Watch:
Do you have a particular character that you became attached to or wanted to do more with?
Franklin:
Biased answer here, but Skye thee Zebra and Violette Rainbow! I’d LOVE to do a mini series with these mares. I’m available, IDW, Hasbro and Bixie!
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Comic Watch:
How did this project differ creatively compared to Jook Joint and Harley and Ivy?
Franklin:
I was such a newbie when my horror comic series Jook Joint came out in 2018, but it was still a hit and many ask to this day if the comic will ever come back. I had never written capes before
Harley Quinn: the Animated Series, plus this was a mainstream comic book project, unlike the Image creator owned series.
Creatively, both Harley Quinn and My Little Pony comics are similar as they’re based on already existing animated series, so I have to make sure that I stay in canon when writing the stories.
I love that I have the talent that I can write across any genre, allowing any reader to feel seen in my stories.
So, I guess that long winded answer is that they’re all the same and different in each way.
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Comic Watch:
Do you have more My Little Pony stories to tell and what do you want readers to take away from the story if anything?
Franklin:
I will always be available when IDW and Hasbro calls. I love writing My Little Pony stories,there are so many lessons that I can teach through these comics. I hope that my disabled stories are changing how non-disabled people see disabled people. But more than that, I want disabled My Little Pony fans to see themselves in fantasy.
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Comic Watch:
Has working on My Little Pony caused you as a creator taught you anything new or lessons to take with you for future projects?
Franklin:
I’m always taking writing classes, striving to be a better writer, writing consultant and coach and then sharing that advice with my clients.
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Comic Watch:
What advice would you give your younger self that you now know and learned over the course of your career?
Franklin:
Don’t be afraid of who you are. You’ll be accepted and exceed your wildest dreams. Read those contracts, hire a lawyer, do NOT do it yourself, even if it’s expensive!
Save your best ideas for your own projects.
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Check out these colored preview pages now:
My Little Pony: Skye’s Secret arrives on shelves on February 19, 2025 from IDW Entertainment.
Tee Franklin
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The interview doesn’t cover this, but my understanding is that Tee Franklin drew on her real-life experiences as an inspiration for “Skye’s Secret”. To say more would involve spoilers!