A My Little Pony/Transformers crossover “event” should be yet another harbinger of the end times. Hasbro’s two juggernauts of the entertainment industrial complex of the 1980s teaming up should be another sign that our pop culture obsessed society has finally gone too far. The snake has devoured its own tail and it’s all lips and assholes from here on in.
Should.
When I first saw the cover to My Little Pony/Transformers, I assumed it must be some kind of sick joke. A shoddy, rushed out, cash-in. I had to check it out.
Setting the Scene
Imagine my surprise when, from it’s very opening panels, I could feel the the creators’ love for both the 80’s series. Combined with a sense of humour that managed to wrestle a smile onto my face, it’s the kind of goofy fun we need this year.
Those opening panels of the first issue, simply displayed the name of the traditional homes of each of the franchises, displayed in a font more fitting the other’s branding. It’s a simple play on nostalgia, but I couldn’t help but smile.
The ridiculousness of the whole enterprise is highlighted in the next few panels, as an apparently comic obsessed pony complains about the lack of logic in a similarly absurd crossover comic (“Daring Do Meets the Power Ponies”). While acting as a sly nod and a wink to the reader, the rejoinder by the newsstand vendor really sets the tone for the series: “I think it’s just supposed to be fun.”
These guys know what they are doing, and what they are doing is telling a series of loosely linked encounters between the denizens of the My Little Pony and Transformers universes, interacting in delightful ways.
Me Grimlock No Use Pronouns
The first issue, “Transformation is Magic,” sets up the “reason” for the crossover. Thanks to the magical efforts of Queen Chrysalis and her changelings in the Pony’s home of Equestria (I have no idea what anything I just wrote means), and a malfunctioning Space Bridge on the Transformers home world of Cybertron, a number of Transformers are transported to Equestria. As of the second issue it seems only one citizen of Equestria (the baby dragon Spike) has made the return trip, but maybe more will turn up in the remaining two issues. Each issue features two stories dealing with the dimensionally swapped characters interacting.
I wouldn’t, in any universe, call myself a “brony”. Yes, I may have watched 2017’s My Little Pony: The Movie, but that was for work. I may have also seen 1986’s My Little Pony: The Movie, but that is beyond the current scope of questioning, your honour.
I never knew I needed to see an evil pony sitting astride her new ally Megatron in tank form, ready to wreak havoc. To see Grimlock bummed out at missing the trip. To see Optimus Prime and Bumblee holding hands in friendship, as they plummet to their almost certain, yet “surprisingly colourful doom.”
Voice of the machine
Writer James Asmus and artist Tony Fleecs, capture the voices of the characters perfectly (well, the Transformers, at least) and must be fans of the original cartoon, seeing as they put a Space Bridge in their adventure.
The follow up story in the first issue “Shine Like a Diamond,” by Ian Flynn with Jack Lawrence on art duties, portrays an absolutely charming meeting between the Transformer Arcee and the MLP Rarity, making fast friends as they see off Starscream and some of his seekers. In between lots of compliments, it features Arcee uttering the immortal line: “Are you all right my little pony?”
Again the artist Jack Lawrence manages to bring new expressions to characters who at this point are over 30 years old. I never thought I’d see Arcee *blush* in response to praise.
The second issue features Dinobot leader Grimlock, acting as a mentor to the baby dragon Spike while seeing off Devastator in “Inspiring”, while “They Eat Ponies Don’t They,” sees Pinkie Pie and the Autobot Gauge seeing off an attempt by Shockwave to discover “how much pony it takes to fuel one Decepticon.”
This second issue doesn’t quite capture the giddy highs of the first, and I had thought that there would be some follow up to the “Transformation is Magic” storyline, but does it really matter when it’s this fun? Does it matter if this is for kids or older fans of either series? Why is the title of the last story referencing a Sydney Pollack movie from the 1960s?
Who cares.
This isn’t War and Peace. It doesn’t need to be.
As a child of the 80s myself I have a fondness for the Transformers, in their raw, original form, that even Michael Bay couldn’t extinguish. My Little Pony/Transformers may be absolutely absurd, but it is also absurdly fun and shows off some artists bringing their heroes to life in a fun way. My Little Pony/Transformers is one of the most wholesome pieces of media I’ve encountered this year.
If it can bring a grin to the face of fans of either franchise then it’s more than done its job.
My Little Pony/Transformers is a four issue series available to purchase digitally from IDW comics. If you are looking for comics in Malaysia you can also find copies at The Last Comic Shop.
The series is also available at comixology.com and comixology.co.uk, but is locked to those regions.
My Little Pony/Transformers
IDW Publishing, 4 issues
Writers: James Asmus, Ian Flynn, and Sam Maggs
Artists: Tony Fleecs, Jack Lawrence, Sara Piter-Durocher, and Casey W. Coller
Follow Us