I know next to nothing about the new ‘My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic’ cartoon outside of when I catch a couple of episodes with my daughter, Elektron. That is not her real name of course. However, since she is now in print on BSR she needed a moniker. She went with it.

If you hadn’t noticed, MLP is huge. From the few eps that I have caught and skimming the new trade paperback ‘Friendship Is Magic: Volume One’ by Katie Cook and Andy Price, here is my takeaway.

It’s frequently funny, in the same self-aware way that previous cartoons popular with adults (like Animaniacs) were, the nods to classic animation gags make me laugh out loud, starting with the Scooby Doo chase in the third episode. The animation style is cute,
but most of all, It’s the fans. Seriously, this fandom is unbelievably prolific and creative. The sheer mass of material they create-memes, images, fanfic, videos, faux radio broadcast recordings, TV Tropes pages of fictional book series that only exist in the show-and the incredible speed with which they create it, are just jaw-dropping incredible. And the kicker, dark things happen. The land of Equestria, for all that it’s a home to magical pastel-colored ponies, is one with plenty of dangers to body, mind and soul. The heroines face trouble; sometimes, they cause trouble. There are disappointments and clashes between them, and they have to struggle with their personal flaws. But, and here’s the big but: Twilight and her friends show that being honest, being kind, being loyal and generous and optimistic are not weaknesses, but strengths; that together with our friends, we are not just stronger but better. It’s a worthwhile message, and incredibly refreshing after years and years of faux-mature, grittier and edgier stuff.

But don’t take my word for it, I’m no Bronie.

Guest poster Elektron not only conducted this interview with the creators at the Denver Comic Con 2013, she also wrote this overview right here:

‘My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic Volume One’ is a great book featuring the mane six! In it, the ponies go on an adventure to save the cutie mark crusaders from Queen Chrysilis. You learn more about the evil queen after when she was defeated at the royal wedding. This book teaches friendship qualities to young readers and there is also humor for the Bronies and Pegasisters too. All in all, this book is a must have.

And here is her exclusive interview with Katie Cook (KC) and Andy Price (AP)…

E: I was reading My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic Volume One and there was one page in it where they meet the spiders and there’s the Derpy spider. But, she doesn’t come back in the book at all. So I was wondering why is there a Derpy spider?
 
KC: Why is there a Derpy spider?
 
E: I mean…why not, but still.
 
KC: Well, actually that’s just it. Why not.
 
AP: (Laughs) Why not.
 
KC: Because every species in the Ponyverse has a Derpy version. Every single one of them.
 
AP: Yep.
 
E: I heard that, I don’t know if this is true but Derpy got kicked out of the My Little Pony gang… off of the TV show because some people thought she was a little bit offensive.
 
KC: Some people thought it was offensive to autistic children. And that is called overly sensitive parents.
 
AP: She is actually still on the show. If you watch where Twilight becomes a princess. You really, REALLY have to pay attention but she is in the background a lot.
 
KC: And she was just in a new ad for My Little Pony on the Hub network. She was flying across the screen. So, she’s not gone.
 
E: Ok, good. She is one of my favorite Ponies.
 
KC: Because she’s adorable.
 
E: Who is your favorite ‘Mane Six’ Pony?
 
KC: Twilight Sparkle
 
AP: Applejack
 
E: Who is your favorite extra Pony?
 
KC: The old man, with the little pipe as his cutie mark.
 
AP: Wow, that’s a really good question. Hmmm…Sweet Cream Scoops.
 
E: What is your favorite adventure that they went on in My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic Volume One?
 
KC: My favorite issue, is issue three. Because I like that we got to make up what Queen Chrysalis is like behind the scenes and how they take over and colonize. I like that we got to see that.
 
AP: Yeah, I think issue three is my favorite as well. I love Chrysalis and she’s fun to draw.
 
E: What inspired you to write that scene?
 
KS: That’s a really loaded question. I really wanted to do something different with issue three because in a four issue arc there is kind of a hump that you have to get over to make it not boring. I really love the idea of telling that part of the story from the villains point of view especially when it’s a villain that we really got to create her personality.
 
AP: I think with that part of the story. It was the funniest part of the arc, you got to have the silly parts with Pinkie Pie in her costume and Rainbow Dash in the costume. And between doing that and Chrysalis being all evil. It was a lot of fun to do.

‘My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic Volume One’ is available now (IDW Publishing)…get it at your local comic shop!