Thursday, March 27, 2014

March of the Ponies: MLP Comics (Nightmare Rarity arc - TPB Vol. 2)

[NOTE: Links to other March of the Ponies stories will go here as they are published.Part 1 - Abridged MLP historyPart 2 - Review of Lauren Faust's prior works, Part 3 - MLP Comics (Micro-series of TwilightRainbow Dash, RarityFluttershyPinkie PieApplejackCMCs/CelestiaSpike/Luna), Part 4 - Equestria Girls reviewPart 5 - Fan-made episodes (Dusk's Dawn, Double Rainboom, Snowdrop), Part 6 - Fan works (Music,Doctor Whooves, Parody/Abridged Series, Fanfictions), Part 7 - Season Reviews: Season 1, Season 2, Season 3, Magical Mystery Cure, Season 4 (to date)]

Now that I've polished off 10 individual one-shots of the most important characters in the My Little Pony series, it's high time that I cover the main line of comics from IDW.



The most deceptive trade cover EVER.
I won't be touching on the new "Friends Forever" series because the first trade is not out, and I only really had the budget for one story, so I went for a main line tale.

So the big question for today: Why did I go with Volume 2 (the Nightmare Rarity arc) instead of the first trade of the series (the Return of Queen Chrysalis arc)?

The answer is simple enough: I had only watched the first season when I bought the trade, so when I was informed by the good folks at my local comic store that a Season 2 villain was used in the first arc, I was directed to this volume.

Full disclosure: The trades I've read this past week are NOT the first MLP comics I've seen. I saw one beforehand, which is the one that convinced me to give the series a try in the first place. So if you want to grant any element of the fandom credit for getting me to give this world a crack, it's that comic.

It's not getting a review because the comic (which I gave to my cousin as a Christmas present) was a word-for-word, shot-for-shot comic adaptation of the pilot episodes. If you want my thoughts on the episode, you'll see it in a few weeks, or you can hear a few of my thoughts in the audio.
Best-drawn panel in the whole story.

Anyway, I was introduced to Nightmare Moon through that means, and so I was interested in a Nightmare sequel. And honestly, it was a solid read.

I thought the artist (Amy Mebberson) was the right call, though her art in smaller panels and from a less ideal angle for muzzles were not as solid as they were in the Celestia comic.

That said, this title is actually older, so maybe she has grown as an artist since this trade and I'm comparing this art to her improved art.

Unfortunately, this trade rears the ugly head of one of my art pet peeves: making people shiny when they shouldn't be. The fantastical element of the story excuses a lot of these panels, but not all of them.

As for the story, Heather Nuhfer makes her MLP debut in this arc, and she doesn't do a terrible job by any stretch. She adds a great leg to the mythos and puts together a pretty well-paced story.

See, this would've been a good trade cover.
Her main slip-up in writing comes in the fact that she chooses to have monologues that set up the mood or are stereotypical villain monologues, but she doesn't explore what's going on in everyone's heads as things are going on.

This is especially a problem with Luna, who I hoped would get a deeper look into what caused her to become possessed in the first place, what scared her from confronting the spirit after being freed, and how the Mane Six's friendship restored her confidence and made her strong again. It's all implied, so I don't knock it too hard, but she could have found time to touch on it more.

What this arc does do well, however, is give a look into Rarity's innermost fears and show where her insecurities lie. It also gives Spike a real moment of heroism, which I appreciated. I am always a proponent of non-main characters making the biggest difference in a confrontation because it shows how anyone can be a hero.

Overall, I thought the trade was well-put together and the issues came together to tell a pretty solid story. Rating the issues individually, I'd give issues #5-8, respectively, 7.8, 8.8, 7.3 and 8.3 out of 10.

The trade, as a whole, I'll give an 8/10. (And, no, I'm not averaging the issues together to get it. I'm judging the story as a whole.)

Follow me on Twitter and Facebook.

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

March of the Ponies: MLP Comics (Spike and Luna one-shots)

[NOTE: Links to other March of the Ponies stories will go here as they are published.Part 1 - Abridged MLP historyPart 2 - Review of Lauren Faust's prior works, Part 3 - MLP Comics (Micro-series of TwilightRainbow DashRarityFluttershyPinkie PieApplejack, CMCs/Celestia; Nightmare Rarity arc (main series)), Part 4 - Equestria Girls reviewPart 5 - Fan-made episodes (Dusk's Dawn, Double Rainboom, Snowdrop), Part 6 - Fan works (MusicDoctor Whooves, Parody/Abridged Series, Fanfictions), Part 7 - Season Reviews: Season 1, Season 2, Season 3, Magical Mystery Cure, Season 4 (to date)]


We have come to the end of the Micro-series issues with the Spike and Princess Luna stories!

The audio for each will precede the issues' text reviews. So let's get to it.



If you didn't know, he likes gems.
Issue #9 (Spike)

Spike's story is pretty much straightforward. He wants a pet of his own so he gets mail-order sea beasts to take care of. Not satisfied with their progress, he creates magic food that basically allows them to experience evolution in the span of a week.

By the end of the story, the glorified sea monkeys have grown into sentient, humanoid lifeforms. Their gradual evolution runs alongside Spike trying to teach them the history of everything.

This is pretty much a ridiculous issue, but the over-the-top art is at least good for a laugh. Also, it's really good to see Spike step it up and be a leader of men, even if they are magically created super sea monkeys.

I was actually surprised that Spike using questionable magic was not a plot point addressed. It was glossed over and seemed at times like the story was totally cool with the decision. Not sure how I feel about that.

Anyway, rating this issue, I have to give it only a 7.2/10. There's good stuff in there, and plenty to call the issue 'good,' but I can't recommend people pay for it.



The stylized art on this cover made it
stronger than the original one, I think.
Issue #10 (Princess Luna)

I flat out believe my audio serves as a better review for this comic than my text will, but I'll take a crack at it.

Luna is excited at the end of her work night, and Celestia is taking about how she prefers the day shift. She takes it as a challenge and chooses to run the day for one shift while Celestia gets a proper day off.

The day is incredibly mundane and Luna goes stir-crazy. Eventually she acknowledges that Celestia is better suited for the day because she's got the patience for it.

What I like about this issue is not necessarily the plot. (The plot itself was pretty pedestrian.) What's great about it is it shows the difference in how Celestia and Luna rule and why each one has the shift they have.

I really go deep into this in the audio, but I never felt it was more clear that Celestia and Luna represent the yin-yang than in this issue, so I really liked that.

The art is pretty impressive, though I kind of wish it had gone even more over-the-top. (That seems to be a common thing with this artist.

I really enjoyed this issue and think it was one of the top installments from the series. I wavered a little on what number in the audio I wanted to give it, but here I'll lock it in for sure at 8.7/10.

Follow me on Twitter and Facebook.

March of the Ponies: MLP Comics (Cutie Mark Crusaders & Celestia one-shots)

[NOTE: Links to other March of the Ponies stories will go here as they are published.Part 1 - Abridged MLP historyPart 2 - Review of Lauren Faust's prior works, Part 3 - MLP Comics (Micro-series of TwilightRainbow DashRarityFluttershyPinkie Pie, Applejack, Spike/LunaNightmare Rarity arc (main series)), Part 4 - Equestria Girls reviewPart 5 - Fan-made episodes (Dusk's Dawn, Double Rainboom, Snowdrop), Part 6 - Fan works (MusicDoctor Whooves, Parody/Abridged Series, Fanfictions), Part 7 - Season Reviews: Season 1, Season 2, Season 3, Magical Mystery Cure, Season 4 (to date)]

So we now move into Vol. 2 of the MLP Pony Tales issues, and I'll admit outright, I own none of these issues. (The audio reviews will be listed next to each issue's section.)

I read all four in a trade at a nearby comic shop and so I can't go back and reference them while I'm reviewing. But I tend to have a good enough memory of the stories and found enough pages scattered through image searches that I feel comfortable with my ratings for these books.

That said, I'll be reviewing the issues in pairs so that the ones I'm not solid on don't take up a full blog.

So let's get to it!



Probably the best cover for this issue.
Issue #7 (Cutie Mark Crusaders)

The CMCs' issue was not a terrible read, but the lesson that was going to be learned became apparent way too quickly.

They find a creature known as a mimic, which is searching for the final form it will take, so the CMCs decide to make it an honorary member and help it find its final form. Unfortunately, it just devolves into a battle over which of them will get the mimic to turn into what they want it to.

This issue gets across the impulsiveness of the fillies across as well as their inherent ethics once they realize they've been treating their 'friend' as property.

It's a good lesson for the CMCs to learn; my issues are that this story just feels kind of flimsy. Maybe if one of them had been questioning their actions it would have been better, but when the moral is this telegraphed and no one in the plot seems to notice it, reading the story becomes irritating - both because of the rude actions being taken and because you're thinking so far ahead of the story.

The art isn't terrible, and it's actually by the Pinkie Pie art team that I praised. But how can I put this... I don't think the art style translates to smaller filly bodies, especially when their movements aren't as over-the-top as Pinkie's were.

Even Amy Mebberson's coloring wasn't at its top form. Why are the CMCs shiny? It's like they were trying some experimental art style.

Anyway, for what it is, it's not a bad issue, but it's not worth paying for. I give it a 6.9/10.




Just a well-designed cover. That is all.
Issue #8: Princess Celestia

Celestia's issue is much more a step in the direction I wanted these stories to go. Georgia Ball is the writer for this issue, and she makes the most of her debut in the micro-series by telling a story that encapsulates who Celestia is.

The story is pretty straightforward. Celestia is at an event for the school of magic, where everyone seems to be tired of this aging teacher who eventually messes up the event with her 'more efficient' magic.

There are legitimately good emotional moments when it's revealed that the teacher has a history with Celestia, helping her during a crisis when she was in charge of night as well.

And there's a sequence at the end where Celestia worries if her friend might be losing confidence in her own abilities due to her age, raising the very real point that Celestia doesn't really age and has to watch all her friends age and fade away.

However, the story isn't without humor. It's shown how Celestia always thinks the best about subjects she knows and can be funny when she wants to be. She's also shown to be very smart and a true leader when given time to plan.

The main downside to the story is that the conflict resolves itself in a manner that's far too cliched. Still, the emotional moments make up for it.

The artist is Amy Mebberson, who did the coloring for the previous issue, and it's clear her shinier style was a practice for this issue. The artistic style for Celestia was great and really gave an elegance that is necessary for the Princess of the Day.

Rating the issue as a whole, I'd give it an 8.3/10. It's not a perfect story, but it's exactly the kind of story Celestia needed.

Follow me on Twitter and Facebook.

Sunday, March 23, 2014

March of the Ponies: MLP Comics (Applejack One-shot)

[NOTE: Links to other March of the Ponies stories will go here as they are published.Part 1 - Abridged MLP historyPart 2 - Review of Lauren Faust's prior works, Part 3 - MLP Comics (Micro-series of TwilightRainbow DashRarityFluttershy, Pinkie Pie, CMCs/Celestia, Spike/LunaNightmare Rarity arc (main series)), Part 4 - Equestria Girls reviewPart 5 - Fan-made episodes (Dusk's Dawn, Double Rainboom, Snowdrop), Part 6 - Fan works (MusicDoctor Whooves, Parody/Abridged Series, Fanfictions), Part 7 - Season Reviews: Season 1, Season 2, Season 3, Magical Mystery Cure, Season 4 (to date)]

Applejack concludes the Mane 6's one-shots, and I feel like the title is a little off. It really should have been an intro to the entire Apple family. (I do review the trade as a whole in the audio, too, hence the longer run time.)



Only two-thirds of the characters
pictured are used.
The only real insight I took away from Applejack is that she's stubborn, she wants to do things herself so that her family members' lives are easier, and she's the reincarnation of Wil E. Coyote.

This story focuses on Applejack's attempts to catch a Sass Squash (yes, that's a thing) without the aid of her family. The lesson being taught is apparently that it's ok to ask family for help.

The main issue with this story is that this issue was kind of already touched on in the first half of Season 1. I like that we get an issue focusing on the Apple family and like that Applejack loves her family enough to inconvenience herself so that they can be comfortable.

All that said, though, while the slapstick and sarcasm used in this issue were great, they felt more like an homage to Chuck Jones than a story that exemplifies Applejack.

In the audio, I talk about how Applejack's Element of Honesty is similar to Wonder Woman being the Spirit of Truth. I'd like that to be explored more, with Applejack unknowingly acting hypocritically and needing to take a harder stance on a situation.

But that's a wish-list thing, so I'll stick to the book at hand, and I will say that Applejack does come across as a likable character here. She's focused to the point of driving herself crazy, and I actually could see a path where she could have been a Looney Tunes character at some point. That's a high compliment.

Applejack's humor is far underused, this issue showed me, and there really should be more issues/episodes done with the Apple family as a unit.

Overall, the issue is kind of all over the place and the art kind of dipped a little compared to previous one-shots. Still, though, a lot of good is there and I think people could have fun if they read this. I'll give it 8.5/10.

As for the TPB itself, the issues seemed to constantly raise in quality and then tail off a little at the end. Looking back, I'd have opened with Rarity and then closed with Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie at the end. Still, I liked the format they had and all the alternate covers were cool.

As a whole, I'll say the trade is worth a pickup. These issues give a good feel for the world and a good amount of the characters, so you can make a well-reasoned opinion on most of them by the end of it.

Follow me on Twitter and Facebook.

March of the Ponies: MLP Comics (Pinkie Pie One-shot)

[NOTE: Links to other March of the Ponies stories will go here as they are published.Part 1 - Abridged MLP historyPart 2 - Review of Lauren Faust's prior works, Part 3 - MLP Comics (Micro-series of TwilightRainbow DashRarity, Fluttershy, Applejack, CMCs/Celestia, Spike/LunaNightmare Rarity arc (main series)), Part 4 - Equestria Girls reviewPart 5 - Fan-made episodes (Dusk's Dawn, Double Rainboom, Snowdrop), Part 6 - Fan works (Music,Doctor Whooves, Parody/Abridged Series, Fanfictions), Part 7 - Season Reviews: Season 1, Season 2, Season 3, Magical Mystery Cure, Season 4 (to date)]

Pinkie Pie's story is next, and to the staff's credit, they picked the perfect story to go with.



An over-the-top cover for an
over-the-top issue.
The plot is simple and straightforward: Pinkie goes to see a clown who inspired her to be funny in the first place, and he's actually depressed because he's going to retire soon.

She then goes to the extreme length of showing off her skills in an attempt to re-instill the passion for the art of clowning.

Quite honestly, it's not a plot that's super interesting. The story is kind of predictable and the resolution, while sensible, really screams of half-hearted writing toward the end. It's clear they were really just looking to belt out jokes.

That said, the jokes are all really, really good. This is Pinkie Pie at her funniest, and Ben Bates (Amy Mebberson as colorist) do a great job of making the art just over-the-top enough to get the mood across without being hyper-aggressive.

This is more a book that's pretty to look at, not one that will stir you to read it over and over. But the art is good enough to have repeat viewings and the story is a good complement that doesn't intrude on the fun of the art.

Overall, I'd give this issue an 8.7/10.

Follow me on Twitter and Facebook.

Saturday, March 22, 2014

March of the Ponies: MLP Comics (Fluttershy One-shot)

[NOTE: Links to other March of the Ponies stories will go here as they are published.Part 1 - Abridged MLP historyPart 2 - Review of Lauren Faust's prior works, Part 3 - MLP Comics (Micro-series of TwilightRainbow Dash, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, CMCs/Celestia, Spike/LunaNightmare Rarity arc (main series)), Part 4 - Equestria Girls reviewPart 5 - Fan-made episodes (Dusk's Dawn, Double Rainboom, Snowdrop), Part 6 - Fan works (MusicDoctor Whooves, Parody/Abridged Series, Fanfictions), Part 7 - Season Reviews: Season 1, Season 2, Season 3, Magical Mystery Cure, Season 4 (to date)]

If Rarity's comic was the best translation of an episode into comic form, Fluttershy's is the best comic of the bunch.



Not the main cover, but the best.
While this story wouldn't work as well in motion, the one-shot for Fluttershy played its layouts and art perfectly to complement a story that any creative mind could identify with.

It was almost uncomfortable how much I sympathized with the fears Fluttershy had in this story. And I have to give the crew (writer Barbara Randall Kesel, artist Tony Fleecs and colorist Amy Mebberson) credit: this is as good a team as I've seen in any book. These are names that need to get big in the industry.

I thought the story worked out because, 1. it's a very identifiable problem, and 2. Kesel portrayed the fear in nearly its absolute worst-case scenario. It triggered all the emotions it needed to.

Simultaneously, though, the lengths Fluttershy goes to hide her talents give the book great humor moments and the timing the book used in utilizing 2-page spreads and full-page spreads was done at an expert level, giving the rooms and knitting sculptures their deserved grandiosity and scope.

I thought Rarity was a little ore impulsive than she usually is written and the closing inner monologue felt out of place, but those are nitpicks in an otherwise enjoyable look into Fluttershy's timid nature.

I don't think this story translates well into TV, but that's not how I judge a comic anyway. As a comic, this story gets a 9.2/10. If you come across this issue in a store and you've ever been nervous about showing off a talent or creative work, this is a must-read.

Follow me on Twitter and Facebook.

March of the Ponies: MLP Comics (Rarity One-shot)

[NOTE: Links to other March of the Ponies stories will go here as they are published.Part 1 - Abridged MLP historyPart 2 - Review of Lauren Faust's prior works, Part 3 - MLP Comics (Micro-series of Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, CMCs/Celestia, Spike/LunaNightmare Rarity arc (main series)), Part 4 - Equestria Girls reviewPart 5 - Fan-made episodes (Dusk's Dawn, Double Rainboom, Snowdrop), Part 6 - Fan works (MusicDoctor Whooves, Parody/Abridged Series, Fanfictions), Part 7 - Season Reviews: Season 1, Season 2, Season 3, Magical Mystery Cure, Season 4 (to date)]

The micro-series comic reviews now continue with the issue I feel is best translated to television: Rarity's one-shot.



Why wasn't the B cover the main one, again?
This was a great effort from the team involved here. The art was show quality and the designs for the new, hippie characters were very imaginative. It made me wonder what kind of look a Pony Woodstock would have.

The very clear marijuana/LSD mannerisms from some of the supporting cast were not only funny but a welcome use of the non-Hasbro medium. My biggest complaint is that the issue didn't do enough with the art to give the story a psychedelic feeling.

What really makes this one-shot great is the story. It leaves plenty of chances at humor but ultimately remembers what it's supposed to be: a glimpse as to Rarity's character.

Rarity is easily the star of this issue, making each scene she's in memorable and showing the nature and ethics of her generosity. Heck, not only does this issue characterize Rarity properly, it characterizes Twilight better than her own one-shot did!

Overall, I have to grant this issue a 9.1/10. It was just an awesome ride from start to finish. I really hope this turns into an episode one day.

Follow me on Twitter and Facebook.

Friday, March 21, 2014

March of the Ponies: MLP Comics (Rainbow Dash One-shot)

[NOTE: Links to other March of the Ponies stories will go here as they are published. Part 1 - Abridged MLP historyPart 2 - Review of Lauren Faust's prior works, Part 3 - MLP Comics (Micro-series of Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, CMCs/Celestia, Spike/LunaNightmare Rarity arc (main series)), Part 4 - Equestria Girls reviewPart 5 - Fan-made episodes (Dusk's Dawn, Double Rainboom, Snowdrop), Part 6 - Fan works (MusicDoctor Whooves, Parody/Abridged Series, Fanfictions), Part 7 - Season Reviews: Season 1, Season 2, Season 3, Magical Mystery Cure, Season 4 (to date)]

Next up on the list of Pony Comics review is Rainbow Dash's one-shot and... uh, yeah... this was a comic.



How was this not a Cover of the
Year contender?
I go into this further in the audio above, but this issue was just completely crazy. It was like Frank Miller summoned all his affinity for one-liners and sent vibes to this crew so that Rainbow Dash would be Pony Leonidas.

Between the random TV interview segments and 80's style paneling, this did have shades of "The Dark Knight Returns." I half expected Rainbow Dash to stand crouched in the rain like the cover of that story.

I have no idea what these villains were, what their goal was or why Rainbow Dash seemed to be the only one in Equestria trying to do anything about them. This issue was one gigantic stroke to Rainbow's ego.

Actually, this whole story would make perfect sense if it ended with the twist that the whole thing was a campfire story Rainbow was telling the Cutie Mark Crusaders. This whole thing is entirely in character for Rainbow Dash in so many ways if you take it that way.

Even without it, though, this is still a VERY fun read and the art is very old-school superhero comic style. If you ignore that this is supposed to be taking place in the canon universe, or if you know nothing about the series, this would probably go down as a great issue and would most likely hook a lot of new followers.

But taking it for what it is vs. what it's supposed to be doing, I'm going to give it a 7.7/10. It's a really fun escapist work that allows you to shut off you brain and enjoy a good story. It also confuses the canon in ways I can't even begin to comprehend, but screw it, just call it a campfire story in your head and you'll have fun.

But what it does so well is that it encapsulates Rainbow Dash perfectly. The focus on her loyalty is perfect and I honestly think that if Rainbow ever wrote about her adventures, this would be how she perceives reality. This is a fascinating look into the inner psyche of the character, even if it was in a way not intended.

Follow me on Twitter and Facebook.

March of the Ponies: MLP Comics (Twilight One-shot)

[NOTE: Links to March of the Ponies stories will go here: Part 1 - A look at previous MLP shows, Part 2 - Review of the works of Lauren Faust, Part 3 - MLP Comics (One-shots of Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, CMCs/Celestia, Spike/LunaNightmare Rarity arc (main series)), Part 4 - Equestria Girls reviewPart 5 - Fan-made episodes (Dusk's Dawn, Double Rainboom, Snowdrop), Part 6 - Fan works (MusicDoctor Whooves, Parody/Abridged Series, Fanfictions), Part 7 - Season Reviews: Season 1, Season 2, Season 3, Magical Mystery Cure, Season 4 (to date)]

This week on the March of the Ponies, I am reviewing comics based on the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic series.



Some are probably wondering why I'm not doing the show first. The answer is simple, actually: I want to save the show as the main review.

Besides that point, this blog is predominantly comic reviews, so it only makes sense that the first review of the series itself are the comic titles.

Just a heads-up, though: I am NOT reviewing all the titles that have come out. Yes, I know there are currently two active MLP series produced by IDW Comics, but I still have a limited budget and so I will only be reading one arc from the main, self-titled MLP title in trade paperback form.

None of the events on this cover
happen in the comic itself.
Additionally, though, I picked up another trade set: My Little Pony: Pony Tales. And while the title is similar to the 1990s show, it is an FIM comic series.

As a matter of fact, it is a 10-issue (expanded from six originally) set of one-shots that delve into all six main characters, both princesses, Spike the Dragon, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders as a unit.

I'll be exploring these as a way to gauge the comic end of the Pony-verse. And for those curious, yes, these titles are all canon works. They exist as a way to make more money for Hasbro to give the older audience more in-universe stories that don't necessarily have to stick to the kid-friendly format of the show.

The first issue I'm tackling is Twilight Sparkle's, which kicked off the 10-issue series. Her one-shot focuses on her being assigned to help the capitol's injured librarian and help her to come out of seclusion.

There is real character development and growth in this issue... for the librarian. Twilight's role in this story seems to be an outlet so that Jade Singer isn't talking to herself. Glimpses of Twilight's canon characterization are seen early on in the issue, but outside of the fact that she's bookish, nothing really permeates through the entire issue.

As I said in the audio, the art is a
tad blocky, but it's passable.
To me, this is incredibly surface-focused for a one-shot that's supposed to define the character. If someone who had never seen the series read this, I think they'd be hard pressed to find words to describe her beyond "nice, bookish perfectionist."

I am using the scale I set to rate my normal comics for this, so to recap for newbies on this blog:

1- Terrible issue. Maybe one sequence worked and it's really only worth purchasing if you REALLY want the full collection
2- Same as a 1 except it provides some plot worth noting for future issues, or has something that redeems it.
3- Bad issue. No one would defend the issue, but fans of the character may enjoy it simply because it's their character.
4- Sub-par issue. Certain tastes may find it enjoyable, but it's not a book anyone can just pick up and enjoy.
5- Average issue. Some will like, some won't. I'd advise reading it in the store before purchasing.
6- Decent issue. Fans of the character will rate it as good while casual readers would probably be turned off.
7- Solid issue. Skim in the store to see if it's worth the money, but at the very least it's worth keeping up with what happened.
8- Worth buying. Customers won't feel short-changed, it should be read, but it's not necessary to buy it.
9- Must-buy. Absolutely worth the price of admission. A satisfying read all-around.
10- Must-own. At this point the book should probably be considered for Issue of the Year.

I give this issue a 7.5/10. The art is solid, but not great. The story is worthwhile, but it fails to meet the goal it set for itself. If you see it and you're a Twilight fan, you won't feel cheated if you buy it.

Follow me on Twitter and Facebook.