Friends Forever #22 (Double-Frosted Spoilers!)

Before tackling the story, it’s only fair to comment on the artwork. Jay Fosgitt’s style seems to come under fire every time and I’m usually not in agreement. I like the chibi-pony style that is reminiscent of G3.5 yet is still expressive and energetic. I don’t mind that the ponies often stand on two hooves because their poses often convey a lot of character. Strangely, my biggest critique is the ponies’ manes that seem to trace the shape of their neck as if glued.  

However, sitting ponies are always a tricky image. As Celestia summons Twilight and Pinkie to celebrate Luna’s birthday, her pose on the throne seems far too human. As if she were a homo sapien wearing a Celestia costume. It can be distracting but the scene is short lived.

I got an uncomfortable feeling when Celestia left Pinkie with vague instructions for a birthday cake. Much like the Spike/Luna Friends Forever issue, I feared that this would focus too much on Pinkie’s exploits with less time for the Princess.

It’s not as extreme as in past issues, but the imbalance is noticeable. A lot of time is spent following Pinkie as she meets with the royal chef, Chase, who seems to be on friendly terms. Guess Pinkie’s past parties have earned her a reputation in Canterlot. Chase is friendly but forgettable. It is worth noting he seems friendly and happy in his work. A better image that the stereotypical Hell's Kitchen approach.

One strange note is that every other character in this comic is an Earth Pony. Only the princesses feature wings and horns. Given Canterlot’s focus on Unicorn society I found this surprising.  

As Pinkie struggles to find a cake that meets Celestia’s vague expectations she begins to have a freak-out a la Party Pooped. Only this time there’s nowhere to go to find relief. We enjoy a double-page spread of her failed attempts, which would put most real-world bakers to shame.  

Celestia doesn’t get to shine until then end where she confesses that she’s put too much strain on Pinkie. This party is Celestia’s way of trying to show support for Luna even after all they’ve been through. Because this was already mentioned in Princess Twilight it’s not a big revelation. It’s more important that Celestia is saying this to Pinkie. How rare that we get to see her interact with a pony other than Twilight. I enjoyed the panels as they bake the cake together and enjoy a hug.

The comic ends on a tender moment between sisters but it also feels like this comic flew by. Like many Pinkie Pie stories the value is in the physicality but the story can feel very short or underutilized. Celestia doesn’t reveal any new facets to her character but rather opens up and includes Pinkie into her confidence.

There is a valuable interaction between the two but the impact is muted. This is a decent comic but not standout. If you enjoy seeing Celestia reminisce about past tragedy it can feel like a good reminder, but there are better Celestia and Pinkie stories out there.