G4 Comic Books
Generation 4 has had three associated comic book series, all of which have been published by IDW Publishing. Two series, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, and My Little Pony: Friends Forever' are ongoing, while the third, My Little Pony Micro Series, ended in December 2013 with Issue 10.The comics feature the characters of the G4 show My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, though sometimes characters exclusive to the toyline appear as directed by Hasbro. While the canonicity of the comics has not been completely defined, they is generally considered canon unless contradicted by the show.
The comics are extremely popular, with the comics selling over 1 million copies as of October 2013. Comic books issued as part of the franchise generally feature a variety of possible covers, some of which are exclusive to certain outlets. Alongside the three series, two annual issues have been released for 2013 and 2014. The 2013 Annual is based on the Equestria Girls franchise and had two stories: one about Sunset Shimmer's backstory and another about the human versions of the Mane Six as freshmen at Canterlot High. The 2014 issue features the Power Ponies, a group of superheroes whose likenesses were featured in a Season 4 episode of the same name.
Contents
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is the main series and features multi-comic arcs. Each issue is 32 pages long, with 22 pages of content and a 2 page mini-comic. The first 12 issues are set after the events of Season 2 of the show but before the Season 3 finale. Starting with Issue 13, the series takes place after Twilight Sparkle's coronation, and features her alicorn redesign. Issues are released on a monthly basis.
Issues 1-4 formed the first story arc, The Return of Queen Crysalis and featured the titular character returning to get revenge of Twilight. Issues 4-8, formed the second arc, Nightmare Rarity and featured Princess Luna alongside the Mane Six after Rarity is kidnapped by the Nightmare Forces. Several two issue arcs followed. 9-10, known as Zen and the Art of Gazebo Repair, features Big McIntosh navigating the Summer Wrap Up festival in an attempt to buy nails. 11-12, Neigh Anything was a flashback that explained how Shining Armor and Princess Cadance got together. 13-14, My Little Pony: Friendship Ahoy, features the Mane Six on a pirate ship as the crew of the notorious Hoofbeard. 15-16 showed the Mane Six attempting to stop a magical bookworm.
Issues 17-20 formed a four part arc called Reflections, which focused on a mirror world once visited by Princess Celestia. 21 and 22 formed a two part arc that showed Trixie as the alleged culprit of a high stakes robbery. 23 and 24 are special one-shot arcs. 23 focuses on the pets of the Mane Six after the ponies are incapacitated, while 24 shows Discord taking Fluttershy and the Cutie Mark Crusaders on a trip into the past.
My Little Pony Micro Series
The Micro series initially debuted in February 2013. Each issue was a self-contained story focusing primarily on one character, and was released on a monthly basis. The first six issues focused on the Mane Six, while the final three focused on the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Princess Celestia, Spike, and Princess Luna. The series ended in December of 2013, and was replaced by the Friends Forever series.
My Little Pony: Friends Forever
My Little Pony: Friends Forever started in January 2014. Like the Micro series, it focuses on single issue stories, but pairs together different characters. There are at least 12 issues planned for 2014.
