Quick Thoughts on MLP ANNUAL 2021

Well I’m still working on the review for the next issue in the Zecora arc, but I didn’t want to wait on this one for too long, and considering that Yesterday was the release of Issue 101 for the IDW run, which means we are close to the end of the comics, I figured now was the perfect time to deliver a short review of this special annual issue, as it will be the last. And it is part of the ongoing “SEASON 10” plotline Jeremy Whitley has been cooking up since the start. 
This time the land we are visiting is Caninia, the kingdom of the diamond dogs. 
And this was a huge surprise for some fans, since…. we never did get that much of the diamond dogs in the show at all. In fact, they only appeared once WAAAAAAAY back in the show’s beginning. Originally appearing in the episode “A Dog and Pony Show”, the diamond dogs were equal to that of orcs, with more threatening appearances and far more selfish goals goals. And only three distinct characters, who wanted to use ponies for slave labor to mine diamonds. They kind of feel like this gens’ answer to the Raptorians from G1. They were definelty unique characters and an interesting species in Equestria, but just like the bat ponies from Luna Eclipsed, they were quickly forgotten. With the only other diamond dog story being in the Friends Forever spinoff line of comics, and a completely different kingdom from the one we are visiting in “season 10”. Heck the only time we even got a mention of the diamond dogs in the show, was in the last episode, where they’re just in a throw away line. Even the bat ponies got more love that the diamond dogs did in terms of the show, even if we never got to explain anything about that species and some have speculated if they even existed and it wasn’t just stylish armor for Luna’s guards. 

Well this comic seeks to give the diamond dogs more attention and even gives us more of their world. How did it work? While some say that the diamond dogs looked to much like OCS and furonias, these characters are quite unique and their personalities are shown in design, which is a good thing because this issue while having more pages than the regular comics, still has to get it’s story done quickly, leaving little room for some of these characters to show their personalities to the readers. The kingdoms and the layout of the land drawn do capture the metaphorical divide between Jennino Lanternlight and Katheria Proudpaws. (yes those are their actual names, trust me their are even more ridiculous sounding names in this comic that I feel was deliberate just to troll us. 
The only major issues I feel bring this comic down, is that well, it is clear that the story had to be rushed out, much like this “SEASON 10” as a whole, and the one big plot point that ties all these kingdoms together is still a touchy subject that fans are debating about, but I’ll save that for the final issue of the Zecora arc review. But as is, it’s a relatively sweet story, with a good message about family and exploring the pros and cons of both tradition and progress. Stuff I’ll explore more on when i actually do a full length review of this issue. For now this quick summary will do.