My Little Pony: Spirit of the Forest

The Cutie Mark Crusaders get a bunch of their young friends from Ponyville to help clean up the Everfree Forest which have been having a horrible littering problem. Eventually they discover the garbage is coming from the workers at a lumber mill run by Filthy Rich. The Crusaders talk to Filthy, and he agrees to make his employees throw their waste into trash cans. But then the Crusaders discover a much worse problem: the mill is clearcutting the forest, and this is one problem Mr. Rich isn't willing to change, as his mill provides jobs to ponies and lumber to the residents of Ponyville. But there's one pony who might be able to help: the Crusaders former nemesis, Diamond Tiara!If you're an MLP fan who's disappointed that we never got another episode featuring post-reform Diamond Tiara, beyond just appearing in the background and not having any dialogue, (the show has officially ended now so that's never going to happen at this point) this is the next best thing. The story is a great read for anyone who's a fan of the show.

Last time we were given an IDW My Little Pony comic with an eco-concious message was The Root of the Problem and it wasn't exactly good. It had the same problem every eco-friendly story that isn't WALL-E or Lorax has, which is putting the blame solely on big business. Whether we like it or not, people still need jobs to stay employed, and sometimes that job comes in the form of a lumber mill founded by Filthy Rich. This is what our Cutie Mark Crusaders are fighting against in this comic, and it's actually a decent story. While Filthy is ignorant to the harm he's causing the forest, the book does at least acknowledge people's need on lumber, even showing Mayor Mare (redundant name much?) is powerless to stop the business if it means her town gets building materials and financial support. As if that wasn't enough, the comics make up for a mistake the show made (as it tends to do) by showing Diamond Tiara team up with the Crusaders to help save the trees. I was hoping Diamond Tiara would've made more appearances following Raiders of the Lost Cutie Mark, but sadly that was one wish that never came true. Ah well, in the end she shows up and helps our little horse heroines ultimately save the forest and all who inhabit it. Go green and go buy this book! Although, maybe you should do it digitally as to not waste the paper...