@F  
Because maybe mythology =/= literature.
 
Mythology can be used more freely because, like for cloth/building/food/moral concept It’s not the same thing than literature as LOTF.
 
Mythology can be used in an (original) universe because human mythology didn’t be created by someone, it’s cultural/human knowledges. LOFT or Harry Potter has been wrote by real people/human and therefor don’t match.
 
For example :  
In the final fantasy there is our mythology, and there is books. Should I conclude that because we see book in the FF and that mythology is used, Tolkien and J.K Rollings exist in final fantasy as their books?
 
Using human literature in mlp is like have wifi in Hogwarts, it’s out of place. Especially if the main source (the show) didn’t showed any clue of this.
 
Otherwise it’s just assumptions from fans. Like with the episode when we see video games, and people then assume that Zelda or call of duty exist….
 
What about original (non our world-made) video game instead…?
 
Inspiration is fine, reference is fine, but what the artist does…

@Background Pony #CBC9  
So you would prefer that a bunch of unknown characters that we have never heard about would appear from the books instead?  
Being able to identify the characters from classic literature just makes this comic much better.  
We know that ponies knows about vikings, so why would they not know about Norse mythology, and why would Twilight not have a book about it?

@kassarc16  
Not exactly blatant, but some ponies in Rarity Takes Manehattan resemble part of the cast in Mad Men. If I recall they aplear during the Generosity song.

@Star Cavalcade  
Never noticed a blatant Mad Men reference, though I don’t watch the show.
 
Dr Who hasn’t been anything more than proximity to a barely similarly named character and a blue suitcase (could be missing other). Unless we see a reference to something iconically Who (more than a hair style and color or time-related mark), it’s not anything to notice.

@kassarc16  
If you changed it too much, you’d need to give it more exposition as to what they’re supposed to represent, and by that point what was a minor reference has become a major distraction.
 
The cartoon has survived references to things like Mad Men and Dr Who, and as long as they don’t go full Simpsons with guest stars every week, then it’s hard to imagine it getting too out of hand.
 
And personally I liked the pop-culture references in the comic, and often it gives an excuse to give it multiple readthroughs and noticing new things all the time. Even pseudo-regulars like the Observer pony have grown on me.

@Background Pony #CBC9  
Fine if it were based on human mythology, it’s already established in the show, with Cerberus, Griffons, Manticores and such. A whole bunch of pop-culture just thrown in with really no change?

@Background Pony #597B
 
Well, indeed. Now the problem with this issue is the use human literature’s characters. Harry Potter, LOT etc.. in mlp ? Seriously?. Look like a bad fic.

Again, the references in this issue are JUSTIFIED. Because this issue is supposed to be about well known books/stories.
 
I myself hate the obnoxious and gratuitous pop cultural references that Andy Price and Katie Cook rely on, but at least THIS issue has an excuse for them.

*Now, I hope for the artist that there is a good number of readers which don’t follow him only because of the reference.
 
It would be quite sad… even if I am not totally fan of the art style.

@sigh  
Hmm… actually doing reference is not a bad thing per se, I myself like reference jokes.
 
But even when it doesn’t have interaction with the story, I think that too much “guest stars” or “cameo” denature/misrepresent the show’s universe and background.
 
Cameo is easy and somewhat lazy and there plenty of other ways to create an interesting background and makes the universe more living without such artifices.
 
If in a little dose, bringing cameo and guest star can be a rewards for readers, too much of it would look wrong. So, If a comics artist have to overuse reference to please the public…
 
No, i hope for the artist, that there is a good number of reader which don’t follow him only because of the reference.

@Background Pony #CBC9  
But aside from this one comic, what do these references actually do that disturbs the plot of the arcs themselves? I mean, usually they’re there to fill up the space of the background and to make everything appear more lively and vibrant, while also serving as a neat reference for the reader to notice if they know said reference.

@sigh  
Too much fan-service and/or reference kills the pleasure to see them. Also, FIM is a original show and not a uninspired crossover-like fanfic.
 
Even if there is justifications.

The sheer amounts of “stop having fun guys” in this thread is half hilarious and half sad.
 
You know guys, one of the reasons a lot of people like the comics is because they throw in so many references, ever consider that?

@Masem  
…Yet she managed to get every other character without that… And Loki’s technically also involved in Disney.

@Skullsix  
Amy said she borrowed elements of both to avoid the direct copyright infringement issue.

Wait I think that queen more so represents the Evil Queen in Snow White than Maleficent.

@sixtyfour215  
In the comic, it is the hero of a generic romance novel, which Mebberson tweeted was a take on Fabio.

Who is the pony between Loki and the Maleficent/Evil Queen pony?

@Background Pony #480E
 
Let’s call her “Regina” XD

The “Maleficent” pony has more design elements in common with the “Evil Queen” from Snow White (who is not named); however, the green coat is an obvious shout-out to Maleficent, and her eyes and fangs are suggestive of a demonic character, as opposed to the fully human Queen:
 

@Vree  
At least Mane-iac was an original character and not just ponyfied Voldemort and Loki.
 
Seriously, relying on cameos and shout outs is a weak strategy. You are using established popular characters instead of creating popular characters of your own.

@Vree  
Full of clichés, but at least a little more design effort than just throwing existing characters in.

@kassarc16  
“Glad I don’t pay for these…. this is getting worse than the show. They’ve run out of ideas, and now they’re just throwing in all the pop culture they can.”
 
I bet you just loved ‘Power Ponies’ then, huh?

is the one on the left voldemort?

Anyone dat the Fluttershyrog in background?