@Masem  
Except that Celestia was not portrayed as wise in any way, shape, or form in Reflections, present or past.

@Starlight Storm  
Can’t deny that. The pacing to get to the actual conflict was 1/2 an issue too much. In hindsight, the reveal at the end of two should have been at the end of one, and the “universe shatter” splash the cliffhanger of the third issue. That would have given them a way to even “write off” the alt mane 6 as “unavailable” (as you say, maybe they are an evil gang with their own motivations not tied to Evil Cele’s plans, and thus not necessary for the story).
 
The poor pacing didn’t at all ruin the concept, because this gave a lot more insight to a younger, less wise Celestia than we’ve had from any other source, and the concept of her and Good Sombra being lovers seems perfectly fine if we’re talking events from 1000 years prior, and not the Celestia of today that has the wisdom of the years.

@Background Pony #C229  
He said he was in favor of characterization. He never said it was a good one, though.
 
@Masem  
Sadly their love twist was lost in lots of exposition, than a “cliché” Good vs Bad counterpart could’ve been even better. Heck, if they kept that the AltMane6 were nothing but lazy “criminals” in a story like that, it could’ve been a funnier twist.

@Masem  
>in favor of actually having characterization  
>Alt Sombra  
OH GOD MY SIDES! They are in orbit now!

@Background Pony #F495  
There was definitely pacing problems, but too many people complain about things like “so much potential”, which yes, alternate universes, of course there’s that, but Cook wanted to tell a specific story (that of Cele/Sombra) which was a rather decent twist on the standard AU plot. They chose one facet to be the highlight instead of diluting the entire story with tales of all the other characters (including the mane 6) in favor of actually having characterization, which is much more exciting to read than to see yet another cliche alt-U plot.

@Starlight Storm  
That’s the biggest problem with this arc, so much potential that the setup promised, wasted with bad writing and poor pacing. It doesn’t have anything to do with the ship, as bad as it was (if I want to see characters act completely OOC for the sake of shipping, I just go to FimFiction)

@PonyPon  
Indeed it isn’t the only problem. But admit it: The Mirror World and its inhabitants have really interesting setups like the wicked and evil Celestia with her obsession with fashion (seriously, why waste that trait?), or the loving and caring Queen Chrysalis? (or Reversalis.) Too much potential and GOOD fanfic fuel can come out from this BAD fanfic of a comic.

@Minus  
You know that’s not the entire issue.

@Background Pony #F495  
It was inevitable that people would react this way to seeing a canon ship. So childish.

@Background Pony #F495  
for petes fucking sake,man. i LOVED this arc so much. for the story telling AND the art. because it was something i haven’t seen in comics much. it was romantic, cute, and unusual. it had a few plot holes in it (what doesn’t these days) it’s not perfect but it’s a good fucking story. shut yer ass.

@Background Pony #F495  
God shut up already.Stop assuming everyone in the godamn world unanimously hated those comics

I admire him for still not being embarassed to aknowledge that this story arc exists